Monday, February 24, 2014

Goal

Hello all,

"Goal"

True story and not the type of goal you are thinking of:

Four years ago this week my wife and I were called in for a listing appointment, a short sale in Clarksburg. The reason I can remember it was this week is because the listing appointment took place during the USA Vs. Russia hockey game in the previous olympics. I was not thrilled about going on the appointment during the game but I am a good husband and partner... Upon arriving at the house we were seated at the kitchen table. My seat had a direct view of the big screen TV where the two children were watching the game. From this point on my attention was split 50/50 between the appointment and the game. Lisa took control of the presentation while shooting me some looks after realizing I was not completely involved. I tried really hard to focus on the appointment but near the end the USA team scored and both of my arms went up in the air with an exuberant shout of "Goal". A couple of months later we learned the house was listed with another Realtor. We all make mistakes in this business so don't beat yourself up to much when you do.

Enjoy the coffee,
Joe  

Monday Morning Coffee
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"There is only one thing people like that is good for them; a good night's sleep." 
 
~ Edgar Watson Howe 
 
SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM! 
 
How did you sleep last night? Hopefully, you didn't toss and turn worrying about the start of another workweek. A lot of us have trouble these days getting what our minds and bodies need most - rest. We rush around all day, do chores into the evening, don't eat as well as we should, and go to bed later than we ought to. Then we lie awake thinking about everything we did today, and everything we have to do tomorrow. We're so darned tired when we go to bed that we we can't actually sleep! 
 
It's a modern day dilemma of our fast-paced, do-more-in-less-time culture. The irony, however, is that our periods of rest and relaxation are vitally important to our success. When we sleep, we heal - and we dream. Bedtime is the time to put aside worries of today and plans of tomorrow - to take a reckoning of the day and be satisfied that you made it through. 
 
Try to squeeze in some "downtime" before turning out the lights - some light reading or a little quiet time on the porch or patio. Anything you do to put the day's cares out of your mind will help you sleep when you finally close your eyes. 
 
A big factor in clearing your mind? Forgiveness. It has been said that "one of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed." Whether for ourselves or others, forgiving what's happened today will greatly improve your outlook for tomorrow. 
 
Imagine the beauty of going to bed with no anger or regret in your heart. Imagine waking up in that same state. Forgive our hectic world, forgive yourself for trying to do too much. Tonight, relax and let yourself dream. 

Monday, February 17, 2014

Tidal Wave

Hello all,

"Tidal Wave"

So I hope everyone got some rest and did not put too much strain on the back with the snow storm. Beforehand I had talked to several of the agents in the office and the theme was the same across the board. A ton of stuff in the pipeline but the weather has been delaying things. In milder winters we see the office inventory rise steadily through January and February. It has gone up a bit so far this year but not at the rate of years past. With the slow start, throw in the number of transactions projected for this year and the weather breaking a bit this week...Real Estate is coming and it will be coming fast and furious like a Tidal Wave.
 
This guy is Real Estate and you are the water, better get ready!

Enjoy the coffee,
Joe
Monday Morning Coffee
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
 
"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference." 
 
~ Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"
 
PLAYING FOLLOW THE FOLLOWER?
 
Every morning a telephone operator in a small town received a phone call in which she was asked the time of day. One day, the operator asked her mysterious caller why he called every day to ask the correct time.
 
His answer? "I'm responsible for blowing the town whistle every day at noon, and just want to be sure I'm right on the second when I do it." With a chuckle, the operator replied, "Here at the telephone exchange, we set our watches and clocks by the town whistle!"
 
Watch children in a schoolyard and you'll notice the same thing. Children watch the child they perceive to be the leader, and then mimic his or her actions. They never realize that the other child is following the lead of still another.
 
So how will your day play out? Have you made original choices for the day, or will you be playing follow the follower? Either way, by bedtime tonight you will have been awake for about 16 hours and involved in some activity. Why not end the day with thanks - knowing that whatever you accomplished was by choice - not chance?

