Debbie asked me today: “What did we DO before computers?”

I started to answer: “A LOT less!”

and I had to think for a minute . . . logic would conclude that technology should make us MORE productive – We should be doing LESS stuff and getting more accomplished.

and if that were the case, surely we would be “leveraged” by the technology to the degree that the savvy Tech users would precipitously INCREASE income as they increase the gadgetry in their arsenals and hone their manual dexterity.

Somewhere along the line, logic succumbs to reality.

I realize that through the use of technology I correspond with WAY more people each day than I did in the slower, gentler days. I interact with folks simultaneously with the use of Cell Phone, Landline, text, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Blogsite, Direct Message, Skype . . . AND Face-to-face to the extent that I know there are days when I “touch” 20+ people inside of a single day of work.

There’s a LOT of distracting NOISE in this Raplex (Rapidly Complex) world that IMHO counteracts many of the benefits of the enhanced technological connections.

• Keeping up with new gadgets
• Learning how to use the gadgets
• finding the best apps for the gadgets
• Learning how to use the best apps for the gadgets
• reading Walls
• Reading blog feeds
• Passing on jokes and interesting pictures
• Listening to youtube videos
• etc etc etc

So . . . I wonder . . . Does your mobile technology make life EASIER?

REALLY?

We’re going to explore some ideas around optimizing time, energy, work flow, productivity with appropriate use of mobile technology Wednesday Feb 15, 2012 @ 10 AM.

I invite you to bring ALL of your gadgets, and we’ll talk strategy about getting the most out of them.

Let’s hold these mobile technology solutions accountable for SIMPLIFYING our lives.

and when we’re done playing with our toys, Will Mclemore with Mclemore Auction Company is going to bring us lunch (FREE) and will tell us about his unique Auction concept. Will can/will auction just about anything from a house to collectibles – Check out his website His company is great way to help folks de-clutter or downsize . . . Just sell the STUFF!  http://www.mclemoreauction.com/

Will your electronic calendar remind you to be there?

Hope so!

Best,

b

Found on a post-it note (Mysteriously appearing in my pocket) this morning:

“How can life change from perfect to awkward in 3 seconds?”

I don’t know for sure, but I think the note was written by Perfect Daughter Jessica who had a “Perfect to Awkward” moment in last night’s basketball game.

Jessica single-handedly changed the game in a very significant way in the period of about 6 minutes without scoring ANY points.

Her coaches deserve some credit for the strategy, but it was Jessica’s PURE LASER FOCUS on doing what they directed her to do that made the impact.

In the first 1/4 of the game, the opposing team scored three 3 point goals . . . and 6 free throw shots . . . while our team (The good girls) exhibiting superior ball handling and passing skills and meticulously executing elaborate plays along with a distinct height advantage were just barely hanging on . . . The scoring was dead even . . . even though we (the good girls) were totally out-playing the other team.

At some point along the way in that quarter, the realization hit that almost ALL of the points scored by the other were team were scored by ONE girl. She was crafty as a fox . . . Brought the ball down court and passed it off to a team member upon crossing the center line . . . then she would disappear into the fray under the goal . . . and then sneak out to side without being noticed – Holler the word “BALL” . . . Her team-mates would lob her the ball, and she would swish 3 points.

This girl was a GREAT shot from anywhere on the court.

This is where Jessica and her coaches’ brilliance comes into play. They simply asked Jessica to stick to “3 point girl” like GLUE . . . to follow here everywhere she went on the court (even to the sidelines with her when the opposing coach called her over for sideline coaching).

Meanwhile, the remaining 4 girls on the team would continue to masterfully execute plays.

Jessica performed flawlessly and effectively created the scenario of completely slicing “3 point girl” out of the game throughout the 6 minute 2nd 1/4.

This killed the momentum of the other team and completely threw “3 point girl” off balance such that she scored VERY few goals for the remainder of the game . . . She was traumatized.

It also provided some great, humorous entertainment for the crowd.

Nothing that Jessica or coaches did was against the rules . . . but it sure defied conventional wisdom and “standard practices” . . .

THAT would be MY definition of “Game changer,” and all it required was recognition of a gap, a creative strategic solution, and ONE SINGLE PLAYER with LASER FOCUS.

What gaps do you face that could be filled with this level of game changing thinking?

hmmmm . . .

Just sayin’

Best,

b

PS: the good girls won the game 

Conventional wisdom says: “You can’t fit a square peg in a round hole!”

