One of the coolest parts about my job is that I get to hang out with some of the best REALTORS that Louisville has. That’s not hyperbole. I am not blowing sunshine up anyone’s hindquarters. It is simply the truth. Often, when I am lost in my own thoughts or troubles, or in solving the latest issue at the office, or maybe even worrying a little too much about the latest market news, one of these great people will snap me out it.
Case in point.
Michael Higdon is one of the agents in our office. He dropped by on Tuesday, and plopped down in a chair across from my desk. “2009 starts tomorrow, and nobody around here knows it.”, he announced.
“At least they are not acting like it.” It kept coming. “They are gonna slow down…do less prospecting…when what we are doing today will be the checks that get cashed in January.”
*2009 starts Wednesday, October 1.” he said with finality.
My first response (in my own mind) was “That’s a great way of mentally overcoming all of the negativity.” (I did not say it out loud, but my mind was still churning on the fact that my wife had just called with an plumbing issue at home, I had not finished up the taxes, the incessant bad economic news, a 5 year old nephew that had just been diagnosed with leukemia, and a myriad of other issues….the same ones that ALL of us have).
He went on to chat with me about some of the things he was doing to CREATE the RESULTS and the WORLD that he desires for himself and his family (and more importantly how he was going to not let the outside world be the arbiter of his efforts). Bottomline: He was taking ACTION. As my mind let go of the troubles of the moment, I started to focus more clearly on the IMPORTANT things that needed to be done. I gained some clarity that rather than worrying about the stuff I could not control, I could turn the knobs that I was able to and, as a result, create the results that I desired, even if they did not come easily.
Mike, if you read this, thanks for helping me see that with clarity.
I turned off the news. I went to the hospital to pay a visit to Shawn. I started pushing to build some LOCAL relationships with other business folks that will be helping my local online authority and will send traffic to our site for the foreseeable future and beyond….and got some friends together to help me stay accountable …well, you get the idea.
What Mike did was stop me from kicking my own butt (with assumptions and worry) and instead supplanted that with some much needed shoe leather of his own (grin). We all need that sometimes. Especially me.
You know, I am starting to understand why our office did almost exactly the same amount of business in September 2008 as they did in September 2007. (granted, we have been off the previous months, we are not perfect-grin) But it is people like Mike Higdon…
Thanks again, sir.
Bob says:
I’m sorry to hear about your nephew, Eric.
October 2, 2008 — 8:56 am
Eric Blackwell says:
Thanks, Bob.
He is a fighter and we are going to support their family big time. That is the good that comes from tough times.
Best;
Eric
October 2, 2008 — 9:41 am
Geno Petro says:
Eric, Great post. I once knew a guy who beginning October 1st started making each day 2 days (Midnight to Noon. Then Noon to Midnight) to reach his year end goals and have momentum into the new year. Always sounded like a good idea–you know, the kind I never follow up on.
I wish the best for your nephew. (the taxes, too.)
G.
October 2, 2008 — 10:52 am
Geno Petro says:
Eric, Great post. I once knew a guy who began October 1st started making each day 2 days (Midnight to Noon. Then Noon to Midnight) to reach his year end goals and have momentum into the new year. Always sounded like a good idea–you know, the kind I never follow up on.
I wish the best for your nephew. (the taxes, too.)
G.
October 2, 2008 — 10:52 am
J Boyer Chatham NJ says:
very good Eric. I was just at a RE/MAX training session, and the speaker took the first few minutes to say, that the market is as good as you believe it is, project it is to the general public, and act like it is. He went on to say, don’t delude yourself or others, just stay positive, as this is a great opportunity. Many REALTORS may be getting out of the business, and many others are cutting way back on everything they do in an attempt to try to make it financially to the end of this cycle. The wrong thing to do, keep prospecting, keep blogging, keep getting better, and you will find more then enough business now to get to the end of the cycle, and then you will be in a much better possition as compaired to your competitors when the market cycle does change again.
I totally agree with him, and you.
I wish you and your nephew all the best, stay positive, and do everything you can to overcome the challenges of life & business.
