Gary Woltal's Blog

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Eight Seconds or Eat Dirt

Bull RiderIn professions like those associated with the Real Estate industry, one committed to service of the customer, we should all strive to be the best.

         DO YOU HAVE EIGHT SECONDS??

That's the standard to "qualify" to be the best. I'm talking bull riding pardner. The chute opens and out you go on "Texas Tornado" or "Wyoming Wonder" or "Big Boy". Hang on. Oh and by the way you can only hang on with "one" hand. Are you strapped in with the leather strap? Do you have your teeth clenched for the wild ride? The eight seconds? You must stay on the beast that long to be judged. If not, start over on another ride and by the way

         EAT DIRT

Much in our professional development requires eating plenty of dirt. Practice, fail. Practice again, make a mistake. More dirt. Practice again, embarass yourself, lose a client, get yelled at. This dirt is turning into a meal I think.

But you know what? The best Cowboys (or Cowgirls), the best Realtors, Stagers, Loan Officers, Inspectors, Appraisers, have eaten plenty of dirt and got past the eight seconds to be the best at what they do. They get back up. They want to have another ride. Another go at it.

How about you? Do you like eating dirt? It goes pretty good with being a champion!!

Comments

I'm tired of dirt!  Bring on the steak and potatoes!
Posted by Kristal Reid - Zebulon, GA (Century 21 Adams-Walker) about 1 year ago
Gary, are you trying to say something "special" about us inspectors by listing us twice?:)
Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) about 1 year ago
 Hmmm its not as much fun these days.........:-)
Posted by Liz Moras ~Chilliwack Realtor, Chilliwack,Hope,Langley,Abbotsford (Harrison Hot Springs, Cultus Lake) about 1 year ago

Gary - 

Well being a farm kid from north eastern Washington State, we spent lots of times on horses and chasing cows.  HOWEVER, only once in my life did I do something as silly as get on a bull.  Too much beer for courage, plus I was in Canada with a buddy, third I was only 18, trying to impress a girl ...  made it about 4.5 seconds, didn't get tromped on and lived to see another day.    It did teach me to expand my horizons, try new stuff, get up and dust the dirt off, and smile.  

List and Sell (Nothing can keep us down)   Gary @ RentonHomeFinder 

Posted by Gary McNinch Realtor Renton WA Real Estate (Keller Williams SES Renton ) about 1 year ago
I've eaten plenty of dirt and I expect I'll eat a lot more.  If I wasn't OK with that, I'd have found another job long ago.  A broker in our office calls a job "Just Over Broke" so I'll keep eating dirt if necessary to avoid going there again.
Posted by Susan Walters (Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI) about 1 year ago

Well Gary, I got to do what I got to do if I want to become a champion, which I REALLY DO so go figure ...

Hope you had a great weekend !

Posted by Mariana Dimancea, Realtor www.DoorToDreams.com (Real Estate One) about 1 year ago
Gary... great blog. Though I haven't had too much dirt... I have alway tried to see what kind of "dirt" makes things grow. Each of us offers a type of potting mix. It just depends upon the "plant" (staging) we are trying to grow. ;)
Posted by Lori Kim Polk, Roseville, Sacramento Home Stager ( Artful Journey Designs and Staging : Home Staging Services) about 1 year ago

Kristal: I'll second that, but dirt gets us to those tasty morsels.

Charles: Thanks for your eagle eyes. That's why YOU are the inspector. I made the correction - long day, inspectors on my mind with some deals in the works.

Liz: Great photo. Enjoying getting tossed lately? : ) We all have those days!!

Gary: Wow, a REAL bull rider among us. 4.5 seconds is very good for a novice.

Susan: You have to have passion to eat dirt I agree.

Mariana: No one said this was easy. Hope you had a good weekend too.

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Lori: Staging provides a special kind of dirt in the learning experience. One that makes the results very beautiful for the rest of us. Great thought about what you plant.
Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
I imagine those 8 seconds feel like forever.  Iv'e eaten plenty of dirt in my years.  And some crow as well!!
Posted by Carol Lee Realtor ® Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake CA Homes (Coldwell Banker Residential) about 1 year ago
Gary, well at least it only took you about "8 seconds":)
Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) about 1 year ago

Carol: Now THAT'S funny. Eating crow. I know I am a master at the foot in mouth disease at least in my earlier years.

Charles: I can tell you are a man of precision. Someone should hire you as their inspector : ) You can use me as one of your best references.

