I've got a secret
“Within the first six months, these [doctors] wrote six million prescriptions for more than fifty million of these happy blue pills, ” noted Alex Wipperfurth in Brand Hijack. Of course, the happy blue pill that he was referring to was Viagra, which came out in 1998.
Shouldn’t this country be happier?
I had lunch with an agent from another office the other day. We had a nice time talking, and the sandwiches at the Longhorn were good. She said something that I thought was interesting, something I had thought about often myself. She asked if we all shouldn’t help each other out (she was referring to real estate agents) regardless of office affiliation.
Suppose your office has a recipe for success- a “secret sauce,” I guess. Should you share that with others? Will that make the entire industry stronger, or make your own (and your office’s) position weaker?
Suppose your office had a recipe for the Viagra that would counteract a flat market.
This is what I think. I think that we all need to help one another- those of us that are left. I think when @RealtyMan presented about Facebook at REBarCamp Boston that he wasn’t giving anyone the skill sets to take him down.
So, like everyone else in RE.net, I will share my general knowledge. Specific application of that knowledge set has been promised to Towne & Country, Realtors- that is the promise that I have made to the company in regards to the Central MA area. But do I think you need a blog? YES! Where can you get one? You can set up a free one on WordPress.com or blogger, or you can get one of your very own using the WordPress platform (godaddy has an easy set-up).
Should you buy into every social media or new media thing that comes along? Gerry and I are kind of spread out everywhere but that is because we have to for Towne & Country, Realtors. In fact, Gerry does a lot of beta testing for real estate platforms, helping to evaluate them for the developers. As an agent, though, I think you want get involved in a few things that you can really dig deeply into and extend your personality. And I am cheap as all get out- if it is going to cost me something, I don’t do it. The cost to me is time: sweat-equity, if you prefer.
Bottom line: I want you all to succeed. I want the exceptional agents to stay in the business- you may end up sitting across the table from me as a cobroke, or in the same position with one of the Towne & Country, Realtors team, or actually being a member of our team someday. Who knows?
And the agent I spoke with the other day is dead on- we all have to have each others’ backs. That makes the industry better for the consumer, and customer service is what it is all about.
Want to have lunch and bat ideas around? I promise not to mention Viagra. diane@realtyman.com
February 6th, 2010 on 1:20 pm
I couldn’t agree more! We should be helping each other succeed, move forward and learn new ideas! It will ultimately strengthen our profession, if not unite it.
Kudos for a great post!
Tammi
February 6th, 2010 on 1:33 pm
Thanks, Tammi! Wouldn’t it be nice to see the profession united to an extent? We all have to work together!
February 6th, 2010 on 2:56 pm
I would love to have lunch! Anytime!
Seriously, I’ve always taken the open book approach.
I have to admit, it’s a constant internal struggle I have to do so.
Example: Right now there are a few people out there who have asked me directly how I did this or that. I openly shared with them the secrets and tricks I’ve learned thinking they were asking so they could improve their own Facebook page or WordPress blog only to find out they asked so they could start selling the same stuff I am and even undercut my price!
It burns (more than anyone realizes) and makes me want to shut down completely, then I force myself to step back and realize that they are a small minority and the greater whole of people out there are grateful and giving.
February 6th, 2010 on 5:22 pm
You are one of the best at sharing. I had heard it about you even before I met you- that you were the best at helping. And honestly? I think this (and your eye for design) is why you are referred over and over. We are still working on the design for @RealtyMan’s site so that the look can be copied, but you are the go-to guy as far as we are concerned.
I am sorry that you have been taken advantage of. I think that with knowledge that you have developed you are well within your rights to help… not quite so much. Your knowledge is your bread and butter, and shame on someone else serving that at their table as theirs.
And- lunch anytime sounds great, Mike!
February 7th, 2010 on 3:19 pm
Great article Diane. I believe in sharing and I can’t get enough of the social networking. As a mortgage banker for almost 20 years, my industry is so far behind the times amd many do not believe in this type of marketing. I have adopted this as part of business model and has been very successful. Meeting with Realtyman on Tuesday for lunch to talk about life and the pursuit of happiness. Again, nice job! Bill
February 8th, 2010 on 5:38 pm
Thanks, Bill! I look forward to having lunch with you some day too! Say hi to RealtyMan for me.