PROView - February 2009 - (Page 18) Brokerage Design An Innovator Named Roger By Jeremy Conaway These are the most contentious and conflicted times our industry has faced in the past 60 years. In an attempt to bring some sense to the situation, the industry media has settled upon calling it the “perfect storm” referencing the 1997 bestselling book by Sebastian Junger and the movie of the same name released in 2000 starring George Clooney. 2008 after having spent two years navigating his firm through a down market. During that experience he became convinced that surviving this experience was going to require a far different approach than the one he had been using over the past twenty years. Knowledge is the basis of innovation. Accordingly, Roger began reading everything he could find and talking to those who seemed to be the “right and Unfortunately, while the comparison seems to bring bright” people in the industry. He went to important clarity to those who crave simplicity, it doesn’t invite meetings across the country and engaged in the solutions, but rather suggests that the current industry’s dialogue. He studied the literature and tracked the plight will come to the same end as the book. As if led blogs. He talked to everyone by some master director, many who would listen, and sought writers and industry academics It should, therefore, come as no out those who were willing are awash in commentary surprise that the industry is now to collaborate. He began to regarding the cause of the create an innovative vision storm, while others are witnessing the emergence of a of how his firm could be focusing their eyes and minds whole new breed of brokerage competitive in the changing on the hereafter and how the industry can ensure that leader who, in the finest traditions market environment. this situation doesn’t happen Soon he was ready to begin of American business, are rising again. the re-engineering process. to the occasion and meeting the With more research, and some Left to their own devices, in this meteorological storm with innovation, creativity, help from his wife, a co-owner and executive with the firm, fury, are the thousands of and powerful initiatives. he selected and retained a brokerages that are bravely strategic consultant. trying to weather the storm. Each month the waves get His next action was to determine who on his current higher and the winds grow more intense. Each week team was willing to take the journey. Roger is a big Jim it becomes more obvious that the only forces that Collins fan (From Good to Great). He shared his vision can meet the current challenge are creativity and with his management team and asked if they would be innovation. willing to move in an innovative, new direction. The response was not unanimous and some adjustments It should, therefore, come as no surprise that the had to be made. There are now some new faces on the industry is now witnessing the emergence of a whole bus. new breed of brokerage leader who, in the finest traditions of American business, are rising to the The team, now united behind Roger’s vision of the road occasion and meeting the storm with innovation, ahead, next set about the process of creating a master creativity, and powerful initiatives. blueprint. The resulting business plan set forth in detail each action that was to be taken, how it would be done, This article is about one of those brokers. His name is and how the success of that action would be measured. Roger. He has been a broker since 1989, is affiliated with a major franchise, and his firm is in the top ten with Over the past several months Roger implemented many respect to productivity in a large American real estate of the actions outlined by the business plan and took market. advantage of the obvious opportunities presented by the current market situation. These actions include: Roger started his search for solutions in the spring of 18 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION February 2009
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROView - February 2009 PROView - February 2009 Contents Chairman’s Notes Feature Story PROActive Marketplace Analysis Home Sales Report MLS Update Mind Your Manners Calendar of Events & Programs Brokerage Design Marketing PROView - February 2009 PROView - February 2009 - PROView - February 2009 (Page Cover1) PROView - February 2009 - PROView - February 2009 (Page Cover2) PROView - February 2009 - Contents (Page 1) PROView - February 2009 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 2) PROView - February 2009 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 3) PROView - February 2009 - Feature Story (Page 4) PROView - February 2009 - Feature Story (Page 5) PROView - February 2009 - Feature Story (Page 6) PROView - February 2009 - Feature Story (Page 7) PROView - February 2009 - PROActive (Page 8) PROView - February 2009 - PROActive (Page 9) PROView - February 2009 - PROActive (Page 10) PROView - February 2009 - PROActive (Page 11) PROView - February 2009 - Marketplace Analysis (Page 12) PROView - February 2009 - Home Sales Report (Page 13) PROView - February 2009 - MLS Update (Page 14) PROView - February 2009 - Mind Your Manners (Page 15) PROView - February 2009 - Mind Your Manners (Page 16) PROView - February 2009 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 17) PROView - February 2009 - Brokerage Design (Page 18) PROView - February 2009 - Brokerage Design (Page 19) PROView - February 2009 - Marketing (Page 20) PROView - February 2009 - Marketing (Page 21) PROView - February 2009 - Marketing (Page Cover3) PROView - February 2009 - Marketing (Page Cover4)
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