This is the first of three podcasts we have made with mega-producing Realtor and BloodhoundBlog contributor Russell Shaw. Cathleen and I talked with Russell for around four hours, recording about two hours and forty minutes of that conversation. This particular segment starts with a discussion of Russell’s real estate career and ends with Russell discussing an effective goal setting strategy. He cites the film The Secret as an aid to understanding the issues.
Why Russell Shaw? Because he sells 400 houses a year — and plans to sell 2,000 houses a year. We all of us spend so much time looking for hi-tech magic bullets that we lose sight of the fact that real estate sales is face-to-face, belly-to-belly, door-to-door. Russell is nobody’s Luddite, but he is very proudly a champion of shoe-leather real estate. I think he has a lot more to teach us than pre-IPO poindexters who have never actually sold a house.
As a warning, Russell has a salty tongue. Children and people with delicate sensibilities are duly advised.
Cathleen Collins says:
Thank you again Russell for gracing us so generously with your wisdom. You are a truly great man.
Though I was fortunate enough to be at the interview, I plan to listen to these podcasts again and again because I want to be great in this business, too! So I downloaded the podcast and added it to my iTunes, and then uploaded it to my iPod Shuffle. Then as I did my scut work around the house this morning I played the podcast, letting it loop until I was done with the house work. This way I knew I was engaged in an activity that will help me work toward my goals while I was occupied doing otherwise menial tasks.
Greg asked me how I was able to save the podcast to my Shuffle. For anyone else with the same question, from my iMac I Control-clicked on the Audio MP3 icon in the post and selected Download Linked File, and saved the MP3 file to my Desktop. From my Windows machine I would have right-clicked and selected Save Link As… Then from iTunes I selected File and Import from the menu, and browsed to the MP3 file on my Desktop. After the import completed I selected the file and hit Command-I to Get Information. Here I set the file’s Genre to Podcast, and added other information that’s important to me. Then with my Shuffle in its docking station, I cleared all the music from it and dragged the podcast to my device.
I heartedly recommend this series to everyone in this industry!
January 25, 2007 — 1:40 pm
Jeff Turner says:
Greg, I decided early this morning I’d try to find time to listen to this today. I’m glad I did. There’s a lot to take in and there’s a lot of gold in this. I would suggest that anyone wishing to listen either clear out the 46 minutes required to hear it all, or do what Cathleen is doing.
I can’t imagine how any real estate agent wouldn’t benefit from this. I’m not and I did.
January 25, 2007 — 5:00 pm
Greg Swann says:
> I would suggest that anyone wishing to listen either clear out the 46 minutes required to hear it all, or do what Cathleen is doing.
Tomorrow’s podcast is a little longer — and a lot better…
January 25, 2007 — 5:22 pm
John L. Wake says:
Wow!
Fanstastic interview.
Thanks Greg and Cathleen, and especially thanks to the very generous Russell Shaw.
January 25, 2007 — 11:46 pm
Kris Berg says:
I finally had enough busy work to dedicate the two hours to both installments and am in awe. Russell, that was so incredibly brilliant. It was as if you had just taken a trip through Kris’ brain.
(Regarding your reference to our production, I feel obligated to clarify that the number last year was closer to half that quoted. Prior to our past “correction” year, we had hit the 40-50 transaction plateau. With an average sale price in the $750k – $800k range, it is respectable, but we can do better).
January 26, 2007 — 3:37 pm
Brian Brady says:
Now that was fun! I just listened to part one. Russell’s idea of writing out everything you hate about the business or “your job” is a great one. I’ve already filled up half a page.
January 27, 2007 — 7:45 pm