NOTE– The inspiration for this post came from my wife (and fellow REALTOR), Kari. The idea is all hers, I am merely putting it in writing in the hope of accurately expressing it to all of you. I can take credit for the writing, but she deserves the credit for the inspiration.
As group, the blogosphere has been pretty tough on the National Association of REALTORS. Much of it has been absolutely warranted. Some of it has been, in my estimation, overly harsh at times. I’m not particularly interested in adding to the already voluminous canon of NAR criticism. I am, however, extremely interested in seeing things change. So in this case, I think I might have to forgo my desire for the former, in order to fulfill my desire for the latter. I have also been encouraged by the recent effort on the part of NAR to actually engage the membership and address some of the criticism (after much pleading, both here and elsewhere). This makes me hopeful that perhaps NAR is not only hearing, but also listening.
So here, goes. . .
Kari and I were recently on a drive out to house an open house at one of our listings. Since we live in what could be described as the middle of nowhere, we do a lot of driving. We like driving, because it gives us a chance to discuss. On this particular drive, we began discussing the state of the real estate profession. Specifically, we were discussing the fact that not only are there not a lot of young real estate professionals, but there seems to be no effort or steps being taken to change that fact. It would appear that we are not alone in this assessment.
Chief among the reasons that real estate seems unable to attract people dedicated to the profession, especially young professionals, is the overall culture of the real estate profession. It is not at all inclusive. There is little true cooperation (except when it is motivated by commissions). The “Look at Me!” attitude that is pervasive in much of the real estate marketing and advertising just isn’t attractive to many members of Gen-Y.
NB– The distinctive lack of a “look at me!” attitude and the undying commitment to cooperation and collaboration exhibited by the AgentGenius community is precisely what attracted me, and precisely why I continue to participate and promote it to anyone who will listen.
We came up with all kinds of reasons, but culture and attitude were the biggest. All of our discussion lead us to the same place– ok, now what? Can the culture be changed? How can the culture be changed?
The culture of the real estate profession can most certainly be changed, but such a change cannot occur without leadership. Such leadership can certainly come from people like Kari, me, and you, but it will have a tough time gaining any real momentum or traction if there is no commitment to change from those who occupy the positions of leadership within the profession. The leadership that change requires must come from within NAR if it is to have any sort of real, lasting effect on the industry. If not, change will literally take an entire generation to achieve. I’m impatient, I don’t want to wait that long, and I don’t think the consumer does, either.
The more we thought about it, the more we thought about what NAR is, and what it must become if it is going to be valuable in the future. It was at this point that Kari came up with what I think it the perfect metaphor for how I perceive NAR, and why I don’t feel like it relates to me. She looked at me and said:
You know what NAR is? I feel like a girl scout who has to learn how to sell cookies to earn a badge, and rather than helping me learn how to sell the cookies, NAR is that mother who buys all my cookies so that I can have my badge.
BAM! That’s it, in a nutshell. That is exactly the feeling that I get from watching all of the NAR ads on TV, and from reading the Newspaper ads, and reading the articles copious vendor ads in REALTOR magazine. I feel like NAR is trying so hard to either create business for me, or trying to sell me something, or generally getting in my way, that I don’t get any value from it.
I DON’T NEED NAR TO BUY MY GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!
I NEED NAR TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO ALLOW ME TO SELL MY COOKIES SUCCESSFULLY!
I WANT TO EARN MY OWN DAMN BADGE!
To that end. .
I want honesty from NAR. (this was a good start)
I don’t want to be told how things should be, I want to know how they are.
I want all those vast resources being put to use informing and preparing me, not promoting and selling to me.
I don’t want NAR to speak for me, I want NAR to enable me to speak and be heard as credible.
I want to know if change really is taking place.
I want to feel like I have a stake in such change.
I want to know that I’m not just talking into a black hole.
I want to know that my input and opinion matters.
