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Stuart Smalley | Realtor’s® Counselor?

“Hi, my name is Todd and I’m a Realtor®.”

It almost sounds like the first step in a 12-step program!  And if you are a Realtor® in today’s ever shifting market, you know just how true that feels…

We feel as though we are being constantly hounded, beat on, beat up and generally abused for something that is well outside of any one real estate agent’s control.  The market is what it is, and that’s the rub.

Where’s MY Support Group?

Who could forget Stuart Smalley? That lovable, sophomoric Al Franken character on Saturday Night Live had some memorable lines and skits!

The one thing that always struck me watching these skits was how funny, yet nearly right on they were!  I mean, why else would we laugh so hard at someone’s struggle to ensure that their own self image was up to snuff?

Stuart Smalley is a caring nurturer, a member of several 12-step programs, but not a licensed therapist.

At times, being a Realtor® can prove challenging…Especially when seemingly NO ONE listens to our advice and professional opinion.

“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.”

It was a catchy, cornball, goofy phrase when he said it, but “doggone it” he’s right!

When we wake up in the morning, we are often already out the door, in the car and with clients in our minds….and that’s the instant AFTER our feet hit the floor.  If we are that quick to assess what the day has in store for us, imagine the damage that stinkin’ thinkin’ has on our self-image?

I had a real estate trainer that routinely encouraged, nay demanded, that his students spend the first five minutes of the morning in front of a mirror, staring straight into our own eyes, repeating self-affirming phrases.  “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough…”

Admittedly, it was weird at first.  But over time, coupled with a constant reminder to smile, I could see my own self-confidence improve.  I now stare straight ahead when walking, and have a constant grin on my face.

My clients also responded to my shift in confidence.  I started to receive fewer questions about why I didn’t do open houses, or put flyers in outside boxes even though my explanations remained the same.

If we can simply change how we view ourselves, or at least affirm that we aren’t the complete idiots we tell ourselves, we will begin to exude the confidence that our clients so hope, look for and deserve.

It also helped the self-confidence knowing that on any given day my Blackberry would notify me that a new lead was on my website looking at homes…

With such a huge number of folks looking for real estste online, it IS the target rich enviroment or the 21st century…If you havn’t yet learned how to generate leads online or are not currently subscribing for leads, you arte simply missing out…

You are good enough…Get in the game today:-)

[pic credit whiterabbitcult.com]