Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"
"You betrayed me by not being the kind of Messiah I wanted. So I will betray you." If this statement and belief attributed to the one known in the Bible, as Judas Iscariot is accurate, it demonstrates a misguided belief of a quid pro quo that would result in a chain of events leading to a death. However, a betrayal, particularly one perpetrated on someone we care about, can never be justified for any reason. This passage says that "...his selfish heart..." lead him to a presumption that unmet expectations justified his act of betrayal. Shame on him!
A betrayal by those near and dear to us causes more hurt than the perpetrator might have imagined prior to entertaining it, and if that person were to reflect on the consequences, the hurt, and the disappointment, or imagined how it might feel if instead of committing it s/he were its victim, perhaps there would be a different outcome -- perhaps. Ignoring the pain caused by such transgressions, a person bent on satisfying their selfish heart will do what they’ll do and ignore any consequences on anyone, until they face the reality of their actions – the loss of the loved one’s respect, the loss of a friendship, or a host of other unimagined consequences, including the death of a loved one!
As in this act of betrayal by Judas against his Messiah, a person whom he, and eleven other close disciples loved, shows, deception is most often unbearable, and in this instance, lead to a death. However, betrayal is far more common than we imagine, there is the marital infidelity type, the abusive elder type, the envious brother/sister type, and regardless of the acts, the results usually leave, if not broken relationships, wrecked lives or lamentable and out of control situations.
Like any person who has loved and been loved, there have been times when the relationship suffered from unmet expectations. However, if a relationship is true, regardless of the type, e.g., parent/child; husband/wife; brother/sister; boyfriend/girlfriend; employer/employee, one attempts to work on and overcome the occasional conflicts caused by unmet expectations, and does not look to avenge a perceived transgression with another transgression. Unfortunately a discovery of such a callous act usually overwhelms the senses with all the emotions that are closely tied to a sensible belief of a person’s righteousness and their evident breach of that belief – it is true shock and awe! To overcome the emotional hurt and see thing dispassionately may require distancing yourself from the issue and the culprit, but in the heat of the moment, that is difficult; one goes head-on into tackling the “why?” or the “how could you?” and we lose track of what may be necessary for us to do to overcome the problem.
It is when the "selfish heart" is in command of our faculties that we forget to put ourselves in the recipient's place to fully grasp the impact of our actions. And no one can be a judge of the other's acts (or transgressions) for this too is written: "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone." The implication here is that no one is above reproach. But certainly one thing does not justify the other. We're discussing betrayal and its collateral damage. Only the person who has been betrayed can truly appreciate all that this event signifies in their life, but I can say and you might imagine if you have not yet lived this experience, that the hurt is more than physical, it is spiritual, the emotions that careen out of control -- sorrow, disbelief, pain, sadness, anguish, despair, disappointment, disillusionment, and a bevy of others, magnifies the significance of the incident on our psyche. It is at these times when the victim must be as static and restrained as Jesus demonstrated even before Judas was to betray him.
In simpler terms, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It is in this eleven-word phrase that one can take correct action, which, if we follow in good conscience, will result in a harmonious outcome.
Once the damage is done, the victim can either waddle in their sorrow and continuously ask why, or why me, and potentially create more emotional damage to themselves, or, can decide to take matters into their own proverbial hands and move forward from the incident -- either forgiving the betrayer or coming to terms with a reality that perhaps the betrayer didn't do anything other than demonstrate that the love that may have been, was truly not. After all, if you love someone, you will consider him or her in all your actions, and hopefully take the best course of action for the benefit of everyone concerned.
Moving past the transgression requires a deep analysis of all that preceded the failing and what remains to be resolved. This can only happen if and when the persons involved own up to their respective roles in the matter.
