Chris Nichols
By Chris Nichols
We all remember the New York Times best seller, “Who Moved My Cheese.” Published in 1998, it’s a great book by Spencer Johnson about change in the workplace and in life. A couple days ago I popped into a Borders bookstore, I was drawn in by the 50 percent off signs, as this was one of many stores that was being shut down as part of their bankruptcy. The irony wasn’t lost on me when one of the first books I saw had a cartoon image of a rather large cat on a lazy boy with the title above it, “Who Moved My Mouse!”
We see it all around us, Borders is just one example of a company that didn’t see the change coming as more and more consumers have switched their purchasing habits from actual books to ebooks. We are seeing similar transitions in our very own industry, the cheese has definitely moved, and the cat is trying to find that mouse searching for the cheese!
I’m in San Diego right now at a real estate conference and had the opportunity to listen to Troy Hazard tell the interesting story of the Asian financial crisis that impacted his business in the 1990s. His message was simple, as he asked us only to remember three simple words – “Change or Die.” Troy hit us over the head when he said, “Stop buying in to the dream that things are never going to change. Things ALWAYS change!”
Some key suggestions I took away were:
1. Take responsibility, the first step with most things in life!
2. Stop thinking you don’t have the time. We choose where, when and how we invest our time.
3. Eliminate all the things you can’t change or influence. Don’t worry about what you can’t control. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
I recently had a lively discussion with one of my Baby Boomer, dearest real estate friends on the phone. Of course, it was on the phone, that’s what Baby Boomers do. They want to meet and talk on the phone all the time. I had asked her if we could just e-mail, but she insisted on a phone call.
This phone call went into a long talk about what young, professional REALTORS® and our organization are in motion to do. I can always best sum this up in one word…availability.
Availability tears down walls of confusion. Availability creates strong bonds and ties across generational lines. Availability facilitates amazing, reciprocal relationships. In fact, in November alone, I had two association executives come to me and say virtually the same statement.
“Thank goodness for YPN. Had we not had our YPN committee, we would’ve never known that <insert name here> was even part of our organization. We put her in this association membership position and she was the shining star. We now have a new leader thanks to YPN!”
As Mickey Mouse-cheesy as it sounds, it’s true. Your availability as a young professional is truly making our real estate industry stronger, more diverse and salient to those who have us on their radar. Continue reading »
Toby Boyce
By Toby Boyce
As I flew home from the Midyear Meetings, quite a few things were rolling through my head.
Like, why did the engines just get really quiet? I apologize, self-preservation mode there for a second. Now back to our originally scheduled programming.
This year’s Midyear was my induction into a national event — and I must say, I’m quite impressed. A lot of the preconceived notions were born out to be untrue.
1. Erica Christoffer — the wonderful person behind this site — does exist. I had begun to think she was a computer. But, I met her and hugged her so she is real — though I didn’t check her neck so a cyborg isn’t out of the realm.
2. NAR is out to get me. I know, I know, all the conspiracy theorists out there are going to hate me. There has been a lot of “us vs. them” talk amongst agents when it comes to NAR. I found it to blatantly not be true. Every staffer I spoke with was open honest and truly out to do the best for the REALTOR(R) Party.
3. NAR will never change. An organization the size of NAR takes time to move and change course. However, you are going to be hearing a lot about fair-housing and the inclusion of sexual orientation to the list. We are leading the charge and I know at least one agent has been called back to D.C. next week to make this change at the federal government. Continue reading »
Nobu Hata
By Nobu Hata
What a week! The energy and will YPN has been showing the last few months was on full display at Midyear. Between committee meetings, Association Executive strategy, and Diversity outreach plan, the buzz was all about YPN this Midyear. Were your ears ringing?
The one thing I’ll take away from 2010 NAR Midyear is NAR’s embracement of the YPN agent. Not necessarily a YPN member – mind you – but the REALTOR(R) who wants to try and make a difference, no matter the experience, income or past level of involvement. Just know, that if you have the desire to change the status quo, and the energy to be persistent about it, your voice will be heard. Not only will it be heard, but you’ve got others to reinforce it, and leadership that will listen, thanks to Ron Phipps and Moe Veissi. (Seriously, hit those guys up on Facebook!)
Those guys have been charged with carrying on the YPN torch from previous administrations, breaking down the walls, politics and bureaucracy of National involvement, and sticking their neck out in the process. From Diversity to MLS issues to Strategic Planning to Communications, there is a National committee for every YPN and the walls once there to exclude, aren’t there anymore – so let’s take advantage of it. What’s more: for 2011, three of nine liaisons to incoming President Ron Phipps will be a YPN member. Impressive, isn’t it? I’ve never been more inspired and proud of a group of REALTORS(R) in my life.
