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November 2004
Index of all
messages
from the Association President
Illusion vs. reality
by Mitch Myers
When I was six years old, my family took me to a magic show. This was not just any magic show, it was one performed by a true professional.
Just imagine being six years old, young enough to really believe in magic and watching a gentleman walk out in a full tuxedo, top hat and cane. He greeted the audience and slowly peeled off his white silk gloves, throwing them gracefully into the air...where...they instantly changed into two white doves, circled over the audience and flew back to the magician's' waiting hands.
It blew me away...and...I was there live and up close! At that point in time, I knew that I wanted to be a magician. A real magician - doing "real magic." I didn't know the difference between illusion and reality.
The rest of the show was a blur as my mind raced into the future, visualizing myself doing "real magic". For the next four years, I devoured every magic book and kit around. Although I learned many simple effects, "real magic" evaded me. Then I hit the jackpot.
My mother had run into a 65-year-old professional magician who was retiring. He agreed to teach me magic. Finally, I would learn the real thing! As the magician began to teach me the principles of magic, I began to realize that it was all just an illusion. The reality of a dream I had held for four years was much different than I had believed. Basic principles, little known science tidbits, sleight of hand, and psychology were all part of the magician's bag of tricks.
The best compliment a magician can hear is, "He didn't do anything." Properly executed, magic really looks like magic. Although the magician has spent hours upon hours - even years practicing his art - it looks effortless when he performs it.
The principles of magic haven't changed. David Copperfield performs using the same material that Houdini, Harry Blackstone and the Amazing Kellar used. The principles in real estate haven't changed either.
Beware of the illusion that you can perform real estate without learning and practicing the tricks of the trade. With all the technology around us, it is very easy to ignore the basics. There is no magic bullet; our job has been and always will be to find people who need to buy or sell real estate. Doing real estate without a system to find people who need to buy or sell is an illusion.
Roger Butcher, a real estate trainer, says "Technology will not replace the agent but an agent with technology will replace the agent without." Although that may be true, the technology will not do you any good if you do not have clients. What do you do to find leads? Do you have a system? Is your career in real estate an illusion or is it reality?
Just surrounding yourself with a good company, the latest technology and the tools of our trade will not make you successful just as surrounding yourself with all the props of a magic show will not make you a magician. You must study the principles, internalize the theories, and most of all, practice. Unlike the profession of magic, our profession does not hide its secrets. Everything you could possible need to succeed is just a phone call or mouse click away. Then you must commit to practicing and applying it.
If you don't have a proven plan to find people who need your help, your plan should be to find one. Forget everything else until you have found a system that fits you, your schedule and your style. If you are not sure where to find a system, visit your library at the Aurora Association of REALTORS®, which is a free service available to every member.
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