Although the media reports gloom and doom for the real estate and banking market I am optimistic about the future of our industry. Working at BGS3 provides me with a unique perspective on the current market, its challenges, and what it will take to rebuild the economy. At the risk of sounding naïve, I believe a good old-fashioned pep talk on hard work—like the ones dad used to give us growing up—is in order for all those involved in short sales and distressed homeowner specializations. The time is now to be proactive and learn the “old ways” of Real Estate 101, taught by the 20-30 year real estate veterans you rub shoulders with on a daily basis. These real estate sages have not stayed in the game as long as they have without their ability to network, market and develop new and better ways to serve their customers. Glimpses of this kind of work ethic are creeping back into the industry as stories of agents knocking door to door in distressed neighborhoods to find homeowners in need, networking to establish themselves as the premier short sale expert in the community and seeking alternative ways to generate leads begin to surface. These strategies have been around for ages. Ask your office veterans or, better yet, watch them do it. Following their example will help all of us adapt to today’s market and stake our claim in the direction of progress and change.