Ask An Ambassador: No Chance For Second First Impressions

"And sometimes, that means pushing away the keyboard rather than typing what's between your ears."

BananaTUDES! approves this message.

You are so right about that.  If a bad first impression is made, it is almost impossible to overcome!

Good morning Bill. Along the same lines I have used the quote: "Take your brain out of park before you put your mouth in drive" and yet have myself been guilty of not doing so. Thanks for the reminder. Enjoy your day.

Good morning Bill,

Its sad really to observe agents who can't control their urges to make a political statement. It tells me they are not the ones I want to trust my valued clients with. Self control goes hand in hand with honesty and integrity. 

I work with a flipper that does the most beautiful work inside you have ever seen. He always cuts corners outside. I explain EVERYTIME that he loses some buyers who never even come in. Curb appeal is certainly a first impression. 

It is sad when folks resort to social media to try to take someone down. It is not a good look for any professional.

Such a valuable lesson! Whether online or in person, every interaction is an opportunity to build trust and create meaningful connections. Thanks for sharing this reminder!

Sooo very true !! Frequently a first impression today … is with an improperly programmed Ai agent!! Not good !

This is so true. No chance for a 2nd chance on 1st impressions.

Bill once something is posted it is generally there forever, so it is not very smart for someone in this business to post something that will cost them future business or job.  It is especially DUMB to make a negative comment about someone who just passed away no matter what your personal feelings might be of that person.  If you feel you need to write it, write it, don't post it, and delete it.

So true!  I always say to myself, 'If you're going to do it, do it well!'  That goes for just about everything in my life.  It's served me well. 

I would agree, but I would also say that you have to really know yourself to really know what kind of impression you want to make and if it’s consistent with your values and that’s a really important part.

Great reminder, Bill & Liz. It's easy to forget that our online presence is basically a permanent extension of our business card — one impulsive comment can undo months of relationship-building. The point about brokers being on the hook for what agents post is one a lot of people don't think through until it's too late. "Pushing away the keyboard" might be some of the best free advice in this whole post. Thanks for another solid Ask An Ambassador!

Bill for years I've steered clear of folks that act before they think things through clearly.  First impression means just that....make it your best.

Unlike you I did (early on) respond to some bad comments vs. delete and walk away.  But I grew and learned and now handle it that way.

I recently had an encounter where someone asked me to be a discount broker for him.  I said no go and there we have it.  I'm sure his impression wasn't great, but I feel I handled it very professionally.