I Can Do This

Some might think that writing a book would be easy. One day, I want to write a book. And I want people to want to read it. I would hope they'd be interested in what I have to say or what I have done. It's a fun, but also daunting idea.

To start off, I think I'd write something about my upbringing and how I got out here to NYC. However, off the top of my mind, the first vignette I can think of would be the sign I received yesterday. Call is what you will, but I think God was showing me that this move was the right decision.

I was waiting for the movers to arrive at my first apartment, a three month sublet I found through a friend who's roommate had recently received a promotion and had to move to St. Louis. After grabbing my key from the laundry lady downstairs who had been holding them for me and checking out the place, I started bringing things in that I could carry little-by-little. On my second trip down stairs, I saw two women walking towards me. Assuming they were tenants of the building, I kept the door open. Turns out they weren't residents.

"Do you happen to know if this building is leasing?" the older woman I assumed to be the mother asked. 

I must've looked confused.

"Are there any apartments for rent here?" her daughter added.

"Yes, is there a way to know if any are unoccupied or if they're looking to rent? Is there a sign on the door?"

"Oh I have no idea!" I replied, "I'm sorry, I'm just moving in right now!"

"Oh lucky man, how did you find this place?"

I proceeded to tell the two women, who I found out were in fact a mother-daughter duo about how I found the sublet. We then talked about what her daughter was looking for, where in the city she worked, a start date, where she wanted to live, size, budget, etc. She was adamant on avoiding broker's fees and seemed to run into them where lever she searched. Even Craigslist!

So I suggested two apps to help her with the search and explained my philosophy on the necessities of brokers for busy people. There is a trade-of you must make if you're going to be searching for your own apartment. You now are taking it upon yourself to spend a lot of time searching. That's what brokers are paid to do. They also have relationships with owners that any individual likely has not established.

Anyway, I suggested one website and was completely blanking on the other. We wished each other well and good luck in our respective journeys.

I was bummed I couldn't remember the app that I had JUST been reading about in the New York Times. It was aimed at eliminating brokers fees and was highly recommended. Walking up the stairs, "Redfin" popped into my head. A few days prior I had downloaded it to my phone! Why couldn't I have remembered it for those women?

Maybe they're still out there, I thought. Maybe I could tell them what that other app is I couldn't think of before! 

Fate struck because when I came down the stairs the second time and met my movers, the mother came running over to me and asked for the name of the first website I had suggested. Elated to see her again, I was able to tell her about the second as well. 

Happy with the exchange, we once again we wished each other well. I'm glad she ran back to find me.

In retrospect, I wish I had offered her some sort of service I could provide! Or at least some contact info for any future search. Soon enough.

From this tiny interaction, I demonstrated to myself that I can do this. I'm meant to do this. It just comes naturally. I got along so well and was able to help these women and offer them some sense of hope and optimism. To top it all off, I had JUST arrived in the city.