Encouraging Communicator

Serving as a Servant

2008-07-03T17:13:49Z

During the second half of June I was honored to be served by my good friend, Lt. Col. Don Eubank in California. Richard, another friend from Springfield, MO were invited to stay in Don's house in Frazier Park, about 60 miles northwest of L.A. We were there to finish up our last two week module of our Doctoral program.

Don graciously opened up his house to us to help us from paying a huge hotel bill in L.A. Richard and I took our showers in the morning and Don had prepared either oatmeal, scrambled eggs or waffles (or a combination of some of them.)

Don was demonstrating to us what it means to be a servant! But WAIT, there's MORE!

His Dad, Don Sr., who is 78 years old had dinner fully prepared every night when we arrived home between 7:00 - 8:00 each night. Both of them are creative and excellent chefs.

HOLD ON! THERE'S MORE! Don is an amazing servant. He did not want any money from us for breakfast or dinner. He just wanted to serve us!

THAT'S NOT ALL! I rented a car for two days. Don told us that his father wanted us to save money so he offered to let us use his Blazer. Richard and I said, "No thank You. You've already given and given to us!"

His dad really wanted to bless us so we finally gave in after much persuasion by both Don Sr. and Don Jr.

They saved us $1600.00 apiece! This story is about THEM! They were amazing servants to us. Richard and I love to serve, but we recieved from THEM!

Being a Servant is a rare commodity in the United States these days! For the most part, we Americans have created a culture of competition and emphasized that the smartest, richest and strongest person wins!

DON EUBANK (Jr. & Sr.) YOU HAVE REVEALED THAT YOU ARE GRACIOUS SERVANTS! May we all learn from your example of SERVING AS A SERVANT!

What Does Fourth of July Freedom Mean to You?

2008-07-02T21:39:40Z

Freedom - What a wonderful word! Our Founding Fathers of the United States, including where I live in Garden City, a city within Boise, Idaho, had us in their hearts and minds back in 1776. They chose to fight for freedom from the tyranny of England.

Freedom to choose is a gift. In fact, it's the greatest gift given to us. How we use that gift is up to us. I choose to love with my wife and son every day! I choose to love others the way I love myself.

I am choosing to fill my mind and meditate on those thoughts that are the BEST, not the worst, the BEAUTIFUL, not the ugly and things to PRAISE, not things to curse.

Happiness cannot be experienced directly. It is a byproduct of giving your time, energy and love to another person.

I feel that freedom is not doing whatever I want to do. Freedom, to me, is serving others with love!

What does the Fourth of July Freedom mean to you?

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! HAPPY FREEDOM DAY!

The Wrong Watch

2008-06-29T18:09:20Z

On my recent trip to Los Angeles, I took the wrong watch. I get nervous when I watch "Monk" with my wife and son. They say I am just like him and I never understood why :)

Well, I had a "Monk" deja vu episode for almost two weeks with my wrong watch. You see, it's a Casio atomic clock with a solar powered battery. Apparently, the battery was so weak that it could not hold a charge. BUT I did not know it!

So I put my watch near a window to soak up solar power because the watch indicator said "low charge" and wouldn't even display the digital time. Just a gray blank screen. Someone thought it was lost so they picked it up and left it on the receptionist desk. I found it and explained my predicament. The young man gave it back to me.

That night I hung it below the light in my bedroom. I thought I could charge it enough so it would reset the exact time at 5:03 AM using the radio signal from Colorado. It did not work!

Every day I was playing with that watch! I put it on top of our SUV in the parking lot at the grocery store, hoping I could receive a satellite signal and lots of solar power. NOOO!!!! That didn't work, either! Why not? My friends told me I was wasting too much time and energy and to just pick up a $25.00 Timex.

This frustrating experience happened every day for eleven days.

I gave a valiant effort to get a reset signal my last night. IT WORKED! The watch had enough power to display the time! And it was reset at 5:03 AM on June 27th!

IT HAS KEPT THE CHARGE AND RESET ACCURATELY SINCE THEN! Why didn't it function properly until my very last day there?

I didn't know why "Monk" made me nervous and I can't watch the show. I think I just got a CLUE!

I also discovered when I returned home, that I had left my good watch at home and took the old duplicate watch instead on my trip, too! BTW, My wife and son couln't stop laughing when I told them my tale....

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A "WRONG WATCH" STORY?

