Don't Be A Secret Agent

A couple of years ago I was just a happy agent minding my business and making a good living. I was doing well, growing my business and enjoying things. And then, a funny thing happened. I had hired a coach, which I highly recommend by the way, and he asked me,

"Why are you being a secret agent?"

To be honest, I had no idea what he was talking about or why I would want to get involved in the real estate community. To be completely candid, I had intentionally avoided hanging out with many other Realtors because they weren't going to buy or sell a home with me.

Little did I know how wrong I was

After our conversation, I volunteered for a couple of committees. I got on one. I then applied to be a part of the Texas Realtors Leadership Program. I was shocked to get in that. Since then, I have tried to contribute or serve where I could and can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I've made in my career.

If you've been on the fence about getting involved with your association or an affiliate organization, here are the three reasons why I think you should:

1) It Makes You Smarter

Not only do you become more aware of what's going on in your industry, but you learn from other agents, pick up valuable training, hear great speakers at events, and ultimately become a better agent. That translates into you doing a better job for your clients and earning more referral business.

2) You're Not an Island

One of the things that many agents struggle with from time to time is the feeling of isolation. This is doubly true if you are an independent Broker, like I was, or agent in a virtual office. It's actually good for you to be around people who are experiencing the same things you are. It keeps you sane.

3) The Industry Needs You

If you've been contemplating getting involved or have even thought about it (and obviously if you are reading awesome blog posts like this one), then you are clearly someone who cares about their profession. We need people like that to be involved. We need fresh voices. We need your help to build a better, stronger, and more nimble organization for tomorrow.

I'm not going to blow smoke up your dress and tell you that serving the Realtor community is always sunshine and roses. It can be hard work. I have yet to have an instance though where the payoff wasn't worth the effort. If you've been thinking about it, go to a meeting and check it out. Volunteer for a committee that interests you or an ancillary organization like WCR. I assure you that if you are doing it for the right reasons, you won't be disappointed.