If one is to rebuild beyond the incident, one must not resort to blame. If one is true to their part in the situation that forged the failing one may be able to correct the matter and accept that in our human experience we can and will make mistakes, but only by acknowledging the foible will we be able to truly be one for the other, and, painful as all that came before may be, if we are the one to continue to trust and love, we must chose to live by our principles, and hope and pray for the better tomorrow. The opposite will result in our praying for forgiveness, as Jesus did when nothing he said or did changed the actions of the many who condemned him unjustly… “...forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
A betrayal by those near and dear to us causes more hurt than the perpetrator might have imagined prior to entertaining it, and if that person were to reflect on the consequences, the hurt, and the disappointment, or imagined how it might feel if instead of committing it s/he were its victim, perhaps there would be a different outcome -- perhaps. Ignoring the pain caused by such transgressions, a person bent on satisfying their selfish heart will do what they’ll do and ignore any consequences on anyone, until they face the reality of their actions – the loss of the loved one’s respect, the loss of a friendship, or a host of other unimagined consequences, including the death of a loved one!
As in this act of betrayal by Judas against his Messiah, a person whom he, and eleven other close disciples loved, shows, deception is most often unbearable, and in this instance, lead to a death. However, betrayal is far more common than we imagine, there is the marital infidelity type, the abusive elder type, the envious brother/sister type, and regardless of the acts, the results usually leave, if not broken relationships, wrecked lives or lamentable and out of control situations.
Like any person who has loved and been loved, there have been times when the relationship suffered from unmet expectations. However, if a relationship is true, regardless of the type, e.g., parent/child; husband/wife; brother/sister; boyfriend/girlfriend; employer/employee, one attempts to work on and overcome the occasional conflicts caused by unmet expectations, and does not look to avenge a perceived transgression with another transgression. Unfortunately a discovery of such a callous act usually overwhelms the senses with all the emotions that are closely tied to a sensible belief of a person’s righteousness and their evident breach of that belief – it is true shock and awe! To overcome the emotional hurt and see thing dispassionately may require distancing yourself from the issue and the culprit, but in the heat of the moment, that is difficult; one goes head-on into tackling the “why?” or the “how could you?” and we lose track of what may be necessary for us to do to overcome the problem.
It is when the "selfish heart" is in command of our faculties that we forget to put ourselves in the recipient's place to fully grasp the impact of our actions. And no one can be a judge of the other's acts (or transgressions) for this too is written: "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone." The implication here is that no one is above reproach. But certainly one thing does not justify the other. We're discussing betrayal and its collateral damage. Only the person who has been betrayed can truly appreciate all that this event signifies in their life, but I can say and you might imagine if you have not yet lived this experience, that the hurt is more than physical, it is spiritual, the emotions that careen out of control -- sorrow, disbelief, pain, sadness, anguish, despair, disappointment, disillusionment, and a bevy of others, magnifies the significance of the incident on our psyche. It is at these times when the victim must be as static and restrained as Jesus demonstrated even before Judas was to betray him.
In simpler terms, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It is in this eleven-word phrase that one can take correct action, which, if we follow in good conscience, will result in a harmonious outcome.
Once the damage is done, the victim can either waddle in their sorrow and continuously ask why, or why me, and potentially create more emotional damage to themselves, or, can decide to take matters into their own proverbial hands and move forward from the incident -- either forgiving the betrayer or coming to terms with a reality that perhaps the betrayer didn't do anything other than demonstrate that the love that may have been, was truly not. After all, if you love someone, you will consider him or her in all your actions, and hopefully take the best course of action for the benefit of everyone concerned.
Moving past the transgression requires a deep analysis of all that preceded the failing and what remains to be resolved. This can only happen if and when the persons involved own up to their respective roles in the matter.
If one is to rebuild beyond the incident, one must not resort to blame. If one is true to their part in the situation that forged the failing one may be able to correct the matter and accept that in our human experience we can and will make mistakes, but only by acknowledging the foible will we be able to truly be one for the other, and, painful as all that came before may be, if we are the one to continue to trust and love, we must chose to live by our principles, and hope and pray for the better tomorrow. The opposite will result in our praying for forgiveness, as Jesus did when nothing he said or did changed the actions of the many who condemned him unjustly… “...forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
All I want to do is buy a house!
There was a time not long ago when it seemed as simple as a desire to buy a house. Sure you still had to apply for a loan, but that seemed to be a breeze, even it the person didn't have "it" all together, e.g., many lenders "bent" the rules a little here and a lot there -- remember? Well, now with all that has happened with all this mortgage mess, the foreclosures, the "underwater" homes, essential, the bursting of the proverbial housing bubble, this has done a 180 degree turn, and to buy a house nowadays you have to be ready to show the lender "the money," literally.
