It's all about perspective
written 9/2006
Thirty A Review
My nephew Randal thinks that I am a hero. No, not just any hero, he thinks that I am a Superhero. I tell him that a real Superhero wears tights and a red cape; he says a wet suit and red surfboard are close enough. I explain that a real Superhero is noted for feats of courage and nobility, he says he doesn’t care. When he looks up at me and grins you can bet I let him believe what ever he wants. I guess it is all about perspective. I may see myself as an “old guy” scared that my knees aren’t going to last until the next big Atlantic swell, but to Randal, I am ageless and fearless.
I have been thinking about perspective, especially when it comes to this beautiful island paradise that we call 30/A. I see realtors and investors leaving this area because they see it as being another victim of the so-called “real-estate bubble.” Every Monday my phone rings with questions about the state of the market…“Did you hear about St. Joe”? “What about River Walk”? “What’s up with all these real estate signs?” They are saying that there is no money to be made here and the market is dead. People are actually giving up and running for the hills (or the Mississippi coast). I however, think that it is all a matter of perspective.
As I see it, this area has been very good to all of us. Realtors, investors and developers have made barrels of money off of it. I joke about becoming an order taker. Heck, there were times I sold property that I never even saw! Other times I would have 3 simultaneous closings on the same lot at the same time. For the past 3 years it has been crazy. Work, Work, Work, and then bam! Katrina closed our money making door. It shut off overnight. In the path of the so-called burst, the market has left us questioning, “Was the property really worth all this’? “How can I get out”? “Should we invest other places, should I stay or go?” “Where do we belong?”
Yes, I know that real estate isn’t booming now, and it is hard to make a living on 30/A, but I refuse to look at it as over. I refuse to leave, refuse to give up and emphatically refuse to listen to anyone talk smack about my little piece of paradise. I chose instead, to see the real estate market at rest, and while it’s at rest, I chose to do something for it. What a great opportunity this is for all of us to give back to an area that gave us so much. Let’s get dirty! Get involved in local politics, go to the schools and meet the teachers, volunteer at a local charity, fight to have our beaches clean and unencumbered, visit local business’s and if you do not have much money give them words of encouragement. We should all try to change our perspective to see what brought us to this area in the first place, beautiful beaches, community and fellowship. Yes, we are down but not out.
South Walton will survive I have watched it happen for 25 years. Do not listen to doom-sayers! They are the reason the market is goofy. Last I checked the Gulf of Mexico is still out there, the water is clear, the beaches are white and the natives are friendly. Do not let doom-sayers tell you that 30/A is anything less than perfect. Instead, convince them to change their perspective. Show them the good that is here and persuade them to make it even better. I say let’s blind them with the beauty and potential of this area.
While the market is at rest, take the opportunity to give back to this beautiful place that gave so much to all of us. Stop talking bad about it and become involved with a solution. Our Real Estate market and our area worked hard for all of us and it deserves a chance to get caught up and rest a little. I may not be a “real” super-hero, with a cape, nor do I have a crystal ball to predict the next big come-back. But I DO have the ability to look at the beautiful life that 30/A has given to me and say “Thank-You”. Today I chose to change my perspective, and become involved in my investment. I chose to see and speak only positively about a great area that has given me so much. I chose to run every time I am cornered by a doom-sayer! I hope you do too!
Thirty A Review
My nephew Randal thinks that I am a hero. No, not just any hero, he thinks that I am a Superhero. I tell him that a real Superhero wears tights and a red cape; he says a wet suit and red surfboard are close enough. I explain that a real Superhero is noted for feats of courage and nobility, he says he doesn’t care. When he looks up at me and grins you can bet I let him believe what ever he wants. I guess it is all about perspective. I may see myself as an “old guy” scared that my knees aren’t going to last until the next big Atlantic swell, but to Randal, I am ageless and fearless.
I have been thinking about perspective, especially when it comes to this beautiful island paradise that we call 30/A. I see realtors and investors leaving this area because they see it as being another victim of the so-called “real-estate bubble.” Every Monday my phone rings with questions about the state of the market…“Did you hear about St. Joe”? “What about River Walk”? “What’s up with all these real estate signs?” They are saying that there is no money to be made here and the market is dead. People are actually giving up and running for the hills (or the Mississippi coast). I however, think that it is all a matter of perspective.
