About 10 or 11 years ago when I first started selling real estate in Granbury, Texas and when I still had that, "I can do anything by myself....I don't need any help from anybody" mentality, I had a fight with a commercial for sale sign and lost.
Here's how it went down:
I had just gotten a listing for a commercial tract of land. If memory serves it was a pretty decent listing and in that tiny town, those were difficult to come by. So you can imagine my enthusiasm about wanting to get started marketing the property right away.
Well because this was a pretty big tract of land it would only seem fitting for there to be a "pretty big" sign on the property as no little rickety yard sign would do. So I took a peek at what the company had available for commercial signage in our little storage area located in the back of the building.
There was one really, really big sign I knew I would have to pay someone to take over there because the darn thing was on skids and required a truck which would take who knows how long to get out there....(probably years) or I might with some ingenuity be able to get this other big sign out there in my suv but the sign was so big I doubted it would fit. Hmmm...
As usual other people in the office must've smelled that I was up to something because they all started "dropping by" outside to see what was going on. Me....obviously on a mission explained that I was going to get "that" in "there". Me of course thinking that the toughest part of the deed was in fact getting "that" in "there".
Well, I got started. Backed the car up, popped the back open......scooted the sign out...kinda heavy...well...it's all about leverage as Dad used to say...oh I am NOT going to let this sign get the best of me....SHOVE. Hey, cool got it out of it's home and to the car. Another 20 minutes or so in the car. 
Now, for those of you who need to understand just how big this sign was. I want you to imagine a Chevy Tahoe. The sign was exactly....I mean without a centimeter to spare the size of the inside of the car. From leg to top of the frame it touched both windshields and all sides of the car. Another perfect description....while standing on the part where you would normally stand to get it in the dirt...if I stood on that then I could wrap my finger tips over the top of the sign...got a good mental picture?
Within the next 10-15 minutes or so, I'm on site with sign and ready to post! Man...it's windy today...I guess I didn't realize how windy it was. Whatever....yank the sign out of the car and look at how far I have to walk with the bloody thing before I arrive at the best appropriate spot...oh, I can do it...march on.
I arrive at the spot after nearly being blown off the face of the earth after learning that if I put the flat side of the sign into the wind, means I will soon end up as the first human kite without a string. But....I made it.
Ok, now all I have to do is get it in the ground. Ok so I'll just hike up my knee and get it on that little foot rest that stands oh say about 3 feet in the air and oh well...hell...are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how easy it is to post a sign in Granbury, Texas? It's 98% rock for starters and they get rain at least 3 times a year there and today was well I dunno day 218 without rain??? Maybe...
Again, I am not going to let this sign get me down. So I hike up the first leg...nope....hike up the other leg...nope...stand...think...hike up the first leg...nope...I got it...on your mark get set....GO! In one leap...I jump land both feet in that blasted little toe holder...I am now standing on top of the world...uh oh...wait...my foot is stuck and I am falling forward.......BOOM!
I have managed to fall face down on top of the sign on one of the busiest highways in my town.
Now...go ahead ha ha ha that's funny...whatever. The best part for me I guess is that I know...for a fact...nobody saw me. How do I know you may ask...because there are only two possible reactions should you see this happen live.
- You laugh so hard you wreck your car.
- You're so concerned about whether or not the idiot who just did that is alive you stop the car and ask if they need assistance.
Neither of which happened...thank GOD!
Happy Friday!
Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!
Best Regards!
Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com
“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”
Shannon,
You are so funny. I love your tenacity, and I'm glad you survived the experience to tell the story. Great post!
Sounds like something I would do - Maybe it is in the name! Or I took the kids story of the train a little too seriously cause I keep hearing in my head "I think I can , I think I can, I think I can!"
More often than not we do succeed!!!
I have a mental image of Dorothy and Toto flying a huge, flapping "FOR SALE" sign all the way back to Kansas.
(P.S. My uncle left me a message about all the assistance you offered. He liked you. Good luck.)
From another "Shannon L" with JRW (heard you got one of my calls the other day from Al - too funny!)
Great writing - funny story - It's nice to know I can share my stories of humiliation fueled by my "new agent" motivation and others will sympathize.
At least you fell on top of that huge sign and not the other way around!
This was a hillaious post! I would have been guilty of laughing so hard I would almost have had a wreck trying to pull over to ask you if you need help - without being able to see (because of laughing so hard).
If it makes you feel any better, I'm one who doesn't think I need help with anything. Then I wonder where the day went as I try to build a website. Finally just put up a template and shrug off the two days I lost in the melee.
JAN:
SHANNON: Thanks, I'm glad I survived as well...whew! :)
ANDREW: Ahahahah you're funny. Glad your uncle got what he needed. If he went with Kevin, he's in great hands! Thanks for counting on me. It means alot!
SHANNON: You gotta good point about what direction I fell, never thought about that til you pointed it out. As far as that call from Al...it was sooooo funny because he went right into the point of his call which was arranging that meeting with who he thought was you...it dawned on him that I was not you when I said, uhm ok darlin...Friday works for me...where are we meeting and why? He was so embarassed! :)
TIFFANY: Honey, I know! It would've taken someone nearly dead to not have laughed at what took place! At least your honest...and sweet for pulling over! :)
JEANNIE: The whole thing was pretty hysterical although it took me that long to think so.
JASON: :)...I'd like to think I may have grown from that experience...more time will tell for sure.
WIILAM: Not too surprising that nobody offered a hand. The fall probably took about 2 seconds and who scans vacant land for bodies while driving busy highways! :)