Ask An Ambassador: Semper Gumby!!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

"Semper Gumby!!" was a saying back in my Annapolis days.

Semper from the Latin word for "always" and if you had a Gumby toy as a kid (like I did), you know Gumby was FLEXIBLE, thus "Always Flexible!!".

As a midshipman you had to be "always flexible" because things can change quickly and you have to reset priorities.  That requirement didn't end when we threw our hats in the air at graduation, and the need to be flexible continues to this day.

Liz feeds our furry crew (9 Chihuahuas & 17 cats) every morning and I do the evening feeding (and there are differences in who gets what and how much for each feeding, making sure each pet has the optimal diet is a bit complicated!).  It takes in excess of an hour to make, distribute and recollect the dishes after every feeding. 

We've got flexibility, if Liz needs to be somewhere in the morning, I can cover the morning feeding.  If I have to be somewhere else, Liz can cover the evening feeding.  And that flexibility may even come into play with the order we distribute.  E.g. we have three cats that live in the outdoor catios.  A typical night they're last in line, but last night a thunderstorm was rolling in, so a quick switch up in order allowed me to get them fed and inside JUST before hard rain and some hail started to fall.  Semper Gumby!!

Real estate is of course no different in its demands for flexibility.

If you're a single agent, you have to master reprioritizing your day.

If you're a team, you need some degree of cross training to allow for personal emergencies, vacations, two buyers both needing to see a new listing RIGHT NOW so neither misses an opportunity in a hot market, etc.

If you're a blogger, you've got to recognize market shifts and adapt your blogging accordingly.  While having a general schedule of blogging topics works for some, recognizing an opportunity and being amongst the first to get pertinent information out should override non-real estate topics that are less likely to make your phone ring.

You need flexibility to maintain your personal life while managing your real estate life.

Semper Gumby!!

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,

Bill & Liz aka BLiz

Posted by

Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

Search Homes:  Https://WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com

 FacebookWordpressYouTube Pinterest

 

 

 

 

OUR PRIMARY SERVICE AREA:


Comments (24)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Bill (and Liz too) - although I didn't have the toy, regularly watch the cartoon series or get totally caught up in the phenomenon known as Gumby, I think there is something about Pokey that intrigues me.  

Jul 18, 2023 11:15 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

How many orange horses do you see??  :)

Jul 18, 2023 03:10 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I love Gumby dammit! Old SNL days! And yes, we must be flexible to stay in this business.

Jul 18, 2023 11:24 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Old SNL I enjoyed, haven't watched the newer show in a long, long time.

Jul 18, 2023 03:11 PM
Edward Gilmartin
CRE - Boston, MA

Always be flexible but don’t break. It’s true in life and other occupations 

Jul 18, 2023 03:02 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Flexible to a point, but sometimes we have to stop and say Nope, I'm not doing that.

Jul 18, 2023 03:11 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
I didn’t know all the details about Gumby but then he was always a pretty cool guy in the little claymation.
Jul 18, 2023 05:10 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

I don't know if the show would fly in today's times with all the special effects now available, but it worked well for its time.

Jul 19, 2023 10:27 AM
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I thought I was the only one with Gumby the toy. 

Jul 18, 2023 06:09 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

I suspect mine ended up in a trash can at some point!

Jul 19, 2023 10:27 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh, I haven't heard the word Gumby in decades, Bill! LOVE the term and it is so appropriate for what we do...as well as the flexibility you have to have with you, Liz and your animal farm! In fact, I wrote a post about adaptability yesterday - it really is a thing in this business...and in life as you have shown!

Happy Tuesday!

Jul 18, 2023 07:43 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Flex flex flex :)  And visit the chiropractor as needed :)

Jul 19, 2023 10:28 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Another great post,

Love the term Gumby..haven't heard that term in so long! Everyone needs flexibility to maintain our personal life while managing our real estate life.

