Okay, so you've seen these guys in the Apple Mac commercials, right? 
The ads are well done. They're catchy and they typically hold my attention. I think that whoever conceived the concept hit an out of the ballpark home run in getting the message out about how "cool", practical and better the MAC is over the PC.
Since I'm hearing about how stable the MAC is and now that I'm convinced that they're here to stay, I'm ready to buy! So off I trotted to my local Best Buy this past weekend to check them out.
Yep they're cool. I like what I see. But there's only one problem. Our local MLS website is NOT compatible with the MAC platform. When I called them, they told me that there are NO plans to make the software compatible either. Hmmm.
Okay, time for a "work around." There's got to be someway to make this work, right?
The Best Buy Geek Squad guy told me that there is an Internet Explorer program that was made just for the MAC and maybe that would work. He loaded it on the computer and let me try it out. Excellent! Program loads. Click on the icon. Go the website. Website opens the front page and looks good. Log in. Wait...it's thinking about it....wait....maybe....screen opens to....garble. UGH!
Let me ask a couple of questions here...
First of all, anyone out there in AR land got an answer to getting unfriendly websites to work on the MAC?
Second. I'm a Boomer. While it isn't my goal to look and act like my 20 year old, I can still recognize the younger generation's contribution to technology and I can capitalize on it. It amazes me how many people I run into in real estate who are ignorant or uninformed or even completely closed to the idea of blogging, using a smart phone and developing an on line presence. I have quickly become the "go to" guy in our office to fix minor computer questions and to help other agents learn their way around the Internet and on line tools.
Wow! Folks, the world is changing - well you already know that since you're saavy enough to be on AR, right?! When we embrace technology we automatically give ourselves an edge over so many of our competitors. And as you well know, having that edge is huge in this market!
If you're a Boomer quit moaning about how things used to be and get out there and be smart! Folks we either adapt and change and get better or we become irrelevant!
How about a practical application?
If you are not in touch with technology, go take a class at your local community college! You'll be amazed what awaits you. AND you'll be right in the middle of a bunch of people you don't know. Think about that...in the middle of a bunch of people I don't know. Hmmm, what might that mean for me?
Read the book, The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell. It will explain to you why certain things go big in a society while others languish. If you don't understand why tattoos are huge, then you need to read this book. And if you don't understand what tattoos being huge has to do with marketing your real estate business, especially read the book!
Know your audience. If you're a Boomer and you work with Boomers, then you probably already know how and what to do. However, if you're a Boomer and you want to work with the up and coming group of people, you're gonna have to do it differently. THEY ARE NOT LIKE US. However, the good news is that they're easy and fun to work with when you know learn how to get to them. Go learn how!
Finally, go find someone to mentor. It will make you better at what you do. Remember, if you aren't growing and learning everyday, then you will soon be left behind.
My motto is lead, follow or get out of the way.
I want to lead. How about you?
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