As we look to the future of Real Estate and the different cycles we endure. . we must be cognizant of the fact that what goes up must come down. 
What we really need to be watchful for are those agents in our offices who always see the glass half empty and not half full.
Many years ago my father had a sheet of paper under the glass top of his desk . . .and everyone that came into his office sat down on the otherside of his desk and they would always read it.When he passed away I kept the story.
Now, I would like to share it with you because it has stayed with me ever since.
THE MAN WHO SOLD HOT DOGS
THERE WAS A MAN WHO LIVED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SOLD HOT DOGS.
HE WAS HARD OF HEARING SO HE HAD NO RADIO.
HE HAD TROUBLE WITH HIS EYES SO HE READ NO NEWSPAPERS.
BUT HE SOLD GOOD HOT DOGS.
HE PUT UP SIGNS ON THE HIGHWAY TELLING HOW GOOD THEY WERE.
HE STOOD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CRIED; “BUY A HOT DOG, MISTER?
AND PEOPLE BOUGHT.
HE INCREASED HIS MEAT AND BUN ORDERS.
HE BOUGHT A BIGGER STOVE TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TRADE.
HE FINALLY GOT HIS SON HOME FROM COLLEGE TO HELP HIM OUT.
BUT THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.
HIS SON SAID, “FATHER, HAVEN’T YOU BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO?
HAVEN’T YOU BEEN READING THE NEWSPAPERS?
THERE’S A BIG DEPRESSION.
THE EUROPEAN SITUATION IS TERRIBLE.
THE DOMESTIC SITUATION IS WORSE.”
WHERE UPON THE FATHER THOUGHT, “WELL, MY SON’S BEEN TO COLLEGE, HE READS THE PAPERS AND HE LISTENS TO THE RADIO, AND HE OUGHT TO KNOW.”
SO THE FATHER CUT DOWN ON HIS MEAT AND BUN ORDERS, TOOK DOWN HIS ADVERTISING SIGNS, AND NO LONGER BOTHERED TO STAND OUT ON THE HIGHWAY TO SELL HIS HOT DOGS.
AND HIS HOT DOG SALES FELL ALMOST OVERNIGHT.
“YOU’RE RIGHT, SON” THE FATHER SAID TO THE BOY.
“WE CERTINAILY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GREAT DEPRESSION.”
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT …….THIS STORY SPEAKS VOLUMES
This was part of my acceptance speach on Sept. 30, 2003 at the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS annual convention.
