There is an old fable that I think applies to numerous circumstances, one of them being real estate professionals. It goes like this:
Mr. Chicken and Mr. Pig are walking down the street.
Mr. Chicken says, “I think we should open a restaurant together”
Mr. Pig replies, “Interesting…what will we call it?”
Mr. Chicken responds, “I have the perfect name; Ham-n-Eggs!”
Mr. Pig gathers his thoughts and eventually replies, “No thanks”
“Why not!?”, Mr. Chicken exclaimed.
“Because you are only interested, I’d have to be invested” – Mr. Pig
Take a moment and apply this concept to your professional life. Are you simply interested in what you do on a daily basis? Or are you investing yourself into it?
How about your colleagues? Or your brokerage?
Now is a better time than ever to take an honest look at your commitment level to the industry, and decide where to invest yourself. Simply put, I’m afraid that only being interested, will not suffice in the near future of real estate.
That sounds great; but HOW or WHERE should we invest?
Consider these three things:
Technology
It think it’s safe to say that everyone is interested in technology these days. New products are launching left and right; all (or most) with a value proposition for you. Here’s the problem, being interested in this stuff is fun…REALLY fun. But how are you going to use it to YOUR advantage? This is where you need to invest your time, and brain power:
- Take an ample amount of time to test drive various products.
- Learn the ins & outs of how they can affect (and hopefully improve) your daily work load.
- Ask other professionals and consumers for feedback.
- When you pick a product; master it.
- Don’t get complacent and comfortable; make time to start back at Step 1.
Community
In case you haven’t noticed, the world around you is becoming more hyper-connected.
According to Cisco, by the year 2015, annual internet traffic will reach a zettabyte; almost 200 times the total size of all words ever spoke by humans. Furthermore, the number of connected devices around the globe is predicted to rise to 50 billion+ within five years. So what does all of this mumbo jumbo mean? It means that accessing information about real estate, and real estate agents, is going to become even easier for consumers. It means that instead of being interested in networking, you should invest into your communities:
- Get out of your comfort zone.
- Learn about, and listen to, your community continuously.
- Find ways to get involved – Volunteer, Chamber of Commerce, etc.
- Participate in online communities. Key word = participate.
- Connect with new people in person and online.
Lifestyle
I believe that an individual’s lifestyle transcends their own satisfaction and eventually becomes their “personal brand”. I also believe that many of us are interested in a better lifestyle (and brand), but are we actually invested in it? Strong personal brands are contagious, and are becoming more and more important as their visibility is increasing:
- Assess what your “brand” looks like to others, in person and online.
- Stay true to your word.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle; mentally, physically, and spiritually.
- Guard your reputation…but remember, you can’t please everyone.
- Be responsive and respect people’s time.
Invest in your future. Be a pig. Have a great day!
