This was the most amazing thing to happen to me in a long time. Today, I pulled up home and parked my car about 5:30pm. There were a group of about 8 or 10 of the neighborhood youngsters playing in front, ages ranging from about 4 years old to about 10.
After pulling my briefcase out of the car I heard the voice of one little girl asking me if I was the guy on the front page of the newspaper. (Our community paper put a big picture of me and my best friend Guy on the front page about a week or two ago playing chess at the community club we run) I said yes that was me. Another little boy piped in and said I saw your picture on the sign by Foodland. "How did your picture get there?" I explained that I pay for that. The first girl asked if I was still on TV (I was never on TV). I said no I am not. She responded owe you can afford that anymore? This was getting pretty funny. I tried to explain that I sell houses and I am not a television guy. This did not seem to have any effect on their excitement.
Before I knew it she nudged the little girl next to her and said, "Ask him."
I looked down to see her holding out a paper and a pen and asking if she could get my autograph. I was getting pretty embarrassed at this point.
Thinking quick on my feet, I pulled out my picture business cards and asked if they would rather have them. By their excited responses you'd have thought they were baseball cards. Having only a few more in my pocket, I told them I had more in the car and if they preferred I have magnet cards. You guessed it; I could have traded them for a Sammy Sosa rookie card.
While this was happening, my wife Darnelle pulled up in her car with my 6 year old son Jacob. She stopped to watch and was obviously puzzled by what she was watching.
After I passed out the refrigerator magnets each youngster asking for 2 or more of them I walked back to the house. My wife was waiting and dying to find out what was going on.
Just as I began to tell her the story, three more children showed up at our door asking if they could also get magnets. I went in the house and grabbed the ones off our refrigerator, which sent them on their way all excited. I then was able to tell my wife the story.
After grabbing a quick bit of food, Jacob and I loaded in the car and headed for the chess club. During the drive he asked me if we still had any refrigerator magnets (he seemed to be concerned). I said, "don't worry we can get more". He then questioned me about why I gave them to the neighbor children. I explained how they thought I was famous. He quickly responded, "You are Dad!" I said, "Jacob I am not famous I am only a Realtor". He responded without thinking, "Dad you are the best Realtor and that makes you famous". Wow, talk about making my day.
Beside the smile on my face, I walked away knowing that someone's perception is their reality. If your clients perceive you're a great realtor, than you are at least to them. If children perceive you are famous, they will find the most amazing ways to make you feel like it.
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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR
Century 21 Liberty Homes
Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.
Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Performs mediations and ombudsman services for the Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.
www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations
LOL . That's great. You're a star! If you sent them away with magnets and pixie stix the parents would remember you, too.
:: evil laugh ::
There is a reason I keep reading your blog. This is great. Congratulations on your celebrity status! Sometimes I think the kids have a better reality than the adults.
Can I tell people I know this famous guy in Hawaii now?
How cute is that? What a wonderful story. It makes me smile just reading about it.
Chris - Pixi sticks; it has been years I wonder if they still make them.
Mark - I am not famous, possibly infamous.
Linda - It was a nice way to come home from work.
Virginia - It did stroke my ego a bit.
Chris - That is a fun thing to do.
That is too funny. I never thought of marketing to young kids. It could be like cereal. How many moms resist buying the cereal that their kids beg for because they saw it on TV.
You could maybe get your card into boxes of cereal. You could come up with a series of Randy cards.
Your story made me smile! Children are God's greatest gift to us....and congrats on being a celebrity!
Randy- thats your future busines ...and being their role model is so AWESOME !!!!! That wasnt your ego that was stroked, it was your soul they touched. Keep up the wonderful work you do and continue inspiring children with your good deeds!
Hey you made their day. Cute story!
Patricia Aulson/REALTOR/SEACOAST, NH,ME & MA
URL: www.patricia4realestate.com
Great story, I agree with Michele - that is your future business. Maybe you shoulod get a big bounce thing and host birthday parties.
You are a ROCK STAR!
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR
http://www.johnocchi.com/
I enjoyed this story. And I like your tag line on the sign! "Not just another pretty face". That's classic. I love it.
Steve
That is honestly a great story! I hope to be "famous" some day..although my husband always says that I act like I'm famous sometimes...maybe that will pay off sooner than later :) Kids always speak the truth (somtimes the perception is off but you know what I mean!)
I eat cereal like a champ. maybe I can get on a box or put out my own..! hahaha
Now this would have made a great 100th Post. See you thought and you thought and here it was right along.
Kids are great, and what is best about them is that they spread the news, talk about a walking , talking billboard at the right price.
I have a few Sammy Sosa Rookie cards, but they are not up for trade.
Nice feel good story. Kudos.
The only time people want my autograph is on a blank check.
