One Thing…

September 6, 2019

- By Eric Berman

Whenever I go to any type of conference like this, I have one goal. That goal is to leave with at least one thing I can put into use the moment I get back to my office. If I get that one thing, then I always feel like the experience was worth the time away from home and work.

As I type this column, I’m sitting in my hotel room in Kansas City, Missouri getting ready for the start of the 2019 Communications Directors Institute. This is an annual event when REALTOR® Association communications professionals get together to learn about and share the latest trends in the communications field.

Whenever I go to any type of conference like this, I have one goal. That goal is to leave with at least one thing I can put into use the moment I get back to my office. If I get that one thing, then I always feel like the experience was worth the time away from home and work. It really doesn’t matter what that “one thing” is. It could be a new tactic, platform, or even a new connection with a colleague I didn’t have. What matters is that I don’t leave without something I can use.

Fortunately, spending time with my communications friends and colleagues usually results in me heading back to Waltham full of ideas. This year my approach will be the same, but with additional responsibility. Not only am I attending, but I’m also presenting. While it’s always an honor to speak in front of my peers, this time they’ll be looking to me for their “one thing!”

Putting together my presentation gave me the opportunity to look at what I do (and what I want to do) in terms of what will best help my colleagues. But I also found an additional benefit; looking at what I do in a new way. Hopefully, my colleagues feel the same way, but just going through the exercise was beneficial.

What’s your approach to getting your “one thing?” If you’re attending the MAR Conference & Trade Show this September in Springfield, then I think the odds are pretty good you’ll find one, if not more. If you’re not going (and even if you are) check out this month’s feature “Finishing Strong” by Sabrina Lapointe. In her article, Sabrina hears from several conference speakers who provided tips for maximizing the fourth quarter by the type of REALTOR® you are. Regardless of whether you’re a newer agent, a seasoned agent, or broker/owner, you might be able to find your “one thing.”

September is REALTOR® Safety Month:

The National Association of REALTORS® has designated the month of September as REALTOR® Safety Month. Obviously, you need to be vigilant every day, but for this issue, we spoke to nationally known security expert (and Massachusetts resident) Robert Scilliano in our 5QW column on page? to get some useful security tips that we hope you’ll keep in mind. However, that’s not all because we’ll be providing useful safety information all month. Check our blog on marealtor.com and our social channels.