To survive and be successful in real estate, Richard Mendenhall, NAR President-elect for 2001, says firms should embrace directional changes every six months and consider industry reports regarding the increased number of bilingual, first-time buyers when making those changes. Mendenhall added that firms should make a strong commitment to the industry--minus an exit strategy--and approach the future by creating a unique identity that evolves with the company, its staff and the industry as a whole.

Industry movers and shakers discussed the emerging world of global e-commerce during the Great Ideas Conference in Palm Desert, Calif., at the Marriot Desert Springs Resort & Spa in September. The conference theme--"20/20 Vision: Bringing the New Millennium into Focus"--gave 60 broker/owners and executives from top firms the opportunity to expand their horizons by joining focus groups and discussions. The topics included long-term strategies, the changing needs of the e-friendly customer and the impact of non-real estate businesses on the real estate industry.

Host Charles Dahlheimer, president of North American Consulting Group, said this year's participants had a different agenda than in the seven previous years the conference has been held. "The difference this year is that [brokers and industry leaders] are convinced things are changing, and they want to know what to do about it."

Dahlheimer's book 20/20 Vision (North American Consulting Group, 1999; $24.95), due out in December, discusses results from the conference.

For more information, contact North American Consulting Group at (314) 664-8552.

Recruiting and Retaining the Best, an industry study based on the combined efforts of NAR and REAL Trends, is now available. The report provides information about the industry's top agents, including demographics and financial data. For a copy, visit realtor.org

Transact '99, the first international conference for the commercial real estate industry, was held in Chicago in September. The conference, sponsored by NAR and the Urban Land Institute, attracted approximately 600 REALTORS® attended the event to discuss commercial real estate, regional growth factors and policies, environmental concerns, the diversity of communities and other industry-related topics. For more information, visit realtor.org