Well, I didn't really personally earn it...my late wife Karen did.  But I helped push us those last few thousand points anyway!

I think there is a group for people that are "over 100K," so I guess I can go and get on the porch with the other big dogs.

Today is somewhat melancholy though.  I think it's time I change the information in this blog over to my name.  I hate taking Karen's picture down, but I think some of my colleagues think I am a little odd for keeping it around.  Maybe it is odd.  So today's the day that I reveal my mug to AR.

The AR "statistics" page will show you-- very clearly-- which of your posts are most attractive to readers.  The statistics page will help you learn to be a better blogger; I promise.

If you click on the Statistics link (which is found on the left hand side of your AR home page, near the bottom), you will see your various post titles.  To the right of your titles, you will see a column for Views and a column for Clicks.

Views are the number of people that had the opportunity to click on your post.  So if your article is featured and is on ActiveRain, page one, you will quickly get thousands of views.  This does not mean that people actually read your blog; it just means that they saw your post title and your little portrait.  So if you are featured, everytime anyone visits ActiveRain.com, it will be counted as a view.  If you write an obscure post, intended for a narrow audience (your state for example), you will likely not get featured and you will not get many views.

However, the Views statistic, by itself, is almost worthless.

But when we combine Views with the Clicks statistic, we can get a very clear picture of exactly what our readers want to read.

The Clicks statistic tells us how many people actually clicked on our post with the supposed intention of reading it.

Now we can take our Clicks and divide them into Views and come up with a ratio.  We can immediately get a clear picture of what works and what doesn't.  Statistics can be very revealing.

This is kind of sad, but I wrote one post about doing charity work.  I titled it "The Perfect Charity for Realtors and Loan Officers".  It was about a Habitat For Humanity type thing.

Apparently, people don't care too much about a charitable cause, because after thousands of views, only about 10% of the people that have seen it actually clicked on it.  That startles me, but stats are stats.

But at least I know that I shouldn't write about charity if I want anybody to read my posts.  I won't make that mistake again.

Then last week, as a social experiment, I wrote a post entitled "The Creepy, Scary Things I Do."

72% of the people that read the Creepy title clicked on it.  Again, the topic of charity got me 10%.

You don't really need to do the actual ratio calculations.  You can eyeball your stats and immediately see what posts get the most clicks vs views.  I can almost guarantee that you will see a pattern.

Here are a couple things I've learned:

Try titling your posts as a question.  For example, "What is Wrong with Sellers?"

Try being provocative.  For example, "Are You Screwing Up Your Business?"

Be precise.  If your post is about cleaning out a septic tank, then lead with the words "septic tank."  For example, "Septic Tanks, Can Your Puppy Fall In?"

That'll get you some clicks, I guarantee it!

~Michael George

There is this concept in economics called "Economies of Scale" and it applies as much to Real Estate and Mortgages as it does to manufacturing.

The concept is simple: let's use a soda-pop maker as an example.  You might think that the soda company would want to produce as many bottles as is possible, right?

Not really.

There is a point when making soda becomes prohibitively expensive.  Let's say that after one billion bottles, they have to start importing foreign sugar and relying less on recycling.  The price to manufacture shoots up and up.  Thus, profits are cut into and production is stopped in the interest of max revenue.

For the nerds:  The above graph shows profits ("a", the vertical line) maximized at "quantity one."  You can see that as quantity goes up (Q2), profits go down (a2).  This can be applied to just about any business.  There is a point when enough-is-enough.

I am currently experiencing what is known as Diseconomies of Scale.

I have more business than I can handle; I am slammed.  Finding reliable help is difficult; people are so flakey...well, let me just stop there:  It's difficult.

Of course, I am determined to grab every deal that I can get, because I was always taught to "make hay when the sun shines."

But my long-time clients have to wait longer than normal for a return call back.  Also, I've made some tiny mistakes.  Nothing that has cost my clients any money, but I've definitely cost myself some money.

