Mission Impossible
Craig McCall's philosophy helps everyone succeed in their goals.
ARMY CREW Chief Craig McCall’s philosophical journey began on a on a brisk October morning in a helicopter over Grenada. The air was thick with the smell of jet fuel and the sound of gunfire. Suddenly, bullets began riddling his helicopter. He was shot twice and severely wounded. Despite the dire situation, he never wavered from his mission. In fact, his main concern was for his passengers, crew, and the political hostages he was sent to rescue.
As you might guess, McCall’s mission was successful. After his recovery, he received seven medals including a Purple Heart and a new philosophy on life. “Things may be difficult, but nothing is impossible,” McCall states modestly.
Today, Gainesville Realtor Craig McCall has a new mission: helping families in transitions. “Real estate isn’t about buildings or land, it’s about people,” McCall says.
Helping people make, what is probably the most important decision of their life, is a mission he doesn’t take lightly. “You just have to look for solutions in the right places and sometimes that means thinking outside the box.”
McCall is not your typical realtor. He knows first hand that buying and selling a home is an emotional process, and he takes time to listen. “People want honest communication and the key to that is listening first,” he insists. “If you don’t listen, you can’t begin to understand.”
After the military, McCall was a U.S. Postal Service manager in Tennessee before relocating back to his hometown of Gainesville. Now, as a member of the Watson Realty team, McCall says, the lessons he learned in the military and civil service helped him realize he was put on this earth to solve problems.
For McCall, every mission is possible. In fact, he offers what no other realtor in the area offers: a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee or his commission back. From first meeting to closing, he lets clients know that the process is “about what is best for them - and not for me.”
McCall believes that if you treat people the way you want to be treated you can’t go wrong. “It may sound old fashioned,” he says, “but I was taught to live by the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would have them treat you.”
A true optimist, he believes, “First and foremost, if it weren’t for God smiling on me, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.” He also credits his mentors Donna Bostwick and Pat Nichelson for their guidance. In his soft spoken Southern accent, he adds, “A day of favor with someone that has the ability to change your life is worth a lifetime of labor.”
McCall embraces the Internet, as well, to create a more educated consumer. Indeed, his well-traveled website www.craigmccallhomes.com allows visitors to search for listings, take virtual tours, and learn about the “process.” Beyond cyberspace, in his bright office at the Watson Realty Corporation, 4516 NW 23rd Avenue in Gainesville, McCall is always available to make the process as stress free as possible for his clients. It all goes back to his commitment to making missions possible—but now he does it one family at a time. G
Please contact Craig McCall by visiting his website at www.craigmccallhomes.com or calling 352-494-3039 or e-mailing craig@craigmccallhomes.com.