1:30
Two shoe salesmen in 1930s Africa saw the same fact: nobody wore shoes. One saw no market. The other saw millions of customers. Your perspective determines what you see in any market, including real estate.
Two shoe salesmen in 1930s Africa saw the same fact: nobody wore shoes. One saw no market. The other saw millions of customers. Your perspective determines what you see in any market, including real estate.
How many times you get asked the question, how's the market? Well, I would argue that today's market requires the right perspective, the right point of view.
It reminds me of a story I heard years ago about the Bata Shoe Company out of India back in the 1930s, looking to expand their business. Just like you. They sent out two salespeople to go do some recon, to go figure out, can we sell some shoes here in Africa. And once you do your recon, you talk to enough people, you explore enough the territories, write us a telegraph and let us know what we should know. Well, two salespeople not talking to each other, both reported in at the same exact day, and both of their telegraphs started the same exact way. It said, here in Africa, no one wears shoes. And of course, the first person, what he wrote, here in Africa, no one wears shoes. He wrote down below, no sales opportunities here. I'm coming home. The second person had a different perspective. He said, here in Africa, no one wears shoes. Send me as many shoes as you can. Nothing but sales opportunities here. Well, doesn't that summarize how many people look at the real estate marketplace today? Yes. Transactions are flat. Yes. Depending upon the marketplace you're in, it's going to require a different perspective. For some people, this is the greatest market on the planet. And for others, interest rates and tariffs and everything is getting in their way. I guess my question for you on this Monday is, what's your perspective? Because last time I checked, no one here wears shoes.
