A C's Blog

What Inspires You?

A C — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:39:02 -0700

Staying motivated and driven each and every day can be a challenge for anyone. Most people seem to get “fired-up” and “inspired” for a few days or so and then it begins to fizzle out as life catches up with them and they wind up back on the same path as they were before. Finding consistent ways to stay inspired is one way to keep that fire burning without interruption. With inspiration comes inspired action. From inspired action comes gratifying success.

Inspiration is a funny thing because it’s different for everyone. What inspires and excites one person may not move another. What matters is what moves you. In sales, being in this inspired state as often as possible is the best way to make monumental leaps in your career. How often can you honestly say you are operating in an inspired state? If you were able to do this more often, how much of an advantage would this be to you over other real estate professionals? Do you think your clients would take notice? You’re right!

There are countless ways to find inspiration. I prefer to listen to particular songs on my ipod that invoke such powerful inspiration that I feel I can take on the world. I also know that watching certain movies or video clips on youtube can inspire me powerfully.

Here’s just one example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY&feature=related If that doesn’t arouse tremendous inspiration you may want to check your pulse! In all seriousness, it really is different for everyone. Here are just a few other ways to find inspiration, but find the ones that work best for you and use them early and often:

Your Family

Nature

Inspiring Story of Someone Overcoming Great Odds

Success/financial/Material Achievement

Always be on the lookout for inspiration to fuel your passion and success. Don’t leave it to chance, be deliberate and make it a part of your success routine. Get Inspired today!

Email me at adam@mindbodyandsales.com and I'll MAIL you a complimentary issue of the Mind, Body and Sales for the Real Estate Professional Newsletter at no cost to you.

The October Issue is hot off the press and is extremely Inspiring and Motivating.

www.mindbodyandsales.com

Please take a minute to follow me on any or all of these. Thank You!

Image Uploading Help

A C — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:11:32 -0700

Having spent the last hour trying to upload several images to a blog I'm hoping to post, I am hoping someone can share some advice. When I try to upload an image, I am getting a proxy error.

Proxy Error

The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server.
The proxy server could not handle the requestPOST /action/nav/upload_photo.

Reason: Error reading from remote server

Apache/2.2.3 (Red Hat) mod_ssl/2.2.3 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 Server at activerain.com Port 80

I have tried several others and only one of them seems to upload. It has the same exact size and dimensions as the ones that will not upload. Any advice?

Thank you.

Remember When You Were Young and Invincible?!?!

A C — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:50:07 -0700

Remember back when…to a time when you were fearless and free as a child. There were no deadlines. No judgments. No such thing as stress. No bills to pay. Time didn’t seem to matter much either. You were young, carefree and for all intensive purposes Invincible! You played Superheros and actually believed you were “all powerful” and “capable of anything”. Nothing could bring you down. There was a sense of magic to your life. Obstacles were unknown…or at least incomprehensible. Were you a real Superhero capable of absolutely anything? In your mind, you betcha!

Fast forward to today – you as a Real Estate Professional. Years of experience have brought you to where you are. One experience after another - the good, the bad and everywhere in-between. And they’ve all shaped who you have become by building your beliefs, and in turn, your life. Take a step back, look at your life from a distance. Does it still have that magic you possessed as a childhood Superhero?

We can all learn something by looking at a child. They’re innocent and full of wonder and possibility. As most people age, they lose a bit of that “spark and awe” that is the magic of life where anything is possible and every moment of life is a new adventure.

What would it take to bring you back to feeling like a Superhero once again? Back to feeling like you were unstoppable in getting anything you want. Like anything truly is possible especially with all of the knowledge and wisdom that you’ve acquired. And back to a feeling like life really is a magical adventure worthy of a sparkle in your eye and a bounce in your step.

So, what’s holding you back? Is it the 6 inches of space between your ears? If you’re being truly honest with yourself you know this to be true. The truth is the only thing standing in the way from you being a Superhero is you. The obstacles and excuses that have mounted in your head over years and years of life experience can be crippling. If you’re ever looking for an excuse, your mind will surely oblige and come up with a perfectly credible one based on past experience.

