Coach’s Corner: Doing The Right Thing Is Always The Right Thing

Mark Johnson 
Chief Executive Officer, JP and Associates Realtors

The headline of this post has been the topic of many recent conversations. With a crazy real estate market, 46 percent less inventory than a year ago, record-low mortgage rates, and COVID-19, we all face many challenges. 

Associates are facing so many challenges from the complex to the simple: 

• How do I best represent my seller when 30 or more offers come in? 
• How do I respond to unethical proposals from buyers or sellers? 
• Do I return the shopping cart to the central collection bin or just leave it in the parking lot? 
• Do I snap at my partner because they pushed my hot button?! 

Whenever you are unsure about what action to take, you can use this phrase to reconcile your thinking: 

“Doing the right thing is always the right thing,” even when I don’t feel like it and even when it does not benefit me directly.

We have “Realtor” in our name. You see, all agents are agents, but not all agents are Realtors. Realtors adhere to an extensive Code of Ethics, so consumers may feel at ease knowing that they are working with agents who have sworn to uphold specific professional standards.

The Realtor Code of Ethics comprises 17 articles covering different areas of professional standards of practice that each of us agrees to be held accountable. Articles 1 through 9 make up the duty to clients and customers. Articles 10 through 14 outline a responsibility to the public. And Articles 15 through 17 define the professional standards and relationship between Realtors.

• Doing the right thing makes our decision-making process so much easier.
• Doing the right thing is how you become the person you want to be in the future.

Commit to embracing the idea that doing the right thing is always the right thing. Play with this idea for a day, week, or month. Do nothing but the right thing, even if it means you lose, don’t get what you want, or have to be uncomfortable. 

• Being kind to others
• Be authentic and transparent 
• Be useful and add value in every interaction
• Put a human face on those people who may be affected by your actions 

No one said that doing the right thing is easy. But the right thing remains the right thing.

#WinTheDay

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Mark Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of JP & Associates, a rapidly growing full-service real estate brokerage. He is focused primarily on productivity and service. He has invested nearly 25 years in understanding the inner workings of high performing real estate agents, teams, managers, and leaders in major markets across the world. In prior assignments, he served as a Business Coach, in progressive leadership capacities for the 5th largest US-based real estate brokerage firm, in sales and marketing leadership capacities for a major consumer goods company, and served a stint in the US Army, Medical Service Corps. He was recalled to active duty during Desert Storm. Mark is a father of 3, lifelong learner, Spartan, and adventure athlete. He earned his MBA from California State University and a Behavioral Change Certification from the National Association of Sports Medicine. Several years ago, he decided to make “One Helluva Move” and not play it safe. Since that decision, he has climbed the world’s tallest free-standing mountain — Kilimanjaro; completed the Spartan trifecta, the LA Marathon, and the world-famous Iowa border to border RABGRAI ride, among other crazy adventures.