I have had to explain the procedures time and again to buyers who keep reminding me that this isn't the way they did it just a few years ago. The odd thing about these constant reminders is that people who bought a few years back seem to have grown used to just having the paperwork to sign, and are a bit miffed by the simple suggestion that they need to provide proof of just about everything. "Why do I have to do that?" came back a question from a reluctant buyer not long ago. Well, the rules to buy a house have gone back to the "normal" way it once was. In other words, you have to show the bank all that you say, and then, you have to be able to prove as much, e.g., where is your money for the down payment, why you have so many inquiries on your otherwise perfect (780 fico) credit report, or why your salary checks (stubs) have any discrepancy -- oh, and let's not forget that your w-2's and 1040's have to be "audited" too!
These requirements are nothing new. As a matter of fact many of these same requirements were in place before, albeit relaxed because everyone wanted to make a deal, and the deal-makers (the lenders), wanted the loans to pass certain audits to be able to package them into mortgage-backed securities that someone else (investors) would be buying/investing in. Well, that pool of investors virtually dried up, and now the only game in town is a pseudo-governmental secondary market, and this one is checking all the paperwork, and making sure the "i's" are dotted and the "t's" crossed -- literally.
So, you want to buy a house? The best thing you could do, as a buyer, is to be ready, willing and ABLE. And this means having the money in the bank -- you ought to have at a minimum a 3.5% of the purchase price for the down payment (for FHA program), plus another 3% of the same purchase price for the expected closing costs. Sure you will be able to negotiate many things, and in some cases "Homepath" sales, you might even get your closing costs paid (credited), and some bonuses if you close during some of their promotional periods. But, don't be too surprised if you have to have everything "squeaky clean" in regards to how you provide your details and the paperwork to support it.
Buying a house isn't any more complicated than it once was, it is now more rigidly reviewed, so, be prepared to give as much as the lender wants, wait as long as the lender takes, and work with all that is put on you to do. You want their money to buy; you now have to play by their new rules. The flip side is that you'll get fantastic values and the best interest rates available for mortgages. So, don't fret, just grin and bear it, oh, and put it in perspective – you’ll buy the house you can afford and enjoy for years to come!
I have had to explain the procedures time and again to buyers who keep reminding me that this isn't the way they did it just a few years ago. The odd thing about these constant reminders is that people who bought a few years back seem to have grown used to just having the paperwork to sign, and are a bit miffed by the simple suggestion that they need to provide proof of just about everything. "Why do I have to do that?" came back a question from a reluctant buyer not long ago. Well, the rules to buy a house have gone back to the "normal" way it once was. In other words, you have to show the bank all that you say, and then, you have to be able to prove as much, e.g., where is your money for the down payment, why you have so many inquiries on your otherwise perfect (780 fico) credit report, or why your salary checks (stubs) have any discrepancy -- oh, and let's not forget that your w-2's and 1040's have to be "audited" too!
These requirements are nothing new. As a matter of fact many of these same requirements were in place before, albeit relaxed because everyone wanted to make a deal, and the deal-makers (the lenders), wanted the loans to pass certain audits to be able to package them into mortgage-backed securities that someone else (investors) would be buying/investing in. Well, that pool of investors virtually dried up, and now the only game in town is a pseudo-governmental secondary market, and this one is checking all the paperwork, and making sure the "i's" are dotted and the "t's" crossed -- literally.
So, you want to buy a house? The best thing you could do, as a buyer, is to be ready, willing and ABLE. And this means having the money in the bank -- you ought to have at a minimum a 3.5% of the purchase price for the down payment (for FHA program), plus another 3% of the same purchase price for the expected closing costs. Sure you will be able to negotiate many things, and in some cases "Homepath" sales, you might even get your closing costs paid (credited), and some bonuses if you close during some of their promotional periods. But, don't be too surprised if you have to have everything "squeaky clean" in regards to how you provide your details and the paperwork to support it.