“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” –George Elliot.

It’s time to take charge and get out of your own way. It’s time to put the excuses aside that have built up in your head like “kryptonite” to your inner Superhero. The only person stopping you from doing anything in this life is you! And knowing this, really knowing this, makes all the difference.

It's All Relative...

A C — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:39:07 -0700

I was at the Boston Marathon yesterday to cheer on my brother, my sister and some other running friends. If you’ve ever been to the “marathon of all marathons” as they call it, it is quite a spectacle. Tens of thousands of runners and an estimated 1 million spectators throughout the length of the course. Watching from just a few hundred yards from the finish line was an amazing vantage point. After running the first 26 miles plus, the runners approached the finish line with agony, joy, relief, ecstasy and more. Some runners looked somewhat refreshed – relatively speaking. Others collapsed only yards from the finish line as their bodies simply shut down and were lifted up by complete strangers also running by to carry them to the glory of the finish line.

As all of these runners made their way by, and studying their faces and their strides, I couldn’t help but think how every single runner had their own personal story. I know all that my brother, my sister and my other friends had to go through to get to that point. Between the injuries, the training, the qualifying and more. And every single other runner in that marathon had their own individual story full of ups and downs and twists and turns. Success for all of them is relative to their own personal situation. For some of the elite runners, it is all about the time and finishing with their personal best. For others, it may be just making it across the finish line. In this race, as in life and in Sales, everything is relative.

For some Real Estate Professionals, selling $100 million is a truly successful year. For many others, it may be hitting the $1 million mark. Everything is relative to your own personal situation. Continue raising the bar as to what you think is possible and you may be just as surprised as some of the runners were yesterday at accomplishing what may have seemed impossible to them just months ago. If you put your heart, your time, your dedication, motivation and your belief in yourself into what you do, you will no doubt be successful in this marathon called Real Estate Sales.

If a Tree Falls in the Woods…

A C — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:34:02 -0700

After dropping off my kids at school yesterday morning, I was sitting at a traffic light waiting for it to turn green. I was waiting to turn onto a highway from a side street, so as you can imagine this light takes quite a while to change. After sitting there for a minute or so, I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the guy behind me in the midst of an all out funky chicken dance of sorts right there behind the wheel of his car. He was rocking to the left with both arms and then rocking to the right. His eyes were mostly shut and he was singing what appeared to be at the top of his lungs I’m guessing by the exposed veins in his neck and forehead. He was really into it. After about 20 seconds of watching this he looked up and caught me looking right at him in the rear view mirror. Our eyes met. He froze instantly. I felt somewhat bad that he felt the need to stop and almost motioned for him to keep going and not let me stop him groove ‘thang.

At that point, the light turned green and he passed me in the high speed lane, stone faced and eyes straight ahead. I was amused at this situation and it got me thinking. What do people really do when nobody is watching? Now, I know there’s about a million directions you can go with a question like that, but what I’m specifically talking about are acts of character. What types of things do people do when nobody is watching that reveal their true character.

I’ve always been told that the greatest acts of charity are those that are performed anonymously. They’re done so without looking for credit or recognition. And they’re done simply for the sake of doing them on their merit alone.

I remember back to a time this past winter when temperatures were in the teens or colder and a citizen called the local news station to report that “kindness and charity were alive and well”. He told a story of how on his way home from work, driving under a bridge below the highway, he noticed a car in front of him had pulled over to the side of the road. A man got out of his car and was walking to an area below the bridge where an apparent homeless man huddled beneath some blankets trying to stay warm. After passing by, the man witnessing this pulled over just ahead to watch was what going on. He saw the nicely dressed businessman walk up to the homeless man, remove his thick winter jacket, and wrap it around the freezing man. They exchanged a few brief words. The good Samaritan then proceeded to hop back in his car and drive off. No fanfare, no pat on the back and nothing tangible in return. As far as he knew, there was nobody watching, nobody there to witness his generous act of kindness.

