Admittedly, it's taken me awhile to understand certain things. I'm of the generation of real estate agents who straddle the rapidly expanding divide between the "old school" and the "new school." My generation was hooked to the pager. Early in my career, I had a broker who demanded you answer it within 7 minutes or else the lead was gone. Poof! Given to someone else just like that. When I left, it took me 3 months to debrief from the trauma of that aspect of my experience.
What I learned from that debacle is this: No one will DIE if I don't answer my phone calls during dinner, at midnight when some callers choose to call for real estate related advise or if I turn OFF my phone during a meeting with someone who deserves my attention at the moment. I am not anyone's doctor. The decisions and counsel my job requires are important, but certainly not life threatening. Nor does my job require me to talk with a client every single day or several times a day to allay fears and superstitions. That is the job of a licensed therapist.
The Mother/Father complex has been a little trickier because the Mother role is one I play in real life. Thus, the transference of this role into client relationships has sometimes occurred inadvertently. As a broker, it becomes even more critical not to confuse the fact that you are a manager of agents, not their pseudo parent. I am learning that caring compassion for the concerns of others is not the same as parenting them. That job can only belong to the individuals who raised them...I am a poor substitute.
I am a real estate specialist. I am hired to share my knowledge and expertise about the real estate transaction and to guide clients through to a successful conclusion. I am a Partner in the Process with my clients...someone who engages by sharing my understanding of the unique challenges that my clients face and who LISTENS to what they have to say. My role is not to instruct you in what is best for you, but rather to give you the benefit of my wisdom and experience so that you can make an intelligent and informed choice. I am a Realtor®.
Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved
Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511. Thanks for visiting our blog. Here are links to some of our most popular posts for you to enjoy!
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Lola,
Is there a twelve step program for that??? LOL Thanks, Fran
damndarngoodexcellent one!Amen! Amen!
What else is there to say? You just said it all. And very eloquently, I might add. :)
I have been people's Dear Abby, Ann Landers, Sister Mary Lemme Hear It, for 22 years. It's part of the world of sales, and if people like you, they will share their hearts with you. Sometimes it's wearing, but it goes with the territory I guess...
Lola,
I had all but forgotten about those pagers. Fortunately, I never succumbed to owning one.
Lola - from a fellow Michigander - thanks for the insights. You've obviously achieved balance in your life, which will greatly benefit your clients (although they may not recognize it right away).
I sure hope you had a beautiful early-spring day in Grand Rapids, like we had today in SE Michigan. I wrote about it on my blog just this afternoon.
I am a real estate specialist. I am hired to share my knowledge and expertise about the real estate transaction and to guide clients through to a successful conclusion
This is going on my bulletin board just above my phone