WHEW...What a week!! Somehow, I managed to make it to another weekend. Wait... I'm a real estate broker...I don't get weekends!! Oh well... But in the past 5 days, I've had buyers lose their jobs while in escrow, sellers refuse a terrific cash offer because their friends convinced them that their 2006 price is really still out there! I even met a qualified cash buyer this week who insisted that I find a way for her to buy her $500K dream home on her credit card so she could take advantage of the extra bonus points...or it was no deal! It kinda makes you wonder sometimes...
I find myself working harder these days to buoy the spirits of my associates. Their buyers are more stubborn (more scared, I think), and their sellers are more impatient and demanding. When they come back into my office they sometimes look like they're carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders...like they've lost their mojo. I listen to their stories, and then try to dust them off, give them a pat on the head, and send them back into the game. Some days it's easier than others. I find that keeping a big bowl of chocolates in my office is a good thing...
Real estate has had easier times. Deep down, we all knew that the run up market of the past few years was an illusion, and that there would be a tougher road ahead. But for too many of us, we simply didn't prepare ourselves for what that reality might look like. We find ourselves now with less business going on and far too much empty space in our daytimers. As your broker, I would love to see this time filled with prospecting, training and networking activities. Kicking up the business activities is the surest way to change your fortune in this, or any market. So I try to make these opportunities available weekly in my office...with modest participation. But for some, there is still too much empty time in the day...time that gets filled with negative thoughts about the market, your clients...and worse. We need to use our time better.
Here's an idea. Spend some time volunteering. Yes, the economy is tough, and our business is challenged. But you know what? Even on our worst days, everybody goes home. In my previous life as a hospice social worker and administrator, I learned this lesson well. There really aren't bad days in real estate...are there? If you have some extra time on your hands, I recommend volunteering at your local hospice program, children's hospital or nursing home. Bring flowers to a shut-in, or share your talents as a tutor or coach. If you have a VA hospital in your area, see what you can do to improve the life of a veteran...their numbers are growing far too quickly. Do you like to cook? How about preparing meals for your local soup kitchen...they're serving a lot more people these days. When society's problems grow our opportunity to help becomes bigger as well. Make the most of this.
Let's face it...there really aren't bad days in real estate. We need to keep things in their proper perspective. But there really are people who are facing the worst days of their lives... and we can help. I'm long past my idealistic days as a young social worker when I thought I could save the world on my own. We'll still need each other for that. But I remain awestruck when I see the power that a heartfelt gesture has in changing the life of someone in need. Try it. It probably won't make you feel any better about the economy, but you'll feel better about yourself. And when we feel good about ourselves, good things happen. Hey...you might even get your mojo back.
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