The Driver

 

It’s another real estate convention with first class accommodations and as our van rolls to a stop under the hotel canopy, men in traditional doormen uniforms steps forward to assist our traveling group with our bags.  Walking into the grand foyer was like walking into a palace.  Marble floors adorned with red carpets, marble support columns with polished accent light fixtures and displayed works of art.  The impeccably dressed staff worked diligently to accommodate each guest’s registration request as the concierge answered questions from an impatient current guest of the hotel. As the door opened to our room, the light poured through heavy lace sheer drapes covering the doors which opened to the balcony, revealing the glass encased atrium of the hotel shops and restaurants.  The park-like setting was a constant movement of people coming and going from other conventions, open air displays with professional speakers with the Potomac River as a backdrop. We were staying in one of the finest hotels Washington DC had to offer and yet I lacked the excitement I should be feeling as I stared over the atrium.  Since we had arrived a day early and now bored with the lack of business activity we were normally accustom to, we invited ourselves into another conventions area to listen to other business speakers to gain additional knowledge to share with our other agents and staff.  One of the speakers was Michael Woodford, the former CEO of the Olympus Corporation, turned “Whistle Blower”, which could have cost him his life in Japan. His story, to say the least, was very interesting, so interesting, following his speech, my wife immediately went to our room, went online and ordered his book.  I reminded her, she already knew the end of the story and she gave me a smirk and continued to order her book.

 

Our company’s lineup of convention speakers was a who’s who of the business world.  Darren Hardy was the keynote speaker for the morning. His message of healthy living, healthy business and his drive for success is what makes his Success Magazine the primary reading choice of the professional business person.  Darren’s message was well received and although it had changed some since the last time I heard him speak, (Darren is a very good motivational speaker) and I really didn’t get all that motivated.  Upon his completion, a well-deserved standing ovation was rendered by the audience and then the introductions of another speaker, more applause, another speaker, more applause and the day was completed by a catered party, supplied by the vendors, which could have fed an army, twice the size of the attending party.  The fun part of any convention is the re-acquaintance of the people you have become familiar with over the years and hearing how they were doing in business, children, common complaints of other agents and the lack of quality supply of homes and quality sales agents.  As the week rolled on, I was soon on information over-load that I would have to process what information would best suit our business model, I was ready to go home.

 

While waiting for final check-out, the transportation concierge assigned a driver to take us to the airport.  He graciously took our bags and loaded them into the trunk of our car, opened our doors and soon, we were on our way home. As we pulled away from the convention center, silence filled the car as we were taking our last look of the area and the driver began his story.

 

He spoke with a heavy accent about his job and his love for our country.  He arrived in the US only four years earlier and had been sponsored so his transition would be easier.  He had immigrated from Ethiopia and spoke of the poverty of his home land and the riches and lifestyle of our country.  He shared his questions of his sponsor of how could everyone be so rich in this country and they had to explain to him that they were only middle class people who had to work every day to have and keep a home.  He went on to tell us of how exited he was working for minimum wage and having the ability to save enough money to buy a car and pay for the insurance.  He had worked his way up to become a driver and had much bigger plans for the future.  As he spoke, I become at awe with this man and was humbled by his goals as it was he who reminded me of why I came to convention.  The richness of the fine hotel, the content of the motivational speakers and being in the company of very successful Realtors had not stirred the coals within me to reignite the flame that the driver had done.  The fifteen minute ride to the airport had done more to rekindle the flame than the four previous days of convention.  My problem was, I went to convention to hear the speeches, not listen to them.  Darren Hardy, for all intents and purposes, delivered an exception speech, and I’m sure he was paid well to address the convention but, he was no match for our driver.  What I gained from the convention experience; I now have to concentrate and really listen to people, not just hear them and wait to answer but really listen.  My suggestion to our convention committee; save some money on the next keynote speaker and hire my driver, I’m sure he will deliver a speech that will inspire the convention, to listen.