The Reluctant Prospector

Live in the SWS Virtual Studio on Thursday!

Contrary to what you may have always believed, being an introvert is nothing to apologize for, overcome or make excuses for. No, not even if you're a real estate agent! In fact, around here, we believe that introverts actually make exceptional real estate agents, so if you lean toward the introverted side of the personality spectrum, you're among friends.

If you want to read more about why I think introverts are so special (aside from the fact that I AM one myself), just go here: www.TheReluctantProspector.com. Or check out my blog especially for introverts here: www.The-Reluctant-Prospector.com.

But as wonderful as I believe we are, there's one place we don't always shine. And that's in the social arena. Networking. Socializing. Partying. Making small-talk (ugh!). There's no place I'd rather NOT be than at a Chamber of Commerce after-hours cocktail party! If by some terrible mistake I find myself at such an event, I'm almost sure to be hiding in the corner, slinking as inconspicuously as possible toward the door.

However, the fact is, being a successful real estate agent requires a level of social interaction with the outside world. After all, PEOPLE buy and sell homes, so the more of those people who know us, like us and trust us, the more real estate we're likely to be hired to help buy and sell. And the best way for people to know us... so they can like us... and trust us... is to BE places where other people tend to be and to, yes, have conversations with them!

And you know what? Socializing doesn't have to be painful or scary, and it doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. It can actually be FUN (and profitable) as long as you stay true to your wonderful introverted self and don't put yourself in situations where you'll be uncomfortable (or when you do, have an exit strategy!).

That's what we're going to talk about at the next SWS Teleseminar show. I'll have Susan Haughton with me who happens to be an introvert as well, and we'll both share our tips for socially staying connected with the people we already know, and for meeting new people to inspire to support our real estate businesses.

Even if you aren't sure you're an introvert, you might want to attend, if for no other reason than to better understand the introverts in your own life. And you never know - you might decide that you, too, have a bit of a wonderful introvert in you! 

Sound like fun? If so, please mark your calendar and join us on November 17th!

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THE DETAILS
Date: Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Time: 8:00am Pacific / 9:00am Mountain / 10:00am Central / 11:00am Eastern (Please show up a little early to get settled in.) 
Duration: 60 - 75 minutes
Equipment Needed: A computer with a high-speed connection and speakers or a telephone.
Cost: Free, but you must register, below. 

Register For the Show Here

"You Have to List to Last!"

Ever heard that before? Probably so - most real estate agents have heard this advice from their well-meaning mentors, trainers, gurus and associates. It simply means that if you don't have listings (that is, that you represent sellers), you won't succeed in your real estate career.

There are plenty of reasons industry pundits feel this way, and some of those reasons are absolutely valid. As a solo agent, you can probably handle far more active listings than active buyers. Listings have the potential to generate even more business, both from sellers who see your sign in their neighbors' yards and from buyers who call you to inquire about your listings. Listings give you something to advertise in print media or online. And there's just something about being a strong listing agent that feels more "mature" than being a strong buyer agent.

My feeling on the matter is that an ideal business model has agents working with both buyers and sellers, more or less equally. After all, the purchase transaction and sale transaction of a home are two sides of the same coin - you can't sell a home without a buyer and you can't buy a home without a seller, and the more you know about the other side of the transaction, the better you're able to advise and support your buyer or seller client.

But the fact is that not everyone is well-suited to be a listing agent! Yes, I said that out loud. Some agents will be far happier and therefore more successful working primarily with buyers and there's nothing in the world wrong with that!

This Thursday, May 5th, Jim Kimmons, the About.com real estate guru(!) and I will talk about the myth of Listing to Last and help you decide if working primarily with buyers might be a good fit for you, and we'll all learn more about Jim's own exclusive buyer broker business model in Taos, New Mexico.

Join us? 

THE DETAILS
Date: Thursday, May 5th, 2011
Time: 8:00am Pacific / 9:00am Mountain / 10:00am Central / 11:00am Eastern 
Duration: 60 - 90 minutes
Equipment Needed: A computer with a high-speed connection and speakers or a telephone
Cost: Free to attend live, but you must register, HERE.

If things go as planned, my next book will be released sometime in late April... so this week's show is a sneak preview of what's in that book and, frankly, a little pre-release marketing to boost pre-sales! (How's that for transparent?)

As the title implies, we're going to talk about choosing the right prospecting methods for you - or, as the subtitle of my book promises "Discovering the Perfect Prospecting Strategies for Wonderful, Extraordinary, One-of-a-Kind YOU."  Because you ARE wonderful, you ARE extraordinary and you ARE one-of-a-kind! And your approach to building your business should reflect that. 

Because you know what? You CAN choose which prospecting strategies you're going to implement - and which ones you'll reject. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks you should do, this is YOUR business and you can (and should) run it your way. In fact, you'll be far more successful, not to mention happier, if you figure out what works for you, what you enjoy doing and what you're good at. 

Sounds obvious, doesn't it? But so much of our training pushes just the opposite - that we need to do things we dread doing; things that embarrass us or make us uncomfortable if we're to have any hope of succeeding. 

BAH! 

Anyway, on March 31st, we're going to talk about this and much more, and I'll walk you thru some self-evaluation exercises to help you strategically figure out what prospecting methods are right for you at this stage of your life and career.

Join us?

THE DETAILS
Date: Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Time: 8:00am Pacific / 9:00am Mountain / 10:00am Central / 11:00am Eastern (try to show up a few minutes early to log in or dial in)
Duration: 60 - 75 minutes
Equipment Needed: A computer with a high-speed connection and speakers or a telephone
Cost: Free to attend live, but you must register below.

TO REGISTER FOR THE SHOW
www.SellwithSoul.com/perfect