October 2, 2008 — 11:43 am
Keahi Pelayo says:
Thanks for the reminder. Since what we do today produces results in 90 days, we are already in 09.
Aloha,
Kehai
October 2, 2008 — 2:44 pm
Julie Anne says:
The year is not over yet. There are still cash buyers and buyers that want quick closings closing before the end of the year. We always finish the year with great months even December. Now is the time to visit and contact our database. My team works harder at the end of the year than any other time and it always pays off.
Great Post!
Good luck with your nephew.
Julie Anne
Keller Williams Success
http://www.homesbyjulieanne.com
October 3, 2008 — 7:10 am
Eric Blackwell says:
Thanks Julie.
Pleased to make you acquaintance. Since you posted a link to your site, I went there and noticed that you have one of the Number1Expert sites that was a hot topic a few weeks back.
If you go to this page: http://www.homesbyjulieanne.com/myhomes.asp and scroll to the VERY bottom you will see that N1Expert stuck a “Trulia Widget” into your site.
You may not even know it is there. (And if you WANT it there, that is OK, I guess…). Just wanted to tell you that you are helping propel Trulia to the top for the term Palatine Real Estate.
BTW- you can ask Number 1 Expert and they will remove it. They did for an agent in our office. That way you are not helping someone that is competing with you for rankings.
Thanks so much for the best wishes re: Shawn…we got some good news yesterday with the results of the spinal tap…so today is a good day.
Best;
Eric
October 3, 2008 — 7:55 am
Marc Rasmussen says:
Eric,
Sorry to hear about your nephew.
Staying positive will help us get through these trying times. Hopefully, in a few years we will look back on this and be able to laugh about it. We certainly will be wiser.
I was writing a blog post last night and needed some statistics about homes sales in my area. I had to do a double take. In Sarasota and Manatee (Florida) counties there have been over 8,000 properties sell so far this year. That is not bad for a smaller area. Everyone has the misconception that nothing is moving. While these numbers may be down from a few years ago there is still activity and the ability to make money.
I hope no one views this as bragging (I’m not) but I am actually have a pretty good year in terms of sales. Luck, hard work, whatever. It can be done in tough times.
October 4, 2008 — 6:17 am
Eric Blackwell says:
@Geno- Thanks! Especially for the kind words on the TAXES. Look up procrastinate in the dictionary. There’s a picture of me–hehe.
@Marc-
Thanks. You are one of the hardest working people I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting in this business. One day soon I will write about the trials you have been through (with your permission). I admire you and respect you for your battles with idiocy…has not gone unnoticed. With you, I know it was no luck…
Best;
Eric
October 4, 2008 — 8:15 am
Marc Rasmussen says:
Hey Eric,
Thank you very much for the compliments. Feel free to write something about it. I would greatly appreciate it. 😉
October 4, 2008 — 11:56 am
Tony Sena says:
Eric,
I am sorry to hear about your nephew!
In regards to 2009 starting October 1st, I couldn’t agree more. What you do today usually is an investment in your future. What I notice with most real estate agents is that they don’t invest enough of their time doing things to create future business like building your online presence. Most real estate agents are all about the today business and not about the future business.
Just my 2 cents!
October 5, 2008 — 9:37 am
Al Donohue | Ridgewood Real Estate Guy says:
Eric,
Excellent post and very timely topic for me.
I was just sending an email out to our 60 agents with the agenda for our Tuesday office meeting. I am giving a presentation at the meeting but I have not decided on a topic as yet. My email just said the presentation would be “short and upbeat”. After I clicked “send” I went to my Google Reader and stumbled upon your post. The sentence below was all the inspiration I needed. Now I know what my presentation is going to be about.
“I gained some clarity that rather than worrying about the stuff I could not control, I could turn the knobs that I was able to and, as a result, create the results that I desired, even if they did not come easily.”
Thanks for the inspiration and please thank Mike for me too.
-Al
October 12, 2008 — 2:04 pm
Eric Blackwell says:
Al-
You are more than welcome. You just thanked Mike as well! (no need for me to do it.) He reads BHB pretty regularly.
Best;
Eric
October 12, 2008 — 2:09 pm