It’s All in Your Head
Being from Michigan I like some of the quotes by Henry Ford, one of my favorites is, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford said this over 100 years ago and it still holds true.
Spiritual Laws
Several years ago a book became very popular, The Secret and it was controversial in many circles. I found most of the concepts true and the ones I recently needed to implement again were the Law Of Attraction and Positive Affirmations. When I first started in Real Estate 14 years ago, I made a list of affirmations and carried them around with me every day.
• Today I will connect with 5 people in a meaningful way.
• Today I will learn one new thing about real estate and put it into practice
• This year I will make XXXX in commissions
You get the point.
Do What is Necessary
Now more than ever we need to focus on the positive as we go about our business. Recently an opportunity arose to speak with a Team Leader in Ann Arbor but not in my company. He told me he got rid of cable in his house and refused to watch the news. He had his best year ever selling over 20M.
Be Grateful
One way to stay positive is to have a heart of gratefulness. Focus on the good things that are happening in the midst of a recession. Being in the midst of a very challenging short sale, all of these things were rumbling through my mind today as I realized regardless of what happens with this specific transaction, I have my family, my health and a wonderful 31year marriage.
Can we Keep Moving?
Dan Connolly
February 2, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Missy,
I agree that it is all about keeping a positive mental attitude… Not a false positive or a pretend positive, but a real one. It starts with not listening to the doom and gloom news and knowing that there are still people out there buying homes today.
There are the grandparents that want to be near their kids, the young couples who are recent grads newly married, the people transferring in with a new job, the people having kids who need more room, the investors moving from the stock market to the rental property market…the list goes on and on.
Not everyone is afraid of losing their job, and the ones who aren’t may still buy houses this year. It’s just a matter of finding them and the first step is knowing that they are still out there.
Obviously there are some parts of the country where there are less buyers than others. But even in the slower markets there are still some people buying. Just find them, and when you do, if you have a good strong positive attitude, there is a much better chance that they will want to work with you!
Marvin Jensen
February 2, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Missy,
“have a heart of gratefulness” says it all!
Thanks for the great words!
Lisa Sanderson
February 3, 2009 at 6:57 am
You’re reading my mind, Missy! I was just discussing this very subject yesterday. It is definitely harder to stay positive these days, but what is the alternative?
Todd Waller
February 3, 2009 at 10:43 am
Missy,
I wouldn’t know this Team Leader would I? 🙂
You are bang on right about having a “heart of gratefulness” in this market as a real estate professional. As professionals, we MUST maintain a grasp on the realities of our market. Furthermore, as professionals, we need to be able to convey that reality to our clients.
If we as agents maintain a positive, can-do outlook, we automatically become attractive to our clients and soon to be clients. Just as our eyes are drawn to a lit candle in a dark room, so too are folks looking for hope when none seems present.
Missy Caulk
February 3, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@ToddWaller, tee hee. Didn’t know if you would want the mention.
Brian Block
February 3, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Missy,
Since replacing my living room television with at 65 gallon fish tank, I find it very easy to stay positive. Just avoid the news and make your own reality. The fish (we bought 4 new ones today) never report anything about car crashes, 3 alarm fires, or foreclosures.
Kim Wood
February 4, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Your words are always so encouraging 🙂 Whether via a blog post or phone call. Heart of Gratefulness = very important no matter what might be going on in your life.
I used to fall asleep to the news shows….. now…. I fall asleep to Twitter streams…. at least it’s more ‘fun’ 🙂
Missy Caulk
February 4, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Kim, you make me smile.