What can real estate pros learn from the guy who invented the lightbulb?
GELB: Edison cultivated the concept of “charismatic optimism.” For real estate pros, optimism by itself is not enough. Your optimism has to affect others—the buyer or seller you’re working with. Edison was so charismatic that he was able to get people to invest in projects. He built this tremendously successful phonograph business, and when part of his factory burned to the ground he convened his senior team and said, “This is a wonderful opportunity. We can start from scratch and build it better.” If your market is suffering, this is a time of tremendous opportunity. It’s when the creative, innovative folks will thrive. If you’re just sitting there waiting for the phone to ring, you have a challenge. Real estate practitioners may feel it’s harder to innovate since they’re not “inventing” something. GELB: Inventing something is only one form of creativity and innovation. For real estate professionals, it’s about how you can be innovative in the way you build relationships, in the way y
