From Where I Sit
June 23rd, 2008 categories: Relocating
My daily morning cup of coffee is normally accompanied by a review of the morning’s news. One of the places I turn first for fresh career related information is an interesting blog site, the BloodHoundBlog. The “Bloodhound” is a blog different than your routine real estate information site. As a matter of fact, some might see it more as a real estate agent boiling pot, or revolution in the making. Many of its contributors are the “underground” pioneers who are changing face of real estate marketing. Its author, Greg Swann, describes the blog’s mission this way:
“Welcome to BloodhoundBlog, the national real estate industry marketing and technology weblog written by, for and about realestate professionals. Better yet, welcome to the wired world of real estate. We are busily inventing Real Estate 2.0 — technology, marketing, service and salesmanship. Like all Bloodhounds, we are smart, frisky and fiercely independent. We are committed to an idea of excellence that will flush the bums, the con-men and the crybabies out of the real estate industry. If you yearn to have your failures excused, your moral lapses absolved or your boo-boos kissed, seek elsewhere. But if you are sick to death of mediocrity — welcome home.”
One of their more recent blog articles entitled, The world you find is the world you’re looking for… , reminded me of a tale about attitude that I heard many years ago. Like many, I, too, have a tendency to complain and whine at times. Life can get the best of us every now and then, and it’s worthwhile to be reminded that it really is how we look at things that makes all the difference in the world. That story goes something like this….
A family, the Novaks, were moving from a city in Pennsylvania to a small western town. They had packed everything in their SUV, made the cross country trip, and were pulling into the outskirts of their small town they would call home. As they got close to town, they decided to pull into what looked like an old convenience store or service station with a porch out front. As they pulled up, they noticed three older gentlemen on the porch in chairs talking to one another and seemingly enjoying each other’s company. As the Novaks headed into the store, one of the older gentleman got up to say “Hi” while at the same time asking Bob Novak if he could assist him in anyway. Bob responded to the older man by informing him that the Novaks had been transferred to a new job in this town, and that they were just arriving after driving cross country from Pennsylvania. Bob then asked the older man what they could expect in this new town, what was it like? After commenting that he hoped their cross country trip had gone well, and before directly answering Bob’s question, the older man asked Bob what the city was like that he had come from? Bob responded that the Novaks didn’t really care too much for Harrisburg. The traffic was bad, his wife didn’t find too much to get inolved with, it was difficult for their kids to ever find activities that they liked, and that it just didn’t seem to suit them very well. As he patiently listened to Bob’s words, a warm smile appeared on the older man’s face. When Bob finished speaking, the older man, placing his hand on Bob’s shoulder, looked at him, and replied that he was sorry to inform him that this new town, his new home, was alot like the town he had come from.
A week later, another family, relocating to that small western town, pulled into that same convenience store. Like the Novaks, the Parker family had travelled hundreds of miles cross country in their move to this town they would call their new home. As they had every weekday morning for the past ten years, the same three older gentlemen were gathered on the convenience store’s porch enjoying one another’s company. As the Parkers got out of their car and headed into the store, one of the older men stood up to greet Jack Parker who was heading for the store’s front door. The older man stuck out his hand to shake Jack’s hand while asking him how he could assist him. Jack Parker responded by informing the older man that his family was moving to the town and had just driven cross country, but had decided to stop at the convenience store before heading into town. Jack then asked the older man if he could tell him a little bit about the town. The man responded by saying he was glad they had taken a break and stopped before proceeding into town. But, then, before answering Jack’s question, he asked Jack what the city was like that he had come from. Smiling, Jack responded that they were sorry they had to move. They loved the city they had moved from. Jack’s wife was involved in different women’s social groups, the kids were involved in various sporting activites, not to mention Scouts, and the family was busy in a local church where they developed some lasting, enduring friendships. It was very difficult to leave a city they all enjoyed so much. As he listened, the older man couldn’t help but smile and slowly nodded his head. When Jack was finished, the older man leaned forward, placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder and said, “Jack, I think you’ll find that our town is alot like that.”
Life can be tough and unforgiving at times. And, as we’ve all heard, “No one said it was going to be easy.” Life is a season of lessons learned, so, let’s make the most of them. Or, as Hubert Humphrey said:
“Oh, my friend, it’s not what they take away from you that counts. It’s what you do with what you have left.”
Awesome post! Life is very challenging, at times from our own doing and at times from others. It’s not that there storms or that we fall down, it’s what we do during the storms or how we get back up that matters.
There are always challenges - they generally make us better, stronger people!
Matthew - agreed, and the great thing is, the struggles refine us while preparing us for trials to come.