Author: Carl Setzer

I find it far too easy to give in to rage. Focusing on difference, allowing frustration to overwhelm tolerance, these smooth the path towards anger, if not rage. Our culture elevates this sensibility, and it’s hard to break free. Every direction, seemingly, comes laden with outrage.

Escaping this requires a deliberate effort. I continue to create positive energy streams into my mind. Seek out affirming stories about good being done. One irony: what I see as good someone else will see as outrageous, unacceptable. As much as I might try to live a life of inclusivity, there are bounds. So, I accept that not all will going willingly towards the better place I envision.

I continue this endeavor, though. Focusing upon the good being done, knowing what is focused on expands. And purging as much outrage provocation from life works the other way; unfocusing on things causes them to contract. Building positive energy in my life had always felt better; a much better way to live.

When this notion first drifted into my mind, it was meant to be silly and sarcastic. Yet, the more I think about it, the more striking it becomes. Most informal definitions of “normal” invoke an unconscious selection, a small statistically erroneous sample of society. Generally, this is the subculture which one interacts with. “Normal” is devoid of diversity.

Now, consider, what might be considered normal at broad, even global levels. Language, idiom, norms and behaviors at a planetary level wouldn’t reflect the norms of US culture, or even Western culture. Probably some blend of Chinese and/or South American culture, if such a thing exists.

Perhaps we shouldn’t get quite so wrapped up in being normal. Or, more importantly, judging those who aren’t normal. I’ve always delighted in the weird, those people who experience the world uniquely, and are filled with confidence about their glorious difference. Brings to mind one of my favorite Kerouac quotes (On The Road): “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” Me too, Jack. Me too.

Consider: discontent with self-image feeds huge profits to the billion dollar beauty-industrial-complex, and significant misery to millions. We in the business world talk at great lengths about value-add. The only way I see “value-add” by this sector requires a very short-term focus.

I wonder if there’s a place for the beauty businesses in a world of high-functioning people with great self-esteem. So I think of many women who use these products without demonstrating any lack of self-confidence. Are they simply hiding a deeper misery, or might there be something deeper that I simply cannot see. Probably the later. Probably.

We should consider who we can extract the more egregious agony from this sector while keeping the (presumed?) benefits. So much to meditate upon.

Stumbled upon this thing on Amazon: i-XL Mediaworkstation (4 x NVIDIA GTX Titan X). It doesn’t look that dramatic, but the specs are pretty incredible. With a price tag of $32k, it’s not for the faint of wallet.

We agents have been getting blasted with information about the big online sites: Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com, mainly. It’s really ready to get caught up in the dialog. These sites are charging how people relate to real estate. But they’re but likely to change the relationship with agents. People still value the one-one connection.

The changes seem to be more about information, and it’s accuracy and timeliness. Zillow, et al, are not perfect, and that’s the opportunity for agents. But we have to be in our game, know the current market, what’s influencing it. It’s also good to know what Zillow and such say, do we can be better able to engage and educate.

So, no threats to us agents. Unless we aren’t willing to stay current, keep our knowledge fresh. And, perhaps, if that’s your mindset, failure should not be unexpected. I’m not sweating it, nor is my team.

Sometimes inertia is massive. My resistance to motion, to change puzzles me. This illogical opposition towards bettering my circumstances annoys me. My frustration with myself, ironically, impedes my ability to resist resistance’s drag. The more anger, the more stuckness. Moments like this drive home that we are not logic driven brings. Emotion’s power: mammoth and dominant.