Randy,
What a great story, one of those momens that will make you smile for the rest of your life everytime you think back to it.
Now about that pipeline you are setting up. Lets see, these kids will be in buying mode in what? About 15 years? You going to still be in the biz? Bring your son in? Set him up? lol!
CONGRATS! Not because you're famous or a star, but because you were willing to take the time to LISTEN to children. Too often, adults can't or won't find the time to do that. It's a great story. Thanks for sharing, and keep listening. If children are made to feel important, they'll surely tell the parents, and likely show their parents the loot. If the parents are looking a property, I imagine they'll call you because they realize that you are a caring person. You sound like the kind of family man that all "Dads" should be. Good for you. Keep listening and it's amazing all the things you can learn. Janet d:-)
Tim - I think the baseball cards may be a good idea.
Dena - I am not sure. I was taken by complete surprise.
Jennifer - I am so pleased with my marketing in the community. I definitely have name recognition.
Cynthia - I will still be the same humble Realtor I always was.
Bryant - The kids were so cute. I am now determined to create some hand out items for children.
Lewis - I definitely learned from it.
Ava -They definitely bring joy in our lives.
Sarah - That was truly an experience I will not forget.
Michele - Children are also my current clients. After all I am finding them new homes also. I will definitely focus more consideration towards the children of my clients.
Patricia - That was the nicest part of the experience.
John - That is a good idea. I will definitely add something like that to my business.
Donna - Hopefully their parents won't get annoyed by my magnets everywhere.
Ann - I am still smiling today from the experience.
Amdre - The are several Realtors in my neighborhood. I am sure I am the most recognized and hopefully most of my neighbors Realtor of choice.
Steve - My slogan has been really effective for me. You have to have a mug like me to pull it off.
Kaye - I got in the business with the goal of helping people. The children yesterday gave me the positive reinforcement we all desire.
Toby- That smile will last for awhile.
Christopher - I definitely know my marketing is working.
Melissa - I think the cutest part was I have strived for name recognition. I would have never guessed that in the minds of a child that made me a celebrity. Even my youngest son blew me away when he argued that I was a celebrity.
Jim and Maria - I definitely will develop at a minimum a magnet for children.
Nick M. - I felt like I was on a hidden camera show.
George - That would have been a great 100th post. In the world of adults Sammy Sosa is still more famous than me. J
Roxanne - It will be hard to get mad at him no matter what her does for awhile.
Leslie - I guess the secret is to use what I learned yesterday.
Michael Waltrip - I guess in the adult world is his also more famous than me J
Great story!
Great story!
Diane - That still say the darndest things. (For those of us who are old enough to remember Art Linkletter)
Rob - Until yesterday that was true for me.
Laurie - I plan to be in the business for at least another 20 or until I become rich and famous. Ooops I am already famous (at least on our street).
Janet - Thank you for the kind words, they definitely brighten my day.
Kaushik - Too funny
Lysa - You never know. I doubt he will care about the autograph.
Debi - I know I left feeling 10 feet off the ground for sure.
Randy-
I need to become that well known in my neighborhood.
John - I do very litttle direct mail in the area. I send Christmas Cards to all of my neighbors and I have my vehicles clearly marked. Community advertising and the signs at the 2 main shopping center has really helped my name recognition a lot.
Lauren - I am planning to redesign the signs to be less busy in a month or two. I think there is too much on them.
What fun. And their moms and dads will be calling you to list their home for sale and help find them a new one and the kids will know that you'll let them pick out their bedroom.
Love it.
Randy, This is awesome and would have made a great video. If only your wife had had the movie camera rolling. Enjoy your fame along with your good name.
www.Homerome.com
Baltimore,Md.
Lenn - When finding a property my buyers want to place an offer on, I always ask the children which bedroom do they think will be theirs.
Margaret - It definitely would have made a cool TV commercial
Randy...
No way am I reading 56 comments :)
Can I have your autograph instead? SVW (no reminder)
TLW - You can have my autograph as long as it is not on a blank check.
Mary and Paul - I still get a smile when I think about it.
Monika - At least among the children in the neighborhood.
Pat - I think I have a face better suited for radio.
Mark - Our community papers have figured that out. They love to print the nice stories.
Debbie - I did it without knowing I was doing it.
Leigh - I am sure my celebrity status is limited to the street I live on.
Believe it or not I got stopped again by some children at the mall asking me if I was someone famous.
Great post Randy. Nothing like that has happened to me at all. I do know that before I became a REALTOR (r) I could put on scuzzy clothes and no make up and run to the store. Not any more. I am AFRAID someone will recognize me and wonder what happened...
Evelyn - I do think twice before going to the store too grubby also. There are benefits to being recognizable, there are also restrictions.