| Although I wouldn’t call myself a movie buff, I do like a good flick every once in a while. The problem, at least the way I see it, is that Hollywood is trying to shove an agenda down our throats with just about every new movie that comes out. But I can always pop some corn and hit up my Ernie’s List Of Classic Movies. So now you’re probably wondering what’s on Ernie’s List of Classic Movies. Well, one of the movies right at the top of that hallowed list is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. If you haven’t seen it yet, get it on your calendar to watch asap! I recently read a little bit about the movie’s writer – Nia Vardalos. When she tried to be an actor in Los Angeles, she was rejected over and over because she didn’t fit into the mold that they were looking for. What mold were they looking for you ask? Well, apparently not Greek. They flat-out told her no one wants to watch anything that has to do with people who are Greek. Then when she presented her screenplay for My Big Fat Greek Wedding to the major studios it was returned unopened. Ain’t that how life is? You have a dream, you have a vision, you have talent, you have drive, you’re excited about something, and as soon as you share your gift, the world shoots you down. But it didn’t end there for Nia. She wasn’t going to give up that easily. She found a mentor who was in her corner and reignited her passion for the movie she knew would be a hit. She just needed someone who believed in her to tell her to go for it. We all need someone like that in our lives. The movie she wrote is the story of her real life. While most people do everything they can to hide what the rest of the world considers to be awkward and embarrassing she embraced it. She embraced it so much that she wrote about it, and the world absolutely loved it! How much did the world love it? Well, My Big Fat Greek Wedding ended up becoming one of the highest grossing independent films of all time. It made over 365m against a 5m budget. Not a bad payday! Working with hundreds of students over the years, I’ve found time and again that the same thing plagues so many of us in real estate. We sometimes think that we have faults which in reality are gifts. We should embrace them and run with them. And I’m no exception. When I got started in this business, I had no experience. I was literally the underdog and that’s exactly what I lead my conversations with. I told people I was just getting started and that I was figuring things out. I humbly asked for their patience as we worked together. My property sellers embraced me – they appreciated my honesty and it worked in my favor. At the time I didn’t have a babysitter, and since my wife was at work while I was trying to break into this real estate thing, I had to take my two-year-old daughter, Christina, with me on appointments. In the back of my mind, I kept telling myself, “Are you kidding me – people are going to think I’m an unprofessional idiot who can’t even go to work without a child in my arms.” But I didn’t let that self-doubt stop me. It’s a question of how bad do you want it and I wanted success real bad. And when there’s a will there’s always a way. I took Christina with me on every single appointment. The funny thing is it turned out to be a strength that nobody else had. It broke down invisible walls and opened up conversations that never would have taken place if I didn’t have my baby girl with me. She was the ace up my sleeve! The homeowners would invite me into the house and have me sit down while they gave Christina cookies and milk. Over the years I’ve lost count of how many contracts were written up over cookies and milk. I share these tips with all of my students because we all have what seem to be obstacles in our way. Things you might consider a weakness. But with the right perspective and coaching, those perceived weaknesses and obstacles can be turned into strengths. To your success, Ernie “Movie Buff” Vargas | The Probate Fox |
August 16
Why Are So Many of Today’s Movies Absolute Trash?
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