I started selling real estate in 1977. Before fax machines, cell phones or office copiers. Our mls office had the tumbling litho with the great smelling purple ink. We took turns going to the mls office to pick up hot sheets and drop off new listing information sheets. The really good agents had polaroid pictures attached to their new listings.

I am finishing my EPro course this week. This reminds of taking my real estate exam in Iowa before continuing education was mandated. We had the Yellow Iowa Primer, which you could read it (or not) and take the test. If you passed, you became a real estate agent. I didn't read it, I didn't pass. A week later I read it, took the test and passed.

I am very gratefull for my career in real estate. I have learned to adjust and adapt to change. You cannot be in this business and expect things to remain constant. I have been through bad times, good times, slow times, wild crazy multiple offer times, high interest rates, adjustable rates, negative am loans, purchase lease options, cfd's, paragraph 17 moments, buyer representation, foreclosures and whirlwind appreciation.

Todays market for some agents, is forcing them to question whether they can afford to stay in real estate sales. My advice, do whatever you need to do to stay in it. Get a second job, or a third job. But don't give up. You will learn so much about yourself and this business if you can just hang in there. Remember, people always need a roof over their head. You just need to be in the right place at the right time to help them find their way. Who knows, maybe your second job will open an entire new market of prospects for you. And 30 years from now you can be looking back and laughing at the mouse and key board you used to write purchase agreements with. :)