I am responding to the article posted on Realty Times on April 28, 2000, entitled "How Is the DOJ Homestore/NAR Probe Affecting the REALTOR? In my opinion the new leadership styles built upon the architecture of change, sometimes referred to as the "fusion model," are substantially in concert with the decentralized architecture of the internet. The new technologies to an unprecedented degree empower individuals at the expense of governments, corporations, and the media. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the National Association of Realtors have narrowcasted their vision by continuing to practice old leadership styles based on a pyramidal bureaucracy, i.e., narrowly controlled information equals narrowly controlled power. I further believe that these practices by NAR are serious growth barriers and are likely to lead to a derailing, hence the Department of Justice probe. As we cross the historic threshold of the year 2000, the critical issues of well-grounded transformational leadership and a vision rooted in synergistic foresight are called for, but scarcely found within the institutions of the National Association of Realtors and HomeStore. Hyperculture magnifies our choices both positive and negative. What NAR and HomeStore are now experiencing are the effects of poor centralized decision making, which can best be described as the "invisible fist." In these times where turbulence is the norm and highly selective innovation choices enhance survival, a new leadership model based upon the idea of decentralization needs to be rapidly advanced. Today lemming-like thinking is poorly rewarded and bold thinking is greatly rewarded, if intelligently arrived at. Existing models such as Mastermind Groups, and Competitive Intelligence Teams, allow the successful management of creative professional intellect as it relates to new technology and the internet. Individual agents across the country have criticized both NAR and HomeStore with little effect, consequently increasing numbers of agents are realizing the benefits of decentralization and establishing their own personal websites exclusive of NAR and HomeStore. In addition they are establishing Mastermind Groups, and Competitive Intelligence Teams as methods to successfully cope with the speed of change. They understand that as power becomes decentralized competitive advantage belongs to those who understand and embrace the new decentralized points of control. They also realize that those fooled by pseudo-decentralization will fare poorly in the information age. In short, the internet has empowered individuals to share their thinking, which resulted in synergistic systems of thought and practice, which are superior to those still utilizing the industrial age models. This trainwreck of the Department of Justice, HomeStore and NAR was not unexpected, and perhaps will result in a healthy restructuring and a new foundation for growth in the 21st Century. The individual agents who have advanced their skill levels, and their ability to deliver their services more efficiently through technology will prosper and avoid disintermediation regardless of the outcome of the Department of Justice, NAR/HomeStore Perhaps this experience will establish a new clarity of purpose and transformational vision for NAR. From my perspective it is long overdue.

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