Buying a house isn't any more complicated than it once was, it is now more rigidly reviewed, so, be prepared to give as much as the lender wants, wait as long as the lender takes, and work with all that is put on you to do. You want their money to buy; you now have to play by their new rules. The flip side is that you'll get fantastic values and the best interest rates available for mortgages. So, don't fret, just grin and bear it, oh, and put it in perspective – you’ll buy the house you can afford and enjoy for years to come!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Advancing Your Brand Through Diversity
Here in San Francisco, California where Anglo (or Euro-Americans?) represent a slight minority, and the rest of the population represent the proverbial melting pot of ethnicity (the diversity that makes this area an exciting microcosm of cultures, languages, traditions and international flavors), companies embracing diversification tend to thrive, while those that don't, with the exception of bigger companies with a history, are either adapting or will disappear under the weight of the economic changes that continue to affect our industry.
For instance, those firms that have adapted typically have teams of one ethnic group or another, e.g., one office in the geographic area popular among Asians have a contingent of agents that not only speak the language but share the culture and are effective at serving that community, thus creating alternative income flows to the firm as a result. They accomplish this by specifically targeting both the public as well as the agents they need to attend to that public. Some companies embracing this mindset in the heyday of the first-time buyer, no money down frenzy established groups deliberately catering to buyers that were targeted by the language or the ethnicity, rightly or not. The idea of diversification isn’t to single out a community for questionable purposes, but rather to cater to the existing needs of the same.
As a former manager in a firm in the San Francisco bay area I witnessed how the company’s culture would spill over to the clients they attracted and served, albeit in a hap-hazardous fashion as opposed to a planned strategy. However, a company must establish a clear objective in undertaking any strategy to reach a specific niche, and what it is prepared to do to make inroads therein.
For starters, a company with such a marketing plan would do well to determine the size, customs, nature and shopping trends of the target group; not unlike the demographic studies done by any major franchise organization prior to undertaking a new location. Alas many real estate companies leave most of these sorts of investigative steps to random samplings, if done at all. A good broker/manager or company leader reviews where business is coming from and goes about creating paradigm shifts either in the recruitment or in the outreach, e.g., marketing, promotions, etc., for such endeavors.
One company where I witnessed this type of insight was a firm that catered to the Latino community in their midst by hiring predominantly Latino agent, in spite of the owner of the company being of Asian decent! Another firm that was located in a predominantly Asian community focused its marketing campaigns in that community by placing strategic billboards in the language of choice and attracting that populace to the firm. Another firm run by a middle-eastern gentleman attracted his client base through television advertising catering to “his” community through targeted ads in the language of choice.
This is a smart approach, albeit, as I pointed out earlier, hap-hazardous. A firm looking to stay viable in a changing economy needs to create an environment where such creative outreach isn’t left to whim or accident or worse, to the imagination of a well meaning agent or group of agents in the office. I recall a major franchise attempting to do something along these lines early on. They went about it in a way that seemed to be right – they even bought a magazine in the target market’s language! However, without a guiding principle, or someone who understood the niche well enough, this quickly went down a predictable path. The company shut down the magazine and all but abandoned their drive to attract the community they targeted.
This diversification isn’t solely about producing marketing pieces in the native language – something that can backfire due to poorly translated concepts if not wording. Rather it is about developing a complete strategy and creating the right venue to accomplishing this – from marketing materials to appropriate dissemination points, e.g., radio, print, fliers, to telecommunications and websites and having the right, trained personnel, including a leader, to complement that effort.
If done properly a company will reap a greater benefit from this type of diversification and keep greater control of a changing market and the niche it is creating or attracting. And it isn’t about leaving any one agent or group of agents to their own devices because this leads to losing control of the very vehicle that is being developed.
Presently there are numerous companies following this trend. However, many of them are doing so through the efforts of an agent or two, who, with some insights have stumbled upon virgin, and potentially lucrative territory. Lets face it, many non-traditional markets lack of information and leadership that is prevalent elsewhere, so it isn’t too difficult to see that one well heeled agent can capture a greater share of a given market. A company could do much more if they created the right approach with the right resources – and it isn’t about investing a great sum of money, after all, look around and see how many banks; title companies, home warranty companies, and other service providers now provide gratis many marketing materials in different languages. What it does require is someone to take the lead to create the right blend of resources, facilities and opportunities to attract the (untapped or under served) group(s) you see, through your investigations, as a viable source of your future business. Oh, and remember to bring on the right people to help you serve them properly – in their language where ever possible.
