Evening star., 1921-11-12
ESSAY ON REALTY
W|NSATTENT|0N
Men in Business Here Study
Description of Qualities
for Success.

for Success.
Realtors of Washington are mani
Testing a natural interest In an essay
on real estate as a profession by John
Mcmahon of this city, which won
first prize in a contest conducted in
connection with the Y. NJ. c. A. course
in real estate. The Washington Real
Estate Board is sponsoring the
COURSE.
The essay in part follows:
The ever-increasing demand Of
this decade is for Individual eff
cheney. Everywhere there is greater
Intensity Of effort. Every occupation
.day-makes more and more exacting
demands upon those engaged in it.
Today, in industries, trades. arts and
professions, none but efficient men
end women are vocationally secure:
The unskilled. the inept, the faithful
but inefficient, are being hard pressed
and gradually vanquished: Nor Is
this process Of industrial elimination
confined to the incapable and the un-
trained, either. An unkind fate awaits
the capable men and women who are
well trained for vocations which do
not fit them and who. because of this,
fail to measure up to the required
efficiency standard. The right choice
Of a vocation would therefore seem
to be the natura1basis OF efficiency,
and in exercising the right of choice
with respect to entering the real es-
tate business, it would be well for
the young man or woman so contem-
plating to consider carefully. first:
is the business mt for meT and, sec
ond, Am l fit for the business:
nr 70 nto 70 hn
tersely. What has real estate to oneT
me? What am l prepared to put into
the business, and by this mean. par
ticularly, those qualities that canno'
be measured in dollars and cents.
Attractive Prospects.
THE real estate and general
brokerage business is the most ex-
tensive and the most attractive bust
ness in the world today. from Its
financial prospects and otherwise
The returns are greater. the oppor-
tunities for success and service more
numerous: the vocationally fit anc
well qualified young man or woman
has an opportunity to engage In
business that, because Of it's con
tinual variety, is fascinating ano
healthful; will bring him in contar
constantly with his fellow-man ara
will broaden his ideas and make hin
tually will either raise or lower hin
socially in their estimation, accord
ing to his just deserts. That thi
is true can be evidenced in no NOR
striking q manner than by referrin;
briefly to the kind and character 0
successful men who are at present OF
have been engaged in it-becaus
great professions or vocations should
like great countries, make great mer
Throughout the history Of the worl,
those nations, 1t will be noted. tina
contributed most to the progress o
deeds of their leaders Of thought ant
Of action. Whenever our minds dwell
upon a definite country the names o.
that country's most renowned citizens
come first in our thoughts. In lik'
manner, when we pause to conSldei
what great men the profession o
vocation Of real estate has produced
we find the names of men who have
made from humble beginnings hon
orable names and great success fo'
themselves in developing our city an'
making it possible, for thousands o
wage-earners> to own their owr
homes. and who in so doing have
earned and retained the esteem o:
their fellow-men, who have elevated
them on numerous occasions to tn.
highest pinnacles within their gifts.
Must Study Laws.
"But for a young man or woman
to say that they have decided to enter
the business is not sufficient. The!
must bring to real estate those traits
and characteristics that would spell
success in any other profession. The!
must be honest, upright, progressive
and possess genius. the capacity TO.
indeed required. For the law Of rea;
property as it exists today in tn,
United States is full of intricacy. Th.
commercial spirit of modern time:
has broken down many of the artifi-
cial barriers which the feudal system
and the English law of descent anI
tenures interposed to prevent quic;
and easy transfer of landed estates
but enough of the old rules surviv.
to confuse and perpleX the embryo
realtor who lacks time and inclination
to study them.
speak. between owner and purchaser.
is he or she prepared. or rather does
he or she possess a high sense OF
honor regarding the fulfillment OF
promises and obligations? Good faith
and truth are fundamental princi
pies. applicable alike to any pro
fession, but in this particular voca-
ton because of the fiduciary rela
tionship of the parties at all times
it must of necessity be possessed in :.
marked degree.
Should Know His City.
"Is the party who is about to ente!
the lists prepared for overwork and
underworld To study his subject il,
such a manner as to become familiar
with its intricacies, to know the city
and to know it's needs and the needs
of his clients and customers? Is he
willing to risk his own money in his
Nd ocfo
demands make sacrifices for his pro-
fession or vocation? If so. and he
loves his calling for its own sake and
not for the financial returns it offers
then I would say in selecting real
estate as a vocation he has done
wisely: he is fitted for 1t. vocationally,
and will succeed. He will have an
opportunity to grow and expand, Just
how much depending alone upon him.
self. He will inevitably be doing
good for others and IN so doing will
be doing for himself. In word,
financial success must follow as the