It has been two weeks since we left San Diego and the 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Conference & Expo. Even with the ‘interruption’ of Thanksgiving, the wow of the Conference has not worn off. The meeting was a culmination and a celebration of a great year: the Right Tools, Right Now initiative, banks permanently out of real estate, expansion and extension of the tax credit, another year of higher conforming loan limits, the Game Changer competition, roll out of the consumer Web site HouseLogic.com and the introduction of the Realtor Property Resource. Any one of these achievements would have been an accomplishment, but SEVEN is remarkable!
We have actually created a case study for business schools: How does a 100 year old trade association re-create itself to be more valuable and strategic to its members? How does a large organization move quickly, quietly and efficiency? How does a large ship move a like jet ski? How does an organization with traditions and mass become inventive and entrepreneurial? How does the organization become, to use Moe Veissi’s word, nimble?
NAR has done it all.
There are lots of books written about effectiveness in the information age: Good to Great, Blink, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and so many more. The new National Association of REALTORS® has embraced all of the elements articulated in these books: common sense, strategic planning, and applied business principles. There is a fresh and direct partnership between volunteer leadership and our talented professional staff. It is a balanced partnership that recognizes the strengths and competencies that each brings to the table.
We in leadership talked about a new beginning in San Diego. We suggested it was a commencement. The description is appropriate. Both the association and the world we live in are new and different. There is an old adage that if you do not learn from history, you are bound to repeat it. We have studied the history, and while we will make some mistakes (as even measured risk produces), we are committed to real progress rather than motion.
Most people, including our own members, focus on what has been accomplished. But, the real ‘revolutionary change’ is the way in which these milestones have been delivered. The association as adopted the eyes of the REALTOR® as its eyes, and now its world vision is from the perspective of the REALTOR® on the street. The eye sight is crisp and sharp. We have rediscovered our purpose in our second century. The Leadership Team, led by Vicki and Charles, and our professional staff led by Dale Stinton have reason to be proud. It’s not your Grandfather’s association any more.
It’s OUR association. Members have never had as much equity in the association as they do today. The association is more relevant for its members that it has ever been: political advocacy; research, public awareness, global business, commercial real estate, and so much more including all of our 2009 accomplishments.
You can tell from the tone of this blog that we have reason be proud and excited. But what really moves me is the innovativeness, creativity, risk taking, and determination of our membership. The best ‘applications’ of technology are often never contemplated nor intended by their inventors. Can you imagine what our membership is going to do with these new tools? Our customers and clients should get ready to be ‘wowed.” It is simply: AWESOME. – Ron Phipps, 2010 President-Elect