There are numerous example of how effective this strategy is throughout the country. Some companies have grown to become larger firms just following a simple approach – find a need and fill it, oh, and you don’t have to speak the language, but having the right key people who do is the way to go
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Caveat Emptor or Buyer Beware applies to Realtors too, if only to Beware
Time and again buyers are reminded that when buying a house a prudent thing to do is exercise due diligence in investigating the target house entirely, from neighborhood conditions to possible natural hazards, and as of late, the area’s crime statistics. However, how often do Realtors heed such advice when working areas and homes unfamiliar to them? A recent story of an upcoming trial of a suspected rapist shows why, in addition to “Caveat Emptor,” Realtors, or anyone in service or sales may do well to remember “Praemonitus, praemunitus,” or being forewarned is forearmed
On any given day the average real estate agent is involved with numerous task that pits them face to face with potential buyers or sellers, who, for all intents and purpose, are essentially strangers. As a result of such goings on many otherwise cautious people let their guard down as demonstrated by the case of a woman real estate agent (name withheld), who in early 2008 was allegedly raped and nearly killed by what appeared to be a potential client looking to buy a house.
The unsuspecting agent was the victim of Shawn David Yates, 36, of Corona, who posing as a would be buyer, identifying himself as "Ron Jones" arranged to see a house on Silvestre Court, in Riverside County, at 10 a.m. on March 7, 2008. Without a care, the agent went about showing the house as she’s probably done dozens of times before. However, this time the result was much more than an offer she couldn’t refuse, it was an offer that nearly cost her her life. Yates allegedly ordered the woman to the ground while pointing what appeared to be a gun at her. He bound her wrists and ankles and held the gun to her head while he raped her. Yates proceeded to beat her on the head with the gun. He threatened to kill her, and perhaps would have were it not for the agent’s astuteness, who decided to fight back, "…I'm not going to let him kill me without fighting. I'm going to go down on my terms, not his," she recalls thinking.
Stories like these point out the importance of applying a buddy system and of doing the right things prior to going out to meet any person, regardless of how you came to know of them. Due to the use of the Internet sites where anonymity is paramount, these situations can develop a lot easier. The use of “social networks” makes agents more accessible to the buying and selling community, particularly when you see how much detail is put on these. I venture to say that it also makes them more vulnerable.
The case of this crime and this criminal have thrust into the limelight the importance of exercising common sense in dealing with people in general, especially for those whose daily routine puts them in similar situations. No one is saying that we need to be ultra sensitive to the possibilities of being victimized this way. However, many a time in the routine of selling a house any agent faces such possibility, particularly at the onset. If nothing else, there should be a safety measure incorporated into the agent’s activities. For instance, the agent who is independent rarely confides in anyone I’m going here or there, but rather “books” an appointment to meet someone at the house without so much as a clue who that someone may be.
Incidents like this are not uncommon, there have been others less alarming, e.g., someone showing a house and removing personal effects – common where lock-boxes are used to facilitate showings. Others, such as open house, are prone to having too many people overwhelm an agent, particularly when the house has too many rooms or too many floors to physically man or supervise when more than two people show up at any given moment.
Again, real estate agents being a trusting sort, have accepted some of these situations as “normal” but simple techniques could minimize the risks, if not eliminate them altogether. One way is partnering with another agent; another is to show by appointment (at the office first), to people who have been “screened” by pre-approving their credit and financial position – something that automatically makes that prospect more viable as a possible buyer, and, records their particulars where people will know about them should the need arise.
The case of Yates, who faces seven felonies, including attempted murder, kidnapping and three counts of rape stemming from the 2008 attack, was readily solved because fortunately the real estate agent survived, and the perpetrator left a blood trail leading to his nearby home where police quickly found incriminating evidence and arrested him – leading to his trial.
If nothing else, this case should serve as a wake up call to anyone in any service business, not just Realtor, to exercise caution just like the exhortations to buyers when buying a house, “Caveat Emptor” only for Realtors it should be “Praemonitus, praemunitus”; forewarned is forearmed.
