Gary Woltal - Assoc. Broker REALTOR® SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

In life, so much is about your perception of things. I for one have observed myself that I seem to be like one of those undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) kind of people. I have always had lots of energy and short attention spans. I've also had a million interests not one. I think of myself as a multipreneur, involved in many entrepreneurial activities.

As a REALTOR I prefer to delegate the details when they get too intense. Other REALTORS are specialists at details but can completely miss the big picture (a strength of mine) or are not as good at negotating a deal or have weaker communication skills. I thrive on those last two. The more chaotic, the more I dive in to solve the problem. But it got me to thinking that what we may think of our deficits are actually our strengths. We need to learn to

TURN LEMONS INTO LEMONADE.

For example, even in focusing on something like ADD look at all the POSITIVE attributes of it:

1. Sensitive
2. Empathetic with the feelings of others
3. Feels things deeply
4. Creative in nature (including problem solving)
5. Inventive
6. Often sees things from a unique perspective
7. Great at finding things that are lost
8. Perceptually acute
9. Stand-up comic
10. Spontaneous
11. Fun
12. Energetic
13. Open and unsecretive
14. Eager for acceptance and willing to work for it
15. Responsive to positive reinforcement
16. Doesn't harbor resentment
17. Quick to do what one likes to do
18. Difficult to fool
19. Looks past surface appearance to the core of people, situations
& issues
20. Down to earth
21. Good networker
22. Sees unique relationships between people and things
23. Cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary
24. Less likely to get in a rut or go stale
25. Original, with a sense of humor
26. Observant
27. Loyal
28. Intense when interested in something
29. More likely to do things because they want to than because
they should, thus often wholehearted in efforts

I'm now starting to feel pretty pumped about my "deficiency." Maybe this is actually my "gift" to the world.

I bring this up not to talk about me. But to talk about "YOU."

Are others in your life saying you are less than you should be? Are your deficiencies of talent or looks or experience or whatever eating at you inside?

You know what? The only voice that you need to listen to is "Yours." I'm constantly telling people to quit writing the endings ahead of time. You don't know how all this plays out. You being the shortest in the group might be the one that can squeeze out the window in the burning building for everyone else to run and get help.

So my point is this. Embrace yourself with all your frailties, weaknesses, and foibles. These seemingly "flaws" in who you are with just a little tweak to your perception to see the positive in them, just may make you the strongest of the bunch. Have confidence that you are exactly who you are supposed to be and the world needs to see that very special person every day.

With many REALTORS nowadays and I would venture to say some buyers too, there is griping about the future. Realtors may think, Why is my business not where it needs to be? Why am I not at the point in my development that I envisioned for myself? On the buyer side, I hear, I will never be able to qualify for that house. Maybe it just isn't the right time to buy for us. So much in life is sticking with a good attitude about the future no matter what is happening to you. Did you know in one of those Gold medal swimming races that Michael Phelps just won as he dove into the water his swim goggles filled up with water? He sucked it up, and just went with the adversity thrown his way. For those on a path to where they are going you just have to hang in there. You have to believe that

YOUR BEST DAYS LIE AHEAD FOR YOU.

Belief in where you are trying to get to is very important. I've thought hard about this one. Maybe you are still in a "preparation" stage. Your time hasn't quite come yet. Kind of like all the pre-Olympic practice swims at 5 a.m. in the morning. Preparation needs to be done before you get your chance. What matters most is that you are ready when that opportunity comes. You dive in the pool. Your goggles fill with water. It doesn't matter. You are READY.

As we all take a turn as REALTORS or buyers for the second half of the year, keep working your plan and above all

FINISH STRONG !!!

In real estate often is heard the phrase that buying a home is securing for yourself a piece of the "American Dream." I suppose that is true, especially for first time home buyers. Later as you get a bigger house or smaller houses or condos to meet your needs I don't know if you are thinking of it as a dream anymore but more your housing needs. The home part to me is more of the dream with whom and what you build around you in your life - the people, the places, your interests.

THERE IS A SECRET TO BEING A DREAM WEAVER.

Many paths in life talk about dreams. At bars and after hour dinners many relish the idea that "some day" this or that will happen in their lives. Unfortunately many of those dreams stay as ideas, parked on the shelf.

After knowing what your dreams are the secret to achieving your dreams is encompassed in one word:

"ACTION." With action all things are possible. Start today in fulfilling all your dreams by taking action.

In watching in the Olympic games swimmer Michael Phelps win his seventh Gold Medal by a fingernail length compared to his opponent it reminded me that

BEING CREAM OF THE CROP REQUIRES LONG FINGERNAILS.

We all should know in all our hearts that we are cream of the crop. If we don't believe that about ourselves no one else will. So first off it is about confidence and BELIEF.

Secondly and most importantly in life it is about the little things. The little differences that make you the best. A little extra effort. A little more caring than the other guy or gal. The little more education. The little more hard work. The little more paying attention. The bigger smile. A tad more of a generous heart. Staying in contact better than the rest. Loving much more. In the race they don't beat you by much. Just a fingernail sometimes.

I think I am going to work on growing longer fingernails. After all I already know I am the cream of the crop. I am the best of the best.

Are you growing longer fingernails?

Now what did I do with my nail polish?

If you are around the many individuals in the Real Estate industry as professionals that we are there is no denying that it is a "People" business. Clients, Associates, affiliated professions, all intermingle with us not to mention the sphere of influence we work. But to the degree of the depth you get to know another human being we need to be aware as the armchair psychologists that we turn into that people are very complex in many ways and

                 A CLOWN HAS MANY MASKS.

Think in the behavior between a person and their buddies at a bar yucking it up, or conversing with a minister, or talking to a total stranger, or approaching a power figure that has celebrity status. Our "mask" changes in each case. This is to protect from judgment, gain position, or feel safe. Think in the romance arena, where we put our best face forward, often not being our real self.

The deeper mask that has always intrigued me is the feelings, whether it be pain, or desiring understanding of the true you, that is buried several layers below the surface.

I think we all have a peeled back onion mask that only those who care enough about us ever get to see. So when we all interact with others on a daily basis be aware of the fronts people will present to you. If you are one who likes to get to know someone keep probing on them.

How many masks do you wear? Do you ever let anyone see that inner mask? If so, who is the lucky one or ones?

If you build up some trust and respect between the two of you, the sharing will flow (on both sides). It will result in all of our outer clown faces having a big happy smile. Because we will have discovered that someone truly cares about our real self. This is a very enlightening and joyous moment when you arrive there.

                    SEND IN THE CLOWNS