I want to be as proud to be a member of NAR as I am to be a member of my state association.
I don’t think I’m asking for very much. In fact, what I am asking for takes little or no money at all. Moreover, I know that it is possible, that is why I included that last “want” on the list. 2 years ago, if you would have asked me about VAR, I would have told you that I could care less. That has all changed. It didn’t change over night, but it did change.
NAR can change, too. I know it.
So, c’mon, NAR! I’ve got some cookies I need to move, and they taste sweet. How you gonna help me sell ‘em?
The blockquote didn’t work for me. I love the analogy!!!
“You know what NAR is? I feel like a girl scout who has to learn how to sell cookies to earn a badge, and rather than helping me learn how to sell the cookies, NAR is that mother who buys all my cookies so that I can have my badge”
Perfect!
http://www.clientcentricreales.....attle.html
Excellent post, Daniel!! Tell Kari she did really really good. (I get most of “my” great ideas from my wife too:-)
Great post, Daniel and Kari.
re: Youngins in the Industry – One of the reasons I love my firm so much – and there are many
– is that the major partner of the ownership group is 30. I think that’s unique in town – and our culture is a testament to that.
BenjaminBach.com
Daniel – BRAVO! This is an excellent post. I want to sell my own NARscout Cookies, too. But we DO need a good NARscout leader and a few awesome, local NARscout Den Mothers to help focus and lead the way.
I see discussions about NAR to be like the Blind Men and the Elephant.
Daniel, how do you define NAR?
Daniel:
I am young, but have 11 years experience and have recently worked my into a leadership position with my local Realtor Association. I believe this is where the change needs to come from, bottom up. If local associations create change that ripples to the state level, then NAR must take note and action. My question is simple, but the answers are tough for me to put into action…
How would you suggest this “want” list gets answered?
Great post and you seem motivated with your decision and wish you all the success. I see young people in our area in the field not overwhelmingly but somewhat. Maybe talking to high schools and career fair opportunities to approach young people and explain the industry.
@Bob in San Diego–
My definition of NAR really doesn’t matter. What matters is how NAR defines itself and attempts to fulfill its own mission and vision. From the NAR website:
Ok, the blockquote was really screwed up, there, Bob. Sorry. Here is the NAR mission and vision statement:
Mission
The core purpose of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is to help its members become more profitable and successful.
Vision
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® strives to be the collective force influencing and shaping the real estate industry. It seeks to be the leading advocate of the right to own, use, and transfer real property; the acknowledged leader in developing standards for efficient, effective, and ethical real estate business practices; and valued by highly skilled real estate professionals and viewed by them as crucial to their success.
Working on behalf of America’s property owners, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system, and the right to own, use, and transfer real property.
Daniel:
I agree. Strong leadership from NAR would help all local and state boards. However, I am still looking for help in how to affect change now. I don’t like waiting on people who I have little faith in delivering. I would love to hear the “how” to your “wants”.
@Brad,
Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to answer the second part of your question. Here is what I have for “how’s.” (I’m sure there are many that I am overlooking, as NAR has resources that I am sure I am completely unaware of).
Stop running “Now is a great time to buy.” “Now is a great time to sell.” “Now is a great time to buy or sell.” ads. Stop doing this RIGHT NOW. Consumers are too smart for that type of touting. I think that the recent backpedaling and change in NAR’s national ad campaigns proves that.
Stop trying to be a consumer advocate (for now). In the minds of most consumers (even the ones that I meet personally) NAR has little or no credibility. If NAR is going to insist that being a real estate agent is a sales profession, I can’t think of anyone in the world that thinks their salesperson is working on their behalf.
If NAR does, in fact, want to be a consumer advocacy group, NAR is going to have to work much harder to establish the profession as closer to consultation and away from sales. We all know that doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, etc. have a sales component to their job. Every profession has that. That component must take a back seat to the consultative/advisory role of the real estate agent. Don’t tell me you want to be talked about in the same breath as those other professions, and then run articles and full-page ads in REALTOR magazine about lead generation.
