By Stan Albert
How does parasailing compare to para–selling?
Recently on our annual visit to my sister-in-law’s summer home at Presqu’ile (near Brighton, Ont.), I encountered a young man about to launch himself on a parasailing chute.
I’d never seen how these brave souls get up off the water and how they prepare themselves to go aloft.
The young man told me he’d had four or five lessons and was not very good at it yet. It was mesmerizing as he slipped into his gear, including a wet suit, harness and safety stuff. He carefully pulled the starboard and port lines about 50 feet away from the boat, attaching them to his control bar. He narrated the whole procedure as I watched. Then he pumped up the membrane, which took about 15 minutes or so. He walked out into the water and hooked up the gear to his harness. He was pulled up by the winds, which were blowing at a great clip that morning.
It was truly inspiring to see him “take off” high above Lake Ontario, as he shared air space with the seagulls circling the sandy beach, which stretches about 3,000 feet up to and including the provincial park area.
I thought about the preparation that it took to become such an adventurer and how it compares to those of us who seek to explore the adventure of becoming a commissioned salesperson.
At most brokerages, the brokers/managers spend a great deal of time “pumping up the membrane” of the nucleus of what it takes to become a true professional these days.
We talk about the correct ways to harness our energies and to practice our scripts. Just like the youngster I described above, we have to know the direction of where the wind is blowing in our industry.
If the market is adjusting, as many of us are seeing today, we have to adjust what we’re doing on a daily basis. Memorizing scripts, making cold calls and utilizing the social media are great, but let us not lose sight of how we have to readjust our thinking to tackle the nuances of this market today.
If you are experiencing the “dog days of summer,” ask yourself, “When is the last time I called some of my major spheres of influence and took them for a coffee?”
Sometimes as the economic winds change, we have to change as well in our everyday business acumen. Check to see how the wind is blowing in your area and hoist yourself up so that you’re ahead of your nearest competitors. Picture yourself doing that exciting adventure.
Because that’s what our business is. A new adventure every day and you’re the director!
Stan Albert, broker/manager, ABR, ASA at Re/Max Premier in Vaughan, Ont. can be reached for consultation at stanalb@rogers.com. Stan is now celebrating 40 years as an active real estate professional.
Stan Albert, ABR, ASA is a consultant with Re/Max Premier in Vaughan, Ont. He can be reached for consultation by email. Stan is now celebrating his 45th year as an active real estate professional.
