Six,
Welcome to Friday! Spring is trying to very hard, in the sky and in our marketplace. This week I’m covering for one of our managers who is out of town. Being in “cover” mode, this week I feel all of the pain & pleasure points you are feeling in the marketplace. It’s been an all hands on deck kind of week – productive, intense yet all in all – productive in partnership with you. Keeping FWL sweet + simple today for these very reasons (heck, I have stacks of files to review!) and plus…last week I gave you enough to digest after The Battle of the Barristers. This week, I’m going to give you two items to digest – 1. a story and 2. a few more bucks in your pocket! Let’s start with a lighthearted story…
How much is enough?
{A story from an unknown author…yet oh so thought provoking…}
The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, only a little while.
The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds of the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then?”
The American laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you will make millions.”
The American said, “Then you will retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine and play guitar with your amigos!”
- – unknown author
Next up, let’s put a few more bucks in your pocket! | The clever imagery above much be given credit to manager Michael Nelson’s wittiness + fantastic admin Jeanette Ault (Eastlake office) for clever graphical talents! Ok, Laura…what is this all about? Glad you asked. Think outgoing referrals. Think about those mass emails or resource room conversations about…”hey, does anyone know a good broker in Spokane?” We have a resource for you. Rebecca Espinoza is our outgoing referral coordinator. You call Rebecca, tell her what you need, let her know how involved you want to be (or not) and she’ll make it happen – including providing you timely updates along the way. She also assures that you get paid. And, what I want you to know – any outgoing referral place through Rebecca we will pay you 100% no matter what – regardless of where you are in threshold. ***I’ve place two referral this year, I’m pleased. Think of Rebecca as an additional resource and support to you. How much time should you spend placing, getting updates etc…is this your highest + best “P” time (aka, “productive” time)? Your call. Think big, outgoing referrals can bring in a few extra bucks and 100% is going direct to you – not towards threshold.
Ok, short + sweet this week, as promised. Should be a wild weekend in Final Four activity on the hardwoods. For anyone still relevant in your bracketolgy – good on ya! I’m buried but oh so excited if there is a Cinderella story brewing! I’m game for that despite what my brackets say (and are now in the recycling bin!).
P.S. Wire fraud & phishing scams are occurring at somehow an even HIGHER level – I’ll be sending your managers info + reminders for discussion…
In partnership with you, so glad to be! Welcome to Friday! Hope you enjoyed the storytelling today…
Laura Smith, General Manager | Windermere Real Estate Co.
Ballard + Eastlake + Madison Park + Northgate + Sand Point + Wedgwood