I first posted this just over 13 months ago, which was about 3 months after I started blogging here on ActiveRain. I thought it was timely, so I decided to re-post it tonight, as we are fast approaching 2009. I think the message is still a good one.
I have been working from home most days lately, which is a real blessing in my opinion. I could go to the office, but many days my work involves catching up on emails and perhaps a few phone calls (and blogging, too, of course). As a result, I often get my writing inspriration by watching or playing with my children or from some conversation with my wife.
Tonight, I noticed that my six-year old daughter was in the upstairs bathroom playing in the sink area, since I can see that room from the place where I typically blog. She was kind of quiet, so I went to see what she was doing. As I approached, she was energetically smearing lathered up soap all over the counter. She looked like a master artist, perhaps Pollock?
I asked her if she was planning to clean it up, and she said that she would. I then asked her about how her very first piano lesson went, since it was today. I have not seen a child that excited in awhile. She began energetically jumping up and down, and she yelled, "It was great, great, great! I loved it!"
My daughter's enthusiasm for the simple joy of soap suds and the absolute joy that she shared with me over the piano lesson inspired me to write this post. 
I have been in real estate almost eleven years now, which seems hard to believe sometimes. At any rate, I realized that when I started, I used to get listings just from being hungry and excited about selling homes. I don't know when that stopped being the case, but I don't feel that fire in my belly nearly as often. Maybe this comes simply from being a veteran of this industry, but something tells me that I could do better.
I am not leaving it at that. This is just a starting point for me.
If you follow my blog, you know that I have a lot on my plate right now. Even with that in mind, I am planning to take a fresh look and a fresh approach to my business and my career starting today:
- I am going to treat EVERY lead with care, even the ones that are not thrilling.
- I am going to stop procrastinating when it comes to follow up with past clients.
- I am going to seek that energy that I had in 1997, when I was geared up everyday and anxious to sell something to somebody.
- Clients will sense this in me and they will look forward to working with me, and ONLY me.
- I am planning to treat every day as important - I don't ever get one back. Once it is gone, it's gone.
Every day that we are here is important, and every day should be treated as such. I have a friend who is very sick right now, and if he can bear it out and make his life count, then I have nothing to complain about, and I should be squeezing the most from every single minute of this life.
I have my health, a beautiful wife, awesome kids, enough money to keep my head above water, my own business, freedom to choose how I spend my day, and the list goes on and on. I need to be jumping up and down! I am going to make it....playful.
This business is unique in so many ways, and I truly feel that this is where God wants me right now. I can look back and see jobs and experiences that I had as a younger man that ultimately all served to prepare me for this moment in time. I feel like my skills and my personality are perfect for real estate, and I am uniquely talented as a salesperson and as a broker, teacher, and manager. I am not bragging here - just evaluating. My real point is: I can do better with the gifts I have been given.
This may sound odd to you, but since I started blogging (about three months ago), I have been better able to express myself to my friends and clients. I was already okay in that department with my family, but writing is a kind of catharsis that allows me to organize my thoughts sometimes. Consequently, I have seen a benefit when dealing with issues of everyday life. I feel more centered, and I feel accepted. This may be a bit melodramatic, but I assure you that it's genuine. I plan to use this newfound gift of communication.
Where am I going with this? Check back with me sometime in the upcoming months. You might just find that I have become a new man.
Copyright 2007 Austin TX Real Estate Jason Crouch All rights reserved
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Hi Jason...If you have half the enthusiasm for real estate as you do for your family and for Active Rain, you are in a good place.
Kate
Jason,
Amen! I just got back from our Board of Realtors awards banquet tonight. I agree, we have a lot to be thankful for. I have a great job and get to help people, which I like. I do not think of myself as being in sales at all, in fact I don't like selling, I like problem solving and that's what I do, really well. I'm thankful God has put me in this position. Great post. 2009 is gonna be fine.
Do you ever sleep? I am amazed at how much you get done each day and manage to spend time with your family. Congrats on having it all!
Jason, we should all have that "rookie" enthusiasm. Sometimes we get caught up in the mundane routines they we fall prey too. But often it only takes the wisdom of a child to snap us back to reality and get us focused on what is truly important. Thank you for this "reblog" of an earlier post. It is appreciated! - Jim
KATE - I must admit that my enthusiasm for my family far outweighs my enthusiasm for my business, but that still leaves a lot left over!
