In response to this post Jim Gatos wrote:
Russell,I wholeheartedly agree.. I also found (by accident, actually, this
http://www.shaftingrealtors.com/roger_butcher_false_statements.htm
First, a little background info on me.. I have been in real estate since 1985 full time. In all those years, depending on the year, my energy level, and plans, I have closed a high or over 50 sales (with a full time assistant and a buyer agent) and a low of around 12 sales (I was verrrryyy slow and busy with personal issues). Presently I don’t have an assistant. I can say, I learned a lot from Mr. Butcher, in the 1990’s, however, I think his methods are now outmoded and very expensive. I also took Floyd Wickman, Mike Ferry, and Brian Buffini.
Of all those, I would say Floyd & Brian were probably the two I can attribute numerous sales to, and with Roger, I can too say I made money in using his systems.The problem is they advocate working expireds and fsbo’s. And that’s fine, it was a lot easier before the do not call list. Except Buffini, who is completely into personal referrals. They all have something to say, and I think I find them all invaluable. Hoewever, I honestly think YOU have more to teach us.
The sad part is, a lot of people won’t take up your generous offering because it’s free. Some people have to pay for something to find value.
Having been in the business for over 20 years, I will listen to everything you say. You’re the king, and I think your style is also very straight shooting.
It did concern me a bit to see L. Ron Hubbard quotes when you recommend tipsforsuccess.org, however, honestly speaking, I found the website extremely useful and informative. I signed up for the weekly newsletter, and I even did the goal setting exercises. Honestly, they were the BEST goal setting exercises I have ever ever seen. Some folks are very very apprehensive about Scientology, and even afraid. It seems there are two very strong sides to that issue.
You keep ’em coming. I’ll keep listening!
Thanks
Jim
First, thank you for your response, Jim. I understand, appreciate and agree with everything you had to say. I believe that Floyd Wickman and Brian Buffini are both not only helpful but completely honest and decent people, as well. As Buffini has made a career out of being a nice guy – I don’t see how he could be anything but that. Mike Ferry seems to usually fall into the category of the anti-social personality that I initially wrote about when I first posted the link to tipsforsuccess.org. The problem develops when one is in a business (helping Realtors) and derives their sole source of income from that activity and the money becomes more important than the help. For some it was never about anything else but them making money from the activity and for others they started with a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of the people they came into contact with. It is for this reason – that if I ever “have” to charge money for any of our products – anything I personally receive will become a direct donation to charity. I don’t want anything I am saying or recommending to be colored in any way.
You are exactly my target public for what I am going to be doing. You are a nice, honest person who is intelligent and who has had some ups and downs. A good friend of mine, Dean Selvey – I believe he will be announced as the top Re/Max agent in the world for 2006, at their convention in Atlanta on Tuesday – thanked me again last night for the help I had been to him over the years. One of the pieces of wisdom I had passed along to him was the data on the anti-social personality. He had learned it well enough to be able to directly handle and effectively help others with this knowledge. He has never taken a course or been in a Scientology organization – what he knows of Ron Hubbard’s writings is what I’ve passed along to him over lunch. It was those experiences with Dean that got me to thinking about the impact I could have by taking pieces of the administrative technology (how to run organizations and handle groups) and making them broadly available. I won’t be selling anything, trying to convert anyone, or doing anything but sharing knowledge that I have personally observed to be true. If it doesn’t have direct application on to how to be a more effective, more productive, more stable and more successful real estate agent, it won’t be part of what I will be covering. In short; more of what I’ve been doing here since I first arrived. 🙂
With that in mind, here is an essay I found on tipsforsuccess.org that I wanted to share with everyone. It is called “The Joy of Creating”.
Jim Gatos says:
Well, Russell, I was shocked (pleasantly) to see your response in the form of a post!.
Thank you. I didn’t that type of answer. I may as well elaborate on a couple of points, for clarification purposes.
About 3 years ago, I went to a Roger Butcher seminar in the Boston Area. I don’t know if I still have it, but he handed out a workbook I believed had your picture and “quot”.. That’s the first time I ever heard of you… The
519″ listings part was amazing! Didn’t think much of it then however. I just had a hard time “envisioning” yourself doing that much business with Butcher’s systems, which can be rather time consuming, to say. I figured you “tweaked” his systems. Come to find that preceding link, all credibility in Roger Butcher went out the door. I actually heard him say you were on his system, you left and went to another system, and made less money! Then you went back, and recouped your losses! In a two year period. Maybe I should have called you then.. LOL…
Sure, I can see your reasoning behind NOT charging people. I have been a trainer in real estate and an assistant manager, plus I co-owned an office of my own for 4 years (1986-1990). I sincerely hope (for their sake) that those who hear of your sales training REALLY understand how powerful it will be. Like I said before, some folks may think it’s can’t be that valuable if it’s free.. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have to take a moment and clarify my statements about Scientology. I don’t think I was saying anything other people may have been thinking of, but then again, I like to think of myself as an open minded person. I don’t consider the written word dangerous. That to me is “dictatorship” like.
I looked around the Tipsforsuccess.org site and I saw it very very well written. The “AntiSocial” personality aspects of it were simply genius. If Hubbard wrote that or originated that then he was a GENIUS! Plain and simple. I actually can “see” people like that now. Makes perfect sense. It only took a one time reading from a website for me to “see things with that much clarity. It’s a great website. I’m very sorry if I gave you or anyone the impression that I wasn’t keen on Scientology, or that you are trying to “convert” people. Actually, mind you, last night I went to Border’s and read “Scientology: A new slant on life”.. It really was a pretty good book. I think the “apprehensiveness” is caused from lack of knowledge. But knowledge is knowledge, and personally, I took THAT initiative. I have taken a lot of stuff from a lot of “trainers” out there. It’s one’s personal decision what they do with the information they gather.
Russell, I’m sorry, I have to end this post, ’cause I’m in a hurry, but thank you for your sincerity and honesty. Like I said, you keep then coming, I’ll keep on listening!
Jim
March 1, 2007 — 5:22 am
Jim Gatos says:
Back from working…
Love that link… I’m forcing myself NOT to be too enthusiastic here.. (just a joke)..
If I could ask when you start your training, I would like to ask what you recommend for a pre-listing package? Do you advocate the use of a visual listing presentation? Laptop Powerpoint Presentation? That kind of stuff..
Thanks again.. I will be on various blog for the next two days. We are expecting a major snowstorm for the next two days here in Massachusetts…
Jim
March 1, 2007 — 2:28 pm
Russell Shaw says:
Jim,
Thank you again for your feedback. More data on the anti-social traits is here: http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/SH11_1.HTM
In answer to your question regarding a prelisting package, I absolutely recommend and use a prelisting package – I believe all agents should have one. You can see a PDF copy of mine here: http://www.nohasslelisting.com/art/pdf/Information%20Package2007.pdf
Please feel free to use anything there you might like, other than the name, “No Hassle Listing”.
I do not recommend Power Point on a listing presentation, as the content is the same for everyone and in my opinion positions the agent as a bit of a robot. Live communication is much better and more effective. For a long time we just used our prelisting package on the appointment, as well. Now we have a very trimmed down version for the presentation. But the listers also have copies of the prelisting package with them to use too, if they need them.
March 1, 2007 — 6:22 pm