DON'T MEASURE UP, TREASURE UP!

2008-06-28T18:09:34Z

I have been out of touch with AR for a couple of weeks due to my doctoral seminars. During the last two weeks I have experienced a deeper dimension and a richer reality that each one of us is a person who is deeply loved, completely accepted and highly valued as a MARVELOUS MIRACLE!

We need to learn to live from our being and the WHO and not from the whats. Acceptance is not based on performance. The whats should flow out of the who. If we put the whats before the who and perform for acceptance we will experience insanity.

Living from our being means ACCEPTANCE = ACCEPTANCE! JUST BEING is real LIVING!

One of my mentors, Dr. Wess Pinkham, took our team out on his beautiful yacht on Sunday afternoon, June 21, from Marina del Rey, near the LA International Airport. The sky was blue. The temperature and breeze were ideal. We went up the coast to the Santa Monica pier. He steered around a buoy with sea lions piled on top of each other several times. They were laying in the sun relaxing and soaking up the warm rays of sunshine!

On the way back I was standing near the bow point of his beautiful boat and he told me that he loves the sound of the water splashing against the side of his boat. He was living "in the moment" and I felt what he felt with him and the boat and the water. I was BEING!

My friend Wess loves me! I love him! We enjoy the simple pleasures of life!

I love my wife and my son! We love to BE with each other!

I love all of you members of Active Rain! You are amazing and astonishing!

DON'T MEASURE UP, TREASURE UP!

A Daring and Dramatic Dream!

2008-06-28T14:06:58Z

Do you have a daring and dramatic dream?

A Daring and Dramatic Dream has just come true for me! I finished my final two seminars in my doctoral studies this second half of June in Los Angeles. That's a long way from Boise! I flew out of here on June 16 and returned home yesterday. That's also a long time to be away from my wife and son!

This has been a long marathon! I have been in seminars during second the half of October, February and June for two years! The past two weeks have been filled with laser focused and life giving (and exhausting) activity from 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day! No TV, newspaper or Active Rain! Just breathing, eating, drinking, sleeping and living doctoral work!

My dream began to be fulfilled in October of 2006. I entered my doctoral studies in innovative leadership and creative conflict management. Since then I have completed twelve four day intense, interactive, challenging and life transforming community building experiences.

Requirements have been overwhelming. Pre semainar requirements have taken hundreds of hours of reading, reflecting and writing. Each seminar consists of ten hours of dynamic interaction in a life giving community of eight amazing people in four consecutive days! Post seminar requirements are also extremely challenging!

I have read thousands of pages of creative books, stories and research studies of what it means to live and grow in authentic community. My many written reflection papers have been extremely challenging and transforming!

Out of sixteen students who started only eight of us finished the seminars. I was given an opportunity of a life time to live with two other men who are strong, compassionate and creative change agents. Don is a Lieutenant Colonel and Chaplain in the U.S. Army and Richard is a Creative Conflict Manager. They have affirmed, encouraged and shaped me to be a more loving husband, father and friend.

I am amazed that I completed these seminars. Several times I wanted to quit because the challenge was far more than I could ever accomplish on my own. With the encouragement of my beautiful wife and team members in my team, I have accomplished far more than I could have ever imagined!

Now I have the challenge of starting and completing my research project during the next few months! Only twenty percent of those who enter this demanding doctorate experience finish their dissertations!

To fulfill a daring and dramatic dream each of us must have affirming, courageous and encouraging people to help us make it to the finish line!

Active Rain is a community to help you break through and break out to fulfill your dreams!

A Tribute to My Father on Fathers Day!

2008-06-13T14:57:14Z

My father lived to be almost 79. He was my provider and protector as I grew up and became a man.

He modeled for me how to be strong, loving, caring, kind and giving. I saw him love my mother for 54 years of marriage. He taught me how to be faithful and true to my wife.

He always honored and preferred me. When we were out hunting, he let me have the first or best shot. He always wanted the best for me and would do anything to help me.

He had friends from all over the world. Governors, senators and other world leaders were frequently in our house when I was in school. Other people who may not have fit in with others were also invited into our home. He always honored me in front of all of them.

What most people did not know about him was all of the secret acts of love he did for people. He would go out of his way to encourage the up and in and the down and out. He forgave people who used and abused him.