On any given day the average real estate agent is involved with numerous task that pits them face to face with potential buyers or sellers, who, for all intents and purpose, are essentially strangers. As a result of such goings on many otherwise cautious people let their guard down as demonstrated by the case of a woman real estate agent (name withheld), who in early 2008 was allegedly raped and nearly killed by what appeared to be a potential client looking to buy a house.
The unsuspecting agent was the victim of Shawn David Yates, 36, of Corona, who posing as a would be buyer, identifying himself as "Ron Jones" arranged to see a house on Silvestre Court, in Riverside County, at 10 a.m. on March 7, 2008. Without a care, the agent went about showing the house as she’s probably done dozens of times before. However, this time the result was much more than an offer she couldn’t refuse, it was an offer that nearly cost her her life. Yates allegedly ordered the woman to the ground while pointing what appeared to be a gun at her. He bound her wrists and ankles and held the gun to her head while he raped her. Yates proceeded to beat her on the head with the gun. He threatened to kill her, and perhaps would have were it not for the agent’s astuteness, who decided to fight back, "…I'm not going to let him kill me without fighting. I'm going to go down on my terms, not his," she recalls thinking.
Stories like these point out the importance of applying a buddy system and of doing the right things prior to going out to meet any person, regardless of how you came to know of them. Due to the use of the Internet sites where anonymity is paramount, these situations can develop a lot easier. The use of “social networks” makes agents more accessible to the buying and selling community, particularly when you see how much detail is put on these. I venture to say that it also makes them more vulnerable.
The case of this crime and this criminal have thrust into the limelight the importance of exercising common sense in dealing with people in general, especially for those whose daily routine puts them in similar situations. No one is saying that we need to be ultra sensitive to the possibilities of being victimized this way. However, many a time in the routine of selling a house any agent faces such possibility, particularly at the onset. If nothing else, there should be a safety measure incorporated into the agent’s activities. For instance, the agent who is independent rarely confides in anyone I’m going here or there, but rather “books” an appointment to meet someone at the house without so much as a clue who that someone may be.
Incidents like this are not uncommon, there have been others less alarming, e.g., someone showing a house and removing personal effects – common where lock-boxes are used to facilitate showings. Others, such as open house, are prone to having too many people overwhelm an agent, particularly when the house has too many rooms or too many floors to physically man or supervise when more than two people show up at any given moment.
Again, real estate agents being a trusting sort, have accepted some of these situations as “normal” but simple techniques could minimize the risks, if not eliminate them altogether. One way is partnering with another agent; another is to show by appointment (at the office first), to people who have been “screened” by pre-approving their credit and financial position – something that automatically makes that prospect more viable as a possible buyer, and, records their particulars where people will know about them should the need arise.
The case of Yates, who faces seven felonies, including attempted murder, kidnapping and three counts of rape stemming from the 2008 attack, was readily solved because fortunately the real estate agent survived, and the perpetrator left a blood trail leading to his nearby home where police quickly found incriminating evidence and arrested him – leading to his trial.
If nothing else, this case should serve as a wake up call to anyone in any service business, not just Realtor, to exercise caution just like the exhortations to buyers when buying a house, “Caveat Emptor” only for Realtors it should be “Praemonitus, praemunitus”; forewarned is forearmed.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Where Have All The Gurus Gone?
There was a time when getting a real estate license was a formal affair where you would go to licensing school, participate in a classroom setting, took a series of exams, studied -- really studied, then prepared for the dreaded state exam, with all the horror stories of how hard it was to pass it!
And yet, looking back at this from where we are today, facing the inordinate challenges brought on by calamitous lending practices of late, and the mounting foreclosures, pondering the question "...is it time to get a 9 to 5 job?" because the business isn't working the way it is supposed to, we put things in a different perspective.
Some even consider doing something more creative like getting a coach, mentor, or guru to beat them over the head with, "do this," "do that," "do it this way," "don't do it that way," "buy this special high intensity training," etc.
I thought Mike F., Floyd W., Roger B., Joe S., or even Tom H. had strategies to make this business simple, fun and easy (or even "exciting"). Well, if that is the case, what happened? Where have all the gurus and their instantaneous success strategies gone? Obviously, it isn't working if...
