Monday 30 December 2013
Tuesday 10 December 2013
Professionalism
"We are drowning in information, but starved for knowledge" - John Naisbitt. I heard this quote the other day and it really got me thinking.
We truly do live in the "information age". If you want to know something, you can find it in minutes. Seconds even, with your smart phone. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not here to rant about how technology is ruining our lives. That's not what this is. Quite the opposite in fact. I personally love technology. But that is a debate for another day.
Today I want to talk about the difference between "information" and "knowledge". It's a quote that ties in nicely with my industry's "How REALTORS help" ad campaign, with the line "Why do we think that if we can look it up we can do it?" It's true, you can look up "how to" on just about anything. And if you want to go a little old school, there is probably a "For Dummies" book on it. This would be INFORMATION.
It's not just real estate. It's plumbing, carpentry, drywall, anything. You can even go online and make your own Will. (Do you really want the security and future of your family left to an online service you did yourself, or a lawyer who will sit with you, find out exactly what you need and want, and make 100% sure that everything will go according to plan, even from a legal stand point?)
This all sounds great. Save money, do it yourself! But let's sit back and really think about this. Sure, you could read up on it, get step by step directions, and do it yourself. And for some people out there it really can work. But for the average person, what do you really save? Usually it won't be time. It will likely take you a lot longer than it would have a pro. Money? Maybe. What if what you self diagnosed as the problem really wasn't, so when you've paid for the parts and done the work (don't forget, your time is worth something too!) and the problem persists? (Or in the case of Real Estate, you spend a lot of time and your own money on marketing, and it doesn't sell). Now what have saved?
There is a reason we have "Professionals" in any given field. These are people that have spent time, effort, and money learning. Not just the "step by step" in the books or online. We are talking about all the ins and outs and what ifs and troubleshooting that can (and will!) come up in any given situation. This would be KNOWLEDGE.
I truly believe that yes, paying a pro can sound expensive, but once you do the math, taking into account the cost of your own time, and the comfort that comes with knowing it was done right (or, worst case, you have someone to go back to!), in my opinion, the costs are well worth it. In any industry. There truly is a difference between information and knowledge. They are so closely related, but in todays world, it is possible to have one without the other. So you have the information, do you know what do with it? Or how to take it to the next level?
You may say, "Luke, you're biased, you work in an industry that wants people to come to you". That may be true, but I've also been on the other side. And I've seen, both in this industry, and others, perfect examples of a DIY costing more in the long run. And as I said earlier, yes, for some people, it truly can work. But my advice would almost always be, go with a pro! They are called a pro for a reason. They know what to do, they won't panic, and a good one will work WITH you to see that your needs are fully met, and exceeded.
So, if you're looking for a professional in the Real Estate world, please feel free to give me a call anytime! (I can also connect you with professionals in several other fields, if that's what you need.) Reach me at (204) 990-3467, or email, lukevberg@gmail.com.
We truly do live in the "information age". If you want to know something, you can find it in minutes. Seconds even, with your smart phone. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not here to rant about how technology is ruining our lives. That's not what this is. Quite the opposite in fact. I personally love technology. But that is a debate for another day.
Today I want to talk about the difference between "information" and "knowledge". It's a quote that ties in nicely with my industry's "How REALTORS help" ad campaign, with the line "Why do we think that if we can look it up we can do it?" It's true, you can look up "how to" on just about anything. And if you want to go a little old school, there is probably a "For Dummies" book on it. This would be INFORMATION.
It's not just real estate. It's plumbing, carpentry, drywall, anything. You can even go online and make your own Will. (Do you really want the security and future of your family left to an online service you did yourself, or a lawyer who will sit with you, find out exactly what you need and want, and make 100% sure that everything will go according to plan, even from a legal stand point?)
This all sounds great. Save money, do it yourself! But let's sit back and really think about this. Sure, you could read up on it, get step by step directions, and do it yourself. And for some people out there it really can work. But for the average person, what do you really save? Usually it won't be time. It will likely take you a lot longer than it would have a pro. Money? Maybe. What if what you self diagnosed as the problem really wasn't, so when you've paid for the parts and done the work (don't forget, your time is worth something too!) and the problem persists? (Or in the case of Real Estate, you spend a lot of time and your own money on marketing, and it doesn't sell). Now what have saved?
There is a reason we have "Professionals" in any given field. These are people that have spent time, effort, and money learning. Not just the "step by step" in the books or online. We are talking about all the ins and outs and what ifs and troubleshooting that can (and will!) come up in any given situation. This would be KNOWLEDGE.
I truly believe that yes, paying a pro can sound expensive, but once you do the math, taking into account the cost of your own time, and the comfort that comes with knowing it was done right (or, worst case, you have someone to go back to!), in my opinion, the costs are well worth it. In any industry. There truly is a difference between information and knowledge. They are so closely related, but in todays world, it is possible to have one without the other. So you have the information, do you know what do with it? Or how to take it to the next level?
You may say, "Luke, you're biased, you work in an industry that wants people to come to you". That may be true, but I've also been on the other side. And I've seen, both in this industry, and others, perfect examples of a DIY costing more in the long run. And as I said earlier, yes, for some people, it truly can work. But my advice would almost always be, go with a pro! They are called a pro for a reason. They know what to do, they won't panic, and a good one will work WITH you to see that your needs are fully met, and exceeded.
So, if you're looking for a professional in the Real Estate world, please feel free to give me a call anytime! (I can also connect you with professionals in several other fields, if that's what you need.) Reach me at (204) 990-3467, or email, lukevberg@gmail.com.
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