You're thinking, "Not another Top 10 things to do to survive in '09 list!"
Relax. That's not my style. I'll offer two simple ideas below.
But first:
Lost
I am a big fan of the show, which follows the fate of a group of people stranded on a remote island following a plane crash.
But I could care less about the Island, time travel and all the hooks and secrets woven into the story lines. What grips me most is what unfolds as the layers of each character's personal onion are slowly, agonizingly, frightfully, peeled away.
Jack Shephard is a charismatic doctor and natural "take charge" guy. He commands the entire group's attention with a passionate plea at the onset of the first season: "To survive," he says, "we are all going to have to work together".
Jack emerges as the appointed leader. Over the course of the show's five seasons his decisions are carved from a strong and stubborn point of view. He never comes to grips to the realities the Island presents. And despite numerous opportunities, fails to let go of preconceived notions that blind him to the true nature of what his experience is all about.
John Locke, another survivor, was wheelchair-bound when Oceanic flight 815 took off. He was an otherwise regular guy with a regular job — the antithesis of Jack. Laying on the sand yards from where he was thrown from his crashed plane, John discovers his feet move. As do his legs. Almost instantly, he recognizes something about his new situation Jack never does. As a result, John's path is completely different, and more meaningful.
I often wonder what type of Lost character I would be. How I might play out if I were ever dealt the type of hand that faces the castaways.
Would I lead? Would I follow? Would I continue to apply an old set of beliefs to a new set of circumstances? If so, how long would I persist in the face of obvious signs that those beliefs were useless?
Most of the survivors follow Jack. The obvious choice. Few, if any, follow Locke. And why would they? He never presented himself as a leader of any kind. Their choices determine how their lives unfold. Some, including Jack, must wait until it is almost too late to realize they followed the wrong person.
What it takes to survive
Two simple ideas:
Mark Burnett, the British producer of the hit show Survivor, believes success does not depend on where the pot of gold resides or finding the right path to get there. For him, what's most important is the companions with whom you choose to take the journey.
Watch Survivor and you will see that played out each and every season. Alliances form. The strong ones prevail. And yield a winner.
Mark explains that no matter how focused your eye may be on success, if you are surrounded by stubborn, "stupid people" who don't get it, they will drain you of your energy and derail your attempts to win.
Perhaps your stupid people are your agents, your broker, your employees, your boss, your association executive — anyone who, as Burnett says, is an "energy sucking loser that acts like a cancer in your organization".
Mark would tell you that the only way to survive an ordeal like the one we are all facing today in real estate is to fire, detach, gravitate away, shuck or let go of all the "stupid people" around you.
It's not the classiest statement, and it sounds better with his English accent, but it's the truth.
Les Stroud is a Canadian filmmaker and survival expert who drops himself into remote locales with only his wits, a knife, a harmonica and two cameras. In order to survive, Les shifts his thinking completely and uses the natural elements around him in creative ways.
Out in the wild, Les survives alone for seven full days living off whatever the land offers him.
What would Les would do to survive inside the wilds of the real estate business? What would he do if he ran an MLS, a brokerage, or a legacy technology firm? What would he do if he were an agent trying to survive in the barren desert of today's market?
He'd look for sustenance in unfamiliar places. Source water from faucets that may not appear as such. And stop trying to milk the dried up udders of a dead value proposition.
Good companions and fresh eyes.
Most in our business are in survivor mode right now. Lost. Strewn across the sandy beach of this island called real estate. This is real. Hard. Depressing.
But it is not hopeless — if you find yourself some powerful new alliances with folks who see things just a tad differently.
- Davison
Twitter: 1000wattmarc
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A mist of difference
Freaking...
I spoke to a group of about 150 agents this past Tuesday about the "why" of social media. I started out by explaining that I remember real estate in the days before fax machines, voicemail, email, PCs, the Internet, laptops and the Blackberry. I established some credibility about where I came from before I explained to them how they need to reinvent themselves and why. Some will get it and do it, others will get it and not be able to execute, and the rest are waiting for "the market to come back." I've come to the realization that I cannot reach everyone. I have to focus on finding those who want the guidance and are ready to embrace a future that could look radically different from what they are used to.
