As we start shifting our gears going in to spring 2008, I have to think of lessons learned from 2007.  Although we have had successful real estate practices for years, did we keep money in the storehouse for lean times?  Did we overspend, living high on the hog, thinking there would never be a national real estate crisis?  Don’t let the spin doctors try to fool you, there IS a real estate crisis.  Tell me your pocket has not felt the crunch.  Now is the time more than ever before to be in coaching, training and support of our fellow members of The Real Estate Toolbox University.  We must sharpen our saws!

You know, being molded is good.  We get stronger by overcoming adversity.  In ancient times, outside of most cities was a place called the potter’s field.  This was a place where broken and unwanted pottery was thrown with the junk.  Once beautiful pots that were broken, cracked or no longer held water were thrown into this pit by their owners.  The reason why you see ancient artifacts that have to do with pottery is because of this area of the cities.

Potters would go into the potter’s field to get the broken pots.  They would bring them back and crush them into fine powder.  "Stop!", the broken pot would say, "you are crushing me, and I was, after all a beautiful pot that is no longer needed".  The potter says, "I am crushing you to get the thorns, debris and thistles from the purity of the clay from which you were molded". 

The potter takes the finely crushed powder and pours life giving water over it to form a lump of clay.  "Well….here I am", the lump of clay says, "I WAS a beautiful pot that unfortunately broke, and because of that, I was discarded by my owner, and this water sure is nice!"  With that, the potter takes the ugly lump of clay and throws it on the table and pounds it unmercifully to begin to mold it.  "Oh please, stop!", says the ugly clay.  "I have been through so much, and I need to rest.  You beating me hurts so bad!"

At that point, the potter throws the beaten piece of clay on the wheel and turns on the wheel.  "Oh, this is so nice", says the clay.  "The nice potter is reshaping me and molding me".  At that point, the potter smashes the newly formed clay to the wheel and removes it, stretching the clay to it’s limits.  "Please sir!", says the smashed pot,  "Please, oh please stop the hurt..  First you crushed me, you pounded me, you started making something special of me, then you smashed and stretched me to no limits.  I cannot take much more!"

The potter throws the smashed ugly lump of clay on the wheel and begins the process again, this time making a gorgeous pot!  "That is so much better", says the freshly molded clay.  "This is the way I was supposed to be in the first place". 

At that point, the potter takes the clay pot to the fiery 1500 degree kiln, opens the door and places it inside.  The pot screams, "Dear God, I cannot take this anymore!  You have put me through living hell, and now I am being scorched!"  The potter replies, "I am firing your outside to make something beautiful.  Time will show!"

Hours later, the potter comes to the kiln and removes the scorched pot.  The pot is in tears.  It says, "I cannot take it anymore!"

The potter takes the pot over to the table and glazes it to give the pot a beautiful texture and glassy look.  Just as the pot thinks it is over, the potter reaches over for his creation and walks back to the kiln.  The pot screams, "Please, oh please do not put me in there!  It is so hot and I hurt so bad!."  The potter says, "If I don’t put you in there, you will never be able to hold life giving water."

In the kiln the pot goes for hours to the unbearable heat.  The next day, the potter comes back to retrieve his beautiful work of art.  If the dirty lump of clay had not been through the crushing, the pounding, stretching, the fire, the glaze and more fire, he would have not been on the high shelf he is today, prized by his owner.

Sometimes in our practice, are we like that lump of dirty old clay?  Think of the tragedies, the setbacks the hurt we receive in our lives on a day to day basis.  Maybe some of you have gone through marriage crisis, a death in the family, sickness, loneliness, sadness, depression, financial ruin….the list goes on and on.   Maybe our business has failed and we don’t know what to do.  Friends, God is not going to put ANYTHING in our path that he knows we cannot handle.  He assures us of it in His word!

As we are molded by the potter from an ugly dirty piece of clay, we remember that this too will come to pass, and life situations are what makes us who we are.  How we come out of these adversities is what makes us the beautiful pot.  Things can get horrific, but remember that the sun will come up the next day.  You will be OK!

Please take this lesson, and apply it to your life.  I am here to help you understand that it is not what has happened in your rear view mirror, it is what is in your windshield that counts.  Take this lesson, and apply what we teach you in real estate.  Be coach able.  I believe in you, and want you to reach for the stars!

Now go call one of your inner circle people (we will get into this lesson next), and tell them how much they mean to you!

Happy Selling!

Brandon Patrick

Dean of Students

Real Estate Toolbox University