If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

Some say that Rudyard wrote this poem to encourage soldiers in the war. It seems rather applicable for Realtors®, lenders and those working in the service industry in this market.

It’s a good life!

Brian

There’s an old tale about two friends walking through the desert. At some point along their journey they begin to argue and one slaps the other in the face. The friend who was slapped was hurt but didn’t react – instead he silently wrote in the sand the words: “My best friend slapped me in the face today.”

Later on in their travels the two encountered an oasis. They stopped to rest and bathe but the friend who had been hurt got stuck and began to drown. His friend reached out and saved him – dragging him to safety. After recovering he walked to a stone and carved the following words: “My best friend saved my life today.”

Confused, the other asked him, "Why is it that earlier you wrote in the sand yet now you carve in stone?”

The other replied "When we experience hurt from another we should write it down in sand so the winds of forgiveness can blow the memory away. But, when someone does something good for us, we should memorialize it in stone so no wind can erase it."

It can be easy to focus on the pains or challenges we experience in life. But like the character above, I’d rather set the good stuff in stone and let the others blow away in the wind.

It’s a good life!

Brian 

DESERT PETE by The Kingston Trio

"I was travellin' West a buckskin on my way to a cattle run
Cross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin' sun
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump
But I tell ya I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump
I took it to be a mirage at first, it'll fool a thirsty man
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can
"This pump is old", the note began, "but she works so give'r a try"
"I put a new sucker washer in 'er, you may find the leather dry"|

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe"
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive"
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

"Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire"
"Under that rock you'll find some water I left in a bitters jar"
"Now there's just enough to prime it with so dontcha go drinkin' first"
"You just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you'll quench your thirst"

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe"
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive"
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

Well I found that jar and I tell ya nothin' was ever prettier to my eye
And I was tempted strong to drink it, cuz that pump looked mighty dry
But the note went on "have faith my friend, there's water down below"
"You got to give until you get-I'm the one who ought to know"
So I poured in the jar and I started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound
Of water bubblin' and splashin' up outta that hole in the ground
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treat
I thank the Lord and thank the pump and I thank old Desert Pete

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe"
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive"
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

Like the thirsty traveler, you’ve got to give of yourself to get. It’s not about money; it’s about keeping up all the work you are doing to get leads. All the calls, notes and Pop-Bys are your version of priming the pump. And one of these days the referrals will start to flow.

It’s a good life!

Brian

Says that, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Wise words from a wise man! Despite the pressures of the market and the demands of clients worried by negative media tales or water-cooler stories, it’s important to stick to the fundamentals and keep your head down. The habits you’ve formed through Working by Referral will help you stay the course and keep your eyes trained on the brighter side of this market adjustment.

More and more, people are looking for a professional to steer them through the maze of information and guide them in the process of buying or selling a home. Yes, they may be more tech-savvy and have access to the tools the Internet provides, but they also want that peace of mind element that only a sales professional can provide. I’ve yet to meet someone who’s clicked on ‘add to shopping cart’ when buying a home!

Positive press reports and inspiring stories are out there so find them and make that your reading material. Commit to doing the best you can with your clients and serve them in such a way that - regardless of outcome - they’ll enthusiastically refer you to those they know.

The motivation Mr. Rohn speaks about we can get from stories, classes, events and those around us…but remember to look inward for those habits that keep you going. Find your own ‘why’ for the work that you do; it will absolutely impact the future of both your business and your life – and no one knows that more than you guys using the Referral Systems every day.

It’s a good life!

Brian