What Are You WIlling to Do...?

At some place, at some time I heard or read a quote, actually a question, about business philosophy and strategy. I assume it was a quote from an author and when I find out who it was I'll give proper credit here. I don't have to assume that it was and is a valuable quote, I know it is. It is valuable and relevant to the strategy of BPS Property Solutions, LLC. Our mission is:

"To be a full service real estate operation that offers creative solutions to any property situation."

On the surface it seems simple enough - solve problems for people. And, in fact, it is just that simple. What we do is solve problems. For homeowners. For homebuyers. For home sellers. For investors. It is pretty simple.

Here's the catch - sometimes the simple things are the hardest to do. I don't know why; maybe we take things for granted. Maybe we make things more difficult than what they are. Maybe we just forget. Maybe we get lost in the woods and don't see the trees. Maybe we get caught up in being strategic and forget about being tactical. Whatever the reason we need a way to get back on track. The mission statement is supposed to be that guidepost. The statement against which you evaluate every decision and measure every action. Is this - whatever this is -consistent with my mission?

So, what about the mysterious quote I referred to at the start of this post? And how do I bring this all back together and make sense? Yes, I know there are those of you saying "Pal, you ain't never bringin' this back together."

Here's the magical question the best I can remember it, "What are you willing and able to do that your competitors aren't?" Think about that for a minute and read it again.

I prefer to think of most other real estate investors as potential business partners rather than competitors. However, there is a finite number of houses and buyers and sellers, so at some level we are competing against each other. So, what am I willing and able to do that my competitors aren't? That is really the driving force behind the mission statement, isn't it?

"To be a full service real estate operation that offers creative solutions to any property situation."


"To be" - ah, the infamous verb To Be. Not "To Try". Not "To Want". Not "To Hope". "To Be". I think that says it all.

What does "full service" mean? It means going the extra step to look for one more listing or make one more call to find a lender or sitting down with a prospective buyer and counselling them about credit repair or where they really can afford to live or maybe that you can't help them even though you want to. Maybe it's continually building your network of resources. We all do that, don't we? Or do we? Do we get lazy in our comfort zone or do we get out and make new contacts. Do we build relationships with people or do we just do transactions? Do we care about our clients - really care - or are they disposable?

What about "...creative" ? Are we really creative or do we stay in our comfort zone and use the recipe we've always used? Are we willing to consult our "competitors" to get ideas? Are we willing to - God forbid - partner with one of our "competitors" to get a deal done for our client. Do we read and follow the news and trends so we can respond appropriately or don't we have time for that because we're too" busy"? Do we attend Real Estate Investor Association meetings to network (click here to visit Michigan's Premier Real Estate Investor's Association) and get ideas? Do we really "think outside the box" (a tired expression if ever there was one)? Or do we create a new box?

"... any property situation." Does it really mean "any" property situation? Or does it mean most? Or some? Or the ones I'm comfortable with? It has to mean "any" - which really means "all".

When I look at the mission in the context of what I'm willing and able to do, it really is that simple. Whenever I think I'm doing enough, I just have to think about what my "competitors", who in many cases are also my mentors and my friends are doing and I know I have to be willing to do more. And I have to find a way to be able to do more.

Now, I have to say that what I or anyone is "willing" to do does not extend to breaking the law, or acting immorally. That is unacceptable. You should NOT be "willing" to do that. You should not be "willing" to take advantage of people. You should not be "willing" to defraud people or make promises you can't keep to make a profit. And just because you are "able" to do something doesn't make it right to do it.

You should be willing to treat people with respect and dignity and care about them and sometimes for them.

So, is it really that simple? It depends on what you're willing to do.

Until later, Make It Happen - whatever IT is in your life.