The man I saw in my rear view mirror rocking out yesterday morning was a real character. The man who took the coat off his back in the dead of winter to try and keep a fellow human warm, possesses true character.

Perhaps there are things that you can do to brighten someone’s day. They may not be as dramatic as helping keep someone warm in the freezing cold, but even small acts can make a difference. And just like the tree in the woods, if no one is there to see it and call the local news station, that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

You Can’t Win If You Don’t Play!

A C — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:44:19 -0700

For as long as I can remember that was the slogan of one of the local lottery commercials that would get played over and over. It’s brilliant actually. And it’s also true…in virtually every area of life. You can’t win if you don’t play. What they must not have “had time” to include in the commercial was the fact that the odds of winning a lottery like Powerball are 1 in 195,249,054. But, even with those odds, you still can’t argue with the logic, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”

That being said, there is a “lottery ticket mentality” in this country and it’s been brewing for some time. Everyone is looking for the quick fix - the “magic formula” that can instantly transform all of their problems. You’ve seen such claims as:

Lose 20 Pounds in a Week!
Earn Up To 12,000 a Month from Home!
Look Younger Now!
1000% Return on Penny Stocks!
Boost Your Energy for Up to 10 Hours!
Get Out of Debt in 7 Days!

You name it, there’s a product or service out there for it. The advertising industry thrives off people looking for that “lottery ticket” to success.

The reality is, it’s not sexy to tell people that true success takes time. It takes consistent action based on a winning plan. Many people can put together a plan. But the real “secret” is the consistency part. Day in and day out doing what needs to be done is what really makes deep inroads and brings about real success. Most people don’t have the discipline to stick with things. Whether it’s working out, eating healthy or implementing a success plan as a real estate professional; being consistent is one of life’s greatest challenges and one of the biggest and most overlooked keys to success. And, the odds are a heck of a lot better than playing the lottery!

The lottery ticket is tempting, and it’s ok to take a shot once in a while, but don’t make it your strategy. Remember, it’s one that is designed to let you down 195,249,053 times.

Life Is Short…

A C — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:40:55 -0700

I attended a funeral yesterday for an adorable infant child who spent just a few precious days here on earth. I won’t begin to attempt to put into words this saddening experience, but if you’ve been to a funeral for a child, you know what it’s like and it’s something you hope to never experience again. Between the calling hours, the church service and the burial, we were there for over five and a half hours. That meant plenty of time for my mind to ponder the situation, and inevitably, life itself.

Words can only convey so much. True understanding is accomplished on a deeper level.

We’ve all heard the words, “Life Is Short”, “Carpe Diem – Seize the Day” and “Live every day as if it’s your last”. But so few people actually do this. Why? Does it need to take a life-changing event for us to “Wake-Up” and realize that this is not just lip service? And even if you do encounter a life-changing event and you do “Wake-Up”, what happens two weeks later? Does this newfound life awareness “wear off”? It sure seems to most of the time.

So what is the answer? How can we truly embrace each and every day as the “gift” it truly is? A technique that was taught to me, and works best, is done through conscious awareness. At the beginning of each day, I have a deliberate routine and part of that includes a time to be grateful for many things, not the least of which is being alive today. As I start my day, I know today is a gift; I feel it, embrace it and let it take hold. The result is always an increased passion for my day. The intensity does vary but I can tell you, after yesterday, my intensity to “Seize the Day” today is bursting at the seams!

If you're waiting to begin living the life that you want, either as a real estate professional or on a personal level, you're wasting the life that you have. Don't wait another minute. You never know how many minutes you have left. Be deliberate every day in your efforts to “light your own fire” and create a passion for living. It may sound like lip service now, but Life really is Short. If you don’t know that now, there will come a time when you will.

God Bless You little Cameron.

