Like so many of us on our birthdays, I was particularly introspective for much of the day on April 23rd. Thinking about life and my career in real estate, I pondered how it is that the years go by so quickly, and how time tends to change perspective. It was weeks later, just before Mother’s Day, that I was finally able to connect the dots.
My blog readers know that I am an exercise evangelist and work out strenuously almost every day. I’ve always seen this as a metaphor for tackling and surmounting business’ and life’s obstacles. So although I notice that it’s sometimes more difficult to remain in the top fitness percentile of age groups younger than me, I do so to prove to myself that I can stay competitive, strong and focused. It’s all about passion for succeeding. I also have another motivation that I’ll get to in a minute.
As I pondered, I recognized a common thread that ties together several of my different activities to one underlying theme. You probably have a similar pattern. The realization that I want to share is that many of us embark on various endeavors without seeing the common thread in each of these activities. Why is this important? Because recognizing patterns (themes) allows us to continue or change them. It may seem obtuse at first, but the premise will hopefully resonate on several levels as we connect the dots.
THE THEME
A recent Social Media Examiner article by Ruth M. Shipley references Joseph Campbell’s famous line ” Follow Your Bliss” and also quotes social media entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk suggesting “If you’re living your passion, you’re going to want to be consumed by your work. The passion and love for what you do will enable you to work the hours necessary to succeed.”
The central theme I discovered is a passion for striving to be the best at whatever I attempt, and wanting to making a difference in whatever that context. Check this out:
We all agree about the value of educating oneself to allow deep-dive questioning regarding any subject too important to leave to the sole judgment of others. Right? The news media has been chock-a-block full of stories about happens when we don’t delve into subjects and ask pertinent questions. I don’t have to tell you about the real estate meltdown from which we are just beginning to emerge. However, you may not be as familiar with another example of what could happen when events are allowed to unfold with inadequate oversight and/or regulation. We’ll get to those illustrations a little later.
So continuing… my reflections segued into thinking about my real estate career, and how we try to add value for our clients. Our approach to our business is to earn trust by listening carefully and providing a wide range of material facts that allow people to fully understand the issues so that can make informed decisions to achieve their goals. Our “Love of the Desert” branding speaks to our belief that we are a new generation of Realtor who offers information and facilitates rather than sells (see our Inbound Marketing blogpost). Our genuine objective is to help our clients.
BABY BOOMERS AND ALTRUISM – AN OXYMORON?
I confess to not always being so interested in altruism. Baby boomers are notorious for being self-absorbed. What caused a transformation in my case?
It’s currently a few days before Mother’s Day 2010 and suffice it to say that there has never been a son who loves his mother more. I have overseen my mother’s healthcare for the last 12 years. Working through the effects of several serious maladies, I’ve learned a great deal about the health care system and its providers, from physicians to caregivers, to the whole gamut. I’ve also been able to experience how the mindset that compels one to become the healthcare quarterback spills over to everything. It becomes second nature to recognize when “experts” aren’t experts and when someone needs information rather than someone’s authority. The recognition of having to take charge becomes a call to action. It becomes all consuming when a son fights for a parent who cannot fight for themselves any longer. Complex medical analyses, constant questioning and oversight and partnering with doctors in decision making at every turn becomes imperative. The arcane world of health insurance parameters, Medicare, prescription coverages, etc., makes the process all the more mind-dumbing for any of us, nevermind a diminished senior. But I digress. The pertinent point is that I have come to understand that part of my mother’s legacy is the caring she has taught me.
HERE’S WHERE WE CONNECT THE DOTS
What does caring for my mother have to do with real estate…and how does exercise intersect?
1. A disadvantage is a disadvantage, whether it’s a senior needing assistance understanding and harnessing the vagaries of healthcare, or anyone trying to navigate any field without adequate knowledge.
2. As responsibilities for my Mom demanded that I obtain as much information as possible to accurately weigh the advice received from the “experts”, the process re-confirmed that our clients required as much information as we could give them in order to properly consider our real estate advice.
3. Motivation for striving to stay in top physical and mental shape is probably mostly the same for any of us for realize that this is our foundation. We also realize that exercise is also a metaphor for disciplined methods of accomplishing goals.
THE EPIPHANY
Have a look at the following two videos. In a video posted on the AC360 Blog (was it coincidence that it was on my birthday?), from an interview on the CNN newscast the day before, Dennis Quaid talks about the harrowing experience he and his wife, Kimberly, had when a Los Angeles hospital over-dosed their newborn twins with blood thinner, Heparin. When you realize that one cannot ever assign responsibilty to the so-called experts, you become informed enough to contribute to major life decisions.
The take away from this birthday mind excursion is an embrace of the old addage: “Knowledge Is Power”. It’s essential to stay on top of your game by working to maintain physical and emotionally stability under pressure, and it’s vital to obtain as much information as possible to be able to accurately weigh and consider advice you receive.
I feel good about our efforts to educate our clients rather than sell them – in much the way that I feel satisfied that my mother has every advantage in her fight to overcome some daunting medical issues because of my quest to absorb all I can to help her. But what about all the people (older or younger) who need but don’t have patient or real estate advocates?
(Over time, I will expand my patient advocacy to try and help others. No question that doctors and support staff are well intentioned. However, there are levels of expertise and many other issues that affect quality healthcare. As you’ll understand reading Evan Handler’s interview, below, his is not an isolated case. It is vitally necessary for us all to help. I invite you to join me in finding ways to do so.)
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Evan Handler:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/10/02/ep.evan.handler.patient.advocate/index.html?iref=allsearch#cnnSTCText