The implication is that you’ve gotta find a square hole for your square peg, otherwise you’re wasting your time and energy.

Then, there are those gurus who suggest that before you start climbing the ladder to success, you should first check to be sure it’s leaning against the right wall.

My Father Harrison Owen says: “Nothing of real significance ever happened according to the plan!”

Yogi Berra said: ”You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

and

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

I think they’re all brilliantly correct!

These days. the odds of anyone finding the perfect square hole for their square peg are minuscule.

We are not in a cookie cutter world, and heck . . . do ANY of the “rules” still apply when it comes to achieving success?

What are those insanely successful people doing that is so different?

They are not in a world of pegs and holes . . . They are in a world of gaps and relationships.

Instead of attaching to peg and seeking the perfect hole, they’re looking for (at) the gaps in what’s out there . . . Information, technology, Service, Pricing, Marketing . . . Where are the voids?

Once identified . . . These very smart people seek relationships to leverage themselves such that they can fill these gaps in whatever form the gap requires.

This is multi-dimensional thinking . . . sometimes known as “Creativity”

and it only works when the right PEOPLE who share passion for filling the gap come together and form aTEAM.

So . . . Wanna find success?

Quit looking for another “job” . . . Start identifying gaps . . . and spend 2/3 of every working day being present with PEOPLE.

Just sayin’

Best,

b

Good Monday Morning!

Beware!

I awakened this morning with an urge to wax philosophic here this morning . . .

Why?

ummm . . . Probably a dose of “Self-inflicted Therapy” as a reminder of the simplicity of life flow/RHYTHM when we sustain proper perspective.

As we all tumble through life and time, we initiate and respond to myriad INVITATIONS.

We invite other folks to join us as Friends, Work Associates, colleagues . . . “Partners in crime” . . . We know that much of our success and fulfillment comes through other people who show up and travel with us as we learn and shape our way.

Whoever comes is the right people . . . 

We also know that creativity and Spirit manifest mysteriously. We cannot force them . . . They show up when the time is right. We are often SURPRISED and delighted by  ”Sudden & unexplainable” flashes of brilliance.

Whenever it starts is the right time . . . 

and we know that when we are open to new ideas and unattached to preconceived outcomes, magical happenings occur.

Whatever Happens is the only that could have. (Given the PEOPLE – HERE – NOW – ENGAGED without judgment)

Because “IT” happened HERE . . .

Wherever it happens is the right place.

The cycle of life applies – Birth, Maturity, Life, Death – and so often Everyone knows it’s over and continues to hold on (resisting change) . . . Even though we know that acknowledging (Honoring) the end will give rise to new and exciting beginnings.

When it’s over it’s Over . . . 

Throughout this whole dance, the true energy and excitement comes from fresh Passion and folks’ willingness to take responsibility for this passion by exercising their individual God given right of CHOICE . . . Choice to invite others . . . Choice to be present and engage fully . . . Choice to move on when Passion wanes.

The Law of 2 Feet: If at any time you find yourself in a place where you are neither contributing nor receiving anything of value. it is YOUR responsibility (and privilege) to use your 2 feet to take yourself to a place where you CAN contribute or receive something of value.

The goal is to achieve the “Highest and BEST use of YOU” in your short stay here with us on this planet.

What’s the secret?

HOW can you do this?

Simple:

• Be INTENTIONAL about all that you do
• SHOW UP!
• BE PRESENT!
• INVITE others – constantly
• Respond to others’ invitations
• Honor your Passion – Follow your Heart
• TAKE RESPONSIBILITY with appropriate ACTION
• Tell the TRUTH to yourself and others . . . ALWAYS
• Open your mind to new ideas and possibilities
• When it’s time . . . LET IT GO!

Sadly . . . Coffee cup’s empty 

We stand ready to serve your family (or anyone you know) with real estate consultation and service 

How often do you get a call from a random out of area telephone number (or “Unknown Number”) and immediately get hit with the question:

“Are you accepting new clients?”

“Would you like 10 great leads every month?”

“Is your internet marketing bringing you all the leads you want?”

Followed by a very smooth and convincing pitch about how their company has very few opportunities available in your market to get PRIME leads . . . and LUCKY YOU . . . for a mere $300/mth, you can enjoy success beyond your wildest dreams.