Red Sox vs. Yankees Opening Night!!!

A C — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:28:14 -0700

They prepare all winter long for this night. I was fortunate enough to be in attendance last night for the opening day (night) game for the Red Sox as they hosted the defending World Champion New York Yankees. It was a great night complete with food, fun and festivities. There was newly retired Pedro Martinez throwing out the first pitch to still grateful fans. There was Steven Tyler of Aerosmith singing God Bless America durning the 7th inning stretch. And after a reported many many years of negotiations, there was Neil Diamond in person singing Sweet Caroline to the adoring fans at Fenway Park.

The game was in itself very exciting too. It turned out to be a typical Red Sox Yankees back and forth game all night. The game went almost 4 hours and ended close to midnight. But as much as this game was important to the players, it's only one game in a marathon of a season. Win or lose, they know it's a long road ahead full of opportunities along the way. This is also true for you as a Real Estate Professional.

While every day is important and has an impact, the best sales people know that it is a marathon. Each day brings forth new opportunities to shine and be your best. Today can be one of those days for you. Sales is a marathon and every day is another step. Be your best today with this opportunity in front of you. There's no reason not to go out and WIN today...just like my Red Sox did last night! :)

I’ve Always Been a "Glass Half Full" Kind of Guy…But This is Ridiculous!!!

A C — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:23:51 -0700

As some of you may know by now, I’m definitely a glass half full kind of guy in my approach to sales and life. I can probably attribute that to both my mother and my father. To this day, both of them are two of the most positive and uplifting people you will ever meet. But something happened where I live in Rhode Island this week that transcends sales and has impacted so many on a large scale.

For three straight days, torrential rain pounded the Ocean State relentlessly, producing the worst flooding on record in the state and throughout Southeastern New England. While parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts were affected, it was the smallest state in the country, Rhode Island that took the brunt of the storm. Even though Rhode Island is the Ocean State, it is littered with hundreds of lakes, streams and rivers. All of these waterways were overwhelmed by the epic rainfall and the resulting flooding was devastating.

Homes, businesses, roads, bridges, farms, shopping malls and more were all flooded canceling many schools and shutting down businesses for the week. Common place to be seen is the garden hose running out of basement windows pumping out inches and even feet of water. The restaurants in the popular resort town of Newport, RI are said to make enough profit in the summertime to sustain them throughout the remainder of the year when business is slower. Well the clean-up and restoration companies in and around the area should do well enough to last the decade.

So just imagine what many of our local real estate professionals are going through this week dealing with the aftermath. Homes flooded, businesses closed, streets closed, people’s lives turned upside down, and many without flood insurance. In an already difficult market, things have just gotten a bit more challenging for many agents here in Rhode Island to say the least.

But in keeping with the glass half full theme, the forecast is calling for sunny and approaching 70 degrees for the weekend. So yes, the sun will come out tomorrow, but in the meantime, keep our state and our real estate professionals in your thoughts. We may have literally resembled the Ocean State this week, but over time things will return and our beautiful state will be back on its feet.

Take Me To “Disney World” Right Now!!!!

A C — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:13:48 -0700

I was on the computer last night looking at the Disney World website in anticipation of a vacation we recently planned that is still months away. My youngest son, 20 months old, was walking by and something caught his eye on the computer screen. (He is a huge fan of Mickey Mouse) I looked at him and asked if he wanted to sit on my lap. He doesn’t talk much yet so he smiled a huge smile and nodded his head enthusiastically. We sat there for a few minutes watching some of the promo videos they have on their website. He sat there the entire time grinning from ear to ear and pointing excitedly at the screen as I told him repeatedly, “That’s where Mickey lives”.

That’s when it happened. I asked him if he wanted to go to “Mickey’s house to see Mickey?”. Well, he slid off my lap in a flash and gathered himself on his two wobbly feet clutching his little “blankie” in one hand. With the other hand he reached up and grabbed my hand. He pulled with all his might so I stood up and he proceeded to pull me to the door to the garage. He was ready to go see Mickey right then and there!

