I believe that in real estate sales, the work we do and the struggles we endure are part of a noble cause. Study after study (1) shows that engaging in meaningful, purposeful, and valuable work correlates with personal satisfaction, improved mental health, overall well-being, in addition to enhanced community engagement.
Yet, it can be hard to maintain motivation and purpose when firm deals are few and far between. Our industry also celebrates sales achievements rather than those moments when we give clients winning advice that may not lead to a deal.
As an independent contractor, there are strategies that can help “fill your bucket.” Here’s my short list for today…
Ownership of Real Property is important. Suspend your political feelings and appreciate that in Canada, based on British common law, the ownership of real property allows “regular” people to buy, sell, and hold real estate.
Andrew Carnegie:
“Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate. More money has been made in real estate than in all industrial investments combined.”
We Write Contracts. We are licensed by the authorities to construct legally binding contracts between individuals, corporations and other entities. These contracts are grounded in common law and written according to our fiduciary responsibility to our client. Who else gets to do this after passing one test at UBC?
Uncle Ben Parker (2):
“With great power comes great responsibility”
Fortunes are made (for agents and clients) in a declining and/or balanced real estate market. Our advice and coaching can make a significant difference in our clients’ financial future. Helping clients make good decisions today will pay dividends in the future when people’s buying and selling needs become urgent.
Warren Buffett:
“The best chance to deploy capital is when things are going down.”
We Are Fiduciaries. When we enter into an agency relationship with our buyer or seller, they become our client, and we become their fiduciary. “Our job is to protect our client’s interests as if they were my own — even if it costs us money or opportunity. We are no longer just salespeople — we are a trusted professional, legally bound to honesty, loyalty, and integrity.” Find me a client who wouldn’t want that.
John Q. Public:
“When I hired my realtor, I needed someone who would truly put my interests first — someone honest, transparent, who explained everything and never pushed me into a decision. That kind of fiduciary care made all the difference.”
Working for yourself, but not by yourself. Research shows that virtual offices and remote work detached from an office environment may not be healthy or productive for us. Mentoring, camaraderie, shared values, learning, problem-solving, and the feeling of connectedness and support are enhanced when you surround yourself with a positive group of professionals. It is this connectedness and support with positive professionals that fuel our agents’ success at Century 21 in Kelowna and locations throughout the interior.
Garry Keller:
“There’s no award for the person who does it all themselves, so there’s no reason to try and do everything yourself. Get the team you need.”
I know you don’t take your role for granted. As self-employed independent contractors working with the public’s most valuable asset, I know the struggle is real.
It’s a noble cause, and I am proud to support you in doing it.
Check out my talk, “What it’s like to work with a real estate agent in British Columbia,” on the Kelowna Real Estate Podcast, hosted by Taylor Atkinson and Matt Glen. I would be interested to hear your feedback on it.
All the best,
Dean Desrosiers
Citations:
(1) “A Higher Purpose Boosts Employee Happiness, Retention and Profits” CO, September 2020; “Outcomes of Meaningful Work: A Meta‐Analysis Journal of Management Studies”, November 2018, 56(3):500-528 DOI:10.1111/joms.12406
(2) Spiderman’s Uncle… a version of this quote, however, is widely attributed to Sir Winston Churchill in many of his writings and speeches, circa 1900 – 1945.
This article was written and conceived, 93% human and 7% Ai
