The art of growing up
My mom used to love everything I made. As a kid, this included finger-paintings, poems, and music. She loved all of it, and never hesitated to tell me how awesome it was.
There was a point as a teenager when everything I made wasn’t quite worthy for a place on my mom’s fridge. There was an unspoken expectation that I would produce only my best work. I couldn’t sneak bad grades, lousy projects, or plagiarized essays past my mom.
This used to bother me deeply. Why couldn’t I just cruise through my teenage years? My friends didn’t work as hard on their school work. I was passing all of my classes.
I wonder what my teachers thought of our work? It was clear to them who really explored the lessons, spent time interpreting them, and who created meaningful responses to the concepts presented.
Open letter to my industry:
In my profession of real estate, lazy students mail out 33 pre-fab marketing pieces a year. “C” students take cell phone pictures for their listings. Lethargic students allow others to build powerful content platforms, and simply put their name on the product like they made it themselves. This is not your best stuff. And it doesn’t deserve a spot on your mom’s fridge.
Sure, you passed the class though, right? What’s the big deal?
Well, you are slowly killing our industry. We are losing clients to the market itself, and each bad experience a consumer has as a result of your laziness further perpetuates the lousy stereotypes of our industry and forces the agent population closer to irrelevancy.
Accountability in real estate
No one is keeping us accountable the way in which my mom held me accountable.
“A” students hold themselves accountable. They create original work. They don’t copy. They research, audit, and adjust.
I want to make stuff that is worthy of my mom’s fridge. And I think you can make stuff that makes it onto her fridge, too. Just don’t expect to send her a million mailers, trap her with a “squeeze page,” or ask her for a referral when she hasn’t even met you. This is not your best stuff. And it won’t make it on her fridge.
Michael Gibbons
November 14, 2012 at 9:45 am
more like head in the sand:
Michael Gibbons
November 14, 2012 at 9:49 am
1) NAR needs to reconstitute the professional stature of Realtors* 2) do something with online – just fix it 3) buyers pay “fee” for buy side expertise, sellers pay “fee” for sell side – this buyer pay all is like something arcane maritime law from the 18th century…put me in charge those would be my objectives and fixing those three fixes everything – *make Realtors the number one respected profession – yes above nurses …take it ON I dare you
Andrew Mckay
November 14, 2012 at 10:29 am
This will never happen but simply after 2 years probation if a realtor isn’t grossing X amount of commissions or selling/buying X amount of homes they loose their license. How can someone represent the client well if they aren’t continually getting experience and becoming better by actually working and closing offers.
Steve Nicewarner
November 14, 2012 at 10:55 am
This is one of the things NAR should be doing — driving all Realtors towards excellence as the standard
JimLee
November 16, 2012 at 8:39 am
@Steve Nicewarner Just for the record NAR has always encouraged and promulgated excellence in our profession. The true issue is the Realtors that won’t take the time and make the investments to take advantage of the tools and training available.
My partner and I just got back from the NAR Convention in Orlando; 4 days crammed packed with classes, networking, and the trade show full of new and existing products to make you better and more successful.
Greg Fischer
November 16, 2012 at 1:32 pm
@JimLee @Steve Nicewarner interesting points Jim, and kind of at the heart of this article. We are encouraged to do well. So are our kids. We all are. Its up to us as individuals to take the tools, education, and training that we receive and make excellent stuff with it
beachtowne
November 14, 2012 at 11:23 am
What’s up with your website? I honestly was expecting to be blown away since you are up on your soapbox and all. It is unique, no doubt, but how exactly is it providing “customer value and community enrichment”? Teach me, Greg.
Greg Fischer
November 16, 2012 at 1:27 pm
@beachtowne dude, thanks for checking it out. I’m not coordinated enough to stand on a soapbox, I just fall off every time. But I do like to write about stuff thats on my mind – so if you want to have a conversation, great. If you want to snark away in a corner – than do that.
stellaremarketing
November 14, 2012 at 11:36 am
Thanks for article Greg. After years of working in and around real estate Ive always been shocked at the poor performance ‘students’ but then I am reminded of how this is the case in nearly EVERY profession – from teaching thru management. It does make the stronger and more engaged shine however 🙂
gregcook01
November 14, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Seems to me this is not NARs problem but a broker problem. Unfortunately, the economics of our business have caused many brokers to become landlords collecting rent checks each month. Succeeding a market requires hard work AND local knowledge and NAR can’t provide that.
Of course I could be wrong
Greg Fischer
November 16, 2012 at 1:35 pm
@gregcook01 Greg – interesting comment about brokers acting like landlords collecting rent checks. That sounds about right. Also, as far as tools helping us do our jobs….. I look at it this way. You can give everyone a hammer. Some people will use it to build a birdhouse, and some people will use it to build a castle. Its our own prerogative.
annarborrealtor
November 14, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Greg, I’ve often wondered if Realtors (some) had 9-5 jobs how they would make it. Seriously, I have more leads than I know what to do with and it is hard to find buyer agents that want to work. (((sigh)))
Greg Fischer
November 16, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@annarborrealtor amazing how much business is just out there for the taking
gregcook01
November 16, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Greg, you’re right but I think the more immediate question, is who will pick up the hammer at all?
yoweathers
December 3, 2012 at 7:57 pm
You brought out valid points. It helps to reminds me to make sure I am doing “A” work. Thanks