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Do I know you? Do a lot of people know who you are? Do you not attend certain classes or events because you don’t have a friend from the office to go with you and you don’t want to go by yourself?
How would you like to walk into most any REALTOR® class or function and immediately know 10-20 people…and better yet, have them know you? In an industry like ours, sometimes it’s better to be known by a lot of people than it is to know a lot of people.
So how do you accomplish this? It’s called INVOLVEMENT. In December 2004, I wrote in this column about putting “Service in Your Business.” It focused on giving back through community involvement. This article is about giving back to your Association and your industry, while at the same time having your name circulated to a new group of insiders in the real estate industry.
If you’re not sure where to start or you’re reluctant to jump in to deep end, start by volunteering on an Association task force or committee such as the Political Survival Fund, REALTOR® Update speaker selection, membership linkage, government affairs, bowling, golf, Inaugural or others. Each of these groups serve a very important function and allow you to get involved with a number of people who just may not know you.
In addition to serving, you’ll be networking yourself and your business at the grassroots level with those who have been in our industry for several years and are usually quite successful. You can learn so much from them and be helping at the same time.
Or try out membership on a foundation board such as the Metro Denver REALTOR® Foundation (MDRF) or the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Fund (CARHOF). Working with these groups ensures that you meet with people from around the metro area and sometimes across the state.
Consider running for a seat on the AAR Board of Directors. It’s an important function and a longer commitment, but one on which you can serve the Association and our industry in Aurora, using your business and organizational skills and meeting a whole new group of powerful people in the metro area.
In 2003, I chose to get involved and it has been a truly great experience. I’ve had such positive experiences with so many people by doing this.
Once, when in a great pinch for time over a three day period, I had a buyer’s agent call me who I had never met and didn’t know; he wanted to send me a contract for one of my listings. When I learned when his contract acceptance time was, I told him I couldn’t meet it. He had done his research and knew I was on the Board of Directors, referenced such, and said that I was probably someone who could be trusted. He changed the acceptance date and time.
Again, sometimes it is better to be known by a lot of people than to know a lot of people. Involvement has many rewards, from increasing your name recognition to the satisfaction that comes from helping, creating and serving. Sometimes it can even help in getting a favorable nod in a contract situation.
Serving has many by-products and pays many dividends – many of which you may not expect. Let AAR President Cheri Long or CEO Carol Reed know that you want to step up and get involved. You’ll be glad you did!
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