The NAR convention is a joke. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that even approaches cutting-edge, innovative, forward-thinking at the NAR convention. (Well, that’s not entirely true. Dustin Luther did give one presentation at the recent NAR convention in Vegas. I guess one session out of a whole conference isn’t so bad). Were it not for the speakers who were sponsored by Contrywide at the last convention (Seth Godin among them), their would have been little or no value to any agent who has any hope of sticking around in the profession for the next 15 years. Incidentally, Brad, you probably know this intuitively. I imagine it was part of the reason that you helped create such a strong program for RETechSouth. No? There is no reason NAR should not be doing something similar at its convention.
There is a lot of conversation amongst agents in the blogosphere and other places around the internet, and NAR’s voice is completely absent. There needs to be better engagement on the part of NAR. There is too much discussion going on for NAR to not be paying attention. And if they are, in fact, paying attention, how about a sign?
Rather than our REALTOR benefits being made up almost entirely of “stuff,” why not dedicate some resources to helping REALTORS with actually establishing and running their business. Provide access to people and sources who can help REALTORS be successful professionals. That would mean a whole lot more to me than a discount on cell phone service.
Those are just a few. Like I said, I’m sure there are more that I would be completely unaware of, but my knowledge only goes so far since I am not privy to the inner workings of NAR.
To learn how to establish and run your business read, “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber and also “The Millionaire Real Estate Agent” by Gary Keller. Probably safe to skip most of the “success instructors” as they are either themselves failed agents or have become so money motivated that actually helping others is is not really very high on their list of priorities. To the best of my knowledge those two books are the most important to read and understand.
As an additional note, my comments on this are not intended to disagree with anything you have written here – because I don’t.
So what your saying is NAR is buying your buyers?
I think you sell the houses.
I don’t believe that NAR is buying your cookies.
NAR does give you great resources to allow you/help you sell your cookies.
Dig thru the website. Article after article about selling, techniques, technology…
Take Designation classes. You have to earn those passing grades.
You know that. Your all education junkies.
Pick at NAR.
Make valid points like: NAR is the “Look at me” genre I find distasteful.
That is the age of the management (I can’t comment too harshly here, I am an old lady myself.) But, that “look at me” concept is how they ran their businesses in the past. Admit it, successfully. Do you see the classic parent trap in our organizations?
Baby Boomers, codling Gen Y-ers, who coddled the Gen X-ers, who are complaining about being coddled…. And still living at home.
Lots of room to talk in here.
I think you’ve done a good job bringing the complaints to the forefront. Now you can bring the solutions. After all, you’re the ones actually selling those cookies.
Russell,
I wouldn’t construe your comments that way, nor would I be offended if you did disagree. I’ve read “Millionaire Real Estate Agent,” but I’ll have to look up “The E-Myth Revisited.” Your recommendation is golden.
Laura,
I’m not saying at all that NAR is buying my buyers. I’m saying that NAR shouldn’t be trying to to generate my buyers. They shouldn’t be doing this because it isn’t in their best interests if they want to be seen as consumer advocates. I haven’t met anyone, I mean ANYONE who thought that NAR’s advertising is effective. Most people I talk to either blow it off, or find it utterly self-serving (which is a bit ironic).
I’ve taken some of the designation courses. After taking the designation course, I then have to pay money to continue to use the designation that I ALREADY EARNED. Colleges don’t require you to continue paying fees after you have received your degree. People donate to colleges because of the added value they receive from strengthening the alumni base and the university, ABR hasn’t added any value to my career since I received the designation.
Sure, people have run the “look at me” type of business successfully. I’m not denying that. The first blimps were flown very successfully. They were filled with hydrogen. Then came along a blimp named the Hindenburg. We don’t fill blimps with hydrogen anymore.