BTW, I love your posts Marc.
Indeed this market is a great time to look deep into your business and determine what is and what is not adding value to it. While many agents are cutting expenses and awaiting the turn in the market, it's also an excellent time to forge new alliances.
Look to your broker,lenders, inspectors, home warranty reps and escrow and title reps and ask. What value do they bring to my business and customers?
Marc:
Enjoyed your post and I love to watch both Lost and Survivor. They are excellent shows. And yes, the people are the best part. Seems to me if you can form a team that has both Jack and Locke – you will have a winner!
Marc,
I love this post. It is so true it is not the circumstances that defeat us but how we respond to them. I tell my kids this ALL the time, well I guess you could say Nag.
Not only are"Strewn across the sandy beach of this island called real estate." but so are our sellers.
Great Post Marc.
another good mark.
Valuable Influence…those who give it, get it!
Sadly, there's not a big pool that have it to give.
It's like pinball, some can rivet for hours, others keep feeding the machine!
Thanks for the jolt of inspiration!
Marc,
So I guess my question is who would be Ben in the overall scheme of things?
To survive today, (in my opinion – communication therapy coming out) it cannot be a knee-jerk reaction. It's way more complicated than that and why I think alot of people have a hard time wrapping their mind around this.
Much like survivor, there are things and changes that need to be made to "survive" for the moment. Cost-cutting, streamlining, outsourcing (nationally), and increased productivity are a start.
Next, you have to look at the grand scheme of things. Look at our new President for an example, and not only study the future and the current, but study how past generations have survived similar situations. Learn, listen, then learn some more. Ask questions that you really want the answers to, and consider them – even the most outrageous. Look to your competitors to see what they're doing, and don't just play "catch-up"… weigh out what they're doing and see if it's working (sometimes that flashiest, newest thing isn't what's needed).
Tech has made this last part wayyyyy too easy for you not to do. But one of the downfalls that I see many doing is that they don't listen to those closest to you. Ask your (people, employees, staff, agents) what THEY think could be done, and once again listen. I bet there's a million good ideas sitting there that they all felt the bosses "would never entertain".
And then (maybe even sooner) go directly to your clients, tell them about the problem… and ask them what THEY would do, or what they thing YOU should do. We spend millions of dollars a year on research, and we could spend $1500 on lunch with our clients to find out what they think.
Next comes action… and that's where I think your post hits home. It's about putting aside alot of what you though or knew in the past, your beliefs, and all the things that "used to" work and looking at it differently. There is no silver bullet here and no price tag for success. But I think collaboration is the beginning of a long process of recovery.
Matt Dollinger
The You Factor
Hey Marc,
This one connected with me, great post. I don't even really watch Lost or Survivor but I know enough about them to get your points.
I enjoy Man vs. Wild (Bear Grylls) and Les Stroud as well. If these guys were real estate agents, they both would be kicking a** in this market because the don't take "no" for an answer, and they think outside the box and 2 steps ahead. That's how we need to approach real estate in today's market, plain and simple. Thanks again.
@Tyler, Those guys would kick ass because the adapt to their surroundings in a flash and actively look for ways in, out, up, down and around every obstacle. I submit that being stranded in deep recesses of the Louisiana Bayou surrounded by gators, insects, venomous snakes, no food or water presents as equally daunting of a reality as the real estate business presents anyone it looking to survive and thrive.
To survive this market bayou, an individual will no doubt have to possess the very same exact disciplines those two men you cite present.
Be active. Be aware. Investigate every potential. Be creative. Inventive. And possess skills that most others do not have or bother to hone.
Thanks Tyler.
@Matt. Who is Ben? Mmm. A reader emailed me suggesting that that I might fit that unsavory role at times.
Marc:
Enjoyed your post and I love to watch both Lost and Survivor. They are excellent shows. And yes, the people are the best part. Seems to me if you can form a team that has both Jack and Locke – you will have a winner!