I write a lot of stuff. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. People seem to read it, and many times they will contact me because of it.
Each week, I talk to a bunch of strangers. People that I didn’t know until that moment, but who reach out to me to help with the challenges they are having. I regularly talk with hundreds of people about some of their most intimate problems. These are not the problems you discuss with the checker at the grocery store. No, the problems I tend to discuss with strangers are usually the kind of problems that are life changing decisions.
I realize this is a unique point of view that very few people will ever have. I can’t say it is good or bad, it just is. Lately, I have begun to get concerned… about our future.
Why you ask?
Let me explain.
It used to be that the people I would talk to understood which actions they had taken to put themselves in a certain position. Maybe they didn’t like the consequences that came with their decision, but they understood and accepted how they got there. Even in bad situations, there was a level of accountability.
Now? That accountability seems to have gone out the window. I don’t understand why, but I think I’m starting to see the how. I believe there are 3 monsters who are fighting against our basic human traits, and sometimes they get the better of us. Those 3 monsters are:
- Personal Accountability vs. the Herd. As people, we make decisions every single minute that will impact our lives. Those decisions can be anything from what to eat for lunch to who to give my estate to after I’m gone. No one forces us to place another order with Amazon. No one forces you to post on Facebook. No one forces you to buy a home. These are all things you decide to do for yourself and your family, because you believe it will meet a need or provide a better outcome. Take responsibility for your actions. Even if you don’t like the outcome, that doesn’t change the fact that you made the choice to get there. You can’t blame the herd mentality monster for your own decisions.
- Patience vs. Automation. The automation monster is running rampant. As Amazon continues to change the face of most everything we know, we have forgotten what it is like to have to wait. I don’t mean wait for the box of unnecessary stuff to show up at the door. I mean wait for anything. Can you get a mortgage in as little as 8 days right now? Are you really going to wake up one weekend and decide to upend your life and then be packed and ready to go by the following weekend? I doubt it. Some things need time, even if they don’t take time. Read that again. When it comes to important life decisions, you need the time to consider all the implications of that choice you are making. If you are confused on making choices, please see personal accountability above for more details.
- Generosity vs. Greed. Amid the “I want it now” and “It’s not my fault” lies that you tell yourself is the biggest underlying monster. That monster is named greed. Greed is tricky because it tends to hide in the shadows, but has his fingers in most everything you do, even if you don’t realize it. As our society shifts and the way we do business changes, it makes it even easier for greed get what it wants. Maybe greed wants a hamburger at a drive-thru because it’s easier than cooking at home, or sits on the couch to binge Netflix instead of shooting hoops outside, or wants to pop that extra Ibuprofen pill instead of drinking more water because its easier. Just this week, I saw offers from more than one lender for loans with “up to 110% of appraised value” for repairs and “no income, no asset” mortgage options on an investment. When used properly, these are good mortgage tools and products to have. It’s only when greed raises its ugly head that good things often turn bad. Think of it like medicine. If a little bit of something is good, a lot of it doesn’t mean it’s better. In many instances, a lot of something means an overdose and a ride in an ambulance or body bag.
The next time you find yourself making snap judgments or decisions, remember to keep it in context. Don’t let the herd automate your greedy desires. There is a solution for that. It is called you. Hold yourself accountable for what you need and act accordingly.
When you need a real human adviser to help you through your Snohomish County real estate decisions, give us a call at (206) 466-4020 or info@hudsoncreg.com. We are the closest thing to an easy button that comes with a real human experience. And, we only work with honest, down to earth, and strategic minded people.
It all starts with a simple conversation. How can we help you today?
Cheers!
Jen Hudson