So here I sit, ready to start another day, and just getting organized with emails and voicemails is a major part of my morning.  I must get fifty emails per day-- in the first half of my day.  All require written responses-- nothing canned.

I think I lost two Realtors that give me business.  This is because they see how busy I am and assume that I can't handle their loans.  Of course, they are wrong, because their loans take special precedence, but try convincing them of that.

So, ironically, both Realtors are considering sending business to another loan officer who has been doing this for only a few months.  This is supposed to be my best year ever!  What happened?

I am actually harming myself with all of these clients, rather than helping.  Deals are taking longer to close also, because my lenders are also experiencing diseconomies.

Here is a great quote from Yogi Berra (aren't they all great?) supplied by Karen Anne Stone (New Home Hunters DFW): 

"That restaurant is so popular that nobody goes there anymore."  ~YB

Ha!

Anybody else experiencing Diseconomies of Scale?

~Michael George

I dedicate this post to Farrah Fawcett, who died this morning at the age of 62.  May she rest in peace.

This morning, while walking my dogs and thinking about Farrah, I was contemplating life and life lessons.  At first, I was just thinking about a couple of things.  Then I decided to type it out and I easily thought of fifteen things that are important to me.

I thought this could be a pretty neat post.  How about adding your own to my list?  Don't worry, I am not concerned about anyone "hijacking" my blog.  Add ten more if you want.  Or write your own post and add the link here.

But I think we all have learned lessons in our lives and why not share so that others don't make the same mistakes?  I'm not trying to be preachy.  I am guilty of breaking some of these little rules myself.  But I am working on becoming better!  So here is my list of lessons learned. 

1.  Treat your loved ones with respect and dignity.  God forbid-- if they ever get hurt or sick-- you'll regret every cross word you ever uttered.

2.  Don't lie.  It's really just that simple.

3.  Don't do drugs or drink heavily.  Because one day, you'll hit rock botttom.  And rock bottom is no place for anyone to be.  Addiction steals your soul and makes you do wretched things.

4.  Learn to cook and enjoy food.  One of life's greatest and inexpensive pleasures.  Plus, restaurant meals have about a million calories.  You'll also save a great deal of money.

5.  Always have good manners and respect your elders.  I went to military school (because I was that rotten as a kid) and I learned that calling people "sir" and "ma'am" really goes a long way.

6.  Be your own health advocate.  Nobody-- not even your doctor-- is as concerned about your health as you are.

7.  Exercise daily.  It's nature's own anti-depressant and you'll live longer and happier.

8.  Adopt a dog.  They will love you unconditionally and bring you much joy.  Also, you can ignore all of the burglar alarm commercials on TV.  Robbers tend to avoid houses with dogs.  I know they would be smart to avoid mine!

9.  Do charitable things.  And that doesn't mean just writing a check.  Try volunteering; it's incredibly rewarding and satisfying to the soul.

10.  Keep a journal.  I find it's very soothing and cathartic to put your thoughts and feelings on paper.  Plus, you'll remember important events more clearly if you write them down.  I regret that I haven't done this my entire life.  I wish I would have journaled about my wedding day, for example.

11.  Always remember that "what goes around comes around."

12.  Never judge a book by it's cover.  This will bring you much trouble in your life as you will undoubtedly misjudge many people.  See this enlightening post by my lovely wife: http://activerain.com/blogsview/249121/i-did-a-bad-thing-today

13.  Be well-educated.  I don't necessarily mean "college," but college sure helps.  People can tell if you actually know what you are talking about.  B.S. can only take you so far.

14.  Always keep hope alive.  No matter how horrible things can be at times, it will get better.

15.  Treasure each and every day.  You can go at any time.  I think we tend to forget that.  I know I do.  Every moment that you are alive and loved is a good moment.

Please feel free to add yours.

~Michael George

I'm not one of those people who thinks that watching a lot of television is necessarily a bad thing.  Karen and I liked to watch a lot of educational stuff and I think I'm a better person for it.  We've both learned a great deal from the National Geographic channel and PBS. 