As I see it, this area has been very good to all of us. Realtors, investors and developers have made barrels of money off of it. I joke about becoming an order taker. Heck, there were times I sold property that I never even saw! Other times I would have 3 simultaneous closings on the same lot at the same time. For the past 3 years it has been crazy. Work, Work, Work, and then bam! Katrina closed our money making door. It shut off overnight. In the path of the so-called burst, the market has left us questioning, “Was the property really worth all this’? “How can I get out”? “Should we invest other places, should I stay or go?” “Where do we belong?”
Yes, I know that real estate isn’t booming now, and it is hard to make a living on 30/A, but I refuse to look at it as over. I refuse to leave, refuse to give up and emphatically refuse to listen to anyone talk smack about my little piece of paradise. I chose instead, to see the real estate market at rest, and while it’s at rest, I chose to do something for it. What a great opportunity this is for all of us to give back to an area that gave us so much. Let’s get dirty! Get involved in local politics, go to the schools and meet the teachers, volunteer at a local charity, fight to have our beaches clean and unencumbered, visit local business’s and if you do not have much money give them words of encouragement. We should all try to change our perspective to see what brought us to this area in the first place, beautiful beaches, community and fellowship. Yes, we are down but not out.
South Walton will survive I have watched it happen for 25 years. Do not listen to doom-sayers! They are the reason the market is goofy. Last I checked the Gulf of Mexico is still out there, the water is clear, the beaches are white and the natives are friendly. Do not let doom-sayers tell you that 30/A is anything less than perfect. Instead, convince them to change their perspective. Show them the good that is here and persuade them to make it even better. I say let’s blind them with the beauty and potential of this area.
While the market is at rest, take the opportunity to give back to this beautiful place that gave so much to all of us. Stop talking bad about it and become involved with a solution. Our Real Estate market and our area worked hard for all of us and it deserves a chance to get caught up and rest a little. I may not be a “real” super-hero, with a cape, nor do I have a crystal ball to predict the next big come-back. But I DO have the ability to look at the beautiful life that 30/A has given to me and say “Thank-You”. Today I chose to change my perspective, and become involved in my investment. I chose to see and speak only positively about a great area that has given me so much. I chose to run every time I am cornered by a doom-sayer! I hope you do too!
Total Comments 5
Comments
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Nice job!Posted 05-20-2008 at 08:27 PM by kurt
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Well-stated, Bobby J. I've always thought of it in a similar way. Life is about balance, and we are as my friend Phillip likes to say, we are constantly contracting and expanding. Back in those days when I had so much business that I was lucky if I was able to eat lunch before 4pm, my personally life was highly-contracted. My days off were not days off, and it wasn't unusual to be writing multiple contracts on Sunday night. Now, with business being slower, my personal life is highly expanded, balancing out those busier days. Our lives are like the waves coming in and rolling out. Singer/Song-writer, Guy Clark, wrote a song about that contracting/expanding perspective...
"That's the way that the world goes 'round,
You're up one day and the next you're down,
It's a half a inch of water, think you're gonna drown,
That's the way that the world goes 'round."
In his song, he indicates that we only think we are going to drown, but when you step away from the cereal bowl of life, it is easy to see it's only a half an inch of water, and our perspective is very limited.
In that balance of life, if business life has you down, put on your personal life hat for a while and get busy enjoying it.Posted 05-21-2008 at 06:08 PM by Smiling JOe
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good job, Bobby. I agree and frankly I am enjoying a rest. I hope lots of people will get involved with our schools and/or help some of the elderly. The hospital is looking for more volunteers too.
Thanks for reminding us of how wonderful life is here.Posted 05-22-2008 at 07:11 PM by goodwitch58 
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A BIG thank you from the "D" and the "K" of D&K's Cafe. Your words have helped Doug and I to hold on even in the worst of situations. We love what we have created and we love this area so much because of what it offers our daughter. The peeps that we have known for so long bring smiles to my face everyday....even if I only see them as they drive by and we wave at each other....but most of all it is what we call home. It is not a house that makes us feel at home it is a community of people that make up the south, north, west and east 30A.
Thank you again Bobby for helping us to "Change our perspective"!Posted 06-02-2008 at 04:59 PM by ItzKatzTime
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Nice story!Posted 11-07-2008 at 02:12 AM by walton123
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