After some good laughs and trying to explain to him we weren’t going right then, I started to ponder the mental processing of his actions. You see, kids don’t have what so many adults have. Kids don’t have any mental resistance that they’ve built up over a lifetime. They don’t talk themselves out of wanting and trying to really go for what they want. They don’t have that filter that second-guesses and tries to reason with their inner-self. This is why so many salespeople end up not having the careers they know they should truly have. This inner resistance leads to procrastination, second-guessing and inaction. It creates “mountains out of molehills” even for the best real estate professionals.

Try to bring back some of that youthful zest, enthusiasm and innocence in what you do and not let any mental barriers hold you back from doing what needs to be done…what you know you should be doing. Bring back your inner child, stop second-guessing yourself and just do it now! Who knows, you may just find yourself in the “Happiest Place on Earth”!

Oh Yeah?!?! Say That To My FACE!!!!

A C — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:24:58 -0700

I’m a big college basketball junkie. So at this time of year, during March Madness, this is my Super Bowl. And the games this year have not disappointed. There have been some incredible upsets, including Butler over Syracuse last night, and with every team there’s a different story. Each has taken a different road complete with drama, emotion, heart and exuberance to get to where they are. And with all of this excitement and intrigue comes the passionate fans.

As a huge college basketball fan, one of the wonderful things I love so much about the internet is the ability to get to know the “vibe” of the fans on the other teams by going to their message boards or online forums. This can really give me some “inside scoop” as to what real stories may lie beneath what we’re shown on CBS or ESPN. But inevitably many of these forums wind up being reminiscent of my elementary school playground where insults, juvenile language and even threats are levied against each other. Now for the most part, these “brave” souls hide behind screen names as they throw their weight around. But there are many that use their real names or email addresses too.

For one thing about the internet that is both a curse and a blessing, is that it allows you to say pretty much anything you want to anyone you want. This being done of course behind a perceived “veil of armor” that makes some people feel invincible and not responsible for what they say.

I was watching the Disney Channel with my kids, no not alone, and they had a PSA of sorts talking about proper use of the internet and I believe they summed it up best. If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face in person, don’t say it to them online. Good advice, even though my kids don’t use the internet alone nor will they for quite some time. It’s advice I will be sharing on college basketball forums to my fellow passionate fans as they duke it out online.

And it’s good advice for real estate professionals to keep in mind that what you say online, especially since there’s no screen name anonymity, carries real weight. If it’s not something you’d say to someone in person, it’s probably better off not being said online.

What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?

A C — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:46:06 -0700

Looking for a little motivation this Monday morning? Well then give some thought to that question in the title.

I recently stumbled across a tv show on MTV called The Buried Life. Yes, I sometimes browse MTV! Anyway, it’s a reality show about 4 guys that have made a real life bucket list of 100 things they want to do before they die. But the thing is, they aren’t elderly men full of regret in their waining years, and they aren’t struck with a sudden and life threatening illness, they are just four young guys that don’t subscribe to the common life scenario of life carried on by most people – burying their dreams.

Think about that for a second. They aren’t waiting until tomorrow, or next month or next year. They are doing it right now. They have dreams and they aren’t waiting or putting them off until “the time is right”. They aren’t making excuses and coming up with reasons why they shouldn’t be doing this or that. They’ve got some pretty off the wall targets on their list but they are determined and they don’t accept “No” for answer.

As salespeople, there is a lot to be taken from this.

The fact is, the only real limits we have in this life are self-imposed. There is no better time than right now to be the person you’ve always wanted to be. Don’t wait any longer.

Imagine if all of us lived our life with that kind of passion for fulfilling our goals and dreams. What are your selling goals and dreams this week? What’s holding you back? Really?

Is It Really Just About Being “Fat or Skinny”?