Without a doubt though, the most incredible thing that either of us had ever seen was a particularly heart-breaking documentary about elephants.  Karen and were stunned silent in what turned out to be one very sad hour of television.

An older elephant had died and the entire herd was mourning the loss.  (They also mourn still-births, incredibly enough.)  Many of them linked trunks and stood in a semi-circle-- apparently sitting shiva. 

Some of the elephants very delicately sprinkled grass and dirt over their dead friend in between trumpeting anguished screams from their heavy trunks.  It was as of they were saying "ashes to ashes, dust to dust..." and surrendering the body to the ground in the very same fashion that we do-- with a handful of dirt.  These were the morticians.

And finally, a few took it upon themselves to comfort the immediate family of the dearly departed.  Yes, you read that correctly.  They basically organize a wake and some act as greeters for the family.  These elephants would stand over the dead body and when a mourner came forward, they would cry in anguish, gently caress each other with their trunks, and rock back and forth just as humans do when the grief is just too much to bear.  After some time, the grieving elephant moves on and the next one in line comes forward to mourn.

Again, they perform the same rituals with still-borns.  It's almost too difficult to wrap my mind around; they are just so intelligent. 

These giants are actually quite gentle with and very protective of humans that treat them well.  But, apparently, most are not treated well at all.  I think we have all seen video of an elephant flipping-out and going after its handler.  It happens occasionally.  But can you imagine how much abuse you'd have to dish out before such a deeply loving herbivore would try to stomp you to death?

I was going to post a video of elephants being abused by Ringling Brothers, but I decided it was just too sad and might offend.  The undercover camera shows a baby elephant being dragged around with a "bullhook" that is embedded in her ear.  She cries in pain.  Here is the link though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usHRjuTHSyU  

If you want to learn more about this very human tragedy, you can visit Elephants.com (where else?), the Performing Animals Welfare Society, the National Wildlife Fund, or simply Google "elephant abuse".  Charities are really suffering right now, as our economy can barely sustain for-profit businesses.  But if you can spare just a couple of dollars, please visit http://www.pawsweb.org/donate_online.html

~Michael George

I've been through a lot of stuff in my thirty-seven years.  Terrible stuff.  Traumatic things.  I lost my wife to breast cancer, for one.  I was in a bad motorcycle accident and haven't had feeling in my legs for a long time.  When I walk, I look drunk and I am often wrongfully accused.  I've even been kicked out of stores, dead sober.  (I'm also rightfully accused now and again, but that's a different story.)  I could go on and on about my mishaps, but you get the point.

Anyway, I have a chow/lab mix (pictured) that has been with me for what is approaching 14 years.  I'm proud to say that I and my late wife have taken very good care of Autumn.  She's never gone gray, her vision isn't perfect-- but she's nowhere close to being blind-- and her hearing is absolutely astounding.  Her hips seem to be a little sore, but nothing major.  She's like the dog who won't grow old.

I finally took her for her first check-up recently (only for vaccinations up until now), because something seemed off.  I can't say exactly, but she just seemed to be acting differently-- a little odd.

Anyway, a few months ago, a friend told me, "That sure is going to be terrible when you have to put Autumn down!"

I actually laughed.  I said, "Man, I lost my wife to cancer!  Frankly, I don't think this is going to be an issue for me at all.  You're crazy dude!  I lost my wife for goodness sakes!  I can handle anything."

Well, the vet told me that Autumn has a lesion in her brain, and it is highly probable that it is Cancer.  That would explain the odd behavior.

My stomach started doing backflips and I almost puked right in her office.

"Come on girl.  Let's go.  Nobody's touching you."

I just glared at the vet on my way out.  I wanted to give her the finger, but I resisted.  She was visibly uncomfortable; due to the fact that I was visibly resentful and agitated.  Good!  Of course, now I know where the term "don't shoot the messenger comes from," because I wanted to shoot her for even saying the C-word in front of my baby.

