Posted by
Bill Cherry on Friday, May 16, 2008 12:20:13 AM
What Would My Clients Write About Me If There Were A Realtors' Day?
Ever since W.L. Moody, Jr., gave me his worn copy of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People when I was about 12-years old, I've had this thing about making sure I'm around people who motivate me to both understand as well as improve myself.
It all started when I asked Mr. Moody how I could be rich like him someday, and he told me two things: "First, to attain wealth you have to have money working for you, people working for you, but preferably both. Second, read Dale Carnegie's book at least once a year for the rest of your life."
And that was when he gave me his copy of the Carnegie book. It's on my desk right now because I have just finished reading it for about the 55th time.
What I get out of all of this is not necessarily lessons in life, but a better understanding of myself...what I think about the components of life, and why I think as I do. Often times, I find I've had a lifetime of faulty reasoning that brought me to a lousy opinion that I need to change.
One of my favorite radio talk programs is hosted by Dennis Prager, a modern day Jewish scholar-philosopher. The subjects of his programs are always about life, faith, who we are and why we are. Sometimes I don't agree with him, but to listen just to his thoughts and reasoning, I have to reconcile them with my own belief system. I admire Mr. Prager and I thank him for what he has given me.
And there's author John Maxwell. His biographical blurb says he's "an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker and author." Of his many books, I think I have gotten more out of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. You can pick up a new one for $25 or a used one for less than $10.
Everyone knows that Herb Kelleher and Lamar Muse founded Southwest Airlines. Muse left after a few years, so it was left up to Mr. Kelleher to promote and attain the airline company dream that he and Mr. Muse had. John Maxwell reminded me in his The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership that Mr. Kelleher's employees bought a full page ad on Boss's Day, 1994, in "USA Today." Here's what it said.
Thanks, Herb
For remembering every one our our names
For supporting the Ronald McDonald House
For helping load baggage on Thanksgiving
For giving everyone a kiss (and we mean everyone)
For listening
For running the only profitable major airline
For singing at our holiday party
For singing only once a year
For letting us wear shorts and sneakers to work
For golfing at The LUV Classic with only one club
For outtalking Sam Donaldson
For riding your Harley Davidson into Southwest Headquarters
For being a friend, not just a boss
Happy Boss's Day from Each One of Your 16,000 Employees
So what did I get out of this? Other than reinforcement of my deep respect for Mr. Kelleher and his 16,000 employees, I got this:
What would my prior clients write about me if there were a Realtors' Day? I'd better do some evaluating and make some major adjustments. What about you? How would you fair?
Copyright 2008 - William S. Cherry
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS
214 503-8563
OUR 43RD YEAR SELLING TEXAS!