The Proof’s in the Results
The other day I was with a small group talking to Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle. In discussing one of his pitchers he said that the hitters usually will tell you how effective you are as a pitcher. Translation: get the hitters out, and you’re doing your job. Don’t and you’re not.
Oddly enough, this got me thinking about my own career as an accused self made mediocrity. When first affixed with this label several months ago I took considerable offense. But then I realized the real feedback is how I performed … either I did my job and sold houses or I didn’t. It’s about that simple.
Last year, I had 20 closed sales plus two other closings referred to other agents. Clearly, I’m not Russell Shaw, though the gross commissions I earned since the switch to RE/MAX placed me in the top 17% or so of franchise agents – and that coming in about nine months of work.
Then again, maybe I overdid it. It seems that just over half that number of sales is all one needs to close to become an expert on who else might be a self-made mediocrity. Who knew real estate sales expertise when measured was in reverse proportion to actual closed sales, the non-PETA approved skinned cats we all seek?
At least, I assume that’s what the name of the real estate sales game is … actually selling.
As for the other particulars, I’m muddling along with a PR 4 on my blog and a PR 3 on my local websites. My only solace in regards to these inferior rankings is I’m currently generating about as many leads as I can handle, and a bit more than I can handle solo if I want to take off any time for such things such as sleep, dinner and possibly seeing my family.
In the same vane, my Technorati ranking is woefully inadequate compared to the real estate sales experts. I guess I’m fortunate in that no buyer or seller has ever wanted to know my ranking before hiring me as their agent. And my wife’s never looked at me with bedroom eyes and asked me to show her my big Technorati ranking because my BlogTopSites ranking got her sooo hot …
… Wow … Where was I?
I don’t have signs where Tobey is the featured attraction and I can’t program php from scratch (though I’m just handy enough with a WordPress blog to generate business.) But I did have five sets of buyers in town two weeks ago (two of the five purchasing), another half-dozen coming in this month and another couple in the wings waiting for their own homes to sell. It may be mediocre, but it’s enough to keep me busy.
Of course, the other thing I don’t have is hypocrisy. I don’t tout freedom of expression and then bash those wishing to exercise it across the heads like a defenseless harp seal. I don’t position myself as an unabashed bully, all the while hoping in the darkness of the night that no one actually looks to see my production ahead of pressing the PayPal button.
And I don’t invite people to my blog by encouraging comments and then take offense when those comments aren’t sufficiently sycophantic, like there aren’t enough folks breathlessly parroting Bundini Brown as it is. It wouldn’t seem that spitting on the carpet would matter when the spittle’s falling on yards of accumulated feces, but that’s not my call.
Truth be told, my business still isn’t where I want it to be. This is the year I want to incorporate a buyers’ agent, all the while making sure I’ve got enough business of my own so as to be able to allow someone else to earn the money on my behalf. And there’s always the next major sales standard RE/MAX has, though it’s going to take more than a few $43,000 homes to get to that point. Stranger things have happened, though.
A self-made mediocrity? Perhaps. But an honest one. And one that’s outperforming more than a few others.