FRAN - Sounds like fun! I am also happy and content with my life. Thanks for your terrific comment.
JEAN - You might be surprised to realize how much sleep I actually do get. :-) Thanks for your kind remarks.
JIM - Thanks for your encouragement. I thought it was worthy of re-posting - glad to hear that you thought so, too!
So very insightful........"but writing is a kind of catharsis that allows me to organize my thoughts sometimes. Consequently, I have seen a benefit when dealing with issues of everyday life. I feel more centered, and I feel accepted"..............you hit the nail on the head.......Amen!
LIZ - Thanks! I left this one intact from its original text 13 months ago, with the exception of the opening sentences in italics. I am happy that you enjoyed this post, my friend.
Great post. I share your enthusiasm. Active Rain has changed my world-Dinah Lee
Where am I going with this? Check back with me sometime in the upcoming months. You might just find that I have become a new man.
Good evening Jason,
This was one of your posts that I remember reading a while ago. I didn't know you back when you first wrote this, but think you have indeed become a new man since then - in more than one way.
I must admit that my enthusiasm for my family far outweighs my enthusiasm for my business
GOOD! :)
Jason... this is awesome my friend. There is a lot of 'interesting' news on the horizon and we all have full plates, but if we could think back to that time when we were fired up about real estate... and fan the fires, we might just ignite a whole new round of enthusiasm in our clients.
Hi Jason... enthusiam is one of those things that we all need to find a way to recapture and harness. It's easy in the world today to get beaten down and drained. Finding the enthusiasm you lost and harnessing that energy will carry each of us to new levels of accomplishment.
Oh man, I so get what you are saying about expressing yourself better due to the writing. I think some of that is also due to the great "reading" that you get her in the Rain. I have been selling Real Estate for 22 years and I think what you described would be called "burn out" which is easy to understand when you work such long hours and are changing hats every few minutes. Real estate can be very stressful at times.
I love the old family photo, it reminds me of "Father Knows Best", hmmmm not sure you are old enough to remember that show - ha ha) I think YOU ar the Father Knows Best of the 21st Centruy!
Merry Christmas
Debbie
DINAH - Me, too!
BRUCE - Thanks for your continued support and friendship!
JESSE - Obviously, I agree completely with your take on things here. Good to see you, buddy.
STEVE - That is indeed what I am hoping to retain as we begin another new year soon. Thanks!
DEBBIE - I watched "Father Knows Best" on re-runs, often with my grandfather. The best compliment I have ever received was when my mom told me that I'm just like him. He was a really good man, and he knew how to show love for his family (me included).
Jason... I could relate to some of what you mentioned. This business can be up and down... and can take the air out of your tire per se... I just recently got the enthusiasim back in my life, in regards to mortgages. And it came down to a few new clients that actually went out of their way to thank me for my help. It feels good.... thanks for sharing...
Jason,
Thank you for the 5 bullet points, they are just what I needed.
Jason,
Thanks for reposting this! Like everone in this business who has been successful over the years, I sometimes forget all the reasons that helped me get to this point and why I have been in the business for so long! Great way to reawaken that enthusiasm!
"I have my health, a beautiful wife, awesome kids, enough money to keep my head above water, my own business, freedom to choose how I spend my day, and the list goes on and on. I need to be jumping up and down! I am going to make it....playful."
We are certainly in agreement on that too!
I agree with being able to express oneself in this way ... I now have more confidence because people, professionals at that, truly enjoy many things that I write. This gives me more confidence in the public arena and more cinfidence networking face-to-face.
Jason, your enthusiasm is infectious! I am still trying to believe the statement that you have only been blogging for 3 months! Amazing!
Hi Jason, I picked this post up on a google alert. You are right. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the real estate news. As a blogger --- I know we have to keep up on current events. And we have an obligation to present the facts to our audience. But at the same time-- we have to remember the fundamentals of the business. And the fundamentals of life. ( as you expressed so eloquantly)
I think a little rookie enthusiasm could help us all right about now. The less mystified you become about the process the less excited you become. Sometimes our clients can feed off our excitement.