All I’m saying is that there should be alternatives to the traditional methods. NAR has a duty to its membership to at least make them aware of such alternatives. Someone should be looking forward, looking out onto the horizon to see what might be ahead. At least I hope that is what is being done, at least on some level. As I said in the post, we can all affect change on an individual level, but change can be much more meaningful if it is practiced from the bottom up AND the top down.
You, yourself, are a blogging REALTOR Association Executive. I would think that the Eastern Shore Association is all the more better for that. Why can’t NAR do the same thing, just as effectively? (I love Chincoteague, by the way)
As I said in the post. I want to be proud of my national association. I want it to be respected by the public, not ridiculed. Sure, I will do everything I can that is within my power to make this happen on my end, but NAR is going to have to do some things, as well. Unfortunately, I can’t bring all the solutions. I’m not in a position to do that. I can work as hard as I can (and I will), but my actions can only go so far, my influence only extends so far. NAR has access to people I can’t reach, and has the power to implement decisions that I can’t implement.
I have no need to be coddled. But I am paying dues. This ain’t a free ride I’m on. The solutions I have suggested require little or no money at all. I’ve already put-in, and I’m willing to put-up.
Oh, and just for the record, I don’t live at home. I just live really close to it.
E-Myth Revisited is a must read! It’s one of the best books for running your biz like one! Great suggestion!
Daniel,
Fabulous! Fabulous!
I enjoyed your comments to my comments.
And I hear what your saying….
Let me put one more honest blurb on your blog.
If VAR and NAR are working so hard for the future Realtors we don’t have….
What happens to the ones we do have?
How disconnected can we be from our main stream members.
The “older” generation of Realtors.
In associations right now… they are the ones paying our bills.
I agree that we need to step into the 21st century. In fact, heck lets just go straight to the 23rd century. I see the finances during transition being difficult, and so do others…. That probably has a lot to do with any hesitation. That and just not knowing what to do. As “management” not in the know…. Please tell us how to actually fix the problems you see us having. We are listening, granted, while licking the wounds….
I am seeing those same issues at my local board. As a director, I want to do so much to make things better, but here are the obstacles I have before me.
1) Staff confidence in new technologies
2) Leadership’s fear/resistant to change
3) Lack of volunteers from membership to help with changes
I took it upon myself to convert our associations website (static and boring) into a blog site, but there is very little progress in adaptation. Heck, my association still uses email address from “bellsouth.net” – Bellsouth was bought out by ATT 3 years ago. So I took it upon myself to set up Google Apps, yet they still use @bellsouth.net. The old guard needs to accept and adapt to new ideas. Else I grow tired of endless work to no avail. Check at our local board at http://caor.info (much shorter than http://www.cherokeeassociationofrealtors.com).
I just realized how tired it makes me feel just by typing out these frustrations.
Thanks for the great topic Daniel.
This is one of the best posts I have seen on the NAR issue. I feel like instead of NAR wasting money telling everyone to buy a home now it would be better to work inside the organization to increase the satisfaction cusumers have when working with realtors.
