Thank you, Robin Williams

I always loved making people laugh. Even if for a moment. My thinking was, only now able to use these words, to take their mind off whatever was weighing on them at the moment. Give them a little break and get them laughing. If nothing else, get them to lighten up a bit.

I used to love watching the Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason. The Carol Burnet show with Tim Conway, Harvey Corman and occasionally Jonathan Winters. I discovered early in my life, heck, probably before I was even a teen ager, that to make someone laugh, was a very rewarding thing indeed.

It was the late 70's and I remember seeing Mork from Ork on Happy Day's. Then, much to my surprise and delight, Mork, aka Robin Williams, got his own show! That guy was a real hoot! My entire family would watch that show and I remember we would repeat some of the funnier lines throughout the week.

Over the years, I would love watching Robin Williams bring whatever crazy, zany character to life. Toss in those great little one-liners. He had to go off script. No way a writer could have written anything as funny as what Robin brought to the character. I had heard it was even a real chore working with him because he deviated from the script so much. I vividly recall thinking to myself though, that without that deviation, it would be nowhere near as funny. No where near as memorable. No where near as great.

Fast forward a few more years and now I'm self employed as a real estate salesperson. Struggling for a few years to try to figure out this business. Finding a great mentor here and a great mentor there (a lot of mediocre ones too unfortunately, but without those, you can't appreciate the really great ones). Working on my business plan. Deciding what I wanted to accomplish with my business and how I wanted to accomplish it. What level of production I wanted to reach and how I was going to reach (and exceed) it. What I was going to say, how I was going to say it. What I was going to do & how I was going to do it.

Then, my world got rocked. 2006. My wife was in an auto accident and was in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit for 7 l-o-n-g days. I made the tough decision to retire from actively and aggressively listing and selling homes. I returned to a prior passion of investing and developing real estate.

Only now, after many years and countless people telling me I need to share with others how I became so successful so they can have the life of their dreams. A business that runs almost on auto-pilot with a huge profit margin. Only now have I chosen to begin to offer to teach others how to do what I did.

So what's the tie in with Robin Williams?

Simple...Robin Williams made people laugh, got them to take their mind off what their issue(s) was at the moment, made them feel better as a result of 'being with him' and left them in a better state of mind going forward. That's exactly what I attempted to do with everyone of my clients in my business and I believe how I was able to take on average 40 listings a year where I never saw the seller and never

saw the home, yet they trusted me to get the job done for them. I delivered to goods everytime. Oh yeah, there was definitely improvisation with my script each and every time.

Thank you, Robin Williams. This Real Estate Professional will miss you greatly.

Sorry I've been away for a short while.  Been busy working on a 24 unit portfolio deal.  I did get it under contract a short while ago and am almost done with the financial due diligence.  Woop Woop!

Next comes the Physical due diligence and financing.

Wish me success!

Thought occurred to me: Are you more interested in Objection Handlers or solid business issues like how to run your business effectively, efficiently and profitably?  Please take a moment and let me know...

Thanks!

#6  Real Estate Investor and Developer

Emmitt Smith owns a commercial Real Estate firm in the Dallas, TX market.  Jesse Lennon owns Pioneer Realty, a firm started by Jesse and his father in March 1989.  Initially, Pioneer Realty specialized in residential sales.  As Pioneer grew, Jesse began working with investors, providing property management services in addition to brokerage services.  Today, Pioneer Realty proudly manages both residential and commercial properties throughout the Richmond Metro & Tri-Cities areas.  Through other firms, we also invest and develop real estate by acquiring under-performing properties, performing the necessary improvements and repositioning these assets.  We are making positive improvements in the communities as well as the lives of those great folks who choose to call our properties ‘home’.

#5  Contractor

Emmitt Smith Construction is a commercial contractor based in the Dallas, TX market.  Jesse Lennon owns RemodelRVA in the Richmond, VA market.  RemodelRVA is a class A contractor and has done work for local and state governments as well as numerous individuals and companies. 

Here in the US, It's Memorial Day.  One short day that we chose to Honor our military personnel.  Those that have served, are currently serving and those the paid the ultimate sacrifice of service to our county and what it stands for.

