Lori Bee’s goat wearing @RealtyMan’s tshirt
Real estate has never been a process for me of stepping into an established circle and picking up the listings that came about because of these relationships. I started late- two years ago, in fact, and the circle in which I travelled was already established. No first time home-buyers there, and everyone had a family real estate agent. As much as they may have liked me, they did not trust that I could push a transaction through to close. Honestly? If the shoe had been on the other foot, I wouldn’t have wanted to work with a newly-licensed inexperienced agent either.
So real estate sales has been a matter of me, for the most part, learning to read my clients quickly and establish a true rapport with them based on my sense of them. Frankly, this has not been the easiest thing for me to learn! A true daughter of my engineer father, I am not gifted with immediate character insight, and was not the most outgoing of people. I easily learned the real estate process, but the people process was more intimidating to me.
When I went to RE Tech South, I was- I have to admit- a touch apprehensive. These people, by and large, are dynamic and intelligent, and just the sort of people I love to be around- but there were 400 of them!! I had met some at Inman NYC, and become friendly with others through Facebook and twitter. I had gone to Inman with Gerry Bourgeois, a broker-owner in Leominster, and he eased the way for me, introducing me to many of the people that I would be seeing- and this time I would be going alone.
Things fell into place, and my apprehension melted like our snow. I ended up rooming with the best possible roommate- Lori Bee of Bee Realty- and loved the whirlwind of connecting and reconnecting with the Realtors and others who are part of what has been called Real Estate 2.0.
At the actual conference itself, we were given many gems- both tools and information. But one thing stood out for me. One of the speakers said- and I am paraphrasing- when you are planning on implementing something, don’t plan and plan. Mark it on your calendar- then do it. Ignore it if you feel uncomfortable. Become comfortable with feeling uncomfortable.
There is a difference between being uncomfortable- internally oriented- and being frightened, which has basis in external factors. I took my first airline flight on the way down. I saw pictures of Lori Bee’s children- and better and richer, heard the pride in her voice as she described them to me. I spoke with young entrepreneurs and brilliant lights- people whose ideas had carried them through the success of a first business and on to another, and whose ideas reignited the fire in my belly. The experience was fantastic and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, in retrospect.
Social media is daunting to many people. But I feel like being online is like entering a brightly lit hallway, with doors and doors leading off of it. You can refuse to enter the hallway altogether, you can carry your lounge chair in with you and sit once you are in there. Or you can look for the doors, and going through those is where the real pleasure lies. One of those doors for me was real estate, another was the conference on Thursday. I am still looking for the door marked “Secret of Life”- I don’t know if it exists, I don’t know what is behind it, but I know I will be sustained in the meantime.
March 24th, 2009 on 5:26 am
I’m glad I had the opportunity to introduce you to the REAL ‘Cool Kids’. You going to RETechSouth on your own shows everyone that you’ve got what it takes to play in the New World of the RE.net!! (and you are now ‘Cooler’ than me). :)
March 24th, 2009 on 9:02 am
Cooler than @RealtyMan? No such animal.
March 24th, 2009 on 9:23 am
I love you last paragraph of social media, such a great way to explain it.
You do have to open the door and go in for the real fun.
March 24th, 2009 on 9:27 am
Very well written @HeyAmaretto. You are so articulate. I’m proud to follow you!
March 24th, 2009 on 9:30 am
You’re LUCKY to have been in for only 2 years because you are learning it the RIGHT WAY — and using Social Media as well as you do…well, you are going to shoot past ALL of those old “family realtors”… :-) THANKS for all you do!!!!
March 24th, 2009 on 9:31 am
There are so many people that you would never meet without this miracle of online socializing, so I would never want to minimize either its importance or its impact. But, for example, when I met you, Missy, I was given a better sense of you as a person beyond what I could take from your words. ; )
March 24th, 2009 on 9:36 am
Thank you, Kathleen- mutual admiration society. You are right, Marney- this was the time to learn, and I love the added dimension that SM brings to the table. I have trouble believing that twitter is just three years old and for that matter I just sent my first email probably less than 10 years ago! Exciting!
March 24th, 2009 on 9:38 am
Hey Marney,
Some of us ‘Family Realtors’ are still gonna be difficult to pass (although @heyamaretto is one of the few who could).
I am a 2nd generation ‘Family Realtor’ who has been on the cutting edge of the Real Estate business for almost 19 years now. Some of us “Old Schooler’s” do know how to adapt to the ever changing environment. (Just Sayin’)
March 24th, 2009 on 10:52 am
“A true daughter of my engineer father, I am not gifted with immediate character insight, and was not the most outgoing of people.”
Is this the same HeyAmaretto I just met in ATL? Sure don’t sound like you…
:D
Great to see you at #rets.
-rsh
March 24th, 2009 on 11:06 am
It was fantastic to see you at #rets! Real estate been very very good to me-
We had one of the best photos of the entire session, I think.
:) D
March 24th, 2009 on 11:09 am
Agree – RIGHT ON! So many great people I wouldn’t have conversed with at any event but due to Twitter and the like it’s been amazing. Once you get past the realization that these are a ton of people that want to interact and get to know you, it turns into a pretty amazing opportunity.
March 24th, 2009 on 11:13 am
Absolutely! Anyone who is afraid- you can get all of the explanations in the world, and I or any of my friends would be glad to help you- but there is no substitution for jumping in and relating. Nice to meet you IRL at #rets, Eric.