It's very good to remember when it all started. It was 1998 for me and I was so excited that I got top producer in my office my first year in the business. I remember going around asking all the agents if they needed me to do an open house, or run an ad, or whatever they might need. If I wasn't with clients, i was in the office looking to over hear conversations that I might learn from. I was driving home from the office yesterday thinking how lucky I am. My business had a good year. My kids and husband are awesome. Life is good and I can't wait to get out there and do it again next year!
A friend of mine always says....every day above ground is a good day. Words to live by..and yes, we do become a little jaded as time goes by in real estate..the highs aren't as high (and don't last as long) and the lows aren't as low...it's all about finding the passion in what we do and how we live. We need to be passionate about every aspect of our lives.
Jason,
How prophetic....I didn't know you thirteen months ago, but found you very shortly after I became active in the rain in January 2009 after blogging outside it first.
Seems to me you have become a new man since this well written post and a brand all your own. Your very own original you.
Glad to call you my friend.
Jason, I am with you on your last point, blogging is a great way to express your self b/c you have more time to think about waht and how you say things. As long as it is not too over analytical. Starting over is what we do everyday. In light of this funky economic space we currently reside, it is the appropriate way to be, b/c it moves so fast we have to devise new techniques.
Good psot and congrats on your successes.
Bo
Good Morning Jason - you were up late last night!!!
You said that "This business is unique in so many ways, and I truly feel that this is where God wants me right now. " That's exactly how I felt first, this morning when I was doing my Bible study and all the words really spoke to me. Then again now, as I read your blog. Well everything except the last paragraph where you were comfortable expressing yourself. I'm still not there in the blogging part but I'm learning. I keep trying and try to to get so concerned that it's perfect but that I'm doing it. Merry Christmas!
Caren - This post was written about 13 months ago. I re-posted it last night. At the time that it was originally written, I had only been blogging for about 3 months. Hope that clears things up!
Keeping the "rookie" enthuisiasmm can become hard over time as the volume increases and it becomes routine. I try and help a couple of rookes each year and their success and excitement helps me in return.
Do you think you have become a new man? We didn't know you before blogging.
Very good post. It is one that seems to be able to work as a kind of switch to reset and review ones own goals. Kind of like your using it. Thanks.
Jason, as long as you keep your sense of family and your sense of humor, the changes you're proposing will only help your business...and help you to provide better service to past, present and future clients. Good luck with your transformation. All the best to you and yours in 2009!
Wonderfully creative attitude, as always! You have such a wonderful sense of family, and I love how you tie it in with your work... What good would a home be without a family anyway?!
Jason, I am not new to real estate but am an new agent and I think I might frighten some people with the enthusiam I have for my business. I hope I can keep it going. Thanks.
Jason, where are the pictures of the masterpiece from the artist? Please share!
Jason - Isn't this what sabbaticals are for? To get renergized? Oh, we can't afford to do that can we?
Jeremy - This was originally written and posted 13 months ago, so I don't have them available now. Sorry -
Jason, your posts still amaze me, inspire me and touch me and I remember after reading your very first one when I started back in the summer thinking this guy not only knows his stuff but he feels it. Thank you for always sharing your knowledge and yourself with me/us. You are and will continue to be an inspiration to me and I love that I can proudly call you a friend. Have a wonderful holiday with your family and looking forward to talking and connecting again in 2009! ~Anne Marie
Great post. I was originally licensed in 2004 and left the business after 6 months without having even one listing. I'm back and ready to go for 2009. I have that fire and excitement you speak of and wake up every day ready to tackle the world. Thank you also for reminding me to value the jobs and experiences I have had in my life up until now. God gave me those experiences for a reason and it is up to me to now make the best use of the lessons I learned.
Jason: Great inspiration. I have been a realtor since 1987 and had on and off good and bad times. The last few years personally have been full of upheaval. Interestingly enough, I said to my husband not 1/2 an hour ago, that this is the first time in years I have motivated and driven to the point where I will accomplish my goals business and personal in 2009. I am not going to let anything stand in my way. Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the horns and do it.
Happy New year to you and your family. Thank you for sharing with us.