Existence equals success - the real estate industry in 2011

There are many ways to measure success. The number of degrees, friends, quality of life, and money often top the list. However, as a real estate industry professional who has been in the business the last 10 years, sheer existence is an indicator of a success. Anyone who tells you differently does not understand what just happened locally, nationally or worldwide. Watching sales volume in our business drop from $150 million in 2006 to approximately $5 Million in 2007 is hard for those of us who experienced it first hand to believe, let alone have to roll up our sleeves and push through it. I have always thought that I worked hard (my wife would say excessively), but these last five years I have worked harder than ever, even though the results have appeared minimal. However, there will come a time again when the markets will be good and everyone will be happy; you just have to stay in existence to experience it. As I have told many people before: I walked into one of my former partner’s office not too long ago, and he immediately quipped at me “I bet you’ll never build 200 condos at once again will you?” and my immediate reply was, “Not for a few years, as no one will let me.” But of course, I will only get the chance to do it again if I successfully exist for a few more years until the opportunity allows!