March marks my 44th year in real estate. Thanks Mom. But enough about me.
I’m kidding.
My ‘hobby’ is musical theatre. A couple of times a year for about 30 years, I have auditioned and performed in amateur productions. My first was Jesus Christ Superstar, the iconic Webber and Rice production that changed the way many of us regarded the concept of a musical, not to mention Christianity. The latest was The Drowsy Chaperone, a smash hit on Broadway in 2006 and winner of five Tony Awards. In between, some oldies – Brigadoon, Fiddler On The Roof and Kiss Me Kate, shows for kids – Beauty and the Beast, and shows definitely for adults – A Man of No Importance. I’ve had a few leading roles and a lot of chorus.
I’m not a dancer but movement in a musical is unavoidable. Chorus roles particularly will have you in the grip of a choreographer who can tap dance, scissor kick and pirouette around your meagre grapevine and shuffle-ball-change. (YouTube those if you are desperate.) After one audition, the director suggested I’d be well placed in the back row. Female dance partners have been known to trade me off once their shins healed and toenails regrew.
I’m nervous every time I step on the stage. What propels me on to the stage is knowing I’ve been there, done that and survived. Fluffed or forgot my lines? Sure. Sung the wrong note? Many times. Died? Once, but in character, not of stage fright or mistakes or because the director yelled at me.
Brian Tracy, in a live webcast from Seattle two days after the Superbowl – go Seahawks – reminded me that taking action gives you feedback and allows you to self-correct. Taking action gives you self-confidence, which is the greatest asset we can have in sales – and in life. It propels you on to your stage.
Some people collect and memorize Shakespeare. I gather snippets I hear every day. There’s a recurring theme. Here are a few from my 44 years on the real estate stage.
“Real life is the ultimate exam.” – Rob Stevens, past EO of the Real Estate Errors and Omissions Insurance Corporation of B.C.
“Performance is different. You can take classes all your life and rehearse forever, but you make more progress in one performance than you do in a year of lessons. Performance is the real thing. The other stuff is getting ready.” – Robert Parker.
“Actors don’t get paid for the minute or two they spend in front of the camera. They get paid for the preparation and waiting around.” – Michael Caine.
“The practices were the killers – they made the real thing, the game on Sunday seem easy – fun even.” – Willie McGee on playing for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.
“I am not a gifted person. I made myself gifted by hard work.” – Carlos Delgado.
“A lot of people die, stuck in three to get ready. Take the next step.” – Rosita
Perez.
“You have to practise and memorize your presentation. The reason a magician can pull a rabbit out of the hat is that he put it there in the first place.” – Howard Brinton.
“The moments in between the shots count as much on the tennis court as the shot itself. If you can focus on timing, confidence and positive thinking while you are walking back to the base line between points, then when the time comes to perform, you will ace it.” – Ellie Rubin in her book Bulldog.
“Success will not lower its standard to us. We must raise our standard to success.” – Rev. Randall McBride.
“Before every game Michael Jordan took 100 practise shots. If you want to overcome your fear, get back to work.” – Mike “Pinball” Clemons.
“It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.” – Warren Buffet.
“Times may have changed but the real secrets have not.” – Peter Legge.
You want a daily affirmation? I’ll give you a word – Quotidian. It means “daily, of every day” according to the Canadian Oxford Paperback Dictionary. Do something every day that will move you towards the performance you seek. In our business that daily task is pretty simple.
See the people.
Contact Marty Douglas by email at [email protected]. Follow or connect with Marty on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. He is a managing broker for Re/Max Ocean Pacific Realty in Comox and Courtenay, B.C. He is a past chair of the Real Estate Errors and Omissions Insurance Corporation of B.C., the Real Estate Council of B.C., the B.C. Real Estate Association and the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board.