Well guess what?  I'm not handling it well at all.  She seems to be getting worse everyday, and I'm not dealing with it the way I thought I would.  The thought of losing her after fourteen years has me very upset.  I can't imagine waking up in the morning without her there, wagging her tail to greet me.

So I thought I'd write this post for those that maybe have never experienced this type of loss or maybe know somebody who is going through it.

This is real grief.  It's not silly and it's not the product of some over-emotional child.  It's the loss of a family member.  Now, it certainly doesn't compare to losing a wife, but it can hurt almost as bad.

I wanted to remind people that, if you know someone who has lost a beloved family pet, please treat them with respect.  Send them a card.  Let them know that you don't think their grieving is silly or unjustified.  If you have a client with a very old dog, show some interest and empathy.  They'll love you for it.

Hospice of the Valley, which is my local hospice service, actually offers free counseling for those who lose pets.  So Hospice takes it seriously too.

If you lose a beloved pet, just know that there are resources available to you.  I'm sure Arizona isn't the only state that offers free counseling.  I've gathered some resources here:

http://www.petloss.com -- Online grief support

http://www.pet-loss.net -- Ten tips for Coping with Pet Loss

http://www.petvets.com/petloss/#myth -- Pet Loss Myths

I hope this post helps somebody with their loss.

~Michael

Somebody named "John Henry" just spammed one of my posts.  He posted as a "member", but when I went to his profile page, of course it was totally blank.  Except his phone number, which I called.  Turns out there was no John Henry there.  The cell phone belonged to a Wendy.

He basically set his account up so he could spam ActiveRainers.

There used to be a delete button for comments, which should absolutely be the case.  Now it seems to have dissapeared?  Why in the name of all that is Good and Holy would ActiveRain disable this feature?

Or am I doing something wrong?

What if somebody posts pornographic images to my posts?  That would be just great for my business.

Any help from anyone is certainly welcome!

Okay, so I finally did it.  I signed up for Twitter.  Now I will-- just like Paris Hilton and Fifty Cent-- broadcast important information to my fellow American citizens.

In all seriousness though, I think this is going to be pretty neat and very useful for Realtors I work with, as well as current and future mortgage clients.

I call this service "Arizona Mortgage Rates" because that's where most of my clients come from.  However, in truth, these rates should likely be applied to your state as well.  There are only a couple of real exceptions.  (Alaska and Hawaii, we're talking to you!)

So if you want to follow current mortgage rates, please see my Twitter page at:  http://twitter.com/az_mortgage

Or check out the widget that appears to the right.  Just click the "follow" button to get daily rate information.

I'll also post breaking mortgage news when it happens.  Mid-day rate changes, rate lock recommendations, you name it.  I am going to be as ambitious as I possibly can.

Please consider signing up!  And thank you...

~Michael

There are a million stories like this one, but why not add one more?  Couldn't hurt!

I know this couple.  It's actually hard to describe them, because they are so dynamic...but I will try.  I'll call them John and Jane.

First off, they both look like movie stars-- perfect teeth, skin, everything.  At the same time, they are the most charming and likeable young couple you could ever meet.  "Jane" comes from money, but she is very humble and volunteers in soup kitchens and every other thing she can. 

They met in a very prestigious law school in Michigan and fell in love.  It was shortly after graduation that John put a ring on Jane's finger.  I remember when they announced it.  They both had ear to ear grins and she was absolutely glowing.

Like I said, they had the world by the butt.  Their future looked very bright.

On that fateful night, she had attended some type of event.  I don't remember what it was.  Probably a fund raiser, if I know her.  She had a little bit of wine that night, but she felt that she was "good enough" to drive.

At some point on her drive home, Jane dozed off and slammed into another vehicle.  She killed a father of four instantly upon impact.  Thankfully, he was the only person in the car that she hit.

Just like that, in an instant, she became a criminal and many lives were ruined.  Jane is sitting in prison right now.  She will never become a lawyer, because the state bar associations generally don't accept people with negligent homicide convictions.  In fact, when she gets out in roughly eight years, she really won't be able to get any decent job, when applying as a murdering felon.  She really did ruin her life.  All of her dreams are now squashed.

