I hate what I sometimes do to myself during the Holidays. If I’m not careful, ‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly becomes ‘Tis the season to be stressed, overwhelmed, snappish and broke.
I find myself snarling at Christmas Carols, saying inappropriate things to the Santas and planning middle of the night forays on Wal-Mart. (In case you ever wondered, Santa seldom has a coherent answer to “Hey, Santa! What are you wearing under the suit?”)
This is not a good thing. No matter who or what you believe is the reason for the season, growling at songs and then harassing the Santa is not congruent with the Holiday Spirit.
Just about every religion has a place for a celebration around this time of year. Whether we’re celebrating Winter Solstice or Jesus’ birthday or Hanukah or Kwanza or any of the thousands of other reasons for a smile and a party, let’s remember why we’re doing it. I celebrate because I like to be reminded that I’m part of something way bigger and way more important than my own little corner of the world.
Whatever your preferred deity or symbol, I’m sure that we can all agree on a philosophy of “Peace on Earth, Good will towards all.” I hope that we can all agree that the pain of one human diminishes everyone. We can agree that nothing is more important than family, no matter if it’s the family that you were born into or the family that you’ve gathered around yourself through the years, or the family of humanity.
Maybe this year I can better triage my time and energy. Maybe instead of spending half an hour getting the ribbon on a present just exactly right I could take a coat and a sandwich to one of the people who sleep under the bridge.
Maybe instead of getting up in arms over something that really doesn’t make any difference I’ll remember to get excited about real stuff, about life and death problems. Maybe instead of showing up to yell about somebody’s decorating scheme I need to be showing up to help serve dinner at the Mission.
Maybe instead of trying to get every Barbie Doll known to man for my granddaughter I need to remember the little kid who doesn’t have any toys at all.
I’m just saying - maybe we need to check our priorities.
My friends, Happy Holidays. Remember to count your blessings, and remember to be a blessing. (You are, you know. You are a blessing to this world. Don’t forget it!) In the midst of all of the Holiday hustle, remember to stop and smell the fruitcake.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Aaron
I sometimes train the new agents. My plan for training is to tell people what works for me, explore what might work for them, introduce them to resources that can help and then throw them to the winds. I’m not real big on structured instruction agendas.
I helped a woman that we will call Rosie. My haphazard training and Rosie’s fastidious brain did not mesh.
The first problem was that she needed to know exactly what to do, exactly when to do it, and precisely how to go about it. If I said, “Rosie. Every day write a letter to a FSBO or an expired listing,” she wanted to know what time she should write it, (“3:31 PM, Rosie.” “Okay!”) should it be handwritten or typed, if handwritten then what color of ink should she use, on letterhead or not, which sort of stamp would be best……………….
Then she would finally write it and I would red-line it and she would re-do it and then bring it to me and then to the Broker and then back to me and then back to the Broker and the silly letter never did make it to the mailbox.
We made each other crazy because I don’t think like Rosie. (I confess that in my secret brain, and in my most private thoughts, I called her Rainman.)
The second problem was that I had competition for that meticulous mind of hers. One time I got exasperated and snapped “Quit thinking about it and just go bring me a freakin’ letter!” Rosie stumped away and then circled back with a marvel of a farming letter. It was awesome! Amazingly, she also had 3 other letters, all of them dealing with different real estate situations. These were wonderful letters. I coveted these letters.
Rosie did not write them. I knew that she didn’t write them because they started out:
Dear [Recipient Name]: My name is [REALTOR® Name], and I am associated with [Company Name].
“Rosie! Where did you get this? It’s perfect!”
“Aaron gave it to me.”
“Wow! Well, get it in the mail! Wait – fill in the blanks first.” She did, and good things started happening for her.
So one day I asked Rosie to do something and I told her how I thought that she should do it and she pops off with “But Aaron says that I should do THAT in my 5th week of training. Aaron says that I should do THIS in my 3rd week.” Pretty soon it’s “Aaron says this……..” and “Aaron says that……...” and tiny puffs of smoke are coming out of my ears.
