Comments on: A Lesson in Leaving

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:53:20 +0000

Jim -

Well, I’m happy to see I’m not the only one who has changed again:) Good Luck at KW!

If our RE/MAX offices had never merged, I would probably still be with the RE/MAX I started with here in Indy.

Live and learn!

By: Vicki Moore

Vicki Moore — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:08:41 +0000

I wish! Congratulations.

By: Jim Gatos

Jim Gatos — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:03:28 +0000

I just went back to Keller Williams. 2.5 years of Coldwell Banker and I’m outta here.. LOL…

I’ve always loved the KW model, They had problems, yes, but they ironed most of them away. I like owning my own business..

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:48:52 +0000

Darn Vickie – Were you psychic?

Has it really been two months?

About half way through the comments here, I decided the move was not a good fit for me. Was it a move for the sake of moving – I don’t know. Even with all my considerable thought, it just didn’t feel right.

I hung on a couple more months and have now made a move I can live with – and am excited about – not for the sake of moving.

Simply, I found a broker(independent) whose marketing and online strategies are more aligned with mine. Honestly, it may be harder work, for now. It is quite rewarding planning an online strategy, combined with offline networking with someone who “gets it”.

Thanks to each of you for your comments and support.

By: Vicki Moore

Vicki Moore — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:32:19 +0000

So what if you made a mistake. We make decisions based on the information we have at the time. Don’t like it? Go back.

Could be change is just what you need. It’s done. So go enjoy it!

By: Ruthmarie Hicks

Ruthmarie Hicks — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:40:55 +0000

Paula,
This is interesting,
When I left my first brokerage – I was told I was making a big mistake. It was in 2006 and thing had just started slowing down. It was the atmosphere and the sense that it was a brokerage mired in the boom that made me do it.

The brokerage I went to actually DID fold – but at least they had some better ideas. But they were too small to survive the downturn. The original brokerage seems to be struggling with high overhead and far fewer agents. Many of the people who told me I was making a mistake are GONE. Most were absorbed by other brokerages.

I too am at Keller Williams. If your office is as well run as mine is, it will be a good move for you.

By: Jonathan Dalton

Jonathan Dalton — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:54:48 +0000

I had the same thing as Teresa, more or less. The company’s still there, the office out of which I worked was closed two months after I left ostensibly because of a lease dispute. Agents were dispersed to one of two other offices, neither particularly close.

When I made the move in January, there was more than a little anxiety attached. I had become accustomed to life on my former company’s relocation wheel and wasn’t sure if I’d make it solo.

After posting the best year I’ve had for sales, commissions, etc. there’s not the slightest question I made the right decision. Though the change in business was less due to the new brokerage than a change in my own habits caused by the break.

Good luck, Paula … you’ll be dine.

By: Vicki Lloyd

Vicki Lloyd — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:40:43 +0000

I have changed offices a few times in the last 15 years. Each time was for a different reason, but once I made up my mind, I felt very energized to make the change, and each time I did it, my business improved because my attitude did.

KW has a good business model and I spent 4 years with one of their offices. Each office is a little different because it is franchaised and each office and regional owner has a slightly different perception.

If your goals are parallel to theirs, you will do well and be happy. If not, you will learn more about what you really want an office to be for you.

Good luck on your new adventure!

By: Ginger Wilcox

Ginger Wilcox — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:14:32 +0000

Paula- it sounds like you put a lot of thought into this move. Moving brokerages is never easy. I made a move that was a mistake when I first moved into a new real estate market (had worked in another state). I lived with my decision for a year, watched my business suffer, and finally made another move, which equaled three in a short time. It was the best decision I could have ever made. While I agree with Mark, there are times when a move does make good sense.
Best of luck to you at your new brokerage!

By: teresa boardman

teresa boardman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:59:25 +0000

I remember when I left Coldwell Banker. I got the lecture from people in the office about what a mistake it was to leave. The office I worked out of is no more. They closed and the agents were absorbed by other offices.

By: Nickie Rothwell

Nickie Rothwell — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:44:19 +0000

Hi Paula and congratulations!

Making a change after so many years can be scary, but clearly you have been wanting change for some time.

It sounds like a very exciting time for you! I believe you will do well wherever you are.

Best wishes to you as you follow this new path!

By: Bridget Magnus

Bridget Magnus — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:56:45 +0000

Wow, you described my day pretty well….

By: Danilo Bogdanovic

Danilo Bogdanovic — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:01:06 +0000

Everything happens for a reason…Sure it’ll prove to be a great move and that’ll do better than ever!

By: Ken Brand

Ken Brand — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:51:03 +0000

I’m with you Mark, making changes as an excuse will not work. Making changes as part of a well though out strategy for growth and opportunity works well. I wrote a blog post this week on Excuse Tourettes. http://budurl.com/rz4y

By: Jim Gatos

Jim Gatos — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:50:48 +0000

Well, I’m very happy where I am. I did try another agency for 2 years but went back to Coldwell Banker. I do agree with Mark S, though. Too many changes can be a bad thing.

By: Mark Storolis

Mark Storolis — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:48:57 +0000

Yes Ken, you are getting to the heart of the matter. The opportunity for growth must come from within the individual. Immersing oneself in a new community can have motivational effects, but I argue that those effects are short-lived and ineffective at best. Bad agents at a bad company will also be bad agents at a good company. I have watched too many agents jump the fence and simply frustrate themselves. Individuals excel through individual performance – not by association.

By: Ken Brand

Ken Brand — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:15:53 +0000

Mark, Could be a mistake, could be the greatest thing that ever happened, time will tell. As you point out, “Rarely” is the key work, not “Never”. My experience is that agents that join our team from another “usually” do much better.

Brokerages have varied cultures and images, and tools and systems, leadership and technologies. When someone considers all aspects and decides to align in a new way, that’s a positive. Habits can change and comfort zones can expand when immersed and influenced by a new culture.

Moving doesn’t make you bad or good, how you deliver, grow, act, walk and talk make you and the decesion good or bad.

Only time will tell.

My 5cents.

By: Mark Storolis

Mark Storolis — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:58:24 +0000

I disagree Paula. Moving to a new brokerage, does not a good agent make. “Comfort zones” are not barriers, they are habits. And habits do not change by joining a new team. Pick up a copy of Ralph Roberts “Walk Like a Giant and Sell Like a Madman” pages 39-42 – see a thorough explanation why changing brokerage causes more harm than good. The grass is rarely greener.

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:03:07 +0000

Jason – My immense respect for both brokers is what has made this a dificult decision.
Good Luck on your move!

By: Jason Sandquist

Jason Sandquist — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:47:59 +0000

I switched brokers on Wednesday. Nothing against the old broker, there was something that intrigued me about the new company and I just had to try it out.