In our never-ending pursuit to be the best versions of ourselves, we find ourselves focused more and more on the importance of authenticity. In a day and age where people can take on the persona of just about anybody they want, we find it even more valuable when we find ourselves surrounded by genuine people. Facebook and Instagram have given the world a bird’s-eye view in your life… or at least the version you want the world to see. Typically social media broadcasts only the rainbows and unicorns; the best and happiest family photos, the student of the month recognition, the announcement of weddings and engagements. Rarely do we see the unfiltered perspective of life’s trials and tribulations and often for good reason – who wants to share their doom and gloom?
As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we are learning how priceless it is to keep things real – not just in our families but also in our business. You never know what common ground will connect you with a client and just what level of connection you really have. As we have said in the past, we aren’t the right fit for everyone and that is perfectly okay.
Being vulnerable and authentic takes courage. You risk rejection, there is a chance you won’t be chosen and oh the embarrassment…. It’s also an integral part of life and development. Being willing to fail promotes progress, and progress is essential to growth.
I recently watched an excerpt of the top 10 most epic and inspirational speeches. One of the speakers made the comment that you are either growing or you are dying. This is true for things other than just plants. It holds true for marriages, businesses and the list goes on. It wasn’t all that long ago when we didn’t have the courage to be authentic. When we walked into an appointment with a prospective client, we both had our game faces on. We wanted to be sure we said the right things, that the people liked everything we had to tell them, that they liked us and that they wanted us to be their agents. That works great until they actually hire you to do all the things you said you could do and in reality, you really didn’t think their house was worth what they wanted, and in some cases you just weren’t the right fit altogether.
Writing this column was a decision we didn’t take lightly. It was at the suggestion of the Locals Guide’s editor, Shields, and to be quite honest, we thought it was a really bad idea. For starters, what would we talk about each month and who would really care? I’ll tell you what… more and more people have reached out to us as a result of this column and by golly many of them actually really like us. As business owners, I think it’s easy to get lost in the putting on your game face, being careful not to ruffle any feathers or say something that might offend a consumer. You know how it goes, be sure to tell them what they want to hear so they will give you the job. Don’t let them know you have a personal life outside of your profession because after all, they are hiring you to be their service provider and they really don’t care if your child is sick and you haven’t slept all week or your husband has been at a SWAT call out all night and you’re worried sick about him. We believed all of these things and are so incredible grateful to report that this is a whole lot of hogwash.
We have received countless calls, emails and comments from people. Some are strangers, some clients, some soon to be clients, and some just part of our invisible fan club. The support has been overwhelming and while we had a sizable fear of sharing too much, it was one of the best decisions we have ever made- both personally and professionally.
Through this column we have expressed our gratitude for the support of us as women, mothers, and wives. We have advocated for our profession and colleagues alike, who maybe didn’t have the courage to do so. We have empathized with our community and our nation and shared our hearts. We have suffered alongside the sick, questioned logic amidst tragedies, and the list goes on. We have learned how to be more true to ourselves and we are grateful for the space this community has provided, allowing us to be authentic. We are regarded as well-respected and trusted advisers in the real estate industry, known for our candor and no-nonsense approach.
As two best friends, raising small children in a scary, scary world, we are so profoundly grateful for the love and acceptance within this community. The grace and diplomacy we have been given is beyond measure and despite all the controversy stirring around us; we are thankful we get to have our place in this world where we can respectfully share our thoughts and opinions and will be embraced for staying true to who we are.
We love this country, we love Jesus and we haven’t given up on the notion that our nation can find a way to effectively work together. We are thankful for the success of our business and proud of the hard work we invested to get where we are. We are also afraid for our future generation, tired of the violence and outrage held against the police, and sick and damn tired of cancer affecting those we love.
As 2017 comes to an end, we remain committed to having an attitude of gratitude and no matter how dark the days get – we will find reasons to rise up and find joy. For those of you we have had the pleasure of meeting and in many cases working with, we say, “Thank You” from our families to yours. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to what the New Year will bring.