1. Agents are leaving the business
2. Licensees are resorting to work two jobs just to make ends meet
3. Dreamers keep thinking this is just a phase and the sun will come out
tomorrow (without doing much to change anything)
4. Folks are looking for an economic cushion while they figure out a better way to do this business, and
5. Some are venturing into enterprises such as, multi-level marketing
Where have all the gurus gone? What happened to the promises of "million dollar" production?
Someone out there is making money on the downside -- it is a given. I just finished re-reading a book by Robert G. Hagstrom, Jr. ("The Warren Buffett Way") on, whom else, Warren Buffet, you know, the billionaire investment "Sage of Omaha".
Well, he says that the shrewd investor invests in the down cycle, and avoids economic indicators, forecasters, so-called experts, analysts, and the likes. Hmm, doesn't that sound like he's saying, he avoids the gurus?
So what makes him so successful (and rich, the richest man on the planet by some accounts)? How does he do it? For starters, he isn't selling real estate! Moreover, he's buying. But what exactly does he buy?
In addition to real estate, which he buys indirectly (when he buys majority stakes -- stocks -- of companies, e.g., Washington Post, Coca Cola, Time-Warner, Sees Candies, etc.), he's buying IT -- the company, the people, the brand, the real estate, etc.
Warren Buffett buys what he, himself, through careful and methodical analysis, determines is the appreciable and potential value of under valued, under performing companies (in spite of the analysts advice to the contrary), and he succeeds because of this.
Now if we are to take this as a basis for someone whose advice we might want to follow, what lessons can we extract from this advice? Might we consider Warren Buffett a good guru to follow in our real estate endeavors? Let's see.
· Is he rich? Yes.
· Does he know how to make money? Yes.
· Is he happy? (By his own account), Yes.
· Does he know what he's doing? Yes.
And believe it or not, in spite of his enormous success he admits to making mistakes along the way. Imagine that!
Well-meaning as many of the real estate gurus may appear to be, too many of them are only in it for the money! There's nothing wrong with that. Who of us wouldn't want to have a successful business that thrives on someone buying what we're selling (even if what we're selling is "common sense")? Imagine if you could package (and sell) this:
1. Teaching sales scripts
2. Reminding people to practice drill and rehearse sales strategies
3. Extolling the benefits of knocking on doors daily
4. Detailing how to create a simplistic business plan
5. Showing how others create marketing pieces to copy from
6. Reminding people to specialize in a given market
7. Promoting the work by referral principle
8. Selling sales tapes/CDs., etc.
Sound familiar? How many of us haven't bought that bit of that common sense? I know I have participated in dozens of such nonsensical presentations by well-intentioned presenters who might have sold something at some time but now devote their livelihood to selling Realtors “common sense”.
So what, if anything can we take from this? Simply put, yes, it is important to learn from someone who knows more than we do. However, it isn't necessary to pay $2,000 or more (per event), as a couple of these gurus charge only to get common sense or some pseudo "coaching" designed to get you thinking or working effectively.
If you're smart, and obviously you have to be in order to have gotten your license, or explore the possibilities, then you're also smart enough to know how to find useful information through the many forums available (including this one). Heck, if you're even applying a little common sense, you'll save some money and pick up training materials or books or tapes or whatever from your public library or from the REALTORS resources -- FREE!
I for one am not downplaying the importance of education or training. However, I don't believe that many trainer's good intentions are worth as much as some of them want to charge, and believe me, some of them know how much the top agents make (millions?) and therefore figure, I want a little of that too!
Wherever the gurus are, God Bless them. For the rest of us, let's get practical -- we're all business people, let's make our business work with an effective plan, with a consistent work ethic, with a positive approach, with a good crew, and with the end in mind.
Along the way, if we do want to visit a guru, let's go to the library and check out their book first before making an investment.
And yet, looking back at this from where we are today, facing the inordinate challenges brought on by calamitous lending practices of late, and the mounting foreclosures, pondering the question "...is it time to get a 9 to 5 job?" because the business isn't working the way it is supposed to, we put things in a different perspective.