My gripe is that Aaron’s suggestions are excellent, and certainly better thought-out than mine. This Aaron guy is starting to irritate me. He seems to have unlimited resources, unlimited time, and unlimited patience for Rosie. Aaron is making me look bad.
One day “Aaron said” something brilliant and I noticed that my left eye was twitching. “Rosie. I would like to meet this Aaron guy. Could you go call him right now and see if he would come to an office meeting and share his wisdom with all of us?”
“Oh, I don’t know Aaron.”
“Then how did you get all of this information from him? Where did this letter and all of this good advice come from? Why is Aaron giving you things? What have you done, Rosie?”
“Aaron is in my computer. He has all of this stuff, and he likes to help me. Some of it is free and some of it costs. I only get the free things.” Rosie showed me where Aaron is in her computer.
Turns out that Aaron is aaronline.com.
Rosie had gone to the Arizona Association of REALTORS® website and from there accessed NAR’s “Right Tools, Right Now” and found free letter templates and downloaded them.
http://www.realtor.org/archives/website200505021?presentationtemplate=rmo-design/pt_articlepage_migratedcontent_print&presentationtemplateid=06ad608049e7ba93ab3dab87f8d337ee
She had been watching training webinars at http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/RightTools/OnlineTraining?OpenDocument
she was starting a free REALTOR® blog at http://blogsignup.realtor.com/learnmore.aspx
she was learning about short sales at http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/RightTools/ShortSales?OpenDocument
she was figuring out Facebook and Twitter at http://www.realtor.org/rmotechnology/Articles/2009/0909_socialnetworking_virtualrealities
and pretty soon Rosie was doing the right things without any input from me at all.
Rosie started doing really well, which relieved me immensely. She became a self-starter, or at least an Aaron-inspired starter. She established a farm area and got some very well priced listings, which sold.
Once Rosie developed some confidence, she was able to stop clenching quite so hard and she started specializing in short sales. Once she understood the process, we found that short sale listings suited her linear brain.
While I taught Rosie a few things, she showed me something, too. She didn’t introduce me to Aaron, but she did make me decide to get to know him a whole lot better.
Aaron is a good guy to know. Go to www.aaronline.com and see.
I helped a woman that we will call Rosie. My haphazard training and Rosie’s fastidious brain did not mesh.
The first problem was that she needed to know exactly what to do, exactly when to do it, and precisely how to go about it. If I said, “Rosie. Every day write a letter to a FSBO or an expired listing,” she wanted to know what time she should write it, (“3:31 PM, Rosie.” “Okay!”) should it be handwritten or typed, if handwritten then what color of ink should she use, on letterhead or not, which sort of stamp would be best……………….
Then she would finally write it and I would red-line it and she would re-do it and then bring it to me and then to the Broker and then back to me and then back to the Broker and the silly letter never did make it to the mailbox.
We made each other crazy because I don’t think like Rosie. (I confess that in my secret brain, and in my most private thoughts, I called her Rainman.)
The second problem was that I had competition for that meticulous mind of hers. One time I got exasperated and snapped “Quit thinking about it and just go bring me a freakin’ letter!” Rosie stumped away and then circled back with a marvel of a farming letter. It was awesome! Amazingly, she also had 3 other letters, all of them dealing with different real estate situations. These were wonderful letters. I coveted these letters.
Rosie did not write them. I knew that she didn’t write them because they started out:
Dear [Recipient Name]: My name is [REALTOR® Name], and I am associated with [Company Name].
“Rosie! Where did you get this? It’s perfect!”
“Aaron gave it to me.”
“Wow! Well, get it in the mail! Wait – fill in the blanks first.” She did, and good things started happening for her.
So one day I asked Rosie to do something and I told her how I thought that she should do it and she pops off with “But Aaron says that I should do THAT in my 5th week of training. Aaron says that I should do THIS in my 3rd week.” Pretty soon it’s “Aaron says this……..” and “Aaron says that……...” and tiny puffs of smoke are coming out of my ears.
