How about some positive news?

By Shawn Lackie

It’s easy to take cheap shots at a person or a situation. We seem to be overrun with bad news or salacious stuff we just can’t turn away from. Train wreck anyone? So I thought, what about talking about the positives in this profession. There are lots of them, but it would seem, it’s easier to turn over rocks and see the slime underneath and make a big deal about that.

Trust me. There are many good people in this business. People who care, people who want to make a difference, people who don’t constantly have their hand out asking, “What can you do for me?” 

In the past, science has always always told us, 'Like charges repel.' By extension, many people adopted that stance for personalities, thinking, you HAVE to have an Alpha or a Beta. Except, for people that is often not the case, and as a result, like forces (or attitudes) DO attract. Would you rather be around someone who sees the good in situations and/or people, or be around someone who is constantly complaining and seeing the dark side of everything? It's the old glass half-full or half-empty thing.

Remember Debbie Downer, on Saturday Night Live? Funny skits every-time but, wow, that would wear thin in reality. We have all seen this, to a large extent.

Positive people just attract more of a following. With good reason. I have been blessed with, dealing with some VERY positive thinkers, over the last 20 years. To the point, I almost have to scratch my head and wonder what drives these people.

If you watch any of the news being broadcast these days, it would seem, the negative stuff is all that sells, so the networks push it to the front. Except this kind of news, like anything else, gets tired after a while. Tell me about someone who’s done something for the good of mankind, for a change. It won’t hurt you and in fact you may see an uptick in ratings (the tell all for network TV execs).

Years ago, we watched the CBC in the morning, for the news updates, and after a while, it became the death and grief report and nothing more; ad nauseam. Plus, they had some of the worst quota fills, reading the news (Meat puppets or bingo callers) but I digress. So we switched to CTV Your Morning. It was funny, upbeat, with kooky people. They didn’t take themselves too seriously and actually seemed to be enjoying what they were doing, and it showed. There is something liberating about laughing out loud at 7 a.m. Try it sometime.

The same can be said for many of the people I have worked with in real estate. They love what they do and want to share the good vibes. And no, it’s not just about the money. I have some clients who brought me to tears, with the thanks they have shown, for the work we did together. I always say, “It’s a collective effort.” Some people, I have been blessed to work with, have made me reflect and be thankful I chose this path 25 years ago. I can only hope they feel the same.

Feel free to check out this story and more on my blog site, at https://slackie14.wixsite.com/buy-sell-and-more