“There’s almost a surplus of people coming to real estate.” 

Interesting article in the New York Times today talking about the pandemic boom in new real estate agents. Where many of us are experiencing “worker shortages,” real estate is attracting tons of interest.

Why?

And what concepts can we steal from real estate to drive interest in our organizations?

The fast answer to the question of why is money. Real estate agents are paid on commission. Home prices are way up and homes are flying off the shelves. It must be a popular career choice because there’s a lot of money in it!

Well, that’s one reason. But the reality is that most agents fail. And if you’ve done 10 minutes of research into the field, you know that.

So, what else about real estate sales could be drawing so much interest?

There is autonomy in that career. There is responsibility. There is a sense of control. There is income based on results and not hours. There is a better sense of freedom. There’s the ability to be you instead of a corporate automaton.

Hmmm… We might be on to something!

It’s not just about money anymore. It’s not just about a benefits package anymore. Many people want a new way to engage with work. More freedom, more clarity, more responsibility, more trust, more value, more personal. 

It may be time for a radical change to business as usual. But only if you want the best and brightest. It’s up to you.