Positive Real Estate Professionals

OMG, R U A OOTB THNKR?

I know that there are some people that are out there looking really strange at their computers right now wondering just what the heck I just said. Let me spell it out for those few non-texting people. Oh my God, are you an out of the box thinker. Now that it is out there for all to understand, lets take a look at the three different types of thinkers. There is the traditional thinker, conventional thinker, and then there is the out of the box thinker. Let’s take a short look at each for a minute.

For me, the traditional thinker is the old school type and typically does not step into the 21 century. Generally, they will shy away from new ideas. While there is nothing wrong with traditional thinking, there is a need to evolve with the times. In the business world, following traditional thinking alone can be the undoing of your business. As for conventional thinking, this is “too safe” a style of thinking and can lead to much lost business if it is adhered to all the time. Finally, there is out of the box thinking. From problem solving to marketing, out of the box thinking is generally a creative or unique way to approach and think about any topic. Too much thinking out of the box however can get you in trouble as well.

Lets take a look at how dictionary.com describes them:

tra⋅di⋅tion⋅al – adjective

1. of or pertaining to tradition.
2. handed down by tradition.
3. in accordance with tradition.

con⋅ven⋅tion⋅al –adjective

1. conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste: conventional behavior.
2. pertaining to convention or general agreement; established by general consent or accepted usage; arbitrarily determined: conventional symbols.
3. ordinary rather than different or original: conventional phraseology.

As for Out of the Box, lets just all agree that this basically means that you are open to trying something that is not traditional or conventional.
In my humble opinion, there is a time and place for all three of these ways of thinking. Where I think that people go wrong is that they assume one of these labels and do not deviate from it. Frankly, I gave up labels when I was a child. Today, I employ all the tools that are at my disposal. I have employed some of the traditional ways and some of the conventional ways while always keeping my mind open to things that are different, new, or non-conventional; however you want to phrase it.

When I was in the mortgage industry, I had to counsel loan officers all the time for turning loans down because they were stuck in one thought pattern or another. Today, I still see that same issue going on with business professionals across a broad spectrum of industries. An example would be when I was speaking to a home stager that wanted to increase her business. When I asked her about her presence on the Internet, it was nonexistent. I then asked her what keeps her away from the Internet and her response floored me. “I do not see any benefit from being on the Internet. No one can find me there,” she said. My next question was about how she was marketing herself. When she told me that two thirds of her advertising budget was sunk into print ads, I almost cried for her.

Now, I have to say, this near complete reliance on traditional print media is not something that is prominent for many business professionals. Well, let me say it this way; I HOPE this is not something that is prominent. I am afraid that this home stager will be out of business if she does not come into the computer age.

In closing, let me ask you this; Do you label yourself with one of these three or are you a combination of them?