A C — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:45:06 -0700

As I was walking through the local supermarket the other day, I couldn’t help but take notice of what other people were putting in their shopping carts. I tried not to be too obvious as I glanced at them and then their food. As someone is passionate about nutrition, it really is fascinating for me to see what people put in their body to sustain and fuel themselves.

It’s common knowledge how much emphasis our society puts on body shape and not surprisingly it’s one of the biggest challenges many people face, especially as they get older. But is it all really just about being fat or skinny? Is there more to eating healthy than just being “skinny”?

The simple answer is, yes! One of the overall biggest benefits to eating better is that your energy level can soar. There are certain foods that actually energize the body and give you a feeling of vibrancy and aliveness that you’ll never get from a drive thru. Wouldn’t it be great to have that feeling of being energetic and vibrant after eating lunch, as opposed to slowly going downhill all afternoon? Anyone for an afternoon nap? For many people, the food they eat is actually slowing them down! How many people feel like selling when they’re in a state like this? Hardly the projection you want to put out to your clients either.

It’s all about your energy level and you needn’t look any further than the fuel you’re putting in your body. It’s invigorating to feel energetic throughout the whole day, and if you’re really good at what you choose to eat, to feel like you’ve got stamina and some reserves in the tank too.

So the next time you’re food shopping, or it’s almost lunchtime and you’re starting to feel weak because you’re so hungry, think about what you can eat that will not only provide nourishment but also give you sustained energy that will keep you going strong. You’ll notice the difference and those around you will too. If you’re looking to change your body shape that will come too, but you can see or better yet feel, these energetic results immediately.

Just another important intangible that is often overlooked but extremely beneficial to all Salespeople.

Will YOU “Make It”???

A C — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:53:32 -0700

As March Madness in college basketball is upon us, I love this time of year, I felt it only fitting to go to one of the greatest basketball movies of all time...Hoosiers. It is a classic David vs. Goliath tale about overcoming obstacles no matter what they may be.

I chose to highlight this particular scene of the movie today as we start the week to visually illustrate the power of self-confidence. As the team is huddled around Coach Dale (Gene Hackman), notice the eyes of the players and of the coach. Everyone is waiting for someone else to step up with confidence and want the last shot. Jimmy Chitwood (Maris Valainis), the shy and reluctant star, finally looks up and declares three powerful words, “I’ll Make It”. He says it with his voice and more importantly he says it with his eyes. Confidence is in the eyes and it reflects your true inner-self. With that, the team is relieved and uplifted as it takes to the court for the final play.

Sure, this ending may be a little predictable but it’s a great visual reminder of how important confidence is when it comes to being successful no matter what you’re doing. True confidence has nothing to do with arrogance. It lifts you up and others around you. If we’re not confident in ourselves and our abilities, how can we ask others to put their confidence in us?

“I’ll Make It.” By Jimmy Chitwood

This is the quote below my senior class picture from my high school yearbook. I believe that it still rings true for me today, although I’ve updated it to be in the present tense.

How about you?

You’ve Got Both of Your Arms…What’s Your Excuse?

A C — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:16:20 -0800

I was sitting at my daughters swim team practice one night this week. She’s practicing for a regional swim meet so she’s at a different pool complex than normal. It’s

a much larger Olympic size pool with dividers that section off the pool in appropriate proportions for the pool to be utilized by different groups of people. So, as my daughter and 50 or 60 of the kids on her team practiced in one section for their big meet, there was an “open swim” area across the pool.

I was sitting right in front of where my daughter was swimming when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. A mother had just walked in with her little boy from the main entrance and they were walking along the side of the pool right past the swim team practice towards the “open swim” section. Something about the boy made me do a “double take” in looking at him. He couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5 with freckles and curly red hair. He walked with such joy and confidence – a bounce in his step that you don’t see from just anyone. He had not a care in the world and looked completely happy and carefree. This “air” about him was so refreshing to see and it literally put a smile on his face. Many kids at that age will walk tentatively and close to their parent for reassurance. I wasn’t really sure why but this kid just had “something” about him. As they walked ahead some more, I noticed something that really caught me of guard. The little boy only had one arm.

