REAL ESTATE FOR BREAKFAST

TRANSCRIPTION: Those who come by my office will usually hear classical music from the likes of Dvorak, Mozart, and Beethoven playing loudly in the background. The music helps me focus. When I really want to get motivated, I’ll play epic movie scores. It grows even louder. Sometimes great composers, like their compositions, have intriguing “back stories” that are as motivating as their music.

Take, for instance, Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, considered one of the finest classical pianists of the 20th Century. Rachmaninoff earned the nickname “Six and a Half Foot Scowl” from fellow composer Franz Schubert. Perhaps for good reason. Early in his career, when debuting his first symphony, he was brutally panned by critics who condemned the score to the “music conservatory in hell.” Back then, attending a symphony was like going to a movie premiere like “Star Wars.” It didn’t help that the hired conductor was drunk throughout the entire performance. The poor reception of his work threw the composer into a tailspin, and for years he was stuck in a state of deep depression. Never again could he bring himself to compose another note.

Nevertheless, after years of working through his depression, he went on to write some of the greatest compositions of all time. “Never” is such a definite word. So, maybe you’re not a classical “music lover.” Consider then when we were told by “experts” “never” to expect the price to go below/above a certain price per gallon. When the auto companies report a record of new car/truck sales when economists previously said that the U.S. car industry would “never” beat its record of X million car sales. General Motors would “never” file for bankruptcy. The Detroit real estate market, let alone the national real estate market, would “never” recover to pre-recession sales levels. “Never!”

There are so many examples of poor predictions regarding events or things.

But I regularly witness the best “poor predictions” in my own practice from people mired in a financial or legal crisis of “Never,” “I can’t,” or “It will never be…” I remind them of stories like that of Rachmaninoff and assure them that one moment we are threatened by storms and that in time the gray skies give way to blue. It may sound “pollyannish” but I can assure you that once you hear the “Nevers” change to “I can” as often as I do—it is music to the ears.

Dedicated to your success,
David Soble

About David Soble: David is a seasoned real estate and finance attorney with more than 35 years of experience, combining his background as a “big bank insider” with a commitment to demystifying complex legal issues for his clients.  As the founding attorney of Soble Law (also known as Soble PLC / Proven Resource), he leads a specialized team in Michigan and Ohio that handles real estate transactions, contract disputes, probate, and financial litigation.  Known for a practical, no-nonsense approach and peer-rated excellence (Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent), Soble and his team strive to protect clients’ property and financial interests with clarity, integrity, and experience.

Disclaimer: You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own qualified attorney.