Matt Kinsey and Ken Wheaton are educated idiots. Here are the book reviews they wrote for “The Dip” by Seth Godin. I sent that link with those reviews to Greg Swann just as the book was being released. I suppose you could say I was trying to help him not waste his time going to hear Seth speak. Seth Godin came to Phoenix and I didn’t go to see him. That was pretty stupid of me to allow myself to be influenced by those two reviews. Even though I had loved his earlier book, Purple Cow, I bought into their reviews.
A couple of weeks ago my friend, Dean Selvey called me telling me he had a book he wanted me to read. He drove over to my office to give it to me. It was The Dip. I was leaving the next day to fly to San Jose to give a seminar for Starpower and took it with me to read on the plane. DAMN! What a simple and wonderful viewpoint Seth communicates in this easy to read, easy to understand book.
Get ALL the way in or get ALL the way out. Do it or don’t do it. Be the best or skip it. These concepts are apparently so advanced that some reviewers just can’t grasp them at all. They need a checklist (maybe for them Seth could write a manual on how to chew soft bread?), for sure they aren’t going to look directly at anything.
Today, Dean and I had lunch. It was very good. It was his turn to buy, so I really enjoyed it. Thanks for lunch and for the book. 🙂
___
On a completely different note, here is a very nice write up on setting up a real estate sales assembly line from the legendary Ralph Roberts. Ralph was one of the original Superstar agents – he was one of the guys who did it back when there was no one to copy – he was a trail blazer. He understood The Dip.
RALPH R ROBERTS says:
Russell
thank u
Ralph
aka Trail Blazer
Ralph R. Roberts GRI CRS
The Ambassador of Enthusiasm
“Official Spokesperson of Guthy-Renker Home”
Author of Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman
Author of 52 Weeks of Sales Success
Author of Flipping Houses FOR DUMMIES
Author of Foreclosure Investing FOR DUMMIES
Author of Advanced Selling FOR DUMMIES
Author of Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
67775 Van Dyke
Washington Mi 48095
Office: 586-751-0000
Fax: 586-752-8959
Personal Assistant -Lois Maljak: 810-533-3448
Virtual Assistant- Kandra Hamric -734-446-0328
RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com
http://www.RealtyTracker.com Guthy Renker Home
http://www.AboutRalph.com Speaking/Coaching
http://www.RalphRoberts.com Real Estate Site
http://www.KolleenRoberts.com Tribute
http://www.FlippingFrenzy.com Mortgage Fraud
http://www.BigNail.com Branding
http://www.MacombCountyVoice.com Community
http://www.GetFlipping.com Flipping Houses Site
http://www.ActiveRain.com Real Estate Network
http://www.MySpace.com MySpace
http://www.VREA.com Virtual Assistants
September 11, 2007 — 4:03 am
seth godin says:
you made my day. thanks!
[sorry, I don’t have a long sig]
Seth
September 11, 2007 — 6:25 am
Dean Selvey says:
you made my day, too.
Here’s one thing we know: if Seth Godin writes it, we need to read it.
Your next blog should explain the ‘exterior viewpoint’ that we discussed yesterday. That was one of the most important discussions we have had in the past 20 years of Monday lunches at Chilis ( even if I had to pay).
September 11, 2007 — 7:02 am
John Kalinowski says:
Russell, Seth, and Ralph,
Wow! How amazing to have a chance to thank all three of you in one spot!
The three of you have helped me more than you can imagine. I know now that I’m in my own Dip, and that I can power through and take my business to the next level. I read “The Dip” right after I listened to Russell’s podcasts where he talked about his early struggles in the real estate business. I’m in a similar spot, but with Russell as a real-life example, and with insight from “The Dip” (and Seth’s daily blog entries), I’m on my way to pushing through to the production levels I know I can achieve.
Many years ago I read a short article that showed a guy talking on a cell phone, and proclaimed how he was the most successful real estate agent in the country. It was Ralph Roberts, and at the time, he was selling something like 4 gazillion homes per year. That article was the first spark that started me thinking about the real estate industry, and how maybe I could be more successful than I was at my current job selling engineering equipment (I didn’t know it at the time, but that was a true Cul-de-Sac!).
I’ve been in the business for three and a half years so far, and have sold over 150 homes, but I’ve hit a big dip. Listening to Russell’s ideas has helped me to buckle down and focus on those things that have helped me get listings, and I know I’ll be able to power through this dip and come out much stronger on the other side!
With all the junk that’s thrown about these days, it’s very refreshing to find three people who really want to help others achieve their best, without asking for something in return!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
John Kalinowski
Strongsville, OH
September 12, 2007 — 2:20 pm
Lani Anglin says:
Jay Thompson did a giveaway this summer and I was the recipient of “The Dip”- hooray! I put off reading it for some reason but when I did, it was perfect! Everyone is building a business and could use the simple “just do it” advice. I’ve passed this book around my husband’s real estate practice- rave reviews. You’re right- people who don’t understand ARE idiots; Seth GETS IT!
September 12, 2007 — 3:58 pm
Russell Shaw says:
John,
It is important to put stats in their proper perspective. The fact that your current number of units (amount of sales) isn’t where you want it to be (and it almost never will be – no matter how high you take it) does not mean you aren’t currently doing great. You are. To sell 150 homes in your first 3.5 years already puts you in the top 2% of all Realtors in North America.
Can you take it higher – much higher? Yes, and you already know that. Life is improved on a gradient. Keep that in mind. Life is improved on a gradient. This is not to say that it will “take you a long time” but please don’t fail to recognize the wonderful job you are already doing.
September 12, 2007 — 8:49 pm
John Kalinowski says:
Russell,
Thank you again for your support! I’ll continue watching your video series and reading your posts, and I’ll keep climbing that gradient!
John
September 13, 2007 — 4:48 am