Sometimes that decision is to purchase and sometimes that decision is to hold off on a purchase. Lawyers have the same battles with their clients. They often recommend avoiding court (even though they might make more money going to court) because it would not be in the best interest of their client.

We have to take our role seriously and realize that we don’t have to be overly positive or negative, but we need to present the best possible information for our clients and empower them to make a decision.

Excellent. You and I both realize that not everyone has the ability or willingness to quit and work for ourselves.

Think about agents who entered the buz during the last 10 years who now need to learn a new set of skills.

Who gets to say what “the truth” is?

Brokers? Agents? Media? Bloggers? Economists? Government? Me, you, Dustin, Ardell? Is it subjective or objective?

Both?

I think it’s easy to fool oneself and justify a truth. It’s harder to be who Jay is…every day, 100% of the time.

Ardell said it better up above:

“I think that is why agents first convince themselves that things are better than they are, so that when they say things are better…they are being honest.

It is why many companies arm their agents with proofs of positive points, so that they can all be honest.”

Fortunately, I don’t have to serve a broker as I am my broker (and one reason I became my own broker was for that very reason — not to have to abide by my old brokers arcane ways).

I’ve “lost” many a listing by telling people, “you shouldn’t sell right now” and I’ve “lost” many dollars by not “upselling” buyers. And I’ll keep right on doing that. What I lose today, I think I’ll regain tomorrow. Or next year. Or five years from now. And that’s OK, as I suspect I’ll need commission checks in five years.

And if I have to compromise the truth to feed my family, I’ll find another line of work.

It’s *never* a good time to buy/sell for everyone. There are *always* “particulars” that must be considered.

No, it’s not easy being 100% honest 100% of the time. But it’s actually easier than feeding people a line of BS. As Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything”

Lynlee and I have probably the most unique position of all RCG contributers. We are in a position of discussion that could easily alienate both those that pay us, the consumers who are our clients (the consumers we try to reach) and those who are largely responsible for placing business with us, agents and loan officers.

But the one thing Lynlee and I will never compromise regardless of outcome: our integrity and character.

On the other hand, many times bloggers and contributors think of things that I neglect to think through and that’s a good thing. Sometimes I may disagree with a blogger or contributor but then they post a sweet video with some great licks and then it’s all good!

Rob Hahn: It’s an interesting point of view. My take is that a blog is just another version of marketing and any marketing involves a bit of spin. Of course, if it’s an authentic conversation, then it’s a hell of a lot easier to market, but I’m not against advising agents to pander if it can help differentiate themselves and lead to positive results.