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March 2005
Index of all
messages
from the Association President
Professionalism best where the past
meets the present
by Mitch Myers CRS, GRI
The real estate industry has gone through an amazing transformation on many levels, even within the past two decades.
Remember when we actually had to wait for a flyer drop or a book delivery to get the latest listings? We physically delivered all offers, counter-offers and addendums. We had cell phone bills around $500 a month. The industry as a whole was a tightly knit group with plenty of social events and volunteer work. There were very few business models.
Now, different business models emerge every day as we do business at the speed of light. Technology has had a huge impact on our business. We can do well in real estate and still have a life thanks to palm pilots and computers. E-mail is very nearly the preferred form of communication among a whole generation of buyers and sellers.
A blending of the biz
So there's no question that we have many options, thanks to technology. These new options give us an opportunity to blend the best of the past with the best of the present. Certain basics in business, however, will never change - they've been around forever.
For example, manners are still the sugar of business. It's a fact we must remember as we do business at a faster pace and with less personal contact. Common courtesy and etiquette can define your reputation, and in this industry, the reputation you have among your peers is as important as the reputation you have with your clients.
Professional courtesy is a vital tool for lasting success. In an effort to preserve the best from the past, NAR now offers a voluntary code of conduct, dubbed Pathways to Professionalism. Following the suggestions in the document is purely optional, but doing so will ensure that you are among the most professional brokers in the business.
NAR's "Pathways to Professionalism" is well worth reading. In fact, when you do, remember that when the best of the past meets the best of here and now, everyone wins - your clients, your peers, and most of all, you.
Please send thoughts, comments and concerns to mitchmyers@mitchmyers.com.
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