“Knowing when to jump on… and when to jump off”!
For my Pring Perspective this time I just have to share this little story with you…
Many of you will remember me from my CJ Hole days. Over many years, as a company, we delighted in sponsoring football, cricket and rugby shirts of many of the local clubs in our towns. The fun and exposure gained by both our company and the local teams was super and everyone benefitted from it. When CJ Hole was taken over, I approached my new Managing Director and he agreed to sponsor the football shirts for the team that my son played for.
Some months went by and I was at a function talking to an old boss of mine, when my MD made a beeline for us. “I saw you talking to Stephen” he said, “and I had to come over and tell you that he came up with a brilliant idea! We’ve sponsored his son’s football team’s shirts and now we’re expanding the idea throughout the company. In fact, we run an award scheme nowadays for excellent new ideas and I’m so pleased with this one that I’m going to announce that Stephen and his office have won it”… and off he went.
I turned to my old boss, going somewhat red…
“Sorry about that” I said, “I’m so embarrassed! I never pretended that it was an earth shattering new idea that no one had ever thought of before. Sponsoring the football kit has been done loads of times - we were sponsoring team strips 10...15 years ago, weren’t we”!
“Ah Stephen” he said, with a grin on his face, “To this chap it was the first time he’d come across it and saw the benefits of the idea for everyone. There’s nothing new under the sun – things just go in cycles. It’s like a big wheel - the secret is knowing when to jump on the wheel… and when to jump off”!
New ideas… old ideas: there are really only ideas that hit the mark at different times. In the property market, experience is the key - knowing which ideas to employ and when and how best to execute them to maximum effect; knowing what to do in different phases of the property cycle to get the best results for your client. That can only be gained through experience over the years. Combine local experience with the market coverage of the internet, coverage nowadays that even a national network of offices couldn’t achieve, and I really think that’s a winning combination. In fact, I know so and my SOLD boards prove it! To quote my old boss “There’s nothing new under the sun”… there are however, variations on an idea and in my case, more efficient and effective ones!
It’s just over a year since I launched Pring & Co, although I have been selling homes in the area for over 27 years. I really enjoy doing what I do and have no intention of jumping off the wheel… so I keep running round, enjoying the exercise and doing what I love!
“Without doubt Stephen Pring is one of the most professional people that I have had the pleasure of dealing with in the eight house purchases over the last 20 years”