I own a real estate brokerage that is not doing very well right now; in fact it has lost a lot of money over the last 4-5 months. So much so that I have been quite stressed about it recently, and found myself outpouring my stress to my father today over the phone. During the call he responded with the 
expected condolences and then we hung up.
However, a few hours later the magic happened. He called me back up and told me that he had been thinking about the stress I was under and the situation that I am in.
His thought was "Don't worry about it!" He said that "March 1st is the worst day of the year in real estate. It is the very last day before things start to turn around.
Although you may not have that many pending deals on the books right now, starting next week, the business outlook will start to get better.
In Fall you have very little new production, but you are still fat from all of the business closed over the summer. You sleep the Winter, and right now you're just starting to cook again.
Mark my words, starting next week things will get better.
So like many "know it all twenty-something sons", I said, "Thanks dad for the encouragement, but I don't think you understand the complexities of the situation."
As you have already guessed, and as has occurred many times before, I realized the wisdom of what he was saying a few hours later, after it had a chance to sink in;
March 1st is the worst day of the year, but at the same time it is also the best. It is the end of the road for the toughest times, and hope is the only thing to be seen going forward.
Jonathan:
I had not heard the March 1 prediction before (and my parents also had their own real estate brokerage:-), but I recall this admonishment from wise ones:
Things are never as bad as you believe them to be--not are they as good as you might think when swinging in the opposite direction.
I love the idea of March 1, though!
Jon, I am a big believer in attitude. My January and February has been good, better than most, but I have also noticed that since I have agents, it's my job to keep them positive about the market and real estate. Since I have been doing this and sending out positive reinforcement in emails to my agents, my business seems to increase. Kind of like the "Law of Attraction". I KNOW I am going to increase my agents (now 12) to 50 at years end. I KNOW I am going to have 50 listings this year as well as sells. (I had around 18 this year).
Now that your Dad has told you March 1 is the worst day and you've got much to look forward to -BELIEVE him! Tell yourself each morning "Business is GREAT today" and it will be! Let me know how it goes for you.
Hi Jon,
I'm new here. My father died unexpectedly in 2002. One of the last things we talked about was life. He told me life was meant to be good and to hang up your dancing shoes when you marry and that the lord loves a hard working man.
When things aren't going well find a way to make them swell with pride. Pride will create opportunity. Consistent effort mixed with good outlook will equal results. Some of the best companies breathing with strong balance sheets were created during the "crunch." You've got a great thing going here - take stride and leaps with your business. Thanks for listening.
Jon: What a great post! Remember your Dad's wisdom as you progress through the next month--I believe that he is right (aren't Dad's always right?)! I haven't ever heard the March 1 'RULE' but, it does make sense. I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open to see how that plays out around here. Although we're not 'suffering' as alot of my REALTOR friends in other parts of the country, some are still quite slow. Keep us posted as to how his theory plays out in your business and best of luck to you.
Every day is great day to be alive and every day is full of possibilities... we just have to look for them, instead of waiting for them to come to us!
To your success!
Susan
I can't wait for spring to start. Here is hoping it really does start this week.
Jonathan... I believe 2007 was one of the worst for many of us. I was talking to Brian Brady the other day, for him and I, 2008 looks to be twice as good as 2007. In the next 16 months, look to make more money than the previous 2 years.
Now, every market is different. But many markets follow the same patterns also. November through January typically are the slowest months, especially in colder regions. It's been like this since I have been in mortgages since 1992.
So, your dad is wise and makes sense. As many have said, hang in there.... if things are the same in 2 months, then re-evaluate.... change up your business plan...try new things. I just did a 3 part series on marketing for 2008.... good luck.
I like your Dads words! So, I think we should wish one another...Happy March 1st!
You have done a great job putting us all in a GREAT POSITION (with so many positive changes!) as we move into March and BEYOND!!!
I'm going to listen to your dad. The stuff he is saying is the same stuff my dad used to tell me. Except he would call and say, "hey, pal.......
When I read your post the heart warming message of a father to a son came through louder than the frustration over the real estate market.
Your Dads a gem :-)
Your dad is very wise and I really like the way he encouraged you. We should all be so lucky to receive such wise words.
Jonathan, listen to your dad. I would give anything if my dad was still alive. He was a businessman and passed away before I started my career.
I can promise you everything he tells you is wisdom from the years. I wish I had known my dad as businessman to business woman but I just didn't.
The things he taught me about raising my kids and the wisdom he taught me throughout the years have all been proven true.
As he said, their is a season for everything under the sun. I'm glad it is March too. Great advice.
Your dad is right Jonathan! It will get better and today is a whole new day with unlimited potential.
Keep thinking positive.
Jonathan,
"It is always darkest before the dawn," comes to mind immediately, and it sounds like your dad complemented that thought with sound business advice.
Have a great 2008!
Jonathan,
It sounds like you have a wise father. I'm glad you saw the wisdom there and took heart because of it. The worst thing we can do, in any situation, is lose hope. That's the beauty of real estate. There's always a ton of new opportunities around the corner. If you stop moving, you'll never get to that corner.
Gee. Thanks for the great news. I'm so glad to find that things are now going to pick up.
Actually, they have.
Sally asked if today is a better day for me on another post and I told her I would answer here:
I have been aggressively starting businesses since I was 15 years old. It is always challenging.
I take big risks with my businesses. I do my best to ensure they are smart and calculated, but either way I do not shy away from risk.
I am able to do this and still sleep comfortably at night because I trust God and accept whatever he has planned for me.
Jon: You took big risks .....with AR and look where it is today...I'm one to be calculated as well.. although more risks at this point in my life than when I was your age. I know one thing...if I don't try I'll wonder the rest of my life. I'd rather know the outcome from trying.
I'm glad you sleep well ... that's another thing I wasn't able to do in younger years...I worried too much for hypothetical situations. No longer have troubled sleep and wake up to a new day.
In any case, we move on. :) Have a wonderful Sunday....
Jonathan Washburn, you need to aquaint yourself with the power of attraction. Use your e-MOTION for the business you want to create the energy that draws it to you. There's so much written on this and it works. One of the other awesome REALTORS we have on A/R wrote of SCRIPTING. I don't remember his name but he's a nice dude in Florida. Search "scripting" in A/R blogs. It isn't crazy-ass nonsense; it WORKS.
You're so lucky to have your dad encouraging you. He sounds like a great guy! God bless and sell! :)
Jonathan - Your brokerage isn't suffering because your agents aren't working hard. I ran into one of them while I was showing a vacant house this weekend Bellingham. I am not sure if I was more surprised that 2 agents were showing the same house at the same time or the fact that the other agent had driven 2 hours (through Everett no less) to show a couple of homes.
BTW: I was chatting with your cousin Rob this morning about the web and your name came up.
Hi Jon, your dad has a great outlook. Its like having the outlook that tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life and a whole new opportunity. I really think its a state of mind in alot of ways. I try not to watch the negative news on TV because it just sets the stage. Thanks for the story!