Daniel:
I hear your frustration but I think you miss some of what’s actually going on in your perception of what you think is going on – Though I don’t actively Blog (having a pretty full schedule doing lots of other things) I wish I could help you understand more fully that part of what you see is based on where you view it from, which is never an objective viewpoint –
The NAR ads that now is a great time to buy a home is aimed at countering negative media that has a large “the sky is falling component”. Having been in the business since I was 21 (and no, I didn’t go to work in Dad’s business – I just couldn’t get a “real job”) I have been through several contractions in the market and each time, the people who bought homes prospered over the long term – And you need to remember this message is primarily for homeowners – people who should be buying because of genuine need, not for speculative profits – that doesn’t mean they should buy without trying to buy at the best price, or buy for the short term, or buy for the return instead of the practical benefits of homeownership- and it doesn’t mean that the market isn’t a challenge, and frankly a problem in many areas – it does mean that when rates are low and there is a surplus of supply in the market, if you can buy and fill a need for you and your family, you probably should buy – All of that having been said, I can understand how the ad would strike a sour note when you’re out at work every day meeting new challenges and then more new challenges ad nauseum
But you need to understand that NAR is not some insidious organization detached from the real estate business – it is a trade association – YOUR trade association, and the way to make it better is to participate -and if there are enough people with like thoughts, thoe thoughts will provide thedirection of the organization – and if there are not enough people that agree with you , or that you can persuade to share your vision, you might have to consider that you might be wrong (or at least “not right”)
As far as NAR generating leads, that isn’t their job, and I don’t believe anyone involved in moving the organization forward believes that it is – NAR does work ceaselessly toward increasing professionalism – in fact, its purpose when it was founded 100 years ago was just that – and our code of ethics – first ratified in 1913 predate most real estate license laws in the US- And we’re still working on that as a living document 95 years later – (and that’s a whooe ‘nother conversation we can have when you like)
As far as NAR’s resources, I agree with Laura – there are a huge number of resources that are available to our US – the members – me and you – but you may need to go look for them. I just read a blog written by an agent who was thrilled with the idea of farming through speaking – I was amazed by his new discovery that an agent can speak to a group of consumers, sharing his knowledgeof the process and the market and generate business at a relatively low cost – I was amazed because real estate practitioners have been doing that for the 37 years I’ve been active in the business. I did it as an agent, and the agents at my company do it now – and they use the library at http://www.realtor.org to find resources to help them plan them – and there are lots of them to chose from – but if you don’t use them – who is responsible NAR or you?
And I understand your comment about designations, but they are quite different from a college degree, both in the expense and time taken to obtain them – but mostly because they are designations subject to an ongoing membership in the organization that provides that designation. I have maintained, and continue to maintain designations that I earned (GRI,CRS,CRB) because my support of each of those organizations is a part of what enables them to continue their provide the directories and events as well as additional learning experiences , networking opportunities and other benefits (which you might or might not wish to participate in) I would encourage you to not to resent the dues expense, because from a business perspective, the return is substanitally greater – And finally, you need to engage with the Associations (Local, State, and National) – and if you do, believe me you will get a great return on that engagement – they want your participation – and your ideas (even if they can’t stop everything and do things they way you percieve they should be done right away), and just as every young member before you, some of the time (maybe even a lot of the time) you’ll be frustrated that things take so long, and frustrated by the democratic process that says that the majority gets to make the final decision (right, wrong or indifferet) but sometimes you’ll feel that incredible sense of acomplishment that comes from doing something that really makes a difference – Remember that the more you engage, the more people hear your voice, learn your reationale and acknowledge your input, until yours is a larger voice with a larger audience that creates results when you speak – You know the old cliche that all great journeys start with one step – and you know that most cliches have at least a kernel of truth in them-
I know that it is easier to have a conversation with your wife in the car, write a blog at home, and criticize the organization then it is to join committees or run for office and actually start working on the changes you percieve it needs, but you seem to be an articulate and intelligent couple – the type of active member that the associations need if they are to move in the directions you believe they need to move in – And while there are challenges in changing the direction of any large or existing group, this group was founded to create change and has been changing for the past 100 years – Check ou the Centennial Book and you’ll be amazed at the state of the industry in the past, and the challenges it has overcome- Learn where we came from – and don’t decide that everything with the organization is bad until you know everything about the rganization – intimately- and know when you’re throwing out the good as well as the bad-
Let me wrap up with one of my favorite quotes (because I find so many others are more articulate then me) “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” – Edmund Burke (who would have been a blogger the 18th century had been more forgiving)- so go do something –
Bill
I think that the examination of the medium has started at NAR. I also have seen some well known RE.net folks engaging committees. These are both good signs because member to member communication is how things get done.
