As I listened intently to the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado it occured to me that there were many life lessons I and others could apply to  life & career. These lessons follow below.

I will be listening intently again at the opening night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota next week for more life lessons to share.

1.   Dress for Success. If you dress professionally, you will look the part and be more convincing to others.

2.  Change is inevitable. Those who embrace change will be successful and speak well to the younger generation. I know what hasn't worked. If I try new approaches, more success can be in my future.

3.   Nothing can keep a fighter down. If you want something, you are restricted only by how hard you are willing to work for it.

4.  Rise to your best ideals. Represent your clients, your profession, and yourself using the Golden Rule, a tenet in the Code of Ethics.

5.  Let others sing your praises. Selling yourself is never as effective as having a third party wax eloquent about your abilities.

6.  Believe in Yourself. Against the odds  a junior senator campaigned for the nation's highest office&  forged ahead to presumptively win his party's nomination.

7.  Honor the wisdom of your mentors. Senator Kennedy's prominence at the convention speaks to all of us who have had a helping hand in our careers or life in general.

8.  Be Yourself.  Obama has presented himself as a different sort of candidate, not a cookie cutter Washington political figure. Being genuine shines through.

9.  Success brings about more success. As your clients have happy experiences in real estate, they will help your momentum build as they tell their friends, family, and collegues about your abilities.

10.  The torch will be passed to a new generation. As you have been mentored, educated, and given a hand up, don't forget to offer this help to others that pass through your life. Especially be willing to mentor and assist other real estate agents who are new and less experienced.

Sandra Malley, ABR, GRI, affiliated with Long & Foster Real Estate in Damascus Maryland is a seasoned full time real estate agent who welcomes both buyers and sellers to contact her.