From my own personal experience, most CE stuff is just so agents can say they got it in.

I figure, as long as I have to take CE classes why not work towards designations? The average person dosn't know what all those letters mean, but they are proof that a person has been activly trying to stay on top of his education.

As far as listening to the top produces talk for hours on end... I actually find most of them will take the time to answer a question one one one as long as a person is willing to ask. Not a huge fan of the huge group settings. They usually boil down to talking mostly to the new unseasoned agents. Not that any new idea isn't a good idea, but there is only so many times I can here a top producer say "referal system" and "circle of influence."

I'd like a class on closing!!!! I don't need to get into any more houses I just need to leave with more listings. Our top producers seem to be too busy to teach us. We get the normal "Referral, Circle of Influence" stuff as well, by some very well meening agents.

Most of our top producers say they are terrible teachers.

Just got pressured into Brian Buffini.

Haven't been here long enough to take C.E. credits, still have 2 articaling courses left.

P.S. wish they had spell check on this - I'm spelling challenged

We don't have that many in office training sessions.  We just had one of relocation referrals and we had one once on Websites and on line tools our company offers.

None have excited or motivated me.  I would love to have regular sessions on staying motivated.  Or time management..or how not to procrastinate.  I attend lunch and learn sessions with the Women in Business here on PEI and get great info from them designed for everyone in business.

I think offices should concentrate more on ways to keep agents motivated as it would end up paying off for the office at the end of the day.  

I love to learn and love to get some sort of motivational tool every now and again.  

Hello Ron, I love training there very helpful, I started with Keller Williams Memorial and they just to have 3 or 4 classes a week but unfortunately I have to switch to another company because I cut not keep up with the fee, but is an excellent company to work an one day provably I'm going  to come back.

I know what you mean about CE it feels like were just covering info to pass the required time. Not really my cup of tea. As a KW agent, our office has classes weekly too. And did attend them in the beginning, when I first came over to KW from another firm. I have have even taught a few of them.

I prefer coaching, more of a one on one. Once a month I meet with my  coach John Tenza (www.Coaching2Greatness.com) for our Coaching 2 Greatness class & weekly phone call. Which also has many p2a members are in.

Our team has a Top Producer Coach Tom Byers (www.TomByers.com) About every couple of months we have him come in & spends the day with us. The benefits have been OUTSTANDING!!! Helping our team to become more of a well oiled machine.

When we have accountablity..we tend to push ourselves more..

Best to everyone!

Michelle

www.MichelleLaDuke.com

Ron,

My State changed to allowing 2 hour topics for CE. That made a lot of difference because you could take those topics where you felt you were weak. Also, two hours is easier to take than all day.

My broker offers 10 or more classes per month at a central location, additional classes are offered in the office.

Ron,

I used to do training for a living, and as I have said before in this forum not everyone is a trainer.  Our office offers training once a week and the subjects are great and for the most part informative.  I however very rarely go!  The presentation is not there and I find myself grading the presentation instead of learning.  

I have on several occasions given classes myself and been told by my fellow agents that it was a pleasure to be in the class.  Knowledge of the subject, preparation and technique are all needed to get the point across.  I have given spare of the moment classes and they went over like a rock.

As far as CE is concerned it to me is just another way for people to make money.  I have had only a few classes that I felt the instructor really cared if the students learned something.

I fulfill my CE with accreditation courses so I feel like I get something more than just fulfilling a few hours.

As to in office training, while I am a somewhat experienced agent, I don't know it all and I'm still learning something new everyday and when you take away one interesting concept from a sales meeting, it was an excellent meeting.

What I really like about my firm is that our broker teaches from reality, not theory, expecially when he shares stories about what happened when this occurred and what might have been a better thing to do, real learning and real training.

We also have a formal training program for the new agents, a mentor program and helpful associates who give good advice to all who ask. As you can tell, I'm very pleased to be associated with such an outstanding agency.

Since I like to make tax deductible "vacations", Ron, how about we meet up in Texas and you can teach me how to "blog like an animal".  When do you sleep?  Honestly, I have my appraisers license and use this to gain extra knowledge that helps me in real estate sales.  Appraiser CE is like a "smorgasboard"--appraising has National Standards so many, many classes in many, many States fulfill my con ed here.  If anybody in real estate really wants to "dig deep" in the knowledge pool, consider working on an appraiser's license.