What are the good times for?
A few weeks ago I was at lunch with a dear friend who's also in the local Hill Country real estate industry, but on the brokerage side. The conversation wandered, as it usually does this time of year, to things that were more reflective and philosophical, maybe even moral in nature. The crux of the conversation was: how are we all handling these hard times, and how have we begun to treat each other differently, lately? By “we”, I mean those of us that breathe, eat, and sleep real estate here. It’s a surprisingly small group of people. In many ways, I’d call it a family. Dysfunctional family? Of course. What family isn’t?
Anyone reading this article who has been selling real estate for at least the last 3 years doesn’t need a recap of where we’ve come and where we are now. There is a stark gap to where we were, and we’ve spun around from boom-time highs to recessive lows in pretty short order. The observation that boiled out of this soup was that many of our real estate "family members” are treating one another differently than they were before. In some instances, terribly. Just a few months ago we were all toasting the good times, patting each other on the back for this award or that, and letting minor grievances go. We were happy to show up for the occasional open house or board luncheon with genuine smiles and sincere (ish) love for each other. But it seems like this has all evaporated today. Have you noticed it too?
Many are suffering right now (it's safe to assume that we are all feeling some kind of pinch). It’s tough to keep the lights on and it's a hard fact that some of our real estate "family members" will not be here when the tide comes back in. That is sad to think about. But what can I change?
The Epiphany: What the Good Times Are For
The good times seem to teach us all how to loosen up. How to act with generosity and caring. The wallet is flush, and so we give to one another freely. Sometimes, it may even be hard to spot a friend in need during the boom years. Everyone is doing so well that we have to look hard for places to give. It’s safe to say that it's easier to practice being generous in an environment that is safe and secure. But it can be more than just easy, it can actually be good training, habit building, and not only for the good times but for the bad times that inevitably come.
And that’s where we are today. Things have dried up. I don’t have business rolling in every single day, and neither does anyone else. But two things have happened because of that. First, I’ve got a lot more people around me who need help. While it's true that everyone around me needs help all the time, now we are just so much more aware of it. Secondly, my attitude of “abundance” hasn’t slipped away, but rather than being flush with cash, I am flush with time. And while that may not solve all the problems that walk in front of me, it may be invaluable to some of them. Just as it was in having the time to even start this conversation with my friend over lunch.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Gandhi may not have been to Texas at any point, but he would have nailed our predicament anyway. I cannot change other people’s attitudes and behavior, but I can change mine. Can I have a Bellisimo attitude on a Franzia budget? I’m not sure, but I want to try. To me, that looks like waking up in the morning and wondering more about who I may get to help rather than just trying to engineer my way through this season. It may mean taking time to invest in relational equity. If you haven’t heard from a colleague in a while, reach out to them. Check on them. Maybe you can help them with something.
I’ve also taken a look back at the brand we built five years ago. Our purpose statement is not “make more money, all the time.” Rather, our purpose statement, our heartbeat, is to “bring calm”. Now that’s a purpose and a mission that is immune to business cycles or economic fluctuations. That’s a purpose that is founded on people, and a desire to give people something valuable far beyond just a transaction. Our work is ultimately destined to provide more room and time and space for actual relationships to take flight, and I know for many of us, time is in rich supply. So, be generous, we all know how to spend a lot and have a good time. So let’s take some of that excess time and spend it wisely in this season.
Happy to hear your thoughts, feel free to come by the house or the office and talk. Let me know if you need some help with anything. I’m here, and I've got time.
Bring Calm and Carry on,
Chris Barnett