Jul 18, 2023 08:11 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Keeping the right balance can be a challenge.

Jul 19, 2023 10:29 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Gumby is featured in BananaTUDE!

 

 

Jul 18, 2023 09:04 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Thanks!

Jul 19, 2023 10:29 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I am embarrassed to say I didn’t know you went to the Zavala Academy. I’m an army brat (my dad graduated from West Point) and a marine Corps mom.  You are so right. We have to pivot constantly in real estate

Jul 19, 2023 03:37 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Many moons ago, how it's almost been 40 years since graduation escapes me.

Jul 19, 2023 10:29 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bill. "Semper Gumby" is a great way to analyze the need to be flexible. Kudos to your line of thinking. Enjoy your day.

Jul 19, 2023 04:40 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

In the Navy, we had to figure out how to still get things done no matter the challenge.

Jul 19, 2023 10:30 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have not heard of saying semper gumby, but I learned early on in real estate that we have to be flexible, haha.

Jul 19, 2023 04:54 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

It's a profession that will make that quite clear, very quickly.

Jul 19, 2023 10:30 AM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

I loved Gumby and the cartoons they had. Flexibility to stretch and contract depending on the situations. I guess the ebb and flow of life matches the Gumby.

Jul 19, 2023 06:01 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

It does have similarities.

Jul 19, 2023 10:30 AM
Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS
Bailey Properties, Inc. - Santa Cruz, CA
Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area

Love it !!!

Jul 19, 2023 07:48 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Glad you enjoyed it!

Jul 19, 2023 10:31 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Bill:

Semper Gumby is the perfect analogy for life as well as real estate, and probably any business! The title certainly grabs your attention!

I haven't thought about Gumby in many years...as least since the kids were young.

Jeff

Jul 19, 2023 01:09 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

I assumed the title might be "strange" enough to grab some eyes and have people wondering what it meant :)

Jul 20, 2023 07:47 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I had a hard time getting past the 9 Chihuahuas and 17 cats. 😉 Who takes care of the bees?

Jul 20, 2023 09:55 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Fortunately the bees only need us to do specific tasks during the right seasons (treat for mites, provide sugar water, add or remove boxes and frames, etc.).  So we have bursts of time they need us, and long stretches where they don't.  We currently have 8 hives (we had to consolidate some of the swarms in the smaller hives to have a larger colony ready for winter).

Jul 20, 2023 10:21 AM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

I never heard that term...and dad was a Marine!!!!  I enjoyed that post!!!

Jul 21, 2023 12:55 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Perhaps your dad's service time predates Gumby entering the pop culture?

Jul 21, 2023 09:41 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great analogy!  Remaining flexible keeps things in order no matter what nature throws your way!

Jul 21, 2023 09:16 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

And things WILL be thrown our way :)

Jul 21, 2023 09:42 AM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

Flexibility might be the real estate agents best friend.  

You have a lucky group of best friends.  To feed and take care of 26 pets is quite a job!

Jul 22, 2023 09:10 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Ray, as much as anything, those furry ones is why I do the dual career engineer/real estate agent life.  They're not on generic food and the monthly bill to Amazon isn't cheap :)

Jul 24, 2023 08:39 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Flexibility -- capable of being bent, usually without breaking, easily bent.

Flexibility -- The quality of having options

I have always been intrigued by Gumby and as this applies to real estate -- we need to be flexible but always within the law.

Jul 28, 2023 02:31 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

As a given, by the law.  No commission check is worth my reputation being destroyed.

Jul 31, 2023 07:55 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I remember Gumby and Pokey (was it?).  Your pet addiction is impressive, and I suppose all those chihuahuas only add up to one big dog, so that's a blessing as far as feeding goes.

Aug 08, 2023 02:40 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

Pokey it was!  I had the toy horse too :)
True, total weight for the Chis is probably about 50-60 pounds, but you still have to watch where you step in the yard :)

Aug 08, 2023 04:12 PM