My gripe is that Aaron’s suggestions are excellent, and certainly better thought-out than mine. This Aaron guy is starting to irritate me. He seems to have unlimited resources, unlimited time, and unlimited patience for Rosie. Aaron is making me look bad.
One day “Aaron said” something brilliant and I noticed that my left eye was twitching. “Rosie. I would like to meet this Aaron guy. Could you go call him right now and see if he would come to an office meeting and share his wisdom with all of us?”
“Oh, I don’t know Aaron.”
“Then how did you get all of this information from him? Where did this letter and all of this good advice come from? Why is Aaron giving you things? What have you done, Rosie?”
“Aaron is in my computer. He has all of this stuff, and he likes to help me. Some of it is free and some of it costs. I only get the free things.” Rosie showed me where Aaron is in her computer.
Turns out that Aaron is aaronline.com.
Rosie had gone to the Arizona Association of REALTORS® website and from there accessed NAR’s “Right Tools, Right Now” and found free letter templates and downloaded them.
http://www.realtor.org/archives/website200505021?presentationtemplate=rmo-design/pt_articlepage_migratedcontent_print&presentationtemplateid=06ad608049e7ba93ab3dab87f8d337ee
She had been watching training webinars at http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/RightTools/OnlineTraining?OpenDocument
she was starting a free REALTOR® blog at http://blogsignup.realtor.com/learnmore.aspx
she was learning about short sales at http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/RightTools/ShortSales?OpenDocument
she was figuring out Facebook and Twitter at http://www.realtor.org/rmotechnology/Articles/2009/0909_socialnetworking_virtualrealities
and pretty soon Rosie was doing the right things without any input from me at all.
Rosie started doing really well, which relieved me immensely. She became a self-starter, or at least an Aaron-inspired starter. She established a farm area and got some very well priced listings, which sold.
Once Rosie developed some confidence, she was able to stop clenching quite so hard and she started specializing in short sales. Once she understood the process, we found that short sale listings suited her linear brain.
While I taught Rosie a few things, she showed me something, too. She didn’t introduce me to Aaron, but she did make me decide to get to know him a whole lot better.
Aaron is a good guy to know. Go to www.aaronline.com and see.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I got installed as President of the Sedona Verde Valley Association of REALTORS® last Thursday. They made me write a speech, and then I didn't give it because everybody who went before me said everything that I had planned.
But it's a good speech! So here it is.
*****************************************************
We were talking about this installation around our dinner table a few weeks ago. My 4 year old grandson was tearing through the kitchen just as Mike said that I would get sworn in. JackJack screeched to a halt and said “Grandma! No swearing!”
I was conflicted about this installation. Kim and Jamie were asking me questions and wanting my participation and I was resisting. I had a problem, but I hadn’t figured out exactly why I had a problem.
This is a huge honor. I will do my best to do a good job. You all know that and we didn’t need to get you all together to hear me say it.
We were in an education meeting a couple of months ago and I blurted out, “I’m cancelling the installation!”
Kim got big eyes and then pointed out that this is important. We need to recognize the award winners, the Board of Directors and I need to be sworn in, we’ve got a new MLS Chair to introduce, and a lot of the members really like to have a party. She asked me why I was being stubborn. “Carol Anne, this is your moment! We’re trying to make this special for you!”
And there was my problem. This Association is not about me. SVVAR is about you. I am one of 713 REALTOR® and affiliate members. I had a hard time about asking our members to come watch “my installation” when we are here to serve you.
We decided to do a free breakfast, and Jamie and our affiliate members agreed to cook.
Then Kim tells me that I have to make a speech. “But it’s breakfast. No speeches at breakfast.” She pointed her finger at me like she was JackJack.
OK. Speech.
For about the first 10 years that I was licensed I went about my business, listing and selling real estate. I never thought about the Association, except to pay my dues so that I could have MLS. “They” ran SVVAR and “They” were doing a fine job and it never occurred to me that “They” could use some help.
