Are you going to be average in 2011? Or are you going to be in the top 500 in your region?
Are you going to excel in 2011 and overcome all odds? What will be your average commission? Will you overcome your insecurities? Will you listen to your mentors and coaches?
“Ain’t no man can avoid being born, but there ain’t no man got to be common” – Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige was born in 1902 and came from humble beginnings. A tall scrawny kid, he loved to play baseball and excelled as a pitcher. He developed all kinds of curve balls, sliders and screwballs that mystified the batters. He played in the All Negro league until 1948. That was the year that Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, brought Jackie Robinson to the Major Leagues and the colour barrier finally was broken. Leroy “Satchel” Paige starred with a number of major league ball clubs, breaking in with the Cleveland Indians. He was later elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died in 1982, leaving a phenomenal legacy.
He and Jackie paved the way for players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and other black baseball players. They had to overcome major racial prejudices and taunts from the crowds, until they proved their mettle by their performance on the field. Today those who followed in their footsteps have benefited greatly.
I often wonder at this time of the year, how many of you will be around at the end of 2011. Over the four decades of coaching/mentoring and training agents of all cultures and races, I find it astonishing that so few agents excel and make a decent living of at least $100,000 per annum.
Why do so many come into our business and expect it to be a breeze? The Ontario courses for the fledging agent fall far short of really informing the soon-to-be-agent of the perils and the pitfalls of entering into the business.
Why is that? It’s due in part to the fact that many come into this business and treat it as a 9-5 job and, although they will take mega doses of training and coaching, will eventually leave.
This is a business. And it happens to be one that you can remain in for years because there’s no mandatory retirement age. Look at me!
Agents must realize that in order to put into play all they learn, they actually have to get out to practice, practice, practice. I believe that in all sports, those who excel get out and practice until their particular skills are honed to a degree of near perfection.
The Paiges, the Mays and the Aarons never made the money that the superstars of today make, but they were glad to play with the best of the best. Maybe baseball is not your favourite sport to watch or to play. The important thing to remember as I sign off for another year is that education without application means nothing.
Don’t expect your broker to make you famous, but you should expect that whatever brokerage you’re in is giving you a chance to score big time in our league.
Be the all-star you always wanted to be, but remember that in order to do that, you have to promise yourself and your family that the choice you made is the best for them and yourself.
You can enjoy the riches of your labours, just get out and do it. Oh, and Satchel, well he established quite a win/loss record and had a 3.30 ERA at the end of his storied career.
I want to thank my long suffering editor Jim Adair for putting up with me for the past seven years or so and hope we can continue on for another seven!
Happy holidays to all and have a healthy, happy, prosperous and safe 2011.
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.
