I am reminded when I went to find out for myself what college was all about and inquired in my fifties. I found it interesting and also contrary to common sense and everyday practices in regards to living and making a living. In all fairness, it did shed formal light on subjects but only in a fleeting way. The real lessons are to come and I noticed there is not enough emphasis on that
LEARNING
This is where life starts. We call it the "learning curve" & it covers everything from birth onwards. The basis is no one has ever been here before so there are certain basics you need to know. Reading, writing, math & some general knowledge helps prime the learning pumps. From there, we hope to gravitate toward what we like, are called to do or have a love for....we hope! Everyone searches for this answer
HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL
My only experience with educational learning came like everyone else i.e. the mandatory public school systems. I remember how much I did not like school mostly because it told you what you must do: like it or not. I was surprised to find-out that college is a participate or not & no one forces you but does require you
IN COLLEGE AT MY AGE (50)
I had to learn to let-go of any pre-conceived "real world" ways and accept the various theories of how things work. I was amazed to see the text books, the teaching and the courses all create a world of their own far from the real world which will require much more than learning, memorization, knowledge and grades
I GET IT and I GOT IT
I managed to complete a four year course in two and a half years and couldn't wait to take my diploma and get back to making money, adventure, discovery and growth both personal and professional. The diploma, I discovered was only as good as the person wielding it. After all, what does this piece of paper really say?
WHO ARE YOU REALLY?
The message I got right off the bat was that those that put in the time, effort & discipline to stay the course & obtain the diploma where really saying I finish what I start even if it takes time. Of course a specific field of study diploma says I want to leap into this field more. The real point is: Who is the person behind it all?
LICENSING
Same with getting or obtaining a license. There are hoops to jump through, various requirements, testing, and mandatory time spent rules for any licensing and the world at large, public opinion and the layman accept a license as proof of competence. At the very least it says you can do this and is validated by the world
WHATS BEHIND THE LICENSE
Who is that person who claims or represents what it says on the diploma? How does that credential interact with the person and what is the outcome? Who are we really dealing with? The paper or the person? The courts are full of disputes, claims, damages that say the person was at fault, lacking or negligent not the diploma.
INEXPERIENCE
In the medical field they require internship where the medical person to be is exposed for years to the chosen field under strict supervision, correction and testing but in the field of reality more than paperwork. It takes not only time but TIME well spent exposing as much as can be taken in by that person in that time
DOES THE PROCESS OF LEARNING END?
Of course not however there are phases of growth potentials we all travel through. We start out with awareness, desires, testing, repetition, challenges and enter into predictability and then a consistency. At some point we tend to own certain parts of our chosen field & at a further point, will enter the mastery of it
THE MASTERY
There is no substitute, imitation or similarity for the mastery. The master knows things before, during and after without hesitation and has a high confidence level void of hesitation, doubt or excuses. This person demands and commands not only respect but a fee for services represented and always earned (results)
THE ROOKIE CURVE
I remember traveling on the freeway getting home in fast moving traffic. I needed to go from the fastest lane to the off ramp that was approaching within a mile or so. Normally it is not big deal but this time traffic was fast, there were no gaps and I was basically locked into my lane. What to do follows....
THE BEGINNING OF THE FACTS
I had to first speed up to even pass everyone else who was speeding and then I had to aggressively make effort to lane-change. Failure to do these two things would have me missing the ramp. I proceeded and made the ramp only to be pulled over for speeding and unsafe lane-changing. The young policeman had me
THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FACTS
He proceeded to take the high road, non negotiable position of what he saw me do. He went on to state it was futile to argue and proceeded to get out his ticket book explaining to me that he was new, and in charge of this area and would police it according to the law! I nodded and then gave him the facts of the matter
THE TRUTH...THE WHOLE TRUTH...AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
Look, I had to speed up and lane change to pull-over to catch this ramp or I would have missed it! He instantly recognized what I said as truth and asked me: Is this where you normally get off? I said yes but today it was very difficult to do so. In all honesty he responded humbly said he understood & let me go
THE REAL TEST
The above example is a man who is under oath, training, and the laws of the land but there is no substitute for truth, reality and the circumstances that present themselves. Textbook learning is only as good as it reads but life has to pass the real test. Why? Because that is where we live. It is as simple as that
SIGNS OF SUCCESS
I look for knowledge, experience, manners, interaction, procedures, Q & A responses and listening skills to begin my assessment of whether I am getting my needs met. When two people meet, what do we really know? We want the coming together to succeed but agreeing and acting out a successful result remains
PASSION
This is an understated dynamic that registers for the good when sighted. People who love what they do and stay in the moment while they do it. They manage to incorporate a realness and willingness to deliver what is promised which is as-represented. That's where it all ends up. Did you or can you keep your promise
HERE IS MY PROMISE
Called business model, mission statement or tag-line in the vernaculars all boils down to whether it was kept and not catchy, entertaining, deceitful or misrepresented hype or aggressive marketing. Mine is as follows and actually I have two of them. Why? Because that is what I discovered in my practices in life
PROMISES ONE and TWO
1. People first...then business. This occurred to me at some point and made a deep home within. No matter what the endeavor, purpose or coming together this was and is what should drive it all
2. Helping you to get in or out of the Real Estate transaction effectively and efficiently. That was and is my promise and I make it before hand not even knowing who my next client will be. Why? Because that is what I do and it is what it is all about
WHAT'S YOUR PROMISE?