We are in an extremely challenging economic environment. When it comes to real estate,

people are scared; and when people are scared they look for leadership. As a Realtor at

Century 21 you are already in a position of leadership; you are like a city on hill, or a light in a

dark room. How are you going to leverage your position to be the real estate leader our

community so desperately needs? Might I offer a few suggestions?

1) Reinvest in yourself and your community:

• Keep a long term perspective, realizing that a quick buck will often cost you in the

long run.

• Create a professional development budget for training to improve the quality of

the service you provide.

• Reinvest in your community by providing your expertise to those that need it

without always requiring payment or recognition.

2) Focus on others:

• Remember that people will quickly and often correctly identify your motives, and

judge your character accordingly.

• Look for ways to meet the needs of those less fortunate than you are.

• Don’t do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but humbly consider

others more important than yourselves.

3) Work with integrity:

• Work hard, and work honestly, even when no one is watching.

• Serve your community including your clients and co-workers with integrity

because it’s the right thing to do.

• Let the awards and the income be an ancillary benefit to the joy of serving your

community with integrity.

Many of my colleagues and your affiliates would have jumped at the chance to be in my shoes

right now and I am truly honored to have been asked to be a sponsor of this event tonight. I

want to thank you for your support of my business and especially for your leadership as our

community begins to pull out of these troubling times. While I don’t know all of you, I am

familiar with the professionals at the Wilson Minger office and I consider many of you to be

personal friends. I have found few things that can match the joy of a job well done while

working alongside good friends.