If you currently have any listings, chances are decent that these folks are marketing YOUR listings, getting leads from them . . . and are now offering to sell them back to you.

Wait!

WHAT?

These practices have started an increasingly HOT National debate about the “Rules” and use of IDX and Syndication on the Internet.

Paul Gaddes has had his eye on this debate for a while and has been updating us the Facebook All things REALTOR – Central TN site . . . I’ve provided 3 links below which provide the meat and potatoes of the issue and won’t even attempt to write in my own words what these genius’s have already written, so I’m going to do what I do best . . .

YOU are invited:

to join us as we unpack issues and opportunities associated with this spontaneously combusting issue of IDX & Syndication Lead Generation practices

• Thursday February 9, 2012
• 9:30 AM . . . 
• Followed by lunch @ 11 provided by Jason Grubbs with Strategic Insurance Group 615-472-1515 insurance@tnsig.com
• Please RSVP by return email
• Location TBD based on number of RSVPs (West Nashville or Brentwood)

Kris Berg wrote:

By syndicating my listings, I am giving permission to these sites to auction off my business. It is the virtual equivalent of allowing an agent to slap their name rider on my yard sign and then having the sign company charge me to remove it. No sane agent would allow that, yet we seem to have no problem allowing it to occur online.

————————————-

the Big Issue, the Big Question. It is the same one posed by Geoffrey Lewis lo these many years ago.

Is the purpose of listing data, of the MLS itself, to help participants serve existing clients… or to help participants attract new clients?

————————————

Enjoy reading:

In Which I Clarify My Worries Over Syndication and IDX, And Connect The Dots

Syndication to Real Estate Portals: Problems and Solutions

MLS Fights Back for its Brokers

2012 will be a pivotal year for many of us in many ways . . . For sure, Lead generation and our use of the internet is evolving a blinding rate, and keeping up with it all could be a full time job all by itself.

Will you join the conversation?

Best,

b

 PS - If you're not in nashville and want to know all about this issie READ the material at the links above and start a great conversation in YOUR market

I wonder how many houses are “available” . . . but not on the market.

WHY would a house be “available” . . . but not on the market?

What’s the point?

Is it some kind of fancy-schmancie voodoo reverse psychological mystique?

Playing hard to get?

Is the Seller “Timing the market?”

“We’ll keep it off the market until EXACTLY the PERFECT time in the Earth’s continuum such that when our target listing date arrives, all of the planets will align in a universal conspiracy to conjure up a mysterious drop in Mortgage interest rates precipitating a spontaneous combustion of the economy resulting in a magical generation of the PERFECT Buyer who will swoop in and pay top dollar with optimal terms for the seller.”

I know this is very “tongue in cheek” . . . not likely many Sellers are thinking things through to this degree.

Here’s my point . . . in Middle Tennessee, we have pent up Buyer demand

Much of the inventory of available (seeable) homes are “stale” . . . they’ve been picked over.

New, fresh listings are getting LOTS of attention.

Not a day passes when I don’t hear a REALTOR asking other REALTORS if they know of any great listings coming up in myriad areas.

This became prevalent enough that one of our local social media gurus (and REALTOR extraordinaire) Brian Copeland launch a great community page on Facebook for REALTORS to “talk” about issues and opportunities we are all facing . . . “All things Real Estate in central TN”

That page jumped to over 600 members within a week . . . next thing we knew . . . “Buyer needs” started popping up in droves . . . drowning out the discussion.

This prompted Hagan Stone to birth the “Central Tennessee REALTOR® Buyer Need and Referral Forum” where REALTORS can peddle their “Pocket listings” and/or look for these needle-in-a-haystack “available but not seeable” listings.

I know of several “matches” happening as a result of this forum.

My question then is: “If these Sellers would just go ahead and list their properties NOW when the market is HUNGRY, I wonder if they might get better deals from the open market?”

Abandon the “Herd Mentality Thinking” that “Spring is the best time to list!”

Why would you want to list your house at the same time as everyone else and run your race with all of that other competition?

JUMP IN NOW!

The market WANTS your house to appear.

The market NEEDS your house to appear.

I probably have a BUYER for your house NOW (or I know another REALTOR who does).

Next step?

Call your REALTOR and DEMAND that y’all do whatever it takes to get it on the ACTIVE market before everyone else wakes up.

Just sayin’

Best,

b

PS – Of course I and the Vital Few agents of Pareto Realty are poised and ready to serve any Sellers in Middle TN who don’t have an agent in mind 

I think there are a lot of myths about Home Staging.

