If you are in the Real Estate Business, I don't care how long you've been at the trade... you probably haven't seen everything. Real Estate is like life in that facet.
The title of this post seems to be my new catchphrase. A gal (customer) today asked me if I was frustrated with what was going on. She was pre-approved two days ago and now they changed their guidelines. I told her, "Yes, it's always frustrating when you have little control on what goes on, yet I learned long ago that was going to be the case with everything in this life. I'm surprised I truly didn't realize that earlier."
Ladies & Gents, let's be honest here. We live in interesting times. But we aren't any more special than those before us that ran into speed bumps along the way. How one reacts is key. The title of this post is something I've been saying the past few months and it's nothing more than garbage.
Attitude is truly everything and frankly, mine hasn't been the best it can be. Why, you ask? Well, I will tell. I try and do... go above and beyond what is ever expected... but there is one thing I fail to do. Their expectations of me are overboard. I treat folks and interact with folks like they are my only client. They are not. If they were, I'd be calling Jared at Subway to get a part-time gig while I worked this stuff out. As it stands, I haven't eaten at Subway for three months. I haven't looked like Jared for 32 years.
After two closings today, one would think I'd be a happy little camper... counting the dollar signs before they hit my lap. I'm not happy though, I'm disappointed in me. My mindset has been nothing but crap lately. With every stupid hurdle being put in front of me, I've whispered sweet explicatives into my ear before putting on my happy face and doing what needs to be done. My passion for fulfilling dreams over-exceeds my ability to shake off blatant lies along the way. My last transaction has made me more passionate than ever about what I do and how I do it. As far as the rest, read the next sentence. Shame on me... shame on that conversation.
The business bloggers of the world may ask,"Hey Sardi, why would you put this post in public writing?" To them, I retort, "I'm the best man for the job but that doesn't mean I don't get frustrated as all hell with some of what goes on." Honestly, and I hate sentences starting with that word, I'd rather a consumer read ME rather than another installment of today's interest rates, market overviews, or how my products are so much better than theirs. I'm not really spouting that those folks who blog that aren't worth their weight, I'm just saying that isn't me. If you want interest rates, email me. If you want a market overview, do the same or call. If you want to know about products, I've got this wonderful no money down~seller pays everything type deal where you don't have to make a payment for 12 months!
I'm kidding, I will provide all that via the written word in a blog in which you can access in an anonymous way. I know folks don't want to be bothered with email blasts and phone calls from numbers that begin and end with 000-000-0000. My point remains that the influence of negative attention came my way and I bought into it... hook, line, & sinker.
I fell prey. I never will again. The market doesn't move me, WE & ME move the market. Screw speculation, change is at our fingertips. Will it be easy, no way! I tire though of simple conversation, we can bitch and gripe about what financial institutions are asking for and doing... or we can get the job done. I'm about the latter. Time and perseverance may change the former.
Conversation is ours, we choose it in most every way. Close loans that make sense. That's a conversation worth having.
The conversation until it closes... is over.
And here's a song to think about...
Ok baby, I'm blowing your cover right now: You deserve every dime coming to you for these closings because you went far, far beyond the call of duty to make these transactions close. WAAAAYYYYY beyond. You DO treat your clients as if they were your only client. You lose sleep over them, you call them just to make sure they're doing ok while the hand is still being dealt, you refuse to take NO for an answer when your instinct tells you there might be another way.
You are freaking amazing!!
End of conversation.
So brother, if Jennifer didn't get the message across to you, maybe you need a hearing aid. And I am old enough that I have been through it all....rofl....but the only thing constant is change. We are the survivors. Check it out!
My Jennifer - None of that means squat, at least in this life. As far as the song, interesting. I've only been familiar with one or two songs by that band. Here's a take I love but don't agree with...
Fred - ... of the World.
Hello Jason We do most certainly live in interesting times. A very interesting post with Jason. But I'm with you that conversation until it closes....is over. Well said and I have totally stopped even writing about anything unless it is positive. I refuse to give all the speculation any life.
Yes it does. Especially to me.
Jason... I am so with you on this..... and why am I in tonight? Because of this one closing from hell, that you might know about. ;o) And I need to be alive and kiciking tomorrow, just so I can catch up.
But seriously, very good message here. I believe in putting this out there, as you did, so people get to know who you are. Not that they are just a pay check to you, but more than that. Not everyone in our business is like that. Curious though, does Jennifer know that one of those closings was based on a tag team effort? lol Good post...
