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July 2007
Index of all
messages
from the Association President
President's Message - There are no coincidences
By Cheri Long
Juggling life with all its different facets can be quite challenging.
I listened to featured speaker Eric Kiesau at the June 8 REALTOR® Update Meeting talk about balancing his life as a wide receiver coach for the University of Colorado, as a father and as a husband. It was great food for thought.
Finding balance
As you probably figured by now, I do think (some may say obsess) about the speaker topics after those meetings. I often wonder...what was it that I was to learn from that speaker? Why did I meet that person? I am a very spiritual person, so I believe that nothing happens by coincidence. So I had to ask myself on June 8, what was I to learn from Mr. Kiesau?
Real estate is a tough business. Oh, they may say it’s flexible and a great second job or that you can set your own hours, but the reality is that you can get swept away without control of your own time if you let yourself.
So I think that’s what Mr. Kiesau was alluding to: Is it okay not to jump at a moment’s notice to show a house or schedule an appointment? I think it is (Ok, I said it! How liberating!), and certainly others will understand that two weeks without a day off is not healthy! It seems like I never get away...even on days off, I answer my phone. But whose fault is that? Mine, of course – I allow that to happen. Mr. Kiesau’s message was not to neglect your duties, but get control of them.
Taking control
Well slap my forehead and make me a member of the flat forehead society! So the real question is how to get control of it. I know I can use my daytimer better, scheduling the daily needs to run the business at specific times, and leaving time to return phone calls for a specific time. I have heard successful agents speak of virtual assistants, transaction managers, and marketing assistants, differentiating the work to the strengths of the workers. Well, this is certainly the time to put new methods in place, when there is time to implement them.
Whatever I do, I know this meeting was not by chance! It was my wake up call. I need to act, do you?
Updates around the Association:
Electronic lockboxes: After finding out there is some work to be done coordinating the one-day code assignments with the Sentrilock product, the task force voted unanimously to delay the trial period until it is a smooth, working function. Members were concerned that we not use a product that won’t reflect the actual actions of the product.
NAR dues increase: I know what you’re thinking…13 years since the last increase flew by fast! However, there will be tangible results with this increase, which is part of a Second Century Initiative designed by NAR to keep REALTORS® firmly positioned for success in upcoming years. Projects ahead include the creation of:
• A national gateway for real estate information, not a national MLS
• A commercial partnership for all NAR members
• A Credit Union Corpus and startup as a service for our members
• A new company for technology ventures herein referred to as “Newco”
• A superfund for our RPAC hard dollars, always ready to mobilize on relevant issues and immediate reaction, retain issue advocacy
REALTOR.com: For the first time in a long time, I was impressed with Realtor.com at the NAR Mid -Year presentation. I liked changes that are being made to improve the product and all its functions. Here are a few upgrades:
• A 30 percent increase in call service center staff
• Accelerated MLS uploads (56 percent of MLS’s upload once a day- would like six times a day to be norm)
• New mapping capability
• 25 listing photos
• Video/Neighborhood tours
• Neighborhood search for comparable neighborhoods (If you like this neighborhood, you may like these…)
• NO CHARGE BLOG site for every REALTOR® linked to a general site that connects back to the blog.
On a personal note: Thank you so much for putting your trust in me to be your president. I love representing you and feel so honored to bring you back the latest, greatest information from the national and state meetings you send me to. They are important to us as members of Aurora Association of REALTORS® , and they are important to you individually. After all, if you can’t attend yourself, because of time or money, it’s nice to know you’ll be represented by your leadership team and CEO Carol Reed. We attend meetings and forums so you don’t have to! |
