Hey, folks!
Greetings from the Sunny North Side of Chicago - home of friendly people, incredible pizza, cold beer . . . and one very sad Major League Baseball Team (you know, the guys in the blue caps!)
Got in the old Honda yesterday, and headed out to the Chicago Suburb of Palatine IL, to experience something called Rain Camp. It's sponsored by The Active Rain Real Estate Blog, and several others.
The purpose - to help us Baby Boomer Real Estate Practitioners, as well as those young enough to know better, the opportunity to improve their web presence, understand the value of good online content, and improve their writing and blogging skills.
Also, to encourage the shy and uninitiated to begin their real estate writing career on Active Rain.
Ben Kinney, a Bellingham WA Keller Williams Agent - incredible online knowledge. Man, the guy even knows how to Tweet! Incredible, for a guy pushing his mid-30's . . . yes?
And the Harper College Wojcik Center- a great venue, complete with comfortable, amphitheater-style seating, with and electrical outlet and network connection for every seat. Never had this kind of thing when I went to school. You know, way back when, when Richard Nixon was (Vice) President!
You know what really hit me from the day-long Rain Camp, however? I mean . . . REALLY hit me!
Several hundred Real Estate Practitioners in the audience, mainly from the Chicago Metro Area. My friends and colleagues Larry Bettag, Judi Greenberg, Alan May, John Ziemba. Active Rain gurus Brad Andersohn, Bob Stewart, and more.
ALL WILLING TO SHARE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED, and WHAT THEY KNOW! Freely! Unselfishly! Not worrying if you are going to use what you learn to compete with them.
As Master Motivator Zig Ziegler, as well as his protege and our Mentor Floyd Wickman once said, "You'll get everything YOU want, if you help enough of your clients, friends, family members, and colleagues get what THEY want!"
So True!
Because they are secure in what they know. Their systems to build their businesses. And sharing to help others succeed is how they got to the high level they enjoy today.
Come to think of it . . . isn't that true of top performers in any business? The best ones are often the first ones to share what they know. Those less productive . . . they're the ones turning the paperwork on their desks when you walk by. Make sense?
These days, Real Estate could be a hard business! Especially here in Chicago, where some Chicago Condo Priceshave fallen 50% or more from the boom times, not so long ago. Lenders are all the more scrutinous, sellers often scared to death, and buyers looking for that deal of a lifetime daily, plus a few extra bucks.
Sometimes, you just need a little help from your friends to get by! And, in the Active Rain Chicago Real Estate Community, we had that help. Flowing freely, oozing, even, yesterday at Harper College in Palatine IL.
Thanks for sharing, folks! I cherish you guys!
And appreciate your "gentle nudge" to keep me Tweeting, Facebook-ing, Linking In, and Active Raining my Heart Out!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
It was a great day, and nice to see "old" friends, and meet so many new ones! I am sure this will get you a feature :)
it was a great event... very mind-filling, and a bit overwhelming... but so nice to put voices and personalities to the faces and posts I've become so accustomed to. It was like visiting with old friends (whom I'd never met).
Wow, I got mentioned in a blog. Thanks for the Shout-out. I think many agents are still basing there internet strategies on 2005 theories. This class shows you how to bring the your internet marketing strategy to 2010. Thanks so much to the people at Active Rain. You guys put on a great class and I strongly suggest anyone that wants to still be in the real estate business in 5 years from now attend.
Dean,
It was really our pleasure. The crowd for RainCamp Chicago was amazing!! I'm glad we finally got a chance to meet. I'll make sure to look you up the next time I'm in Chicago for more than a short stop over. Thank you so much for taking the day to be with us.
Dean - It's always great to have a little help from our friends.. Sounds like RainCamp is a great way to meet a few of them in person :)
Hi Dean - Events like this are great ones to reinforce what you already know as well as pick up new ideas. And when you throw in incredible pizza and cold beer, that makes it unforgettable!
I LOVED the Active Rain Camp! Can't wait for camp to come around to the Bay Area again! I still carry the notes in my day planner and review it often to make sure I haven't missed anything and to implement the things that have been on the long list of to-do's.
Hi Dean: I can't get over all the information I came away with from this event. It was truly an honor to have met Bob, Brad and Ben. Came home with lots of notes and looking forward to putting all this new information to work. Thanks for the post.
I would love to have been there but just too far away. How about having one in Kansas City or St Louis?!
I was there too and my head is still spinning. So glad I went. Got a whole lot for the $$ even if I had to drive in from Saugatuck, Mi. Looked like it would be a long time til they got to this state so took advantage of this great opportunity
Yes, such a great time. It was great meeting all the local top dogs and the big guys in the rain. I wish we would have had two days... even three!!
The reviews are so glowing I need to make sure I go to the one hosted in DC soon!
Dean, so glad you were able to attend the Chicago RainCamp. Can't wait until there is one in the Southeastern part of the country.
Dean:
It was great to meet you briefly when you and Larry Bettag were at the Piano Bar after Rain Camp. To actually meet the top 2 point men in IL was wonderful and to actually sit next to Larry and hear 1st hand how Active Rain has increased his business really motivated me to keep blogging away!
You are absolutely right about the whole team that brought Active Rain Camp to Chicago. It was wonderful to have such a great bunch of professionals sharing their knowledge so freely. They are an inspiration to all of us out in the trenches.
Dean: Rain Camp was great! I learned that I needed to do some tweaking with my blog. I would definitely encourage everyone to attend the event in their city. I did see you but didn't get a chance to personally meet you.
I wish the "RAINCAMP" would come to Myrtle Beach, SC