She ruined the future she and John had envisioned for themselves.  They have ended their relationship.

Most importantly though, she ruined the lives of everyone that was close to the man that she killed.  His widow, his four children, his mother and father...all of their lives have been altered permanently.

What is so messed up about this whole thing was that she was-- at most-- a $20 cab ride from home.  In just about any city in America, you can get a cab within ten minutes.  If she would have just called a cab, she would be picking out wedding dresses right now.  Instead she's eating prison food and working in the laundry.

And it was just one tiny, little mistake.  It's not worth it.  Please consider using a cab if you've had a few.  Sure, the next day you are going to walk outside and freak out when you think that somebody stole your car; and you'll also need to somehow get back to your vehicle...but it's totally worth avoiding prison, I would think.

~Michael George

A few months ago, I received a mass email from a group of friends inviting volunteers to head south of the border to build a home for a destitute Mexican family.

I was told by others, who had already done this, that I would most certainly have a great time.  Building a house is pretty cool, especially when you've never done it before.

Now, please don't think I am typing this to boast about my volunteer efforts.  The truth is that it was a four day camping vacation for me.  I was just thrilled to be camping in the salty Mexican air, campfires, Corona beer, and all that good stuff.  So this was fun for me and a 6-person family was provided a sturdy new home.  Everybody wins.  It was really awesome.

On the picture displayed to the left, I am about three days without a shower.  (There is really no place to bathe.)

But I wanted to share something with ActiveRain:  As a mortgage broker, I felt extra "connected" to this project and I think you might too.

So I thought I would write a little bit about it and maybe interest some others as well.  For over ten years now, I've worked as an Arizona-based mortgage broker.  I don't know if this is actually accurate, but let's say 50% of my clients need to buy a home (the rest are refinances).  Sometimes it's challenging.  Sometimes I have to tell people-- that I personally believe deserve a loan-- that there is just no way they are going to qualify.  I hate that.  It's not about the commission, I just really feel bad for some of my clients.

So I think more so with me, specifically due to my type of work, providing a brand new two-bedroom, at no cost to the family, was especially satisfying to my soul.

There are two organizations that I know of that build homes for the poor.  There may be many more.  There is Habitat for Humanity, which is a big-time deal and the original.  (I have a friend flying to India right now with Habitat.)  There is also Amor Ministries.  They work through your church.  All you have to do is organize a group of about 20 or 25 people from your church, contact Amor Ministries, and they'll send you on your mission-- usually in Mexico from what I understand.  Churches of every domination were at the campsite...and people from all over the country.  The guys next to us were from Seattle.  We only drove 3.5 hours from Phoenix.

Take a good look at the "homes" behind my head and shoulders.  You can see that they are simply plywood shacks, that cannot be secure and safe.  Of course, there are no streetlights or electricity in this so-called neighborhood at all.  There is no running water; not even a well.  People essentially cook for their families on hotplates powered by propane, or a campfire in the "yard."  The site is a former landfill, and surrounded by trash.  Children play in the sand and I wonder what diseases are waiting for them there.  It can't be good.  We know there is abestos and lead paint everywhere.

If you can handle your own body odor, please consider joining on for one or ten of these projects.  I promise you'll have a wonderful time and you'll go back home with a full heart.  Oh one more thing, our group was made up of all ages and both sexes.  You don't need to be super-strong to do this.  There is a lot of light duty work.

The group goes down in February and again in November.  Imagine if you organized your office, and sent down a group of Realtors.  (Only one person has to be a member of a church.)  Pictures of the brokers and agents all proudly standing in front of a bunch of different houses (over time)...well, I think that would be about the best decoration you could possibly have in your office.  Let 'em know you have a heart.  Your clients will be proud to use you.  Also, what a great way to strengthen your team skills!

Thanks for reading.

~Michael George