Nobu Hata

By Nobu Hata

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about what to do after YPN.  You know, when we’re OPN.  Where do we go next?  What can we do now?

How about professional development and education?

Are you digging the “Leadership” thing?  Both your local association and NAR offer Leadership Academies where your leadership style is honed, your decision making style is refined, and you’re provided with the coaching and peer-to-peer interactivity to help you get to the next level in your career.  Want to take it national?  NAR’s Leadership Academy (NARLA) further enhances your profile, while emphasizing the inner workings of your trade association.

It’s one of the keys to making a true impact at the local and national level; Board of Director members, presidential liaisons, and committee chairs are made here.  Nationally, several of your YPN brethren are already making their mark!  Dwayne Carte (MN) and Chris Nichols (UT) are 2010 NARLA class members; with Keith Kanemoto (CO), Hagan Stone (TN) and Matt Case (MI) signed up for 2011.  Many more are learning at the local level, so seek them out!  Talk to your local association staffers about Academy opportunities and referrals to past alumni.  Ask them if it’ll work for you.

The connections made, the opportunities afforded, the chance to influence the influencers – there is no sense of regret about taking time out of one’s business to participate from the folks I’ve talked to.  In fact the opposite occurred with most: “Busyness begets business…” is my mantra from now on.  (Thanks Matt!)

There is life after YPN, guys and gals, and while we won’t be “Y” forever, we’ll forever be REALTORS®.  Reach out and give it a shot!

Nobu Hata is a sales associate for Edina Realty in Minneapolis,  and a founding member of the Minneapolis YPN group, the YoPros.  Visit his Web site at www.nobuhata.com.