Years ago, as I was finding my way through the testosterone laden pool of the Corporate World, I was given some sage advice from one of my female bosses who had succeeded in rising from the depths of that pool to the title of Vice President of the Market Division,   “It doesn’t matter what they pay you, get a good title.” I’ve been given plenty of other advice in my life that I didn’t put into practice, but that one stayed with me. Of course, it sort of does matter what they pay you, but Titles will impress people. 

 

I got an email from a friend who turned me onto something (thanks, Tom) that I can’t stop thinking about and wanted to share with you! You may already know this, I did not. The Chinese symbol for “Crisis” is made up of two symbols – Danger and Opportunity.      As I reflect on the past four years that I have been in the real estate business while the market has taken a tumble (and, honestly, the last decade of my life!) I find that that symbol is very poignant. I love it that opportunity lies below danger rather than the other way around, because often, what lies beneath is of a stronger, more stable nature than that which lies above – which can be transitory and fleeting – like leaves on a tree. When the leaves die and fall, the tree does not – except when very old, but then again, UNDERNEATH that fallen tree is the opportunity for other things to reveal themselves.

 So, without going too much deeper into this philosophical stream, I just want to comment that the present “crisis” (or crises), that we have been bombarded with also presents more opportunities than one can imagine. It’s happened to me. It’s happened to you. And, it will happen again and again. Many times the opportunity is not that apparent. It takes time to sprout. But wait for it. It will show itself and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

In the faith in which I was raised, I was told, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” It’s Opportunity. It’s whether we choose to go to that window and look out. It’s whether we feel compelled to climb through the window to seek that opportunity.  Or, it may be that we sit and wait through the present crisis for opportunity to walk in and lead us out. Opportunity comes in many forms. Seeing opportunity in crisis takes practice and resolve. It gets easier each time.

Fear is the root of all evil, not money. The last year has been a very fearful time for many of us with the economy and personal crises. The media blasts us with the bad news constantly, but, I have to say, I now see people making the decision to stop focusing on the negative. They are throwing caution to the wind and moving forward in a more positive direction. They are seeing Opportunity.  The buzz is in the air. I like it.   I have heard that when you are fearful, you should read your money. Whenever you see a coin that has fallen on the ground, consider that Opportunity put it there to remind you to trust. Bend over, pick it up – one more opportunity to whittle your waist, one more opportunity to add to your “Greece Fund”, one more opportunity to help another, one more opportunity to be grateful. Those strategically placed coins always remind me to be present and re-ground myself. Now I pick them up and mentally list my opportunities.

Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to reach out and send you my newsletter and mailings while I’ve been working in Real Estate. It has opened up so many more paths that I never could have imagined, brought so many new friends into my life – friends I never knew I needed. Opportunities galore! Have a lovely 2010 and watch for Opportunity. He knocks more than once!