Ypsi's Got Talent......And My Story

This year Coach T will be hosting the annual Ypsi's Got Talent at the Tap Room on Friday October 14th sponsored by the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees. I happened to have won first place last year but I won something more important than any award.....my girlfriend Stephanie.

I remember walking into the the back room of the bar, and seeing her for the first time. She was so radiant I cant remember seeing another sole that night in the bar besides her. A bit later I got up and performed my song, and she was my biggest fan clapping and smiling, again all I saw was her.

After the performances we were running a "Dating Game", and my friend Mike was the bachelor. And wouldn't you know it Stephanie was one of the contestants. I sat in the front row and admired her and her cute and poignant answers.

And then the moment Mike had to make his choice between the three contestants. I could barely contain myself literally yelling at him to pick number two (Stephanie) "she is beautiful" I said, and "seriously".

Alas Mike did not pick her, I was in one moment sad, and in the next giddy with hope. Moments later I went over to congratulate her friend on the win, and started talking to her. Things have never been the same.

Who are you serving

When I became a Realtor I decided to do it because it gave me a chance to really serve "others". What does that mean? Well to me it means doing right by other people regardless of weather it is best for "me" or not.

Sure sometimes its tough but I knew it wasn't going to be easy. And there have been so many times I have been frustrated with my clients. Weather it was writing an offer that was too low, or needing to see a property at a time that was not perfect for my schedule.

But I decided to be in the business to serve "others" not "me". It does not matter what time is best for "me". It does not matter how much my client wants to spend, or even if they ever buy a house at all. The only thing that matters is that I serve them.

Many times we as Realtors, and really as people are too busy putting ourselves first. We tend to look at clients as dollar signs and adjust the value of people with how much they affect our bank account.

I am only saying this because I have done this myself and am guilty on all counts of putting price tags on the people I serve.

Thankfully, I have been able to cut this price tag off those I serve through constant self evaluation. And it has enabled me to remember the reason I decided to start this career to serve "others" not "me".

Why Real Estate

It seems like everytime I tell someone that I am a realtor they get a look of fear in thier eyes and ask "how are things going". The reality is that joining the real estate game at this juncture is a little bit crazy because the market is down so low.

This esentially means that there is not alot of cash to make (btw realtors are 100% comission). Reason being not alot of people are selling thier homes because they cant get alot of money for them, if they even can sell them as 28% of homeowners are underwater on thier mortgage.

As a result of this less homes are on the market, so less options for your buyers as well. This coupled with the fear that new home buyers have caused by all of the predatory lending makes for very few buyers and obviously becasue the market is so far down much less commission made by the realtors.

So why would I do this right now, why would I want to get into this business at such a tumultuous time in housing. Well, simply put I love to help people and this is what I do best.

When I bought a house a little over two years ago the process was very trying and I had a horrible realtor but the experience was worth it all. Everytime I wake up I realize the amazing blessing that is my home, my own home. When I see that people are renting homes just like mine for double what I pay on my mortgage I am extremely thankful.

I became a Realtor to pass this emotion on to others so they can wake up and be thankful. And I am doing just that :D

When Giving Back Gives Back

I read a quote today that made me think about the ability to live the life that has been intented for me and how often I fall short of it.

"Ones real life is often the life that one does not lead" Oscar Wilde.

I think about how much of my life has been spent not being who I really am, in my process of trying to fit in with what the world would like me to be.

And then I think about what my life looks like when I am really living the life that has been intended for me.

Today I am going to the U of M football game. I am not going becasuse I went to UofM, I am not going because I have disposable income, and I am not going because I am excited about Brady Hoke.

I am going because the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washtenaw County gave me and my little brother Damon the tickets.

I realize as I walk though this life that when I follow the plan and allow myself to be "me" wonderful things happen. Not just for me but for people that are close to me as well.

We have all given till it hurt to somebody or something at some point in our lives. Maybe we need to ask ourselves what that giving has produced, did it give back?

Public Transit In Detroit.....No Really

So while I was doing my early AM facebook browsing to start my day as typical, I noticed one of my friends "Liked" Freshwater Railway. I did not know this person to be a silly person so I clicked on the link and was immediately baffeled.

First I thought maybe this is a joke, then I thought there is no way, then I thought how did they pull this off. Altogether my thoughts were all over the place, and they still are please check out this site and have your mind blown. I will take a rail trip this weekend and report back.

http://www.fwrail.org/overview.htm

or

http://www.facebook.com/fwrail

Detroit Needs Our Help

Have you ever drove through the city of Detroit, no not drove downtown for a game or a concert. But literally drove through the neighborhoods of Detroit, and saw what is really happening.

Well, thats what I did today, I was in Sterling Heights on some business and I decided to drive downtown for lunch at Eastern Market on my way home. And instead of just taking 75 took M-53 instead (Van Dyke).

At first it wasnt bad at all the Sterling Heights area looks great. Then things slowly started to turn as I approached the city of Warren. A slow replacement of Starbucks and Applebees with Liqour Stores and Fast Food Joints. I next passed through the small town of Centerline, and then things really started to get bad. I believe that for about a twenty mile strech there must have been at least 50 vacant businesses maybe more, I could only look in horror on one side of the street at a time.

I saw people walking by these once thriving businesses that were now often times piles of dilapedated bricks and thought wow what if this was my street corner how would that affect me? I cant imagine this kind of decay being a part of my day to day growning up, I simply cant.

My journey continued downtown, and after some great local BBQ I meandered across town headed west in serch of hope thinking that things would start looking up eventually.

The only thing that wiped the remorseful look off of my face when faced with the reality that this problem carried itself neighborhood to neighborhood in this once shining city was the children. The children playing in the parks and front yards riding bikes or dribbiling basketballs. When I saw them the ruins of Detroit didnt matter for a moment, and then mattered all the more a second later.

I departed my hours of touring the city thinking this is just too big of a problem, how is it possible to ever solve it. I became overwhelmed and frusterated what neighborhood do we start in, what is the biggest need, is it even worth it?

I came back with this answer YES, how can I fix it DO MY PART. What is my part? I dont know but I am willing to go, are you?

- You dont have to do it all just do something please

-May Earlywine

Edward Surovell A Good Man

Today my Broker Edward Surovell took me out for a lunch we wondered over to Little Ceasers next door to the office and shared a peice of pizza and a pop.

I listened to his scholorly advice about how to find success and happiness in our business with my ears wide open. One thing that always stuck with me that Ed said was "A good Realtor is an asset to the community".

Over the years Ed has done more than just sold people houses but rather has got involved in bettering the community and paving the way forward for myself and other realtors. There was a time in A2 history that Realtors could not put a sign in the yard showing that the home was for sale. He fought to get signs in the yard and years later we take it for granted.

This might seem like a small item and it is when you compare it to all of the other things he has done to be an "Asset to the community".

This is the type of person I strive to be somone that is known for what he does for others and a shining example of this is right on my business cards :D