I had a pretty close friend of mine point out something this evening that stuck. They said, "Jason, I know you are passionate about your career and what you do and why you do it, but your true passion doesn't seem to be Real Estate?" "Uh oh, there goes that referral source," so I thought. I inquired as deeply as I could to what he meant. And so, being that friend, he told me straight up. "Jason, your passion is writing, in any form, about any subject, you just happened to find a place where you can mix the two. But, you love to write and are relatively decent at it, so when you feel like you want to write, Just Do It." For the record, I don't own a pair of Nike sneakers so you can throw the endorsement angle out the window right now.
I agree. I feel I sometimes get caught up in writing and forget about the very industry I am damn passionate about....Real Estate. I tend to dive into Politics, Philosphy, Psychology, & anything else that avoids the very numbers, facts, figures, & related issues and education that encompasses my role as an Industry Professional.
So, I must make amends. But how? When I write, if I write, it is something I write off the cuff and throw it out there....maybe it will touch a nerve or the imagination along the way. Maybe it will stick. Yet, am I doing an injustice by not focusing primarily on what I do, how I do it, & why it's done? I look around and see Brian Brady, Jeff Belonger, Karen George, Jason Price, David Podgursky, William Archambault Jr., Ann Guy, Steven Shewell, Mark Flanders, George Souto, Janet Guilbault, Matthew Blum, Nima Rezvan, and a whole host of others and wonder where I stack up. That is some heavy company friends....
Part of me wants to earn enough capital to make an All-Star Team and conquer the Mortgage World. Then again, part of me respects the fact that a guy like Scott Geary helped bring me to the dance and I like the fact that there is competent competition. So, when I write, whether about Real Estate or World Peace, my peers are out there watching and waiting. My guess is they are mainly just doing their own thing though. Clients are just wanting to find the guy or gal who they trust enough, respect enough, and perhaps can identify with enough, who will bring their best interests to a head.
I'll admit it now. I have a passion for writing in general. Real Estate doesn't take Second Precedence but whatever is on my mind is what I'll throw against that Proverbial Wall. I watch my peers, read my peers, learn from my peers, yet don't concentrate too heavily on what they are doing. There are only so many hours in a day, I have to look out for what I am doing. If it sticks, it sticks. I'm good at what I do...but damn it to all hell I love to write about anything. As far as my peers go, I have mucho respect for the ones listed above and the ones not even a part of this forum who do good & ethical business. That said, I'm intimidated in no way by nobody. Their knowledge and experience can only enhance my own. The only question then remains...one of garnering knowledge and insight. Do you read outside your Profession? So do I....
Dawn - I'm still trying to balance the two...
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman - Balance is everything, I was going to write about a particular Mortgage Topic that's been on my mind but decided to get this off my chest first. No matter, I love writing...this is like the diary I never kept...
Steven - Right on. I like writing about myself and other things as well though. It keeps me being me. Topics particular to Mortgage Financing Alone are soon to come though...
Jason.... I agree, your passion shows. And as Sally said, balance. Something that I have learned, don't write for those on AR, write for the consumer, the realtor, and for yourself. Sure, it's nice to write about your emotions, those tend to get more comments at times. But write about your industry. And more so, write about those things in the industry that bother you. I think the combination of your passion and what to look for in regards to a loan officer, this will attract the best of clients. Attracting those that want to work with a loan officer as yourself and not one that just promises.... and then breaks them or delays them. good job. And thanks for the mention, I appreciate that.
What a love fest we have going on here......;-) I say do what feels right and write about what feels right and let the chips fall where they may! You are doing a good job and it will pay off for you in the long hall, I'm sure!
Bob Mitchell
ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.
I enjoy writing also. My favorite form of writing is a real estate contract. LOL
Just kidding, keep up the good work.
Jason,
Thanks for mentioning my name. To be included in such illustrious company is very flattering.
Keep on writing and follow your heart. If today it is about real estate, write about real estate. If tomorrow it is about a situation you found yourself in, pen your tome.
Just don't try to pigeon hole yourself into any particular area. Allow yourself to grow by reaching BEYOND what you think is possible.
You will learn a lot from the responses while you are educating many more.
Hey, Jason
I have said it before, you write great, so you are probably as great in the mortgage business. I think you should do whatever makes you happy, but believe me, Less is more... so a bigger mortgage business means alot more stress!!!!
Good luck...
Tom Weiss
Jason - Love the Ben Stiller photo. Keep writing about what you're passionate about. Your passion is what will draw people to you. Anytime you do one thing well, we as humans have a tendency to believe you are an authority on all things. That's why so many athlletes are highly paid to do endorsements for products having nothing to do with sports. You are one who is admired and frequently quoted on AR. There are plenty of people who can clinically write about the machinations of the real estate, loan, and computer world. Now, someone with passion and who can share it through the written word...that's a different breed! Keep doing what you're doing.
Did Papa and Momma have a nice visit?
Hugs from Mama Marlene
Bob - So you can feel the love?:-) Thanks for your kind words.
Bob & Carolin - Oh I will, you can be sure of that.
Randy - Ah, good point. I like receiving the sales contract:-)
Chris - Thanks Chris. I always, for whatever reason, thought your critique of posts would be tough. It's nice to hear that your subscribed, to see the best & worst from little old me:-)
Sarah - Bicentennial Boy! I love that nickname!! I don't think it is possible to lose my edge, I'm as sharp as a tack you know:-0
Neal - Ditto on that. I love diversity and folks who have range.
David - Thanks for your contributions!
Desiree - Thank you very much.
Steven - As you've probably gathered, I enjoy your writing and insight.
Matthew - You're on a diet? Good for you, I'll be happy to show you how to do "Hand Stand Push-ups". They are good for the soul:-) I've enjoyed watching you write....and work.
Larry- I would love a good game of Dodge-ball! I would travel out to Chi-Town just for that!
Tom - You're too good to me, thanks for the comments! You are probably right about the less is more thing. However, I've always had a vision of seeing something small rising like a phoenix to becoming something huge. At the same time, I would never want to lose the concepts that make a small business special. Color me idealistic.
Jason, My son. Write about what you want and have fun. Blogging gives the consumer an opportunity to see who you are. You don't have to write about RE in order for that to happen. I write about RE because it's what I'm good at but I still try to instill my personality into it.
I'm a huge reader. Everything from Plato, St Augustine, Clive Cussler and everything in between. I usually have several books going at one time and just as many periodicals. But there are also many things I would not write about on AR. But that's only because I'm a very private person. There are times when I wish I could share more personal stuff but it's just not me. Can't do it.
Bottom line. Just be yourself and write what you want. Everything else will take care of itself.
Jason,
I am not just saying it, because it's you, But Mortgage Brokers can learn a little from you. I think having a heart goes along way in our business, you've got it ....
Take care,
Tom
Jason, You and me have a lot in common. The nice thing about real estate is that you can use your creative writing and see actual results that put money in your pocket. It's such a thrill when a client tells me that they picked me because something that I wrote made so much sense to them. And it's usually something that I was hesitant about putting out there.
I read a lot and also would like to share many thoughts about things other than real estate. I try my best though to tie them somehow to the business when I post here. I'm committed to being wide open about my thoughts but I still hold back in a few areas.
I'm so tempted to write a few political and religious posts but I have to keep slapping myself and remembering everyone's advice about not mixing those two topics with business.
Great post.
Ardell - True, true!
Tim - Thank you and for the record if you ever write anything political, religious, or anything that you don't to mix with business, feel free to email those very thoughts to me. I like the way you write and would love your insight.
You have to have passion in anything you do
if not you will fail
passion gets people interested in you..................which means more business