Jason, well we have similar taste in music, with What If Go Was One of Us? I have heard these stories of 800 credit scores and then the approval got reversed. Huh? You need to tell us whatever happened to loan locks?
OK Jason, Lenon is OK and the Eve of Distruction has a good beat, but if you are going to my time frame, I prefer this one. Not necessarily agree, but like the tune.
Jason, my friend...you take blogging to levels that most people never even consider venturing to...Your transparency puts our transparency to shame. Oh, by the way, He was one of us...His name was Immanual....God with us.
I can totally relate. I had one really ugly closing and I didn't go get the check for a week because everything about it felt so...icky...
And I, too, agree, that showing that you are an actual human being with feelings online is really ok to do.
Way to go for being so transparent. That is a key character trait that every Realtor would do well to practice. We all wrestle different demons in this business. I just blogged this morning about this very thought of positive thinking. You know, you have to be very careful about the conversations you have with yourself!
Good blogging there, my friend!
You mean God ISN'T "one of US"? I think he is. The real answer is not to be drawn up to false optimism or down by the gaping black hole. Minute to minute, just deal with your own reality as best you can. Life moves well that way.
Pushing the envelope on your attitude will create big highs and lows. Best to deal with realtiy where and when it stands.
My $.02 YMMV
Jason,
Jeff said it!
I might add, I all ways do, that real estate, all of real estate is a people business, you've got to love people! It's like watching a soap opera from the inside. That we normally get paid is great, but when the people or script changes we have to roll with the punches and enjoy the show!
Besides if you were a taxidermist you'd never have meet Jennifer, Jeff, William, or me.
Bill
PS: I wrote you about a really bad one, complete with a full cast of self righteous villains!
So ummmm... remember what you said earlier about excellence? Well here it is in the form of a cute little gold star! Yay Jason!
JS, Hey, make the best of it. Life is one long haul. Find a positive and go for it. AJ
Jason,
My phrase of the year is "It is what it is",
I have learned that we just have to let it go. As a politician running for president recently said "its above my pay rate",
The problems with the real estate industry as a whole is above most of our pay rate. We are small little cogs in a big machine.
Hang in there, this market can surely bum us out.
Jason- It is all great conversation. The best clients are those that choose you because they have gotten to know you through your blog. It just amazes me when people call us who read our blog, both sellers and agents, and how connected we already are. Of course, none of this would have happened had we not been transparent. I just found out that a post I wrote kept a young new mother alive. I will post on this Sunday night if I can keep the tears back long enough to finish the post. Everytime I start, the tears flow. Then I have to stop.
Ok Jason, tell us what you really think. (on a side note, take GAL out of your vocabulary) You are a young and on the ball guy, and this too shall pass. And your title really says it all.
William - It's an interesting bridge... while I want to address the good, bad, & indifferent... many times it takes away from the bottom line. As I've said and written before, I firmly believe this market, as with any, breeds a whole lot of opportunity. There are going to be hoops, we can talk about them or jump through them to reach common ground.
Jennifer - :-)
Jeff - I think she may have a clue. What the heck, I don't mind throwing caution into the wind. That's why I write this stuff. Let that wind blow... and thanks man.
Gary - I wish I could tell you the clear cut answer on that, I can't. What I will say is stuff of that nature hasn't happened to me or my firm much, but it has happened. When it does, I thank somebody's God that we have plans alternatives B, C, & D:-)
Fred - My brother, I LOVE that song!!! I was listening to that when I was 16 years old. I haven't heard it in ages...here's one you may like;-)
Rich - Good point. As far as transparency, I'm sure there are several schools of thought on all that. My school of thought is being true to you will somehow work out everything else. I understand the 'Stuffed Suit & Talking Head' concepts, but that ain't me. My school of thought makes (I believe) for a more difficult journey, but a much more fulfilling one. On another note, we are going to hang and shoot the breeze one day... we have too:-)
Emily - I'm sure there's a line involved, but the human aspect is something that is missing... especially from the lending atmosphere right now. Thank you for the kind words.
Celina - Hey, some of the best conversations I've had are with yours truly. Then again, some of the worst conversations I've had have also been with your humble author. As far as transparency, often spoke of but not as often practiced.
ARDELL - Good take, though I'm lost... YMMV? That sounds like a dirt bike one of my amigos had where I was growing up... in the famous town of Clarion, Pennsylvania.
Bill - I look forward to the read. As far as being a taxidermist, not my thing. I have a hard enough time stuffing envelopes.
