Feb. 24th 2010
I have some bad news for you…and, I know, nobody likes bad news. Nobody.
We all handle the bad things in our lives differently, don’t we? Some of us tackle the hard stuff head-on – dealing with it right away and moving on.
The rest of us are just flat-out avoiders. We try to justify our avoidance by telling ourselves we “don’t have time” to deal with that right now or…we “just can’t handle one more thing.” Those excuses are simply a form of avoidance – straight up.
So, if you’re an avoider, KEEP READING THIS. Don’t let yourself avoid! Even though it’s seemingly bad news, I also share some great news and useful solutions with you.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned that almost 100% of the time it’s best to just deal with the hard ASAP, take care of it somehow, and move on as much as you possibly can. (And I’ve avoided with the best of them!)
Bottom line: it’s how we choose to deal with the hard stuff in our lives that determines our success (or lack thereof).
And, yes, it IS a CHOICE we all have. I’m sure you can think of sad, negative or hard things you’ve been faced with in your life – and that moment of CHOICE you had.
I sure can…
For example, when I was 15 and still classified as “functionally illiterate” with over 12 different learning “disabilities,” I could have chosen to give up right then and there. And I was close…let me tell you. But thanks to hard work – and some key people that were placed in my life – I CHOSE to learn how to read. It wasn’t easy, but I CHOSE to keep going – I CHOSE to figure out how to take that bad, hard stuff and make it work for me. I CHOSE to find a solution. And because of that CHOICE, I eventually graduated from college – at the top of my class – with a degree in Economics!
Now…what does all that have to do with YOU? A lot!
Here’s that bad news I mentioned earlier. Take a look at The Harris Interactive Poll results below from a study conducted in August 2009…
PRESTIGE OF 23 PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
“I am going to read off a number of different occupations. For each, would you tell me if you feel it is an occupation of very great prestige, considerable prestige, some prestige or hardly any prestige at all?”
Base: All Adults
|
|
Very Great Prestige
|
Considerable Prestige
|
Some Prestige
|
Hardly Any Prestige At All
|
Not Sure/
Refused
|
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Firefighter
|
62
|
21
|
13
|
5
|
*
|
|
Scientist
|
57
|
22
|
14
|
7
|
*
|
|
Doctor
|
56
|
28
|
13
|
3
|
*
|
|
Nurse
|
54
|
24
|
18
|
4
|
*
|
|
Military officer
|
51
|
24
|
17
|
7
|
*
|
|
Teacher
|
51
|
22
|
17
|
10
|
*
|
|
Police officer
|
44
|
24
|
24
|
7
|
*
|
|
Priest/Minister/
Clergy
|
41
|
21
|
28
|
10
|
1
|
|
Engineer
|
39
|
27
|
28
|
5
|
1
|
|
Farmer
|
36
|
22
|
28
|
14
|
*
|
|
Architect
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
10
|
*
|
|
Member of Congress
|
28
|
21
|
27
|
22
|
2
|
|
Lawyer
|
26
|
22
|
33
|
19
|
*
|
|
Business Executive
|
23
|
15
|
46
|
16
|
1
|
|
Athlete
|
21
|
18
|
42
|
19
|
*
|
|
Journalist
|
17
|
20
|
40
|
22
|
1
|
|
Union Leader
|
17
|
17
|
34
|
30
|
1
|
|
Entertainer
|
17
|
17
|
40
|
25
|
1
|
|
Banker
|
16
|
21
|
43
|
18
|
1
|
|
Actor
|
15
|
19
|
33
|
33
|
*
|
|
Stockbroker
|
13
|
11
|
43
|
31
|
3
|
|
Accountant
|
11
|
23
|
46
|
19
|
1
|
|
Real Estate Agent/Broker
|
5
|
14
|
50
|
30
|
*
|
*Less than 0.5%
And, just so we’re all on the same page, according to Webster’s New World Dictionary, “prestige” is defined as:
1. The level of respect at which one is regarded by others; standing.
2. A person’s high standing among others; honor or esteem.
3. Widely recognized prominence, distinction, or importance.
It doesn’t look good for those of us who work in real estate, does it? Bottom of the prestige and respect list. Not the best news. At all.
At this moment, we’re all faced with a CHOICE…
Rather than avoiding this FACT or trying to hide it (or hide from it),
let’s use it to our advantage.
How? Simple…
Just like we talked about earlier…tackle it – head-on! Right now!
Follow these steps (I’m serious here…I’m challenging you to CHOOSE to do this!):
1. Copy this chart into the beginning of your listing presentation or make a copy to give to the buyers you meet with. (You can get a copy of the chart and accompanying article here: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=685.)
2. In your listing or buyer presentation script, you need to enter the conversation your prospects are having in their heads. Tackle the fear, doubt or insecurity they are feeling at that moment.
3. Say something to the effect of: “You probably weren’t looking forward to our meeting today…and I can understand that. I know that real estate agents, in general, are not trusted, respected, or held in high esteem – just like the results of this study show. And there are some bad agents out there, for sure. However, as we get to know each other, you will learn that I don’t fit that preconceived idea people have about agents.
I wouldn’t just be your real estate agent. I am YOUR advocate – YOUR guide – YOUR master negotiator – YOUR reference tool for all parts of this process. I CAN be trusted and WILL work hard to earn YOUR respect.
I treat my clients like they are my closest friends or family members – giving them my best and most responsive service – always.”
Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “I can’t put that in my presentation! That’s too risky…why would I show them the negative results of that study?”
Because. No one else will.
And, as the wise Earl Nightingale so aptly stated, “If you want to be successful, find out what everybody else is doing and do the opposite.”
Do you think anyone else has this in their presentations? Not likely. All you have to do is CHOOSE…
CHOOSE to harness your inner football player…and tackle it!
CHOOSE to make this unfortunate fact work for you.
CHOOSE this solution and use it!
CHOOSE to “do the opposite” and experience your most successful, fulfilling year yet!
© Jennifer Cummings 2010
For the past two decades, Jennifer Cummings has been one of the most sought-after marketing experts in the nation. Her “out-of-the-box” approach to marketing has won her the respect of advertising agencies and the adulation of entrepreneurs and business owners from all over the world in over a dozen unique markets.
Using the same strategies she now teaches, Jennifer transformed her life from being a juvenile delinquent at 15 to a millionaire by age 30. With her practical, no-frills approach to marketing and revenue generation, YOU can now join the thousands of other agents and brokers who have been excited and empowered to get back into the driver’s seats of their businesses!
Jennifer Cummings ~ www.JenniferCummings.com ~ 888.208.2309