I enjoy reading. I read a lot. I crave knowledge; I thirst to know more than the next person. I want to know who pays me, why they pay me, when I am being paid. What have I done to earn this food on my table? The cigars I smoke? The food I feed my numerous animals? Where does this all come from?

I am currently reading How to Become a Marketing Superstar by Jeffrey Fox. This is the second book I have read of his. I have enjoyed it all. Note: This is not a book report, but the author brought up a great point that I feel needs to be shared. Upon opening this book the first night to start it, I got to the chapter entitled, “This Is Customer Money“. I read it, and I paused. I shut the book and pondered for about 15 minutes what Mr. Fox was saying.

This is customer’s money. The book I hold in my hand, the bed I lay in while reading. The cat propped up on my pillow and dog laying next to me, they are fed by customer money. Hell, the 42 inch waist which I have worked so hard to obtain was fed by customer money. Don’t forget about the typewriter (cough cough) that I use to contact potential clients and the NAR Dues I pay. Does my customer realize my wasteful spending?

In the book, Mr. Fox opens the fourth chapter with,

“Every paycheck, for every employee, from the busboy to the chef, from the picker to the packer, from the trainee to the CEO, must literally or figuratively be stamped: THIS IS CUSTOMER MONEY!”

DUH! I have been thinking about this all wrong.

Most of the people reading this may already realize this; but to what extent? Let’s think about this. In this Real Estate Market there are tons of hungry Real Estate Agents. Many have not had a closing in months, maybe even a year. I am talking about full time agents. Forget those who work their days at Red Lobster. Full time real estate agents are starving. Why? They do not have customers.

While writing this article I had someone say, “I only work with buyers, the seller pays me. It is not my customer’s money.” Idiot. Yes it is. Mr. Agent, if you did not have that buyer (your customer) would you be able to eat? Not including the employee meals you get for free at Red Lobster that is.

No matter which side of the transaction you are on, you live and die with the customer’s money.

As most of you realize, I am young. I am engaged, and my fiancée starts her first ‘real’ job as a nurse next week. We have been living on one paycheck, my paycheck, my customer’s money. Now, it all clicks. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are paying for my wedding, the ring I put on her finger. She’s a nurse, the people in the OR are paying for her car, her education. A Customer’s Money fuels each and every aspect of this economy.

Alright, so what now? Great, we understand that we live off our customer’s money. Duh Hunter. My first thought is Respect that fact. Live up to what you say you will do. This is not just another buyer; this is the mortgage payment, your daughter’s tuition, and your wife’s Botox, whatever it is remember: It is your Customer’s money!