Jennifer - Thank you, my dear. But you know me, I never rest when awakened. Okay, that last sentence sounded somewhat stupid. Put it this way, I can be content but rarely happy with any prose that comes from my mind to my fingertips through a keyboard of any kind. Yet, I have a plethora of stuff I want to write about and educate folks about, pertaining to this Industry. It's as if a synapse explosion went off in my beady little brain;-)
AJ - Absolutely. Concise and to the point.
Sis - With that graphic, you just scared my cat Baxter from my lap onto the nearby floor. Poor little Baxter...
Gary - Funny you mention that phrase, my Dad makes fun of me for using it. I have for quite some time. I guess to some, "It is what it is" sounds like a vague notion of surrendering. Not to me, though. To me, it is something we can't change currently... only adapt and react to now.
Katerina - Wow, I look forward to that read. One of my favorite clients... who I can't do a loan for now mind you (Good credit and income, deferred student loans are killing his current debt ratio) ... reads my stuff. Hi Charles! You're right, "The best clients are those that choose you because they have gotten to know you through your blog." That definitely seems to be the case.
Terrylynn - If I take the word 'Gal' out of my vocabulary, I'm down to 99 words. Between me, you, and whomever may be reading, this young buck cherishes the experience of it all. At the same time, I spout to the skies, "Why can't it be easier?"
Jason, just like you said - We haven't seen everything - But that doesn't mean what's in our future is all negative - You attract what you expect - So expect the BEST!
Jason - All we can do is try our best. And when we hit those road blocks come at it from at different angle to see if that will work. It is what separates the great from the mediocre. Sometimes through no matter how much sleep you lose over a file, you just can't fix it.
Bro,
Just another day in the life of the Sardiman...just keep doing the right thing just like me. We keep getting beaten down but we keep getting up ...just like in UFC. The Iceman commeth!
OK Jason I read this post and then my head exploded!!! I think I'll have to come back after more caffeine.
Some day you'll realize that life just ain't that complicated. But before that realization sets in you'll need to experience live through quite a few more peaks and valleys. The realization will be that there are no peaks and valleys. It's just a road.
Life is full of changes, always has and always will be. I don't control the market, if I did I wouldn't have sellers loosing so much money on their homes. I don't control the market or I would have buyers always buying low and selling high.
It is what it is, we work in the market, any market. Not that these are not trying times...they are.
No worries on getting your feelings out there.
Hi Jason,
I always say if its meant to be it will be...:)
Jason,
If we don't to some of these "Over, above and beyond" things than what are any of us? Order takers, and they can replace us with computers at that point.
Giving out the good will come back. It is just a better way to work it. Pay it forward when you can, or initiate the pay, either way it's all good.
But care for yourself as well. Burnout isn't fun and it will suck up your attitude pretty darn fast.
Sardini........ EXCELLENT blog. Having gone through 3 closings from hell 3 of the the last 6 weeks.... I was wondering 'What's Goin' On?"
Heck, nothing's going on. Staff reductions throughout the industry add a few more speedbumps to the process. So we suck up the negatives from the other parties and move forward.
Have a great Saturday.
and I was expecting "Don't Worry, Be Happy"? Good post. I think we all can relate to this as lots of people in the industry are crying "woe is me". In our market, it just seems like th elocal and national media are making it tough with the gloom and doom, but for those of us that are still out there talking to people, there is business to be found. It doesn't sound like you need the "good job or keep it up" so just keep writing good posts.
I am just excited if I get a closing scheduled with all the signatures!
What a strange new world of real estate we are in.
Buyers who are ready to walk at the drop of a new regulation.
Regulators that regulate transaction of which they don't have a clue.
Sellers who stopped learning in 2004.
Lenders, those left, that have to disclose that what they say today may not work tomorro.
Agents who try to pull everything together while being pulled in 6 different directions.
Who's up for a challenge????
Marcia - "You attract what you expect." I love it and very true!
Sandra - Are you kidding? I can fix anything and everything! Okay, not really... but a man can dream. If it were that easy, this ride wouldn't be nearly as fun.
Neal - Chuck 'FREAKING' Liddell!
Bryant - It seems I have that affect on you, sorry for that. In many ways, I believe and trust that you are right. Personally, I'm quite certain I overthink a few things in this life. Then again, maybe I just need to walk further down that road.
Missy - Yet another comment from experience, that's what is wonderful about this place. Missy... seriously, thank you for being you... I've learned more from folks like you than I can ever properly articulate.
Suzanne - Hi you! Yeah, I know what your vague comment means;-)
Rebecca - I wouldn't trade the 'above and beyond' approach for the world. Intrinsically, there's nothing kinder and more regarding when the smoke clears. As far as burning out, I always liked the line from a movie or the song (not sure which)... "I'd rather burn out than fade away." I plan on doing neither.
