I was talking to a pretty large group of agents yesterday and during the break I asked my standard questions: “So, how’s business?” “Are you keeping busy?” Over and over I heard the same two answers. One agent would say, “No, it’s been slow and it’s killin’ me.” The next agent would say “Yeah, I’m real busy, but every transaction takes three times as much work and pays half what it did. It’s killin’ me.” Kind of reminded me of a classic Woody Allen joke about two old ladies sitting at a resort in the Catskills. The first one complains, “The food here is terrible.” The second one replies, “Yes, and such small portions.”
I know, I know – this space is normally reserved for big-brain posts and how-to tutorials all written to help you find your bigger, better, more passionate place in this bowl of cold porridge we call real estate. Heck, just for writing this I might get drummed out of the “challenge them till they drop” school of bootcamp real esate training that cost me $19.99 and four cereal box tops. But listen, if you’re making it right now – despite the poor food and small portions – then you are a success and when the tides eventually rise, you’re going to reap ever increasing rewards. (Unless, of course, those tides drown you, in which case your reward is in the mail… please don’t contact me.) So give yourself a pat on the back. Better still, take yourself out to dinner this weekend and make damn sure to show this post to your wife or husband. They should spend the better part of that dinner telling you how impressed they are that you’re still making it. (Wouldn’t hurt if they commented on your tremendous bouyancy either.) Oh, and make sure you order dessert too – something decadent and fattening. Just tell the waiter that no matter how bad the dessert is, you want a large portion. It’ll be okay, I promise. Besides, you deserve it.
Keith Lutz says:
Can I send the bill to you? Things are never busy enough, but hey that’s life!
July 30, 2010 — 12:58 pm
Jim Towner says:
Sean,
I have been teaching for the last three days. You and I saw and heard the same thing. This is the “New Normal”. This is the market and as you observed those agents who recognize the challenges as new opportunities will succeed and flourish. This is good thing. The successful agents will identify the new skills, practice them, refine them and enjoy a hard earned living.
Regardless of whatever work or profession we are engaged…there are new challenges. This is a natural thing. Can anyone possibly believe or not understand that the Real Estate Sales field is overcrowded? The “New Normal” is Thomas Malthus in action.
July 31, 2010 — 4:23 am
Marc Knight says:
Those who want to partake of “this cold bowl of porridge we call real estate” must have resilience woven deeply into his/her fabric. During tough times, such as what we’re currently experiencing, we are left with no choice but to grow stronger. Remember that bad times have a certain value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss. Make the most out of it…
July 31, 2010 — 7:24 am
Alex Cortez says:
There are people whose entire existence is based on complaining (and it seems as though I’m on a path to meeting every single one of those people). Funny stuff, Sean.
July 31, 2010 — 6:29 pm
Susan Zanzonico says:
I had the fancy dinner and dessert last night ‘before’ I read your post, but I’ll gladly do it again soon. This was an enjoyable, amusing read…thanks!
July 31, 2010 — 7:10 pm
Taylor White, PHD says:
Now is the time to go lean and mean…get down good systems.
August 10, 2010 — 4:38 pm