Mark Lesswing wrote: “I think that the examination of the medium has started at NAR”
That fact you are commenting here is evidence of that Mark. Add a post from Dale Stinton on NARWisdom.com, and a comment on NARWisdom from the Editor-in-Chief of Realtor Magazine and I see signs of progress. It’s a very positive start….
Bill Lublin wrote: “. . .and the way to make it better is to participate . . .” and “. . .you need to engage with the Associations (Local, State, and National) – and if you do, believe me you will get a great return on that engagement – they want your participation. . .”
I’d say Daniel is participating and engaging Bill. This very post is far more participation in affecting change in the NAR than 99.99% of other NAR members will ever attempt.
“As far as NAR generating leads, that isn’t their job, and I don’t believe anyone involved in moving the organization forward believes that it is”
???? I’ve read and re-read this post and must be missing where Daniel even remotely implied the NAR should generate leads.
Jay :
In one of his replies (#13) Daniel states “If NAR does, in fact, want to be a consumer advocacy group, NAR is going to have to work much harder to establish the profession as closer to consultation and away from sales. We all know that doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, etc. have a sales component to their job. Every profession has that. That component must take a back seat to the consultative/advisory role of the real estate agent. Don’t tell me you want to be talked about in the same breath as those other professions, and then run articles and full-page ads in REALTOR magazine about lead generation.”
As I read that statement, I believed that he was indicating that NAR was in some manner being percieved as wanting to generate leads – If I misread the statement I apologize for my error.
That being said, I would respectfully disagree that blogging about what a group is doing is limited participation – If I write about something a group is doing so that I might make an impact on that groups policies or actions, I have to assume that they won’t misread my statement (as I may have done earlier – or as you may have done in your response if I did not) and then I have to assume they will be moved in the direction I wish them to go (rather then reacting in opposition to my position) then hope that they don’t have something else more pressing to distract them from my opinions, and after all of that, if they found my opinion valid, interpeted it properly, saw my point, and want to act – I have to hope that there is no one in the room who raises issues I didn’t answer.
Don’t you think that attending a meeting, serving on a committee, chairing a committee, running for office etc. etc might be a more direct method of engaging and impacting the group? While blogging is a method of expressing an opinion, and an effective one at that, bloggin is, by itself, not as effective as participating in the group if changing the group’s direction is the desired result. I am sure that the people like you and Daniel who write in this arena are well motivated, and I read some very articulate posts and comments, but in my humble opinion, blogging (or writing more formally, or talking) is not a substitute for acting – and in my own world, I feel I loose some of my right to complain about a situation if I choose to observe rather then act (or at least lose some of the impact my opinion might otherwise have). I do believe that the pen is a mighty instrument (or the keyboard) and the blogosphere is a great place to hang out, but I would respectfully disagree with your assesment that a post is more participation than 99.9% of the other NAR members – there are thousands and thousands of NAR members who are active in thei local, state and National Associations. In my company alone we have 5 past presidents of the local association, as well as people who have served as Local, State and National committee members and chairpeople. I would suggest that the contributions of time,intellect and effort made by those thousands of members are far more substantial in making and shaping change then the effect they might have had if what they had done was post an opinion, no matter how well considered or thoughtful. And please understand I am not critical of the blogging process, I’m just suggesting that if Daniel, and you , and the other intelligent thoughtful and concerned members were to engage and participate in a more tangible manner you might see the change you desire come more rapidly – and I do think that both you and the Associations would mutually profit by that participation
I’d say that it’s a two-way street. There are some of us who do participate in committees – local on up – who also see the value in the blogs. I would also argue that blogs are where you find more up-to-date information and dialogue than you find in many committees. Many committees I have seen are isolated from the boots-on-the-ground Realtors – the ones who recognize that we’re not in sales (I smell a post … ) that we’re in the business of client representation.
Change has to, in my opinion, come from without (the blogs) and within (the association) – but part of the change has to come from the associations’ recognition of the credible resources and voices that exist here — on the blogs.