Monday, February 10, 2014

Sales Meeting

Hello all,

"Sales Meeting"

Quick coffee from the airport on my way home this morning. Wanted to remind everyone that our next sales meeting is this Friday, 11:15 at Lakewood Country Club. We will be giving out the individual awards for agent production so please make every effort to attend. Many of you did wonderful things last year and I look forward to celebrating your achievements with you.

Enjoy the coffee,
Joe

Monday Morning Coffee
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
 
"I care not so much what I am to others as what I am to myself. I will be rich by myself, and not by borrowing." 
 
~ Michel de Montaigne 
 
PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY? 
 
We spend a lot of time worrying about how others see us, how we appear and how we act. It’s a form of self-awareness, perhaps, but how much help does it offer us as we try to appraise our own value? Our personal worth lies not so much in other people’s estimation, but in how comfortable we are with ourselves. 
 
At last year's convention of the National Association of REALTORS®, a keynote speech was given by Phil McGraw, the clinical psychologist popularly known as “Dr. Phil.” His take on this week’s quote is to think of your life as a bank account. If you keep making withdrawals without making any deposits, you’ll end up bankrupt. 
 
Withdrawals might include things like working late hours, handling emergency situations, mental anguish over money or relationships – you get the idea. We all have a list of activities that drain our energy, whether or not they are for our good or the good of others. 
 
Then there are deposits, like taking a vacation, spending time on a favorite hobby, a romantic evening with our spouse or partner. Surely you can think of a lot things you’d love to do, but don’t feel you’ve got that much time to devote to just yourself. 
 
In the words of Dr. Phil, “The most important relationship you have in your life is with yourself.” It’s true – how can you possibly nurture successful personal and business relationships if you aren’t happy with who you are and how you feel? Unless you put yourself first, you’ll end up physically and emotionally bankrupt – leaving you with nothing to invest in your relationships with others. 
 
You can’t borrow from others what you need to achieve success. You’ve heard it before that it’s never too late to begin building equity – in yourself!

Monday, February 3, 2014

RealtyJuggler

"RealtyJuggler"

Contact management systems come up all the time in trainings or when we are meeting with agents. If you have one that you like and are using it then stick with it. Many of the agents in the office are using RealtyJuggler. If you do not have one or you are looking to make a change you might want to check it out. It has all the necessary tools we need as agents and it is only $99 a year.

http://www.realtyjuggler.com/

Enjoy the coffee,
Joe

Monday Morning Coffee
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"If your riches are yours, why don't you take them to t'other world?" 
~ Benjamin Franklin
 
LEAVE A LEGACY!
 
In one of William Bennett's books, he tells a story about Ben Franklin's death. It seems that old Ben made a special gift in his will. In it, he left 1,000 pounds to the cities of Philadelphia and Boston with specific instructions. They were to set up a program of loans to young men under the age of 25, married, and who had successfully completed an apprenticeship, needing startup money for a trade or business. The money was to be loaned at 5% interest. The loan program was to continue for 200 years.
 
At the end of 100 years, the two cities were to withdraw $100,000 each for public projects, and continue lending the balance as stated above. At the end of 200 years, the fund was to be split between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Boston, and Massachusetts. In the year 1990 there was $6,500,000 in the fund. For 200 years, Ben Franklin helped young men get started in business by making those funds available, and had $6.5 million left over.
 
Just think of the many ways you and I could benefit our families, the community, or the lives of total strangers if we just took the initiative exhibited by Ben Franklin. By setting up a similar fund that earns just 5%, it would contain $17,292,581 at the end of 200 years. The purpose could be educational loans for family members.
 
Set aside $1,000 now and add just $100 per month to it for ten years, earning 5% on loans made from the account, and the fund would have $17,157. After the ten-year period of adding $100 per month, no more money is added and it continues to be loaned at 5% for the next 190 years. At the end of 200 years, the fund would contain $181,141,192. At that point, it could be converted to an outright "grant" program to which family members could apply for education funds.
 
Instead of focusing on just your immediate family, think about the legacy you could leave by planning much further into the future. Thanks to the "future value of money" concept, you could provide valuable support to many future generations. It's just a thought, but why couldn't we give it a try?