But let’s be patient. NAR is a 100 year old institution, and change will not happen overnight, cool with that? YPN is in this for the long haul and it’s going to be a hell of a ride.
Special thanks to all the NAR and REALTOR(R) Magazine leadership and employees who made the YPN Midyear experience possible, y’all know who you are!
Nobu Hata is a sales associate for Edina Realty in Minneapolis, and a founding member of the Minneapolis YPN group, the YoPros. Visit his Web site at www.nobuhata.com.
Nobu Hata
By Nobu Hata
I got stuck watching the Olympic Closing Ceremony and the highlight – for me – was watching how uncomfortable Avril Lavigne looked singing her hit opus “Girlfriend.” It was painful watching the once married, now divorced, 26-year-old post-tweenage pop punk princess singing an ode to adolescent high school girlfriend jealousy, while looking – literally – like she just walked out of a Chanel boutique. That particular message coming from that messenger didn’t register, and she knew it.
When it comes to your marketing, don’t be like Avril. Rethink your approach towards your brand and home marketing techniques. Reimagine all of it in a new light by talking to current and former clients along with folks from outside the industry. Reinvent where necessary, and keep it simple. Try something new and don’t be afraid to take a risk!
Perhaps a hand-written thank you card to a prospective seller after a market presentation. Guerilla market your new listing by knocking on doors and personally inviting the neighbors to your first open house. Make sure your website content is still relevant. And maybe now’s the time to remove your posed professional real estate pic from your Facebook page?
Word to the wise: get in the habit of objectively looking at your marketing every six months, especially if you’re in a seasonal market with regular slow-downs and re-launch of business. Continue reading »
Nobu Hata
By Nobu Hata
Much has been made the last couple of weeks about two online “conversations” that permeated the real estate socialwebs. One, an “Open Letter to NAR President Vicki Cox Golder” regarding the disconnect between us REALTORS® and NAR Leadership. The other, the need for professional standards within our industry — the conversation raged among a handful of practitioners over the course of two weekends on Twitter, that continues today.
These issues are as old as the industry itself and the topical conversations are as inevitable as the sun rising, taxes and death. You can set a clock by it: pay NAR dues, see an ad you despise, whine (or blog) about it while letting loose a couple of “while I’m at it, let me tell you about something else I hate and what I’d do about it…,” get busy with the real estate thing, forget about it, rinse, and repeat in January the following year. I get it; writing/talking/venting about what irks you is almost like therapy, making that check you cut to NAR for their ad a bit easier to stomach. To tell you the truth, I was as jaded and cynical about these issues as well, but what could I do… right?
Thing is, these conversations, blogs – what have you – aren’t so one-sided anymore. Look no further than the reply to the aforementioned blog post by none other than NAR President Vicki Cox Golder herself. Me personally? I commented on the blog post trying to encourage involvement and thought nothing more of it. Later that week I served on a practitioner panel for REBAC requiring a visit to NAR headquarters. By the time I landed in Chicago I’d received the NAR perspective on both issues and a Presidential appointment to an NAR committee in hand. Apparently, Vicki Cox Golder is listening, reading, and absorbing what we have to say. What’s more: she wants us to get involved.
And getting involved we must. Let’s stop opining about the wrongs in our industry and start doing something to right it. There are 60+ forums/committees available to REALTORS® at the national level, countless more at the local level; which one are you on? All committee meetings and forums are open to the REALTOR® public during MidYear; which one will you stand and make yourself be heard at? (#RTB folks, Professional Standards Committee is meeting Thursday at MidYear, just saying.) On a national or local committee? Seek out like-minded thinkers, bring to the forefront the solutions we have, and discuss with the REALTOR®1.0 types. There’s power in numbers here, and besides, don’t you want to have meaningful debate among those outside your blogosphere?
Let’s stop the perpetual cycle of these conversations. Formulate a solution to the beef you have and Facebook Vicki on it… Facebook – Vicki. I’m still having a hard time saying that. Let’s stop talking “Us” versus “Them” and embrace “We.” No more armchair solutions. Do. Act. Try. NAR is a trade association, after all: by the members for the members, so do your part.
There is something different about this NAR president, and if she’s embracing her “On the Rise” concept for her year in office, the better. The industry is changing, bringing with it a lot of validity and credibility to what some of us are trying to say. Our voices are being heard. Let’s take advantage of that!
p.s. Vicki, if you’re reading this: I hate the new “Uncle Sam” ad. Most of us hate it. It’s failing to resonate with the majority of your members and the general public at large. Hit me up Facebook the next time you’re contemplating a TV ad, ok? Please?
Nobu Hata is a sales associate for Edina Realty in Minneapolis, and a founding member of the Minneapolis YPN group, the YoPros. Visit his Web site at www.nobuhata.com.
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