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Lessons from a Hypotenuse

Homer SimpsonTime to dust off the cob webs on that old noggin'. Do you recall from your old high school Geometry days what a "hypotenuse" was?

If you didn't take Geometry you get a pass. If you did you are still in the game.

Did you know that despite the aspect of knowing what it means with relation to a triangle, the hypotenuse gives us some lessons in life?

What you say? That Algebra, that Geometry, that Calculus, if you made it that far, actually can do something for my life?

Please do tell.

First off, what is a hypotenuse?

HypotenuseSimply put, if we look at a right triangle, that is, one with a 90 degree angle in it, the longest side is referred to as the

                                            HYPOTENUSE.

One useful life lesson relates to driving directions. If you were going from point A to B in navigating across town, most likely you would travel the shortest "direct" path across the hypotenuse to get there the quickest unless there were more stop lights along that path. Makes sense.

Conflict

 

A more important lesson which I have seen time and time again in real estate is learning to NOT avoid confrontation and conflict between parties in a real estate transaction. Do not let an older seller bully a young agent. Do not let a homeowner tell a Stager that the Moosehead on the wall is ok to stay or that all the nick-nack clutter and 50 family photos that they are so proud of can remain. DIRECT COMMUNICATION, going across the hypotenuse is effective communication. Do not take the long way around. Conflict, disagreements, hard feelings, and miscommunication can ALWAYS be defused with the DIRECT approach.

Next time someone is pushing your buttons and making you feel disrespected, clear the air RIGHT AWAY, and think in your mind this little lesson from Geometry, your friend the HYPOTENUSE.

15 comments • Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth • April 26 2008 10:19PM

Comments

Gary,

You certainly have been writing some excellent posts this weekend.  I've enjoyed reading ... and commenting! I like your direct approach concept.  However, I have to admit that it doesn't always work out right for me.  I've found that it's hard to find people you can really trust, and that regardless of most anything else, it's still best to work with people that you can trust (or at least believe you can trust).  It's not easy to find trustworthy people sometimes.  What do you do when you find that your trust has been abused?  I'm sure you find something good even in the most disappointing circumstances.  

Posted by Jan Evett Panama City Beach, FL (Century 21 Ryan Realty ) about 1 year ago
Jan: I completely agree with you that it is hard to find trustworthy people at times. I give people the benefit of the doubt along the way. Trust, like respect has to be earned. Do find those you can trust and hang on to them cause sometimes it seems they are in a huge minority. With direct communication, it reminds me of Barney Fife in the Andy Griffith show. He had a great line, saying "Nip it in the bud!!" People treat us as we allow them to treat us. By not taking the long way around to fix things, you nip it in the bud and people have more respect for you. You just have to set boundaries and not let people push you around. Do you think this approach gets me in more fights? Yes, but then the air is cleared. In disappointing circumstances always figure out the part that was out of your control and let it go.
Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago

Gary,

Great analogy...great advice! Thanks,   Fran

Posted by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.) about 1 year ago

Gary:

That is the best advice you could give me... sometimes I just need to let things go that are out of my control.  Live to trust again another day!  Have a wonderful Sunday.  God bless!  

Posted by Jan Evett Panama City Beach, FL (Century 21 Ryan Realty ) about 1 year ago
You did it again, Gary.  How often do we see folks taking the scenic route to solve a problem?  You could hardly go wrong with a head on approach to tackling challenges.  Some folks like to avoid the white elephant in the room, which generally only serves to exacerbate the problem.
Posted by Fairbanks Alaska Real Estate Specialists Jesse & Kathy Clifton 907-699-6024 (Jesse Clifton & Associates, REALTORS®) about 1 year ago
Gary, Am I the only one who didn't know what a hypotenuse is?  Well, I do now and you made a great anolgy with it and real estate.  As much as I dislike any conflict, it is unavoidable at times.
Posted by Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City) about 1 year ago

Gary,

Never knew that the old A over H would come to play in my current business.  Direct route works best otherwise you never get off the side streets.   Kind of amazing you can come up with this?  Are you nuts or just very creative.   Thanks my friend, you got a smile out of me.

List and Sell (and remember Calc)   Gary @ RentonHomeFinder 

Posted by Gary McNinch Realtor Renton WA Real Estate (Keller Williams SES Renton ) about 1 year ago

Fran: I know I just see the world in weird ways.

Jan: Letting go is very powerful.

Jesse: I like that scenic route to solve a problem phrase of yours. Plus it eats at you inside the longer conflict festers.

Carole: I paid attention too well in Geometry. Conflict is part of life, so we have to learn to deal with it.

Gary: My brain leans toward the whacky side. Who knows why these things pop out? I do know I am always seeing things COMPLETELY different than the way others see things. Keep smiling.

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Gary--Negotiations are much more simple when they are direct and to the point. Trying to second guess what the buyer/seller is thinking and "outplay" the other party in the transaction often leads to no deal. Using math to describe the quick way to a win-win shows that learning geometry may not have been a waste of time after all....Don't most teens think that geometry is a waste of time?
Posted by Teri Eckholm, REALTOR® Anoka County Acreage & Lakeshore Homes (REMAX Specialists) about 1 year ago
Teri: If you are direct, I know things will go smoothly for you. I thought Geometry was fascinating, learning about all the shapes and such. Teens just have to be open to learning things and see where it goes. Oh right? I forgot, they already know everything : )
Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
Ah ha! I believe we are discussing vectors here. Remember those? Use vectors to plot your course. 
Posted by Rosario Lewis, GRI ~ DDR Realty, Orange County, NY (DDR Realty) about 1 year ago
Rosario: You are getting into advanced math for this crowd now. Vectors had those two dimensions, a magnitude and a direction. I think I need to do some adjunct faculty work on the side for some extra bucks. Ya think?? : )
Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty) about 1 year ago
HYPOTENUSE - now that's a word you don't hear everyday!  Great point. 
Posted by Karen Gentry>>Charlottesville, Virginia Real Estate Professional (RE/MAX Excellence-Charlottesville VA) about 1 year ago

Gary,

You are being so Pythagorean.

 

Posted by Terry Edwards (Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors) 12 months ago

Gary I would never think to use a hypotenuse analogy in real estate...you amaze me.  Thanks for another awakening. 

Posted by Cathy Lee ASP, Danville, San Ramon CA (CL Design Services Home Staging) 12 months ago

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