There’s always something to howl about.

2009 started yesterday…

One of the coolest parts about my job is that I get to hang out with some of the best REALTORS that Louisville has. That’s not hyperbole. I am not blowing sunshine up anyone’s hindquarters. It is simply the truth. Often, when I am lost in my own thoughts or troubles, or in solving the latest issue at the office, or maybe even worrying a little too much about the latest market news, one of these great people will snap me out it.

Case in point.

Michael Higdon is one of the agents in our office. He dropped by on Tuesday, and plopped down in a chair across from my desk. “2009 starts tomorrow, and nobody around here knows it.”, he announced.
“At least they are not acting like it.” It kept coming. “They are gonna slow down…do less prospecting…when what we are doing today will be the checks that get cashed in January.”

*2009 starts Wednesday, October 1.” he said with finality.

My first response (in my own mind) was “That’s a great way of mentally overcoming all of the negativity.” (I did not say it out loud, but my mind was still churning on the fact that my wife had just called with an plumbing issue at home, I had not finished up the taxes, the incessant bad economic news, a 5 year old nephew that had just been diagnosed with leukemia, and a myriad of other issues….the same ones that ALL of us have).

He went on to chat with me about some of the things he was doing to CREATE the RESULTS and the WORLD that he desires for himself and his family (and more importantly how he was going to not let the outside world be the arbiter of his efforts). Bottomline: He was taking ACTION. As my mind let go of the troubles of the moment, I started to focus more clearly on the IMPORTANT things that needed to be done. I gained some clarity that rather than worrying about the stuff I could not control, I could turn the knobs that I was able to and, as a result, create the results that I desired, even if they did not come easily.

Mike, if you read this, thanks for helping me see that with clarity.

I turned off the news. I went to the hospital to pay a visit to Shawn. I started pushing to build some LOCAL relationships with other business folks that will be helping my local online authority and will send traffic to our site for the foreseeable future and beyond….and got some friends together to help me stay accountable …well, you get the idea.

What Mike did was stop me from kicking my own butt (with assumptions and worry) and instead supplanted that with some much needed shoe leather of his own (grin). We all need that sometimes. Especially me.

You know, I am starting to understand why our office did almost exactly the same amount of business in September 2008 as they did in September 2007. (granted, we have been off the previous months, we are not perfect-grin) But it is people like Mike Higdon…

Thanks again, sir.