I did figure out pretty quick that being a REALTOR® means a lot. Then I noticed that as a member of AAR and NAR and SVVAR we get some really awesome perks. I get convenient and outstanding education, I get access to Professional Standards instead of going to court, the webinars and podcasts and articles are wonderful, and we are a force to be reckoned with in politics. Everywhere you look is a reason to be a member of SVVAR, besides MLS. Then they put me on the Board and the world opened up. Y’all should try it.
When we go to the National conventions, I realize that Arizona is the elite as far as state associations go, and SVVAR is regarded as one of the best Arizona associations. People look at my name tag and say, “Ooh – Sedona.” I say, “Yeah, can’t get enough of those Red Rocks.” They say, “No. Youse guy’s Association. We use youse guys as our model.” They’re 5 or 10 years behind us. We belong to the elite, and we have Holly and Ron and Kim and Beth to thank for that.
So how do we stay there? We stay there by not being stagnant. We stay there by inviting and entertaining new ideas.
My wish list is that more members would get more involved. It used to be that if you raised your hand to volunteer around here you were committing yourself to years of servitude on a committee. Not anymore – Beth changed that with the Quick Response Teams – the QRTs. Now it‘s safe to raise your hand. That’s what I’m asking for from you. Raise your hand. Talk to me. Talk to your Board members. If you’ve got an idea, share it. If you’ve got a gripe, share it. We want to and we need to hear from you.
Every time I write my Bits n Pieces I get feedback. I love your comments! It’s human to think something positive (“Ooh! I like that!” and then go on.) but to say the negatives (Ooh! She made a mistake! And grab the phone.) Occasionally I’ll get disgruntled when I feel picked on, but that’s OK – I can take it.
I have an old friend who is one of our REALTORS®. Robert never hesitates to criticize at me, and I never hesitate to swear at him. I treasure Robert’s input because we need to know what you guys are thinking and he never hesitates to tell me.
That was my wish list. Now I want to take a moment to thank all of the volunteers here. A lot of people don’t know that what we do, we do for free. I especially want to thank Beth Adams and Jacque Weems, and we certainly need to point out Holly Mabery and Ron Volkman and all of the other past Presidents that have served you on your Board. By the time you get to be a past President you have donated literally thousands of hours to our Association. That’s a huge contribution, and it is appreciated. Thank Tahona Epperson and Tod Christenson, our President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer.
Will anyone who has served on the board or on a committee, either for SVVAR or AAR or NAR please stand up? Next year I hope to be able to recognize a gigantic group of new volunteers.
I also need a moment to thank Kim and Mary and Linda and Diane, our staff. Everything that happens is due to their efforts. Without these 4 women the whole shebang would just fall apart. We take it for granted that when we pick up the phone or shoot out an email to SVVAR our question or problem gets taken care of. We have the best staff in the state, if not in the nation. I know this because whenever we go to a conference the other associations try to steal them from us. I shudder to think of trying to operate without them. Let’s also thank Lisa and Jack Frost, who have forgiven me for some rash words that I spoke once and came to play for us.
There you are – the speech. Done. Please get involved, please talk to us, and please remember to say “Thanks!” when one of your staff helps you. Especially, be proud that you are a member of the Sedona Verde Valley Association of REALTORS® because we truly are the best of the best.
But it's a good speech! So here it is.
*****************************************************
We were talking about this installation around our dinner table a few weeks ago. My 4 year old grandson was tearing through the kitchen just as Mike said that I would get sworn in. JackJack screeched to a halt and said “Grandma! No swearing!”
I was conflicted about this installation. Kim and Jamie were asking me questions and wanting my participation and I was resisting. I had a problem, but I hadn’t figured out exactly why I had a problem.
This is a huge honor. I will do my best to do a good job. You all know that and we didn’t need to get you all together to hear me say it.
We were in an education meeting a couple of months ago and I blurted out, “I’m cancelling the installation!”
Kim got big eyes and then pointed out that this is important. We need to recognize the award winners, the Board of Directors and I need to be sworn in, we’ve got a new MLS Chair to introduce, and a lot of the members really like to have a party. She asked me why I was being stubborn. “Carol Anne, this is your moment! We’re trying to make this special for you!”
