California Dreaming

Hello all,

"California Dreaming"

My bride and I will be getting on a plane tomorrow for California. From 8/6-8/8 we will be attending Tom Ferry's Summit in Anaheim and from 8/17-8/19 the RE/MAX Broker/Owners convention in San Francisco, should come back with some great business ideas to share. In between will be a little vacation time. While we are out Mark, Al & Paulette will be in charge. I will be checking email a couple of times a day, if you need me in an emergency please text.

8/8 Mark will be hosting the sales meeting at Lakewood Country Club.

8/21 Company Picnic and hope to see you all there.  

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"Lose this day loitering - 'twill be the same story

To-morrow - and the next more dilatory;

Each indecision brings its own delays,

And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days.

Are you in earnest? seize this very minute -

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Only engage, and then the mind grows heated -

Begin it, and then the work will be completed!"

 

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

 

ENGAGE IT! 

 

Ever driven a car? Of course you have, but what makes it move? 

 

You enter a car with a standard transmission, place it in neutral, and start the engine. It idles - waiting for what? The engine is running, but you are going nowhere. What must be done to get to your destination? 

 

Your vehicle is like your mind and body. Goethe says, "Are you in earnest? . . . Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." He questions whether you are in earnest . . . calls attention to the fact that there is genius, power and magic in boldness. It's like your vehicle idling in neutral. It has the power to take you wherever you want to go . . . yet is goes nowhere - until what happens? 

 

"Only engage," urges Goethe. The only thing keeping you from moving is your willingness to engage. Place the transmission in first gear, and what happens? You begin moving - slowly at first. Moving the gearshift into 2nd, your movement speeds up. As it does, you are soon in 3rd, and well on the way to your destination. 

 

Goethe speaks of achieving your objectives in life: "Only engage, and then the mind grows heated . . . ." In other words, put your life in gear - get started - get moving! When you do . . . when your "mind grows heated" . . . that which you desire to achieve will be attracted to you. 

 

So - what do you say? Are you in earnest? 

Seacrets Party

Hello all,

"Seacrets Party"

For anyone who is new to the Company on Monday Mornings I send an email about the market, office issues, shared ideas... and it is followed by an inspirational message from a service I subscribe to. I take a little time off from it in July and December.

The RE/MAX Seacrets party this year is on 9/8 starting at 7:30. We will be having an office happy hour before the party, I will send out information on that after the details are finalized. We enjoy the event and providing the tickets. The tickets are a bit on the expensive side so there are two rules I ask of you. 1- Please be 100% sure you are going to use the tickets you ask for before you let me know how many you need. Having tickets and not showing up does not work... 2- Please do not ask for tickets for outside vendors, these tickets are in high demand so Mortgage, Title and other companies look for anyway in the door. Please email me directly with how many tickets you need. 

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"You can be happy without expecting others to agree with you." 

 

~ Kathleen Russell & Larry Wall, from "Achieving Your Dreams"

 

DON'T TELL!

 

One of Garth Brooks' tunes goes like this: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained - sometimes you've got to go against the grain!" What is this "grain" we seem to fear going against? Chances are it's really what people will think about us for venturing in a new direction - not some immobile obstacle we cannot physically overcome.

 

Author/philosopher Wayne Dyer speaks on this topic in one of his programs. He equates our lives to being in a boat and watching the wake it leaves behind as it moves through the water. He explains that the wake is not what powers us through life, it is merely what we leave behind - our history - where we have been.

 

Often, the "grain" we go against is really someone else's "wake." Others may say something like "That's never been done before," or "We've always done it this way," or "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That's their wake - not yours!

 

Do you have a dream? Is there something you want to achieve that others might not understand? Don't tell them! It's not necessary to tell anyone what you are doing or planning. If your plan is radical, "they" probably wouldn't understand anyway.

 

So - live your dream. Plan it, execute it, and enjoy it. Make your own wake!

Shut Down Time

Hello all,

"Shut Down Time"

We all need a little time away... Twice a year I shut down the Monday Coffee for about a month. Make sure you spend some time with family and friends this time of year. 

