One of our core values at Concierge Auctions is to “Make History”.Achieving milestones is tremendously exciting but can also be a little challenging. Once you achieve them, where do you go next? At this time of year, as many people focus upon their annual goals, they hope that this year will be better and more successful than the previous. What we don’t do sometimes isLast fall, we held our Concierge Auctions annual conference, The KEY, and the theme was “Breaking Records”. At the time, we’d already broken one world record for the year with the sale of Chateau de Promenthoux in Switzerland. Little did we know that before the year came to a close, we’d achieve a second world record for the most expensive property in the U.S., Walnut Place, in Dallas, Texas.But once the sale is complete and the moment is over, what next? At Concierge Auctions, the first thing we do is honor the hard work of the people who made it all possible. No record is really set by an individual; there is always a team supporting those who accomplish something spectacular. Whether it’s an actor winning an award or an Olympian ascending to the podium, every great singular achievement is really a team effort. In real estate, it’s no different. The real estate agent is the star athlete supported along the way by marketers, assistants, transaction experts, and others who make each aspect of the deal possible. We celebrate our teams through rewards, special benefits, and with deep and sincere thanks. “We compete not only for ourselves and our business success but also to better the world. Through our Key for Key™ program in cooperation with Giveback Homes, for every home we sell, we fully fund a home for a family in need." (Inman News, “Leadership Lens: If You’re Not Growing, You’re Dying.")
I recently was interviewed by Inman News, where I talked about how one of our core values at Concierge Auctions — to "Make History", and how our Key For Key® giving program drives our team towards a higher and common purpose.Through the program, for every property we sell, a new home is funded for a family in need. This charitable component is an important part of memorializing each sale, giving it a deeper meaning. We’ve watched agents who also work with Giveback Homes and other organizations to donate homes and other necessities. Everyone can find a cause or charity that speaks to them.
Physical mementos are important, too. There’s a reason that as human beings, we don’t just tell someone they’ve won an award; we hand them a trophy. The trophy serves as a reminder of the moment; it’s a physical representation of a memory. When you achieve an award, find a way to create a tangible reminder of it such as a frame of your press coverage. Even the best moments fade so quickly, being able to look at something and remember what you accomplished is important.
Every record — every connecting dot — has a story behind it. Some call it the hero’s journey. There are ups and downs, moments when victory seems certain and moments when it seems like it will be snatched away from you. There are also lessons in every story as well, through achieving a record, we learn something about ourselves — what we are capable of and what lessons we need to learn for the next phase of our planning. The specifics of events, even one as momentous as breaking a record, can slip from our memories. Take time to write them down or record them. Even better, share them with others. There are two ways we as human beings learn things: through our own experience and through the experience of others. Telling your story can be a gift for you and for other people.
A record also becomes a way that you can clearly define your value to potential clients and business partners. It earns a place in your biography; it’s integrated into the fabric of your career experience. Once the celebrating is done, it’s time to go out there and perform again. The athletes who mark a personal best don’t stop there. There’s always another record out there, and the only way to get there is through more practice. Not every performance sets a record, but it is only through the ongoing honing of our craft that we get in a position where records are possible. In the words of Steve Jobs during his 2005 commencement speech to Stanford graduates, “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” Do yourself a favor, and watch the full speech here.