And there was my problem. This Association is not about me. SVVAR is about you. I am one of 713 REALTOR® and affiliate members. I had a hard time about asking our members to come watch “my installation” when we are here to serve you.
We decided to do a free breakfast, and Jamie and our affiliate members agreed to cook.
Then Kim tells me that I have to make a speech. “But it’s breakfast. No speeches at breakfast.” She pointed her finger at me like she was JackJack.
OK. Speech.
For about the first 10 years that I was licensed I went about my business, listing and selling real estate. I never thought about the Association, except to pay my dues so that I could have MLS. “They” ran SVVAR and “They” were doing a fine job and it never occurred to me that “They” could use some help.
I did figure out pretty quick that being a REALTOR® means a lot. Then I noticed that as a member of AAR and NAR and SVVAR we get some really awesome perks. I get convenient and outstanding education, I get access to Professional Standards instead of going to court, the webinars and podcasts and articles are wonderful, and we are a force to be reckoned with in politics. Everywhere you look is a reason to be a member of SVVAR, besides MLS. Then they put me on the Board and the world opened up. Y’all should try it.
When we go to the National conventions, I realize that Arizona is the elite as far as state associations go, and SVVAR is regarded as one of the best Arizona associations. People look at my name tag and say, “Ooh – Sedona.” I say, “Yeah, can’t get enough of those Red Rocks.” They say, “No. Youse guy’s Association. We use youse guys as our model.” They’re 5 or 10 years behind us. We belong to the elite, and we have Holly and Ron and Kim and Beth to thank for that.
So how do we stay there? We stay there by not being stagnant. We stay there by inviting and entertaining new ideas.
My wish list is that more members would get more involved. It used to be that if you raised your hand to volunteer around here you were committing yourself to years of servitude on a committee. Not anymore – Beth changed that with the Quick Response Teams – the QRTs. Now it‘s safe to raise your hand. That’s what I’m asking for from you. Raise your hand. Talk to me. Talk to your Board members. If you’ve got an idea, share it. If you’ve got a gripe, share it. We want to and we need to hear from you.
Every time I write my Bits n Pieces I get feedback. I love your comments! It’s human to think something positive (“Ooh! I like that!” and then go on.) but to say the negatives (Ooh! She made a mistake! And grab the phone.) Occasionally I’ll get disgruntled when I feel picked on, but that’s OK – I can take it.
I have an old friend who is one of our REALTORS®. Robert never hesitates to criticize at me, and I never hesitate to swear at him. I treasure Robert’s input because we need to know what you guys are thinking and he never hesitates to tell me.
That was my wish list. Now I want to take a moment to thank all of the volunteers here. A lot of people don’t know that what we do, we do for free. I especially want to thank Beth Adams and Jacque Weems, and we certainly need to point out Holly Mabery and Ron Volkman and all of the other past Presidents that have served you on your Board. By the time you get to be a past President you have donated literally thousands of hours to our Association. That’s a huge contribution, and it is appreciated. Thank Tahona Epperson and Tod Christenson, our President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer.
Will anyone who has served on the board or on a committee, either for SVVAR or AAR or NAR please stand up? Next year I hope to be able to recognize a gigantic group of new volunteers.
I also need a moment to thank Kim and Mary and Linda and Diane, our staff. Everything that happens is due to their efforts. Without these 4 women the whole shebang would just fall apart. We take it for granted that when we pick up the phone or shoot out an email to SVVAR our question or problem gets taken care of. We have the best staff in the state, if not in the nation. I know this because whenever we go to a conference the other associations try to steal them from us. I shudder to think of trying to operate without them. Let’s also thank Lisa and Jack Frost, who have forgiven me for some rash words that I spoke once and came to play for us.
There you are – the speech. Done. Please get involved, please talk to us, and please remember to say “Thanks!” when one of your staff helps you. Especially, be proud that you are a member of the Sedona Verde Valley Association of REALTORS® because we truly are the best of the best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
