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I just read an article about “choosing your tribe.” I revisited the idea and started thinking more explicitly about it.
Who is in my tribe? Did I actually pick them? Who’s the chief, and where are we headed?
Like many of us in this business, soon after getting my real estate license, I more or less signed on with the first broker that offered me a job. I’ll always be grateful for that opportunity, but I feel like I’ve grown as an agent, and I am a different person than I was all those years ago.
Real estate can be a lonely occupation, filled with many highs and many lows. This road can be difficult sometimes, and it sure does help to have some support along the way.
Whether it is intentional or not, that’s where our “tribal culture” becomes an important part of our lives.
Like mine, your office is bound to be filled with a wide cast of characters. Some are positive, some are negative. There are those who are competitive, and others who are supportive, friendly people. Some are independent “lone wolves,” while others will help you celebrate successes or console you when you’re down, and then there are those positive rays of light who just make our days so much easier to deal with.
And that’s all OK. All these people are on a journey, and the experiences in their life made them who they are. I think the key to maneuvering all of these hills and valleys is in seeking common ground with everyone we meet, trying to find understanding, and in the end supporting each other.
Most of us don’t really get to choose who’s in our tribe, but it is important to determine what part we play. Are we the warrior, hunter, gatherer, or are we the one who just sits around the campfire and tells battle stories?
Exactly what role does our chief play? Our chief (in this case, our broker) has to make sure that we all remain productive and work together toward a collective goal. It’s a daunting task sometimes, with some rising to the challenge, and some not quite making the grade.
Picture yourself backed into a corner, in a tight situation, needing backup. The wolves are at the door. Who you gonna call? That should be your broker.
If that’s not the first person who comes to mind, you may need to ask yourself a few questions. Is your broker somebody you look up to? Are they someone that you would respect and associate with even if they weren’t your boss?
I don’t know about you, but I’m not looking for a steak dinner or a plaque on my desk, just someone who will pick up the phone when I call and talk me off the ledge, or provide words of wisdom when I need them. That’s the kind of leadership that every good office needs.
At this stage of my life, I’ve decided I just want to lead a productive life and do work that I’m proud of. I want to help out others whenever I can and treat people with dignity and respect along the way.
Maybe we don’t pick our tribe, maybe we get the tribe we create, through our interaction.
It is important to surround yourself with positive energy, but I think the challenge is to try to find and nurture the good things in people who are a little more difficult to deal with. (Who knows, I may even fall into that category!)
That’s the kind of tribe I want to be a part of.
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Rob Lotufo is aRE/Max Lakeside Realtor who works in Barry, Lawrence, McDonald and Stone counties of Southwest Missouri. Connect with him on Facebook and Instagram.
