March is Marketing and Branding Month here at Inman. As we enter spring selling season, let’s explore which tried-and-true tactics and cutting-edge innovations are getting deals done in today’s market. We’ll also recognize the industry’s marketing and branding leaders with Inman’s Marketing All-Star Awards.
My friend and I left a packed Inman Connect event on a freezing night in New York City. Our hotel was a short walk away, but she suggested calling a taxi. That seemed absurd to me — someone who thrives on movement. “Let’s book it!” I said, taking off at a sprint. But within moments, searing pain shot through my right leg, reducing me to a slow, painful hobble. The cold was no longer my concern.
A week earlier, I had been diagnosed with an L3 bulging disc. My chiropractor made it clear: if I wanted to heal, I had to change how I moved. This was a wake-up call for someone who had always relied on yoga and hiking as a source of strength and stress relief. My usual patterns weren’t the solution — they were the problem.
A new approach to an old problem
Real estate is facing a similar reckoning. The industry is evolving, and the old business ways no longer work. The challenges of Clear Cooperation and buyer representation demand a shift in strategy.
At Inman Connect, I noticed a striking pattern — many of the top speakers weren’t from real estate at all. Watching Brad Inman interview Nykia Wright, CEO of NAR, it was clear that resilience and adaptability define the next era of leadership. Growth demands courage.
Both my physical challenges and the changes in our industry are a call to slow down.
3 changes have transformed my business during these times
1. Do less; listen more
As I slow down to heal, I am called to slow down with my clients. It is more evident to me than ever that they want to work with someone who is present. Clients have always wanted someone who listens to their needs, concerns and dreams. I have become less of a Doer and more of a Listener, both to my body and my clients.
2. Recognize the preparation
I have spent a lifetime of conditioning my body. My practitioners have reminded me of the power of that preparation when it is time to heal. As a real estate agent who weathered the Great Recession, I reaped the reward of a certain calm during the recent changes and challenges. I had something to compare it to. If you are a newer agent, perhaps tap into a time in your life where you weathered a storm. We can do this!
3. Trust in the process
This is the hardest one. I am a deep believer that we are not dealt any hand that we cannot handle. It doesn’t always feel that way though. When I explain to my buyers that I believe the transparency that is being required of the industry right now is a good thing that will serve all those involved, I am reminded to trust and believe that truth.
Walking forward with confidence and not fear
Whether we are navigating new rules and procedures, expanding our team or stepping forward on a new social media platform, there will be endless moments along the way where we ask ourselves, “Is this working? Is it worth it?”
Returning home, I committed to moving differently, and to my surprise, my body responded almost immediately — the pain lifted. Likewise, the real estate industry is resilient. By embracing change rather than resisting it, we, too, can find a path forward.
Pam Blair is the broker-owner of YogaBug Real Estate in Portland, Oregon. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.