The most dangerous one (IMHO) is: “every REALTOR can stage a house” . . . If that were true, every listing out there would be perfectly staged.

Another myth might be: “It’s not worth the price!”

Another might be: “all a Seller’s gotta do is price the house to SELL and that staging won’t make a difference.”

I believe all of these to be untruths.

Most REALTORS are best at their primary function – Delivering a smooth process for a home buyer/Seller . . . and best serve their clients by leveraging themselves with trained professionals for different components of the process.

Most of the top REALTORS I know hire professional photographers for their House photos, professional maintenance folks for repairs . . . etc . . . and don’t even attempt to do these things themselves so they can stay focused on the intricacies of “quarterbacking” the marketing and the transaction.

I always know when I walk into a house that’s been staged by trained, professional Home Stager . . . and when I do, I know that it’ll be a house that sells sooner than the competition.

This Wednesday – Feb 1 – @ 10 AM, you’re invited to explore many ways to position a house quintessentially to outshine all other listings on the market.

@ 11 AM – We’ll have the good fortune of hearing from a trained Staging Professional (who will also be bringing in LUNCH) .

“Centered Staging was founded by Michelle Cox, certified Home Staging and Redesign Expert. With aneye for design, a degree in Psychology, and a passion for real estate, Michelle collaborates easily with homeowners and realtors to transform awkward spaces into beautiful ones.”

Hmmm . . . a Stager with a degree in Psychology . . . Sounds like a plan 

Visit Centered Staging on the net . . .

Facebook: Business Page

Website: Centered Staging – Home Staging and Re-Design

or BETTER . . . Join us Feb 1 @ 10 AM

Just contact me to save your seat in the room (Seating is limited to 15)

Best,

b

Everything is moving – Transforming – Morphing . . . ALWAYS.

Just about the time we think we’ve “GOT IT” and can relax . . .

The dust settles, and we “hit a stride” . . .

Find a great routine that brings nice results and fulfillment . . .

then . . . SOMETHING CHANGES and upsets our apple cart.

Seth Godin wrote When the World changes . . .  ”It’s painful, expensive, time-consuming, stressful and ultimately pointless to work overtime to preserve your dying business model.”

AS technology (Internet) spooled up, “Old School” ways of doing business died by the bushel. It seemed that the marketers who mastered SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to get insane levels of traffic to their web sites were “getting all the leads” . . . They were preying on anyone and everyone who clicked their clever links.

This internet marketing strategy was the fundamental piece for growing HUGE business and led to great prosperity for many people. The pace continued to increase, and the organizations continued to grow into gargantuan machines that needed LOTS of paying customers to sustain the marketing efforts.

Then something changed . . . Some folks even have said: “the internet is FULL” . . . there’s so much noise out there that the leads ceased flowing as before and many of those marketing machines began to fail . . . Our economy went into decline.

I am not implying that the internet has passed its usefulness as an integral part of a thriving business . . . only that it’s the way we USE this technology to sustain a healthy life and business flow that has changed.

“Old School” is now COOL” . . . and those who get this understand that the internet and technology (smart phones) are marvelous tools for going old school.

Seth Godin (again) wrote: “The TED imperatives . . .”are valid guidelines for any time you choose to stop hiding and step out into the world.”

PS – If you’re in the mood to move . . . or even thinking about it . . . We’re interested in helping you gain clarity on how (and when) to do so . . . Just contact me, and we’ll connect 

First . . . My disclaimer . . . I am a Real Estate Principal Broker of a firm I solely own (Pareto Realty). If you’re a REALTOR and you are not affiliated with Pareto Realty or Pareto Reserve, I am not YOUR Broker so if you want clarification on any of the below, be sure to consult with YOUR Principal Broker. While I’m at it . . . I’m not an attorney either . . . This post should not be considered to be “Legal Advice” – Contact an attorney with any tort related questions

Every so often, a listing agent will intentionally allow a listing to expire . . . or withdraw it for “Strategic Reasons” with full permission from the client (Owner of the property). Reasons might be to cease showings while repairs or staging happens so as to re-list later . . . or the Owner may have had a family event (Birth, Death, etc) that necessitates a Break from showings.

Just because the listing expires or is withdrawn from the Multiple Listing System does not necessarily in and of itself mean that there is no longer a contractual client and/or close personal relationship between the Seller and the Listing Agent.

