Once upon a time there was a lowly REALTOR® who knew enough to know she didn't know enough . . . about technology. This lowly REALTOR® being of sound mind and steady nerves searched the world for someone, anyone, who would teach her about the web and its technology without calling her stupid or using jargon that she didn't understand to teach her what she didn't know. Family members proclaimed, "I'll teach you," and proceeded to fly through the task for her while she watched in frustration. She knew she was in Medieval times, the darkest of the Dark Ages for sure. Where was her knight in shining armor to rescue her from this dilemma?
The answer came with a measly entrance fee which provided training and established a long term relationship with tech savvy and professional agents across the nation and world. The "tres amigos", known in the world as the owners of Internet Crusade, offered a certification course called e-PRO®. The lowly REALTOR® hoped almost hopelessly that this lengthy course would brighten the darkness which permeated her world of technology. The entrance fee was paid and the course begun.
The content was overwhelming. So much to learn, so little time. So many questions. A new language. Her children learned all of these things through a lifetime of exposure and she had a few months to take it in, apply it, make it stick. She made it stick and passed the course. But this lowly REALTOR® did more than pass, she applied. She expanded. She learned more through a thing called "listserv". She even started a new fandangled thing called a blog.
Proudly she displayed her badge of accomplishment, her e-PRO® certification. And then a brutal knight came along and started throwing tomatoes at her newfound competence. The Tomato's skepticism proclaimed her badge was tarnished and nothing but tin. It's useless, stupid, and full of empty promises. The old REALTORS® cannot learn this new technology. It's dumb for them to try. The lowly REALTOR® took this in, considered it, compared it to her reality. She then took her e-PRO® badge, spit shined it to a brighter sheen, put it back on, and decided to make juice from that tomato!
(c) Bonnie Erickson 2006
August 20, 2006
bonnie - love this post and your desire to succeed! i had to go to the tomato to see what all the fuss was about. after reading his post and yours as well as the comments by all, here's what i think:
If someone is willing to learn, do not knock them down, encourage them. If you are more educated about something than someone else is, offer to teach them. If you do not know something, ask for help. As an experienced agent, offer to be mentor. Give tips and how-to advice. Learn from the newbies as they have quite a few things to share as well. If there is a class offered on something you don't know, take it. Observe and absorb those around you. Be a sponge. Soak everything in - the good and the bad. Learn from other peoples mistakes. Learn from other peoples successes. Practice, Practice, Practice! Your own experiences will help you grow. It's never too late to learn anything. Experience is the best teacher. Never stop being a student.
-rdb.sellsius°
"You learn something every day if you pay attention." - Ray LeBlond
Posted by: rdb | January 02, 2007 at 08:28 PM
August 17, 2006
Love your post except one itty bitty thing which I shared with you privately via email. ; - )
I saw Frances Flynn Thorsen posted on his blog today too. I was worried that someone who was as advanced as Fran is would not get a lot out of the e-PRO course when she took it last summer. She had two blogs and... well she's Fran. She enjoyed it, she learned from it.
It is the kind of course that you can sail through and brag about how smart you are... or you can savor the modules and go off and research more about the topics that interest you. I got my money's worth. I think I finished the class about a month after I started it.
I have been reading his blog since it started. I do love tomatoes but that blogger reminds me of a rotten tomato. His blog is pretty but when you read the text it is spoiled.
Great post Bonnie!
Posted by: Maureen McCabe | January 02, 2007 at 08:21 PM
August 17, 2006
Good for you, Bonnie! You took the initiative time and again until you were able to accomplish what you set out to. e-PRO certification is well worth the price of admission to any Realtor who still feels they're in the Dark Ages. I think you're doing marvelously, so keep up the great work!
.:: Leanne ::.
Posted by: Leanne Paynter | January 02, 2007 at 08:19 PM
August 17, 2006
Now Bonnie you know they are just jealous because they don't have a tin foil badge. I always told my children that people only make fun of you because they are jealous. :)
Love your blog. Anyone can learn to blog but writing skills take years to develop, so if you ask me, you WIN!
Teresa - fellow e-pro
Posted by: Teresa Boardman | January 02, 2007 at 08:16 PM