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"Only the educated are free.

 

-Epictetus

 

READY TO BEGIN AGAIN?

 

Have a child or grandchild who graduated last month?  Whether it's high school or college, commencement exercises mark the end of a full curriculum 

of education - or do they?  In fact, why not ask the graduate?

 

After four or more years of study, homework, reports, science projects, and exams, many graduates would quickly answer that commencement marks the end 

of their education.  In fact, you can often hear students reinforce that line of thinking in their lament, "I'll never pick up another book as long 

as I live!"

 

The definition of "commencement" leads, however, in another direction.  It 

is the beginning, not the end, of a bright future.  It is the beginning of a life-long quest for knowledge, not the slamming shut of the books that 

opened so many new doors.

 

If it's been a few years since you graduated, perhaps you might also benefit from a renewed commencement - by opening some new doors to your own 

life-long learning curve. When's the last time you attended a workshop, bought a taped educational series, or thought about taking college courses 

or embarking on a new degree track?

 

No longer are books the only on-ramp to education. Distance learning over the Internet, tapes, videos, workshops, seminars, and many other educational 

resources are yours for the taking.  Why not let your graduating family member be the inspiration for your own commencement?

Confused

Hello all,

"Confused"

Finally figured out the 2014 Real Estate market.

​

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After the rough start the volume in the offices the two weeks has been great. Is it the beginning of latest spring market ever? Will we have the summer slowdown? Will it be steady for the rest of the year... I honestly do not have the answer.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe 

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." 

 

~ George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) 

 

MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING! 

 

When's the last time someone told you it's okay to screw things up? Well, unless you're a neurosurgeon or a ballot counter, it's okay! For most of us, a mistake is an action that can be corrected - it's not usually the end of the world, although we're sometimes made to feel that way. Everyone makes mistakes, so don't let somebody else tell you that your mistakes are any worse than theirs. 

 

Of course, we all prefer to succeed rather than to fail. Just remember that most successes actually are the result of at least one failure, if not dozens. Just imagine the realm of scientific discovery - almost every step forward in the name of science really came from taking a lot of steps back! Although trying does not always mean you'll succeed, you'll obviously never succeed without at least trying. 

 

Our mistakes are at least a sign of effort (and of room for improvement!). We just have to keep going until we get it right - study harder, pay more attention to details, listen more carefully. There is honor in persistence - you can't be faulted unless you just give up. We're taught from an early age that mistakes are acceptable as long as you learn from them. 

 

By focusing only on successfully reaching our destination, we tend to overlook the journey and all we can learn (and teach) along the way. Every mistake is an opportunity from which either we or our peers can learn something. In "Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun," author Wess Roberts illustrates that "every hun is useful, if only to serve as a bad example." 

 

We all know the adage about "nothing ventured, nothing gained." If we do nothing, then we teach nothing, learn nothing, and gain nothing. If we are afraid of failure, then we are ultimately doomed to experience it. Embrace life's challenges, do the best that you can do, and be willing to accept the consequences! Make mistakes, but at least make something!

Weekend Roundup

Hello all,

"Weekend Roundup"

Happy Fathers Day to all of the Dad's out there. I had a wonderful day with Lisa and the kids, cookout and Game of Thrones season finally with everyone. Made up for a couple of rounds of snow shoveling...

There was a good article in the Weekend Roundup from MRIS, here is the link.

 http://mrisblog.com/blog/rbi-may-2014-market-update/?utm_source=WhatCounts+Publicaster+Edition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekend+Roundup%3a+Did+the+Spring+Market+Predictions+Pan+Out%3f&utm_content=Read+More+%E2%96%BA

The number we all need to keep an eye on is Year over Year closed sales. They were down 10.6% for May. Inventory and activity in the offices has picked up a bit but where are the buyers... Let's keep plugging away out there.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

"Leaders are like eagles. They don't flock - you find them one at a time."  

 

~ Unattributed 

 

BE FREE! 

 

In Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits," he talks about focusing on the important to the exclusion of the unimportant. In his own words, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." 

