Obsolescence, lack of technological prowess, ignorance, sloth, …why is it that in a sector of the economy that direly needs professional competence that so many in the industry not only lack the skills to succeed, but exacerbate their inefficiency by deliberately choosing NOT to evolve? Just what does it say about the real estate agent “profession?” Just what does it all mean?
Watch this video and see if you can figure out the riddle as to why most real estate agents are not understanding where we are headed.
[flv:http://www.realestateradiousa.com/videos/sony.flv 500 450]
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Can you tell me the source of that video?
Time and again I see agents afraid to blog, because they are afraid to be wrong about anything…in print. They do not understand that Web 2.0 is a discussion, and in order to learn and grow, you must risk being “wrong” about something. No one is perfect, but agents have been ‘trained” for years to pretend that they are, in order to gain clients.
Initially there were more taboos imposed by brokers, but even as brokers evolve and encourage their agents to blog, many fear “looking stupid” in public.
Hi Ardell,
That AWESOME video was the focus of the “Shift Happens” presentation was created by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The video, presented by Richard Sanders, President of Sony BMG International, was shown to 150 of the company’s top executives gathered in Rome for Sony BMG’s annual Global Management Meeting. As part of Sony BMG’s mission to improve the music experience for consumers living in “exponential times”, the video illustrates the demand for change.
You are so correct when you say .. “in order to learn and grow, you must risk being “wrong†about something”…
Thanks for stopping by!
In choosing the technology they use, too often agents focus on some type of interface method rather than on underlying capability. A very common and wrong (first) question is: can it or does it “do” something. The correct question is: what does this technology allow me to do? What strength does it bring to the long-term interests in my business.
Without certifying that the fundamental capability of any technology facilitates the growth of your business, you’re likely making a mistake. A more rigoris debate is called for regarding the recommendations real estate industry leaders make to their followers.
Matt,
Where does this conversation take place? I mean is it on the broker level? Is an agent to seek this out on their own? (you would hope one in business would)
You make a very valid point and it does not seem that the NAR is helping with the adaptation and in fact they may be seen as hindering it.
I feel that the NAR tries to coddle it’s base for the sake of continued collection of dues and they realize that by aggressively pushing a technological expanse to keep pace with the evolution of an advancing technological society…they would be basically ushering out legions of rank and file members.
I keep hearing the mantra that change is coming but when you view this video it seems that the NAR and many brokers simply are being left behind and can’t catch up.
I sense that you echo my sentiments.
Merry Christmas!
@Barry
> Where does this conversation take place? I mean is it on the broker level? Is an agent to seek this out on their own? (you would hope one in business would)
It takes place on the only level that matters: the business-owner level. In real estate, this means the agent. The agent should ignore the interests of the broker (you can be sure that the broker is looking out for his own interests) and avoid any affiliations that seek to control or stifle the agent’s business. For instance, an agent should not participate in broker systems as their primary repository for the agent’s business data. Of course, submitting data to a broker’s systems may be required at some end-point (i.e. finalization of a contract) in order to get paid, but ideally this should be done as an export/import or XML-stream of pre-formatted data the broker’s system can read. The agent should build his own business and subscribe to ancillary systems only to the degree he has to.
> You make a very valid point and it does not seem that the NAR is helping with the adaptation and in fact they may be seen as hindering it.
It’s obvious the NAR represents top-down control. It is in their interest to hinder individual empowerment when it conflicts with that control.
> I feel that the NAR tries to coddle it’s base for the sake of continued collection of dues and they realize that by aggressively pushing a technological expanse to keep pace with the evolution of an advancing technological society…they would be basically ushering out legions of rank and file members.
Not so much coddling as nannyism. They know best and they’ll lead you; teaching a man to fish is not what the NAR is about. But don’t get me started… do you think all the social networking sites exist to primarily help the society? Useful, yes; but they exist for their owners. There are so many in real estate that think of themselves as owners, but most don’t. The mindset of ownership is the fulcrum of responsibilty.
> I keep hearing the mantra that change is coming but when you view this video it seems that the NAR and many brokers simply are being left behind and can’t catch up. I sense that you echo my sentiments. Merry Christmas!
Years ago, you had to know some kind of trade to get by, to make money, to feed your family. Then, the service economy came along and the only real skill required was to sit in a cubical and do what you were told. We are not on the verge of a new freedom, we are in it – and the benefits are available to all who understand it’s mechanisms.
I hope you have an awesome 2009!
A blog is on the list for me for 2009. I have been working on redoing our website and actually have two of them out there. But it is clear that to survive and thrive in real estate, a blog is necessary. It is the wave of the future.
Way to go Jose! Any help we can provide just let us know!