Honesty

Honesty, again I will give two of dictionary dot coms definition of honesty:

• Truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness
• Freedom from fraud

      E.W. Howe is credited for saying, “The way out of trouble is never as simple as the way in”.   

      It has appeared to me that often the wrong or the easy way often appears to be more attractive. When people come because they respect you as an expert and ask a question to which you don’t know the answer don’t wing it. Doing so can cause you to find yourself in a very difficult situation. It is better to admit that you do not know, or state you have an idea and need to do research to find out. Then do the research. Don’t go to someone else and ask them for a solution and blindly accept it.  If the question calls upon you to take on a task you are not qualified to do. Admit it and direct them to the proper person or agency to answer their question.  Some may tell you that this may cause you to leave clients. They maybe correct but those leaving will be few, and I believe the ones you retain will do most of the needed advertising you need to replace them.

      There are times when it is more difficult to tell the truth for all of us. This is not a license to be brutally honest. That is mean. Most times there is a way, and time to say most things which need to be expressed. Make an effort to find them.

       It is hard to win someone into your circle of influence once it’s discovered you’re less than honest.

      I use to ask people how to pronounce the capital of Kentucky and give them three options:

• Luie ville
• Louis vaul
• Louis ville

     After discussing it briefly someone would usually ask, “How do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky.” The answer is Frankfort. I don’t recall where I first heard the joke. I may recall it because I fell for it once or perhaps saw others fall into the trap.

      As a real estate investor, it is a more painful lesson to learn the truth of E.W. Howes quote. If you’ve made a mistake admit it ask for forgiveness and accept the outcome. These examples all point to outward honesty. To be able to be a supporting leg for the tripod of integrity you must also to honest with yourself. We can not do it all. We also must call upon other as experts. Sometimes the hardest thing to accomplish is admit our limitations.

Note: Images on this blog site are from a free source or taken by the author. No image or group of photos is intended to represent the people the author serves. The author does not care about Race (that is a politically correct term that he does not like because we are all of the same Race, the Human Race. He prefers the term ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender, marital status, disability, genetic information, national origin, source of income, Veteran or military status, ancestry, citizenship, primary language or immigration status.) He is a service provider for all people. We will all rise together when we band together and help one another. Joseph Erwin is a Real Estate Broker, DRE # O2131799, and a CA general contractor # B 696662. He’s a member of the CRMLS and The East Valley Association of Realtors located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California.