 

See if you recognize which motivational trainer espoused this similar philosophy: 

 

"There are things within your power, and there are things beyond your power. Within your power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion; in a word, whatever affairs are your own. Beyond your power are body, property, reputation, office; in a word, affairs not properly your own. Concern yourself only with what is within your power. 

 

The essence of good consists of things within your own power; with them there is no room for envy or emulation. For your part, do not desire to be a general, or a senator, or a consul, but to be free; and the only way to do this is a disregard of things which do not lie within your own power." 

 

If you guessed Zig Ziglar, Howard Brinton, or Anthony Robbins, guess again. Its author referred to it as a "field manual for soldiers." It was carried by Frederick the Great on all his campaigns. It was written by the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. 

 

Stephen Covey conveys a similar message when he suggests drawing two concentric circles with a dot in the middle. He equates the dot in the middle to you, the first circle as your area of influence, and the outside circle as your area of concern. He suggests that you concentrate only on the circle of influence, things which you have the power to influence or change. He advises that you disregard those in the area of concern over which you have no influence or power. 

 

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK:

 

How much time and energy are you wasting through worry and concern over things you cannot control? Focus your energy and your life on the "main thing" beginning now - then watch your circle of influence begin to grow. Do it now!

Golf Tournament Day

Hello all,

"Golf Tournament Day"

I wanted to say thanks to everyone who be participating in the golf, party bus, dinner or made a contribution. Very pleased to say we will be hitting our goal of $15,000 for the two charities. Awesome feeling and as always, thanks for being with us.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

 

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN  

 

~ Robert Frost 

 

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN 

 

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same, 

 

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back. 

 

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 traveled by,

And that has made all the difference." 

Contact Sport

Hello all,

"Contact Sport"

For the last couple of weeks when I have been asked about the 2014 Real Estate Market my answer has been "I am not scared but I am disappointed". We have enough business going on in the offices that we are putting some money in the bank but we thought it would be much better. When I look at some of the individual numbers in the office I imagine some of you are both disappointed and scared. Love me or hate me I need to be the one to tell you it is not the time to be sitting on your ass feeling sorry for yourself. Numbers are down in our competitors offices as well but there is business out there and if it is not coming your way you need to go get it , the year is almost half over. Floor Duty has been very active in Germantown and Aspen Hill yet the floor sheets are only 30%-40% full. I sat on an open house yesterday (because we could not get anyone in the offices to do it) that 12 groups came through, got a great listing lead. To dumb this business down to it's simplest form, it is a "Contact Sport" and we need to be the aggressor. This would be a great time to review your business plan to make sure it matches your income expectations.

Enjoy the coffee,

Joe

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust   DON'T FORGET TO PACK YOUR INSIGHT! How wonderful it is to learn new things and see new places! How would we ever grow as individuals if we never experienced anything different from that which we see and do in our daily lives? Two different voyages come to mind, however, when considering the discovery of that which is "new" - an outward journey, and one which turns inward. Your outward "voyage of discovery" takes you to different places and new people. You begin to understand other things outside yourself. This can be as simple as discovering new-found beauty on a wilderness "adventure," or having an engaging conversation or correspondence with someone from a completely different part of the country or the world. The ultimate goal here is not just looking at new things, but looking at things in a new way! A change of scenery can effect a change of mind.But you can still experience a voyage of discovery even if you don't travel anywhere, even if you don't meet anyone new. You don't have to change your surroundings, just the way you look at them - with "new eyes!" Sometimes stepping back and looking again at the Big Picture can reveal things that you never saw before. The solution to an ongoing problem can suddenly manifest itself. This can often be the key to unlocking the door to your happiness - finding a way to change yourself instead of changing what surrounds you. For all those situations that seem to be out of your control, you have to realize that you are always in control of yourself. So much stress comes from frustration. Don't keep running up against that rock that represents your problems. Try to act like the water that simply flows around the rock as it continues its journey downstream. Your inward voyage of change can have dramatic results on how you see what's around you! Enjoy your new outlook!