Thank you sincerely, Bill and Laura, for your participation in this conversation.
Bill…really appreciate your contribution here. Thanks for speaking up and showing that you are taking some real steps toward learning, listening and sharing ideas. I look forward to seeing some of the changes the committee discussed on Sunday. It was nice to meet you. Take care, Liz Luby
Absolutely fabulous post, Daniel. It couldn’t have been expressed any more perfectly than the girlscout analogy. The self-promotion of the NAR, rather than the building up of the REALTORS is the root of the problem, and until that ass-backwards approach is corrected, things the car will continue to spin out of control. Bravo my friend!
As a blogger, agent, local broker/owner and a volunteer on my local Realtor Association, I feel confident speaking to the difficulties outlined in these comments. First and foremost, there is a mindset difference between generations, between bloggers, between real estate 1. 0 and 2.0, whatever you want to call it. The point is…there is a mindset obstacle. So many good-hearted, well-intentioned leaders have been in a position of prominence for so long that change is the last option and never the first. I don’t know if it is a power struggle ir just a lack of understanding, but it is hard to initiate change with any sort of pace.
I have volunteered and attempted to improve my local association for 3 years. At this pace, it will take 3 more years to reach any semblance of adaptation to real estate 2.0 at the association level. I feel that I need more volunteers of like mind, but also a new mindset of existing volunteers and staff. How do you change people? It’s frustrating, but I continue to endeavor. My goal is to challenge every decision and suggest alternative solutions until I get enough people thinking outside of their comfort level. I feel then and only then will valuable change occur. Then the next problem is training staff to work under the changed environment.
In summary, I feel this will take 3 to 10 years to see any real movement to a better way of association interaction and service to it’s membership. Unless I can get 10 volunteers to join now with similar mindsets to counteract the old guard. A small group can change the entire environment on a local level. I need just need to find the volunteers.
Brad,
I felt the same way. I’ve been active (so much so, that I’ve turned the RE over to my wife and went on staff at my association as the ED Director) for about five years. I was, by far the youngest volunteer leader for the Tech and Ed workgroups and have made a few enemies with my approach to improve where we’re at; but i’ve made FAR more friends. I’ve encouraged and worked with other like minded folks (I’ve given up trying to separate folks by age… we put too much emphasis on generational gaps) and have helped and sponsored so many other great folks, that we’re seeing fantastic changes. We’re getting buy-in from even the skeptics… because we’ve proven ourselves.
I think if we’d all step back, we’d see that the influence we’ve had as “web 2.0″ in even getting noticed at NAR is fantastic. I still hold to the fact that influencing our members, to influence their Broker, to influence the local association and then the state is best approach at getting what we want from NAR. Honestly, There maybe less than 50 influential RE Blogs…. That’s 50 blogs out of over a million members. I am glad we’re caring enough to influence the very best, but we need to realize that as crazy as it sounds, there are some members who are just happy with what “is.”
Hate to be a cliche, but change starts with me….
JIm you were so right when you smelled that post coming
– I agree that we are in the business of client representation, but a my company we define sales as “helping people to make a good decision that they might not have made if we were not present”. – and therefore I don’t mind being in sales – and being the advocate for my client (and often just for the consumer or REALTOR who needs some help)
That being said, I see your efforts(and Brad’s and Liz’s and Matthews and all of the other people in the blogosphere) as the interface that can help to bring the change – I htink that Matthew and Brad both help clarify my point – you not only have to engage in these activites you need to be articulate enough (and persistant enough) to bring others sround to the points of view that help us all bring a higher level of service to the profession and to show others in the association the benefits of this high speed almost global conversation regarding our industry and our daily challenges- I am proud to have all of you as colleagues, hope to count you as friends (even when we disagree) and give big shout outs for your responsible and articulate approaches to the communications you create and the dialogues that arise from them-