Special offer

Thou Shalt Not become an Obsolete REALTOR

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

Floppy DiskFor someone like me, a REALTOR, and many others who read and write blogs, we are comfortable with technology and providing excellent service to our clients. EVEN I, am amazed though how

                        WE MUST EMBRACE CHANGE.

If not, guess what? The skills just go obsolete anyway. I recently came across a story from an Australian web site that highlights how many skills have gone obsolete in such a short period of time. Just look at a few on the list:

* Formatting a floppy disk

* Changing the ribbon on a typewriter

* Adjusting the rabbit ears on your TV set

* Winding your watch

* Using a pay phone

*Licking stamps

* Long division (other than for school)

* Calling a radio station to find out what song is on

* Defrosting a refrigerator

* Writing in cursive

* Using the Dewey Decimal System to find a book

* Mowing the yard with a push mower (may be coming back, though)

The web site is Obsolete Skills, and it is fascinating when you think that one day skills are in use, and then *Poof* they are no more. I do wish we still had some of the craftsmen skills I see in architecture in old buildings, like train stations and government buildings. Those people knew about artistry.

So whether REALTOR, Stager, Title Officer, whatever you find yourself doing, stay abreast of the new skills coming your way. And when someone says Wicki, Widget, Google Juice or MP3, STAY YOUNG and a lifelong learner. Your brain will thank you and so will all the other people around you who you will help keep up as well.

Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Steve: Great thoughts walking down Memory Lane. That purple mimeograph I remember in school days as they distributed the tests to us using that technology.

Mike: I know what you mean about the hand written note. One should never take that for granted when you get one as it is so rare nowadays and seeming to get even more rare as time goes on.

May 05, 2008 01:48 AM
Misty Thomas
Houston Realty - Crosby, TX
Realtor Crosby, TX
There are so many things for me to learn and catch up on but I am determined not to become obsolete! Thanks for reminding me to never stop learning!
May 05, 2008 01:59 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Misty: You have a GREAT attitude!! You will do just fine.
May 05, 2008 02:06 AM
Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
When I was teaching I witnessed the demise of several skills. Dictionaries were made obsolete by spell checkers, reading a clock face was made obsolete by the advent of digital read outs, and using a library for research was made obsolete by the Internet, to name just a few standouts. 
May 05, 2008 03:11 AM
Becky Respess
Broker/Associate Century 21 Judge Fite Co - Cedar Hill, TX
ABR, CRB, CRS

Gary, you are so right. I was showing homes this weekend to a young couple. We were talking about all the changes in the real estate field since I became a realtor decades ago. Wow! Has it ever changed and I am a 90's realtor imagine the changes since the 70's.

 

May 05, 2008 03:32 AM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Gary~You know what my friend, you need to have a book published.  For those that are missing you in this world, they really need the opportunity to find you and your words in other ways. What a true talent you have.  Now that will never become obsolete. 
May 05, 2008 05:44 AM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate
Gary - I visited that website and expanded to the full list of oboletes - how interesting a world we have become!
May 05, 2008 07:25 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
Gary, Barbara here!  I don't do 5" floppies, just 4" so I'm not as far behind as you might think!  In fact, I'm pretty modern because I didn't recognize that thing as a 5" floppie!
May 05, 2008 07:29 AM
Michelle Bowman
Keller Williams Flagship - Stevensville, MD
MD Realtor, GRI

Gary,

Did that floppy come with the Vic 20?  :)

 

May 05, 2008 07:51 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor
I see everyone could relate to that message!  Its that very commentary - discussion we seem to be having with our kids, that our parents had with us........I remember when......:-)
May 05, 2008 12:45 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Rosario: You really added a lot more good ones!

Becky: They tell me the MLS used to be all paper like the yellow pages... Gag!

Julie: You are pure kindness. Some tell me I should write some short stories. That might be a fun start at a book.

Carol: Many obsoletes out there, for sure. You don't realize it till you start counting them up.

Barbara: Yes the old 5 1/4" was out and then came the 3.5" floppies which are still around to a certain extent.

Michelle: I remember the Vic 20 and all those other ancient machines.

Liz: Are you saying we are all turning into old fogies? : ) I think it happens to all of us eventually.

May 05, 2008 12:54 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results
Gary - what ever happend to everything old is new again? It seems as fast as I learn something new its old and out of date. One thing I love about AR is that If I could spend all day reading I would at least be as current as yesterday.
May 05, 2008 01:34 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Kathy: What a great line - " I would at least be as current as yesterday. " I think that's our problem. We feel like we can never catch up. Old is new again happens like in fashion with bell bottoms when they come back, but I don't know about those avocado colored refrigerators, and leisure suits. I think they were once in a lifetime events.
May 05, 2008 01:44 PM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty
Technology changes so fast especially, in recent years.  I wonder what changes we will all see in the next decade?
May 05, 2008 02:52 PM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes

You know Gary,

You are right....I just miss some of those obselete things! :)  I mowed with a push yesterday and it does get the ticker ticking.   I have a typewritter at office for computer crash days.

May 05, 2008 03:03 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Patricia: It's hard to fathom the next ten years.

Trey: Some of the things I agree disappeared too fast. It seems many typewriters have all been sold off to who knows where but you have one as a collector's item.

May 05, 2008 04:08 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK
I remember as a kid wishing that ol push mower would sprout legs and take a hike.  I'm nostalgic for a lot of things of old, but that would not be one of them.  I'm happy with my John Deere these days.  Technology is changing so fast it seems that if you're not working to stay on top of it you'll wake up one morning and feel like it's 1957 all over again.
May 05, 2008 07:04 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Jesse: Some things that went obsolete I think we miss like maybe playing a record on a record player. But you are right about technology moving so fast you can't lapse with staying up with it or you're left in the dust.
May 06, 2008 01:59 AM
Niman Singh
SimplifyEm - Fremont, CA
Property Management Software

You are absolutely right. Especially in this business, it is very important to keep up with the changing times.

Great post! 

May 06, 2008 09:11 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Niman: If you don't keep up the clients will be ahead of you. I would say it's essential.
May 06, 2008 11:32 AM