Today I strongly encourage you to reach out to those you know who served as well as those currently serving and offer them a sincere & heartfelt thank you.  Without them doing what they do, we would never be able to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted.

Yes, we have issues and challenges as a country.  We also have the power to overcome them.  It's in everyone of us.  If we don't like it, we have the freedom to speak up.  The freedom to do something about it.  We have endured for just a bit over 200 years as a result of these inalienable rights which this Great Nation was founded under.  The Rights that so many seem to trample on on a daily basis.  The Rights they hide behind.

As an American who never served (my only real personal regret), I want to say a Big THANK YOU to each and every Veteran.  I fly the flag daily in your Honor.  

God Bless You All!!!

Emmitt Smith owns a few businesses:  A marketing and speaking firm, a construction company, a real estate and investment firm.  Additionally, he is very involved with numerous charities and events; giving back to the community that has given him so much.

Jesse owns a few businesses: Pioneer Realty, Sloan Construction II, LLC and various Real Estate Investment firms.  He is also very involved with the VCU School of Business Alumni Society.

#3  Goal Oriented

Goal Setting and Goal Achieving are as important to Emmitt Smith as the air we breathe.  Emmitt knows, just like me, that without goals we are riding along aimlessly.  We truly are just like a ship without a rudder being blown wherever the wind takes us.  No bearing.  No direction.  Just allowing things to happen to us instead of taking responsibility for ourselves.  Taking responsibility for our actions.  Having enough commonsense and guts to decide where we want to go and how we are going to get there.  Then, after putting that plan of action in place, actually following it.  Making corrections along the way, to reach the goal that was set.

#2  Retired Professional

Emmitt Smith retired at the peak of his game.  A true professional that knew when it was time to say ‘I’m done’.  A team player that realized he always has to put the team’s (client, customer) best interest ahead of his.  Better to retire with class than to continue without being able to contribute at the level he was accustom to and hurt the team in the process.  A real, true, consummate professional.

I retired at the peak of my business, too.  6 years of 100 or more sales a year.  After my wife's auto accident, I realized that I really needed to spend more time with my family, so...  I arranged things in my life so that I could retire at the peak of my game without jeopardizing my clients best interests.  I hope you have an end of game strategy or plan worked out for yourself and your loved ones.  If not, please let me know how I can help you get one set up for yourself.

I think Emmitt would agree that the next chapter can be really fun & exciting!

Woo Hoo!  The semester is almost done and I can get back to business with the same intensity I used to bring to the table every day.  While I thoroughly enjoyed being an adjunct at VCU, it really was a huge commitment of time; larger than I had originally envisioned.  While I’d love the opportunity to teach again at VCU, I think it’ll have to be either another Monday and Wednesday type of class or possibly a one evening per week class.  The biggest challenge was actually not the class itself or running my businesses while teaching.  It was the additional responsibility of being a co-chair for the 5th Annual VCU Business Alumni Society Golf Open this year.  It was a Great event and we luckily completed the course before the bottom dropped out of the sky (wow was that a lot of rain in a short period of time).

So…I’ll be back at it this week.  Posting useful tips you can use immediately in your business.  Especially if your business involves being face-to-face or telephone-to-telephone with your prospect or client.  Just let me finish grading the final exams and posting the grades, fair enough?

Talk with you all again soon, I promise!

Here are a few short phrases you can use to help set an appointment, build trust &confidence in you and just plain plant the seed in your prospects mind that you are the obvious, natural choice for them.  Feel free to use them today to set a great appointment!

Once you…meet with me today…obviously you’ll…list your home with me…right?

After we…set an appointment…you’ll feel all of your anxiety simply disappear…won’t that be great?

Once we…set an appointment…you’ll feel a sense of calmness…won’t that be great?

After we…set an appointment…you’ll experience that wonderful feeling of ‘I did the right thing’…won’t that be great?

After you…meet with me…you’ll easily discover why I sell so many homes.

Since you know you should…set an appointment with me…let’s do that now…which is better for you…____ or ____ ?


Jesse

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I Wish You Much Success!