Mr. Rob - "Staff reductions throughout the industry add a few more speedbumps to the process." Bingo, you hit one of the nails with that very line. By the way, the deal I sent to ya wasn't hell, was it? That guy gave me a very high rating on Zillow and you saw the HUD... don't ever tell me I'm overpaid;-)
Patrick - Good comment, keep it up! Lol, kidding. I know what you mean, it's tiresome. As far as the media, I'm going to make an inquiry to the local paper here and offer to write an article once a month for them about the lending side of things. We'll see how that goes...
To Whom It May Concern - Signatures are a plus;-)
Lenn - I'm in like sin.
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary
"My $.02 (on the subject) YMMV"
It's like LOL...one of those oft used Acronyms
Gotcha ARDELL. Haven't heard that one before. I kind of like it, mind if I use it?
Jason, welcome to the human race. I don't think your title is garbage. I think it's astute beyond words. Why do we call it the human race? It's a race to the finish. We must be one step ahead and even then it usually doesn't help.
It's not shame on you. You, sir, are simply trying to make applesause out of rotten apples. You're doing the best you know to do in the name of your clients.
God isn't just one of us. HE is all of us. I see HIM in your face and soul Jason. I do hope you will continue to be the wonderful person you are. I feel it. Your words speak it. The music plays it.
Thank you,
Later in the rain~Deb
Deb - You may and probably do have one heck of a point. As far as astute, your very comment fits the bill. Thank you.
Jason,
I feel you - it is rough out there.... the good news is that even in these times there are still plenty of people who need our services and really appreciate what we do and value our time and efforts. It is important to remember that when we have one of tough days or weeks that are draining - either through situations or dealing with tough people.
Remember, you are the man ! Without you, nothing happens !
Hi Jason,
It aint over until it's over! I have one coming up this Wednesday - a big one. It looks good but you never know until the deed is recorded and the money is in the bank!
Jason, it is all about our attitudes isn't it? When I started real estate in 1991 we were in the middle of a recession but since I had no point of reference it didn't even phase me. I just worked and worked, dealing with all of the challenges thinking they were normal. You know, that's now a bad way to look at this currently challenging market! Thanks for making me think:)
Oh man, I am so glad you decided to return after a very brief hiatus. You certainly returned with a vengeance! It has been an eye open to see people like you and Jennifer writing so openly and freely. I believe we are of the same mind set and appreciate your candor. (It helps that you make sense and can skillfully "turn a phrase". I am much more verbal and if i could write like I talked, it would help. Ok, I just went off on a tangent...
"Attitude is truly everything "
Absolutely true and if you examine that you will realize that attitude is the only thing over which you have any control. Thanks for another great post and please keep em comin'!
.
Jason,
Getting it done is Job 1...! Thanks, Fran
Couldn't find a cool cat so had to use a cool dog :)
Jason - the deal we did for you wasn't one of the ' clients from hell'. In fact, you saw from your end where 'the other parties' (us) sometimes can't keep up with excellent customer service.
Jason............our arena is our of choosing. the battles are presented in sequence..........the flash flood of greed often erodes our feet of clay..............always stay anchored in spirit............admit your faults.....work to improve your short comings.............never release the dream...........hold tight to the fantasy that everyday you will walk among giants..........action breeds error.......stagnation breeds death........we will always be measured by our victories..........even few and far between............the blood on our hands is self inflicted...........we can wash it away so it is not visible to others.........we can not erase the stain on our heart.......stripping away a lifetime of indoctrination and seizing responsibility for our behavior and always trying to get it right.........well.......that is the goal and that is the challenge....i have total confidence that you will rise above the mire and stand tall in a world of small greedy individuals ....with a pure heart and sincere desire to leave each place and person better than you found it.
Jason Wish you good luck . I am sure consumers who read your posts realize you will do a great job for them.
For creative purposes, I will respond via song. Thanks for the input and feedback.
Christopher and Stephanie - True that.
Tracy - I think a sport's legend by the name of Yogi Berra may agree.
Diane - And that perspiration may lead you to a greater place.
Russell - Your wisdom is refreshing.
Fran - You are a poet, sir.
Sis - Barking back at ya;-)
Rob - ) We have a lot of work to do.
J-Mac - You do have an interesting and enlightening way with words. These visuals may stir ya...
Gita - I hope I don't need luck, but thank you. Here you go:-)