I am well aware of the difference in experience between myself and others and while I recognize that some of my zeal is from being a new agent, I also hope that some of that zeal might rub off on a few people here and there. I’m not kidding myself into thinking that I am some sort of “savior” for our industry, but rather I want to be part of the solutions.

The fact that NAR has plucked a few from the real estate blogging community doesn’t prove anything. I see it more as a token gesture.

Let’s assume that it is nothing more than a token gesture. Is it not feasible that those that were plucked might go on to bigger and better things. That their interest might be sparked and they might step up and become a bigger part of the association in the future? Token gesture or not, I think it has long term implications.

As a side note, I’m not 100% behind everything NAR does either and know that historically they’ve screwed more than a few things up…quite royally. I will be willing to be they will in the future too. That’s not to say they have to…things can change.

My excitement over changes and new ways of doing things is all a part of feeling that I’m part of my own association. I am only one voice, but I hope my voice will be heard. If I don’t try to speak up, then I can’t complain that no one heard me.

You’re right, not everyone can be on a committee. I don’t think you should be if the desire is not there. Like anything in life, you need to want to do it, not just do it because someone told you to. Your own convictions play a large role in the outcome of any involvement. Believe that it’s all for naught and you’ll probably get zero out of it, believe otherwise and you may get beaten down from time to time, but your positive look at it can help create an environment where things can be done.

P.S. I didn’t see this as a flame in anyway. Your concerns as far as NAR goes are clear and (obviously) you’re not alone. Even I have doubts about NAR sometimes. That’s not going to change, much like I mentioned in the “us vs. them” mentality section – as long as money comes out of our pockets, we will always have doubts and complaints.

Jenner would have looked pretty tough in those days with the addition of a Brand-stasche. He missed a great opportunity.

While I can’t marry you, it’s the best I can do.

Cheers Duke.

For most of those 20 years, NAR has taken the attitude that if dont like it, tough luck. Getting onto committees with the local boards here happened only if you were part of the club. If you were a broker, you had a say, but not if you were just an agent.

There are many of us who have way more knowledge and first hand experience with many of the issues that face the agent in the trenches than most of the people NAR goes to for advice. Just look at the number of so-called consultants who dont sell real estate that populated their panels in Nov)ember.

I admire your zeal as a new agent, but many of us have the benefit of history that you do not. The ongoing chant online this past year to quit bitching and start volunteering is disingenuous. The fact that NAR has plucked a few from the real estate blogging community doesnt prove anything. I see it more as a token gesture.

You may take this as a flame, but that is not its intent. Its meant more as a reminder that what the Kevin Tomlinson’s and others in the RE world complain about is based on real experience with an organization that has had little regard for its membership, and has come under fire for this actions and omissions.

Instead of finding a SM director and arguing over stupid stuff that they dont understand, like the difference between scraping and indexing, maybe NAR should do something truly groundbreaking, like coming up with a health care plan for its 1.2 million members.

Until then, feel free to share with NAR whatever blame you want, but please do not assume that it should be shared by the rest of us. As Bill Lubin stated, its not like we all have a voice, and NAR folks like Bill dont believe we should.

On reflection, you called it, I think the Wheaties reference was subconsciously all about Bruce’s cool hair (Why no mustache Bruce? Why?) and the fact the my hair is turning clear, which saddens me. Although, checking in on Bruce and the Kardashian’s, his hair is losing some luster, but his face looks tighter, weird…but I digress.

I remember when you wrote that you were joining a committee, I thought, ugg, we have plenty of Wind Mills to tilt, why fight that one, but you’re making a difference – awesome.

I thought I’d NEVER involve myself in another local board mish-mash, but recently I was asked to help out with a little technology project and I thought, what hell, all this talk on Agent Genius about helping things change, including your contributions, I said yes. I’m enjoying it.

Rock on Matt, stay STRONG, like BULL.

Cheers.

My committee work is just getting underway and I’m still feeling out my surroundings, but I already have one thing that I’m ready to take head-on that I know won’t be popular with some and might even get some people on the offensive. I’ve been carefully laying out my plan from the actual body of it to the objections and counter-objections.

Brandie – As someone who started his internet life in chat rooms and bulletin board systems while the internet wasn’t even a household name yet, I find that the internet will always draw out conflict. For whatever reason, we feel safer here than we do elsewhere. We’re more open and willing to express our opinions in type. Add in an Association that hasn’t always been looking kindly upon and a web of agents, all with different opinions, feelings, and agendas and suddenly you have a powder keg.

With more and more agents getting involved online (whether social media, reading sites like AgentGenius, or just learning to blog or email), I think we may be in the very early stages of communication through the medium. Sure, some people have been doing it since the MLS was first computerized, but not everyone has. As more people get involved, we will have to naturally seek out the comfort level. It will only ever be an average as some will still not be comfortable and others will feel it’s “old hat” and not be afraid of anything. And that’s not just for agents, it’s for consumers as well. I have clients who wouldn’t know where to find my blog if I showed them how. I have clients who found me that way. It really depends on the consumer to open up as well, because the more they get involved in communications of this sort, the more we can improve and perfect our communication with them…and each other.

I was chatting with Bill Lublin yesterday and asked him if tempers flared this much when everyone was making money. Of course, that was then, and there wasn’t as much SM interaction as now, but still.

At the end of the day, of course we should express problems, concerns etc. not with the intent to derail but to move forward. And, since communication is subjective to the listener be prepared to explain if your message didn’t come through as desired.

Thanks, Rockstar!

My favorite Dr. Suess quote is, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

I’ve made a few enemies this year on my local board, rocking the power structure. (or trying to)
It has been hard, speaking the truth or your perception of it, is not easy.