Marketing Dollars

Hello all,

"Marketing Dollars"

I have been hearing a lot of chatter in the office lately about marketing dollars and where they are going. Lisa looked like the mechanical pony that someone put a quarter in when she got done with Tom Ferry last week, she kept going and going. This really is wonderful to see and hear, the market had been so spotty that it was difficult to commit to something because we were never sure what was going to happen next. However now it seams that we have confidence back in the market and predictability to what will happen next. I wanted to remind everyone of two things as we start to loosen the purse strings again. First, be careful of where you spend your dollars. There are a lot of people out there competing for your money, take your time making decisions and bounce your ideas off of others. Your manager, Mark or Myself are always available for this so please take advantage. Second, how much should you spend? The standard rule of thumb for growing a real estate business is 8%-10% of your gross earnings should go back into your marketing. This is an aggressive amount for someone who is looking to take their business from one level to the next. However it should be no less then 5% to maintain or grow your business a bit. Please spend your money wisely and let the L&F agents buy the shopping carts...

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"After fifty years of living, it occurs to me that the most significant thing that people do is go to work, whether it is to go to work on their novel or the assembly plant or fixing somebody's teeth."

 

~ Thomas McGuane 

 

IT'S MORE THAN A JOB . . . 

 

There’s a suggestion that’s commonly offered to people who have suffered some degree of trauma or tragedy. You’ve probably heard or even said it yourself: “You’ll begin to return to normal once you get back to work.” 

 

But why is that, exactly? Why would working make us feel better? Researchers in Sweden have been studying what makes us happy, and they’ve discovered an interesting twist. Working to achieve a goal, even more than attaining that aim, is what makes people most satisfied. 

 

Of course, there is a caveat. Hard work is satisfying, but only if it suits you, by using your particular strengths and skills. Otherwise, it can be downright demoralizing if you’re working at something you don’t enjoy. 

 

A small business magazine recently interviewed Jim Koch, founder and chairman of Boston Beer Company, which produces the very popular Samuel Adams (brewer and patriot) beers. Koch’s choice of career dismayed his father, and others thought he was crazy for trying to craft and market a great American beer. 

 

However, his pursuit of what he loved ended up paying big dividends. While his success story might not be typical, he offers this advice: “I always tell people that if you are going to start a business, the chances that it is going to make you rich are actually very small, almost infinitesimal. But if you pursue something that you really love, the odds that you make yourself happy are really pretty good, and that’s the real prize.” 

 

Hopefully, you love (or at least enjoy) your work, whether it’s writing, managing the household, real estate transactions, or any variety of activity or employment. If not, you might need to reassess, and finally discover and pursue what it is that will make you happy. Don't wait - start now!