Some even consider doing something more creative like getting a coach, mentor, or guru to beat them over the head with, "do this," "do that," "do it this way," "don't do it that way," "buy this special high intensity training," etc.
I thought Mike F., Floyd W., Roger B., Joe S., or even Tom H. had strategies to make this business simple, fun and easy (or even "exciting"). Well, if that is the case, what happened? Where have all the gurus and their instantaneous success strategies gone? Obviously, it isn't working if...
1. Agents are leaving the business
2. Licensees are resorting to work two jobs just to make ends meet
3. Dreamers keep thinking this is just a phase and the sun will come out
tomorrow (without doing much to change anything)
4. Folks are looking for an economic cushion while they figure out a better way to do this business, and
5. Some are venturing into enterprises such as, multi-level marketing
Where have all the gurus gone? What happened to the promises of "million dollar" production?
Someone out there is making money on the downside -- it is a given. I just finished re-reading a book by Robert G. Hagstrom, Jr. ("The Warren Buffett Way") on, whom else, Warren Buffet, you know, the billionaire investment "Sage of Omaha".
Well, he says that the shrewd investor invests in the down cycle, and avoids economic indicators, forecasters, so-called experts, analysts, and the likes. Hmm, doesn't that sound like he's saying, he avoids the gurus?
So what makes him so successful (and rich, the richest man on the planet by some accounts)? How does he do it? For starters, he isn't selling real estate! Moreover, he's buying. But what exactly does he buy?
In addition to real estate, which he buys indirectly (when he buys majority stakes -- stocks -- of companies, e.g., Washington Post, Coca Cola, Time-Warner, Sees Candies, etc.), he's buying IT -- the company, the people, the brand, the real estate, etc.
Warren Buffett buys what he, himself, through careful and methodical analysis, determines is the appreciable and potential value of under valued, under performing companies (in spite of the analysts advice to the contrary), and he succeeds because of this.
Now if we are to take this as a basis for someone whose advice we might want to follow, what lessons can we extract from this advice? Might we consider Warren Buffett a good guru to follow in our real estate endeavors? Let's see.
· Is he rich? Yes.
· Does he know how to make money? Yes.
· Is he happy? (By his own account), Yes.
· Does he know what he's doing? Yes.
And believe it or not, in spite of his enormous success he admits to making mistakes along the way. Imagine that!
Well-meaning as many of the real estate gurus may appear to be, too many of them are only in it for the money! There's nothing wrong with that. Who of us wouldn't want to have a successful business that thrives on someone buying what we're selling (even if what we're selling is "common sense")? Imagine if you could package (and sell) this:
1. Teaching sales scripts
2. Reminding people to practice drill and rehearse sales strategies
3. Extolling the benefits of knocking on doors daily
4. Detailing how to create a simplistic business plan
5. Showing how others create marketing pieces to copy from
6. Reminding people to specialize in a given market
7. Promoting the work by referral principle
8. Selling sales tapes/CDs., etc.
Sound familiar? How many of us haven't bought that bit of that common sense? I know I have participated in dozens of such nonsensical presentations by well-intentioned presenters who might have sold something at some time but now devote their livelihood to selling Realtors “common sense”.
So what, if anything can we take from this? Simply put, yes, it is important to learn from someone who knows more than we do. However, it isn't necessary to pay $2,000 or more (per event), as a couple of these gurus charge only to get common sense or some pseudo "coaching" designed to get you thinking or working effectively.
If you're smart, and obviously you have to be in order to have gotten your license, or explore the possibilities, then you're also smart enough to know how to find useful information through the many forums available (including this one). Heck, if you're even applying a little common sense, you'll save some money and pick up training materials or books or tapes or whatever from your public library or from the REALTORS resources -- FREE!
I for one am not downplaying the importance of education or training. However, I don't believe that many trainer's good intentions are worth as much as some of them want to charge, and believe me, some of them know how much the top agents make (millions?) and therefore figure, I want a little of that too!
Wherever the gurus are, God Bless them. For the rest of us, let's get practical -- we're all business people, let's make our business work with an effective plan, with a consistent work ethic, with a positive approach, with a good crew, and with the end in mind.
Along the way, if we do want to visit a guru, let's go to the library and check out their book first before making an investment.
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