Some Real Estate Professionals “work expired and withdrawn listings” which means that they pay attention to the housing inventory and contact the owners of houses which fall out of the MLS. If done legally and tactfully, this is not a bad way to find new business, .

After all –  if the listing expires (and so does the listing agreement), the owner may very well be in the market for a new agent . . . there’s nothing wrong with standing up to be noticed.

My caveat is this: as agents go about this practice of contacting expired and withdrawn listings, some become a tad overzealous and risk stepping over legal and ethical boundaries . . . 

As we ask Buyers at Open Houses or on sign calls “Are you current working with an agent, and have you signed a representation agreement?“, REALTORS in pursuit of Expired or Withdrawn Listings (Sellers) should verify that there is no existing Exclusive Right to Sell Listing agreement before they launch into any level of solicitation for the listing of the house.

Miss this step as you tackle Withdrawn/Expired listings, and you risk committing what is known in the legal world as Tortious Interference (See this defined below). Ignorance is not a good defense . . . All Real Estate Professionals should know to ask this question as required by law and the Code of Ethics.

Furthermore, some agents may slip into violation of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of REALTORS (Click the link to view the entire code) by stepping out of bounds with off-hand, disparaging comments about the initial listing agent.

I did a little digging into our code . . . Specifically:

•  Article 15 
  REALTORS^® shall not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements about other real estate professionals, their businesses, or their business practices.
• Article 16 
  REALTORS^® shall not engage in any practice or take any action inconsistent with exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTORS^® have with clients.
  

Then I dug into Google for information on Tort law and found . . .

From Wiki:

“Tortious interference, also known as intentional interference with contractual relations, in the common law of tort, occurs when a person intentionally damages the plaintiff‘s contractual or other business relationships . . .

Tortious interference with contract rights can occur where the tortfeasor convinces a party to breach the contract against the plaintiff, or where the tortfeasor disrupts the ability of one party to perform his obligations under the contract, thereby preventing the plaintiff from receiving the performance promised. The classic example of this tort occurs when one party induces another party to breach a contract with a third party, in circumstances where the first party has no privilege to act as it does and acts with knowledge of the existence of the contract. Such conduct is termed tortious inducement of breach of contract.

So . . . By all means, work expired and withdrawn listings for new listings . . .

Just be sure:

1. that you can legally solicit the business
2. to take the high road with anything you say about the prior REALTOR

Does this mean I’m a “Droid-Head”?

I can’t get away with teasing all of the Smartphone users in the world any more.

I held out for as long as I could, but my trusty Motorola workhorse phone with slide out qwerty keyboard was starting to fail . . . getting clumsy with internet . . . battery life shortening more every day . . . and I found myself wanting MORE.

I fantasized about how liberating it would be to be able to instantly access the internet from anywhere with a few silent taps on a glassy screen . . .

I marveled at the notion of being able to acquire “apps” for that (Whatever “that” may be)

Last week, I bought the darned thing with resolute confidence and strolled out of the store with chest puffed out – chin up.

Got in my car, started the engine . . . and the thing began RINGING . . . Sadly, I didn’t know how to answer it, so I witnessed my first “missed call”.

Then panic set in . . . UH-OH . . . What about my CONTACTS?

WHERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS?

I ravaged the box . . . no instructions whatsoever . . . There I was with a device I was convinced was smarter than I . . . and nobody had my back.

NOTE: I am writing this blog post on day 9 of my ownership of this technological gizmo – The prior 8 days have been filled with “AHA” discoveries.

It’s like a bottomless box of chocolates . . . I never know what I’m going to get . . . and each time I need this thing to do something, the answer shows up.

the good news was that the instant I logged onto Google, the darned thing automatically loaded all of my Gmail contacts and Calendar . . . I was INSTANTLY in business (Very happily).

This little gem has already made a HUGE difference in my productivity . . . It seems that all of the Google integration I’ve worked so hard to learn works seemlessly with this hand-held thing.

So . . . If you can’t beat them – JOIN them!

I stuck to my guns as the curmudgeon – “BAH-HUMBUG! I DON’T NEED A SILLY SMARTPHONE to be complete!”

Unlike QR Codes . . . these smartphones seem to have legs . . . They’re gonna getcha if they haven’t already.

I fell . . . or did I soar?

Just sayin’

Best,

b