What got you to 50 deals, may hinder you on your path to 100! - 03/30/11 12:37 AM
Have you ever thought about what got you to where you are today?  And what it will take you to get to where you want to go someday? 
You created tools, and systems to help you streamline the processes that you use on a daily basis to achieve the successes that you have obtained.  Those tools that are helping you right now, but they may not be what you need to reach the next level in your success...
Looking at it another way...  Some of us can "wing it" when it comes to business, and even make it look like there … (107 comments)

Motivational Monday - A smile for you today!!!! - 03/28/11 11:08 PM
"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret."
Ambrose Bierce
I stopped and laughed about this...  It seems that when we come from emotion... RAW EMOTION, we sometimes can be the most passionate about a particular subject or idea.  And when we are that way, we often feel that our passion will ignite the passions of others and the world will follow...
Sometimes they will...  But then again, if we use that raw emotion and let it get out of control...  It could end up being a speech that we will regret. 
… (59 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - San Francisco Bay Bridge - From a city street... - 03/24/11 12:43 AM
I was looking through some of my pictures from a few weeks ago when I was in San Francisco, and kept looking at this one.  For some reason I really enjoyed it, and it was one of my favorites.  Now, it is not the best picture, or great photography...  It's just a neat picture.  What do you think?

The San Francisco Bay Bridge connects to Treasure Island, so that is what is on the other side of the first segment of the bridge.
Have a great Wednesday!
-Chris
… (54 comments)

He was mad because his friend didn't use him to buy a home... - 03/24/11 12:02 AM
We have all had this happen...  Our friend didn't use us to buy OR sell their home... 
They tell us this, they tell us that...  They say it was a deal they couldn't pass up.  They say they got caught up in the moment.  They say it was their wife's/husbands fault.  They say that they wanted to keep your friendship separate from business.  They seem to have every excuse, and you just sit there and listen in awe...  When just the week before you both agreed that you would work with each other.
Remember, last week you were chillin' with your … (165 comments)

Motivational Monday - Albert Einstein - 03/21/11 01:34 PM
"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."Albert Einstein
I read this, and sooooo agree with this.  Sometimes we have to write down our dreams, so that they can become a reality.
So the beginning of each year, I use a one year wall calender to block in my vacations for the rest of the year.  This way, my dreams are going to become reality, and it gives me something to look forward too...
Even big dreams can come true, if you map it!
 
:)  Happy Monday!
 
-Chris
 
… (22 comments)

He said do what everyone ISN'T doing to have success in Real Estate... Maybe he WASN'T right? - 03/21/11 12:46 PM
It seems that everywhere you go, there is someone telling you how to be successful in real estate.  Someone somewhere asking you to try out this new website, take these referrals for ____ city, use this slick marketing plan.  AND, they swear THAT is what you need to do, to have success.  This seminar, that seminar, whatever.
Then you hear people saying you should try this NEW marketing plan.  This NEW website lead generation plan.  The NEW online capture scheme.  New new new new new...
I have two thoughts on the word new.  First off, those that try new things and … (14 comments)

Speechless Sunday (Almost) - Bobcat in my front yard - 03/20/11 12:07 AM
I have a bobcat(s) that live in the field out in the front yard.  You can see them pretty much every day if you wait around long enough. I live in Silicon Valley, California.  Well, in the west side of the county.

Here she just is gingerly walking at the top of the driveway.  This one is a bit smaller then what we usually see.

These pictures are taken from the front window.  She was hunting gophers, and mice out in the field.  Yes, those are 4X4 tracks from my truck that are still visible.  :)

Coming ever closer … (57 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - View from Pier 39, San Francisco Waterfront - 03/16/11 12:37 AM
Pier 39, is right down next to Fisherman's Wharf on the San Francisco waterfront.  I spent the day with my son there last weekend.

One of the biggest draws, are the sea lionsthat took over the place years ago.  Once thought to be a nuisance, are now a major attraction.

Arrrg, arrrrrrg... 

Looking over, you get a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
and loo
Looking a little more to the right, you get a clear view of Alcatraz...  The ROCK. 
San Francisco is always a great place to be!
 
-Chris
 
… (30 comments)

Speechless Sunday - San Francisco Cable Cars - 03/13/11 01:57 PM
I spent the day in San Francisco yesterday.  Headed to fisherman's wharf, and Pier 39...  If of course, I had to hop on a Cable Car with my Son Ryan.

We boarded at the warf and made our way downtown.  Did some walking, had a hot dog, enjoyed the St Patrick's Day Parade, and waited to ride 'em back. 

The cars grab the cables under the street and use brakes to make it up and down hills.

Some of the best parts are when you get to head down steep hills...  Every time we came to a steep … (40 comments)

Being coachable... Is it the coach, or is it you when it isn't working... - 03/08/11 11:00 AM
Ever had a call with your boss/coach/consultant that you loathed having to take?   You aren't really hitting the numbers you know you can make, and just don't want to have to explain why...  Why this, and why that... etc...
Your job is tuff, and you spend hours and hours every day doing it...  And sometimes the last thing you want to do is to have to explain some aspect of the job to someone that really doesn't know what it is that you do...
Then you take the call, and the coach/boss on the other end starts off on a tangent … (23 comments)

Speechless Sunday (Almost) - Sidewalk Chalk on a Warm Winter Day - 03/06/11 11:43 PM
We had a warm weekend...  Enough to be outside to enjoy the sun in my backyard in Saratoga, CA.  And what better thing to do, then to have fun with sidewalk chalk!  We talk them out for the kids, but we always have an excuse to use them ourselves...

My son wanted me to draw a choo-choo train, so I did my best...  I think I can... I think I can, I think I can...  (hee hee)  I think it was about half way through, he was on to the next hill to climb, or dirt clod to throw, or … (39 comments)

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - Snow, in Silicon Valley, CA??? - 03/02/11 11:49 AM
Yup!  It got sooooooo cold in the Bay Area if California that it snowed.  Not all parts of Silicon Valley got snow, but I did in Saratoga.

Now, I know in parts of the county, it snows all the time.  And there has been some severe weather in some areas...  However, in Silicon Valley, it NEVER snows.  Last time it snowed, was I think in 1976...  Then before that, it was in the 60's!

I live in Saratoga, CA...  Which is in the West part of Silicon Valley, next to Cupertino which is home to Apple Computers.  These pictures … (52 comments)

Who's fault is it? Lender, buyer/borrower or real estate agent... hmmmm... (financing) - 03/02/11 11:02 AM
So imagine this scenario...
Buyer got into contract to purchase a home, and had a financing contingency.  We all know the financing contingency is to be sure that the buyer has satisfied all requirements to secure financing on the property they are planning on buying.  This includes the appraisal, insurance, debt servicing and qualifying for the loan.
We as Real Estate Professionals do not give out tax, legal, title or loan advice, so we leave those things to experts.
Buyer removed all contingencies except financing, to be sure they were able to be approved.
Lender approved loan...  With mortgage insurance. Lender … (13 comments)

 
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Chris Alston (Silicon Valley, California)

Cupertino, CA

More about me…

Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Cupertino California)

Address: 20230 Stevens Creek Blvd. , Suite E, Cupertino, CA, 95014

Office Phone: (408) 850-6955

Cell Phone: (408) 921-4711

Email Me

Helping Real Estate Professionals learn new ideas and thought to help them in their business... At the same time, comments from our community help me in my classroom setting.


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