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Gary - I have eaten PLENTY of dirt!!!  But, you know what?  I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't eaten a little dirt along the way......Thanks for this post - you always have the best and I love reading you first thing in the morning!
Posted by Leesa L. Finley, REALTOR®/RE Strategist Wake Forest NC Real Estate and Area Info (CIRCA PROPERTIES - Your Wake Forest/North Raleigh Specialist) about 1 year ago
Leesa: Ah, another voice of the experienced!! : )
Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Gary, There are so many great elements in dirt. Yes, I've eaten much dirt in the past and expect to have a few more spoons full before the week is over. I've developed a taste for it. :) Thanks for the fun post! 
Posted by Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) about 1 year ago
Hi Gary,
I am glad that all the dirt I have eaten does not have calories or I'd be a very huge woman!
Posted by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc) about 1 year ago
I've certainly learned more from being on the ground than up in the saddle....it's tough to admit but easier to take that way ;-)
Posted by "The Maple Valley Specialist!" Colleen Fischesser Broker/Owner 425-432-5400 (RE/MAX Select Real Estate) about 1 year ago

Gary...this is a very timely post for me cause this past month has been filthy!

Thanks for helping to keep it in perspective! ....

Posted by Joan Mirantz- Concord New Hampshire Realtor (Keeler Family Realtors) about 1 year ago
Yee Haa!! I like the analogy. Although I would never try to ride a bull, mechanical or otherwise, I will continue to ride out this real estate cycle.
Posted by Rosario Lewis, GRI ~ DDR Realty, Orange County, NY (DDR Realty) about 1 year ago

Learning comes at the cost of experience.  Dirt doesn't taste bad at all when washed down with the taste of victory.

Posted by Mark Organek - Tempe Gilbert Mesa Chandler REALTOR (RE/MAX Alliance Group) about 1 year ago
We have hit the dirt many times - that's experience!  Best part is:  there's money in that dirt!  :)
Posted by Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) about 1 year ago
Dirt good!
Posted by Sandra Carlisle, Realtor Newport Beach & Corona del Mar (First Team Estates) about 1 year ago
Gary, I guess we've all had our share of some dirt here and there....certainly lessons learned as long as we remember we'll most likely have to eat it again one day.
Posted by Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City) about 1 year ago
Eating dirt seems to be an experience many of the good ones here have experienced on their way to being champions. Glad you made it through the eight seconds!
Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Rejection is a big part of this business so I have eaten dirt and I disliked it enough to eat it less and less - As I became stronger and stronger, I found myself listing more and now other agents are eating dirt! Yeehaw!  
Posted by Carol Culkin (Houlihan Lawrence Realty) about 1 year ago
Hi Gary -- I just got my 8 seconds: My 8 Seconds of Fame on CBS National News This Morning
Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) about 1 year ago

Carol: Glad you're staying up for the ride these days.

Brian: I saw your clip. You were good during your ride.

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Eating dirt is no fun but often times necessary to succeed!
Posted by Colorado Springs Realty Patricia Beck (Re/Max Real Estate Group, GRI) about 1 year ago

Gary,

  Dirt has many Minerals and micro-nutrients needed to complete our daily diet and well being ! Great analogy.

Posted by DOUG FRITCHIE-Silver Legacy Properties,Inc. about 1 year ago

Gary,

You write some of the best blogs on here, really enjoy them!

Posted by Cindy Bryant~Houston's Home Staging & Professional Home Stagers~RVP RESA~ASHSR (Redesign Etc.~Specialist in Staging Vacant Properties.) about 1 year ago

Hi Gary-

As my Texas dad would say "I bit the dust." Makes ya mad enough to give it another go!

Kathy

Posted by Kathy Riggle Houston Home Staging-STAGING SMART NSOLD (STAGING SMART N SOLD) about 1 year ago
God made dirt so dirt don't hurt!
Posted by Shannon Aldrich ~ NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast (Keller Williams Coastal Realty) about 1 year ago

Patricia: The path to success includes spoonfuls of dirt.

Doug: Minerals build strong bodies : )

Cindy: Aw shucks... thanx

Kathy: Keep on, keeping on....

Shannon: Nothing wrong with gettin' dirty. An honest day's work.

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Gary, I had one experience where I lost an eleven thousand dollar commission on a transaction to hold it together.  I had another needy client (demanding, I might say) that I struggled with.  That same afternoon, I asked myself (in the presence of my assistant), "What are they going to do, take my commission away?"  It's all a matter of perspective.. I ate dirt that day & it gave me more confidence! Thanks again for your nice posts!
Posted by Don Wixom (RE/MAX Advantage) about 1 year ago

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