Now I was really fascinated. As I kept glancing down at my daughter giving her a thumbs up, I had no idea what I was giving her a thumbs up for, I couldn’t take my eyes off this precocious little boy as he practically galloped with joy to the other side of the pool and proceeded to engage everyone he came in contact with. He was like a little spark plug of energy. He high-fived kids and smiled and said “hi” to parents. He was so incredibly comfortable in his own skin, more so than anyone else in that pool. He had not a care in the world, not the least being the fact that he was 4 or 5 years old and was missing his left arm.

I sat there and said to myself, my goodness, how self-conscious most people are in this world practically all of the time and yet they have no idea what standing out from the crowd really means. This boy was more “OK” with himself than most people will ever be in their lifetime.

This little boy not only made me smile with his incredible presence and obvious zest for life, no matter what the terms may be, but he made me think of all of the sales people who aren’t able to be “OK” with who they are. Everyone has moments of insecurity and for some people these moments are more frequent than others. The reality is, once people get over the fear about what others will think, do or say about them then life can really start to be lived. And living with confidence and joy and acceptance of who you are and what you do.

This encounter proved to me for about the millionth time in my life, that we set the rules for what a happy and rewarding life means. We control what we feel about ourselves and that absolutely becomes visually apparent to everyone we encounter on a daily basis. Thanks to that little guy for bringing a smile to my face and bringing a little bit of wisdom to a swim practice. My daughter really did swim well – I was watching…honest!

Monday Morning Wake-Up Call!!!

A C — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:19:50 -0800

What gets you exploding with Energy and Enthusiasm to start the week?

(No the answer can’t be “Nothing”!)

There is nothing like starting off the week with un-bounding Energy and Enthusiasm. The feeling that anything is possible and opportunities are ripe for the picking. A new beginning of sorts where you just feel that things are going to be breaking your way this week and victory awaits around every little corner. You see this Energy and Enthusiasm bring with it a blast of Positive Expectation and Confidence. Two things that anyone would agree are vital for success and happiness.

So what gets you “Fired-Up” and “Dialed” in each week? Here are a few things that put me in a state where anything and everything is possible:

Starting my day off with a hard fought early morning Work-Out

Taking 15 or 20 minutes to reset my goals and focus on their achievement

Feeling grateful and blessed for my wonderful wife and children

Knowing that I live in a country where anything truly is possible and the American Dream is alive and well

Looking for ways to add something positive to the lives of others

This list could go on but these are what are driving me this morning and I am ready for the best week of my life! Why not? Why shouldn’t it be? It will be what I make of it.

Find the fuel that feeds your inner flame. Deliberately and intentionally put yourself in a state where you are ready for anything and are confident in yourself above all else.

So what Fires you up each week? What did you do this morning to get your Energy and Enthusiasm exploding with excitement?

Salesman by Day…Jedi Master by Night

A C — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:44:31 -0800

Very few, if any, movies have survived the test of time with the same passion and intensity as the Star Wars movies. Now of course, there is a new generation of movies but the popularity of the brand itself is truly unique. When my son got interested, I wasn’t surprised at the appeal since it was the same appeal that drew me in nearly 30 years ago. What I didn’t realize was that every night I’d be expected to transform from Salesman during the day to Jedi Master at night.

Yes, this role comes complete with a light saber. As we “battle” around the dining room table and make our way through the kitchen, it hits me, a Jedi Master has much in common with a Real Estate Professional…or at least the most successful ones. They both practice:

Discipline
Patience
Belief in yourself

Now I’m not saying that all Real Estate Sales Training should take place with light saber in hand, but there are some similarities for sure as I side step the dog to block the relentless attack of my 5 year old. And the next time a client isn’t fully cooperating, consider using the “force” to persuade the momentum in your favor.