He had the "Midas Touch." He knew he was blessed by our Lord. He told me that all of his dreams had come true. Right before he died, on July 8, 2001, he told me on a phone call that he loved me and he was proud of me. Those were the last words I heard him speak. On July 12, 4 days later, he sat down in a chair and was translated to heaven. He would have turned 79 on July 26, 2001.

My Dad was voted Father of the Year in 1971 when I was a sophomore at the University of Idaho.

He was an excellent model of our Father in heaven!

A Spectacular Speech!

2008-06-12T14:09:59Z

My wife and I had the honor of watching our son Chris give his second speech at Toastmasters today! I missed his first one because I was required to be at another seminar.

Our son was spectacular! He was animated, passionate, clear, concise and authentic. He can teach my wife and me how to be better speakers! He outshined all of us!

When we met Chris twelve years ago he was a fearful, insecure and abandoned young man with deep attachment disorders. He could not talk on the phone let alone stand in front of an audience and give a speech.

We have watched a literal metamorphosis during the last twelve years. Chris is a new man. Nobody ever believes us when we tell them his story!

About a year and a half ago, my wife and I adopted him. He is being healed as he observes our marriage relationship flourish. We have imparted into him that he is deeply loved, completely accepted and highly valued!

We are so honored to have him as our son!

Active Rain Staff and Members - We All Need Encouragement!

2008-06-10T19:51:42Z

Staff: I have read some posts commending You and some complaining about You!

Staff: You know which problems need to be corrected and You are doing Your Best to bring solutions to these problems!

Staff and Members: I am a doctoral student in a new school that has problems show up all the time! I would rather be in an innovative, cutting-edge adventure with all kinds of "bugs" than a perfect dry and sterile program.

Staff and Members: One of my tag lines is: "Transforming Pain into Peace!"

Staff: I am confident that You will become more efficient as You continue to GROW!

Staff and Members: Thank You for all of You enduring the trouble. We, as a TEAM, will WIN!

Do you enjoy being part of a winning team?

Cut or Peel?

2008-06-10T12:18:29Z

In the real estate profession, we must become creative conflict managers to be successful.

Let me tell you a story about a conflict that will help all of us become more effective. Two young girls were arguing over an orange in the kitchen when their mother walked in. When she asked what the fight was all about, one daughter said she wanted to use the orange to make a pie. The other one wanted to eat the fruit.

Their mother took out a big knife and cut the orange in two. Neither of the girls were satisfied.

A creative conflict management approach would have been to peel the orange a give it to the one daughter who wanted to use it for a pie and give the fruit to the one who wanted to eat it!

Our goal in the real estate field is to provide "Inter-Satisfaction." In other words, both parties receive satisfaction as we manage a conflict with creativity.

We can never eliminate conflict. We can only manage it. Creativity increases effective management!

This new approach will always be initiated by imagining and thinking "Inside-Out."

What are some new ways of thinking that will produce "Inter-Satisfaction" for your clients?

Choosing to Flourish in the Desert!

2008-06-09T11:57:52Z

This morning I experienced an amazing awakening. I have been listening to my wife and speaking to her from my heart in deeper and longer ways than ever before. I keep falling in love with her over and over again!

We are both cutting off heavy weights in our lives and enjoying our experience in the desert together. The desert is where the rush to make decisions and rush to appointments come to a stop. We have both been experiencing pain, suffering and all kinds of uncomfortable feelings for the past few weeks.

This morning I saw a green tree growing in our lives. That tree is called sharper vision. We are both exploring the desires that we have deep in our hearts. We are both choosing to find our places in the drama of life.

I feel like I am watching our lives on the stage of life. I am not the director. The director is the One who made us. We are playing our roles exactly the way the script is designed.

This amazing play is in the middle of the desert. Both of us would rather be where we are than any place in the world. This beautiful green tree that is growing and flourishing is made up of our sharper vision of the real priorities in our lives. Our priorities of passion, purpose and peace are becoming clearer.

All of us experience constantly changing circumstances. The real estate profession is experiencing huge changes.

We all have a choice. We can choose to blossom and bloom in the desert or we can choose to get burned up!

The freedom to choose is the greatest gift in our lives!

Requirements for Our High Honor

2008-06-08T16:48:52Z

Susie Blackmon NC Realtor, Maggie Valley, Waynesville (COLDWELL BANKER) wanted to know more about the requirements about our Volunteer Academy.

My son and I just graduated from our local police department Volunteer Academy. We were both highly honored by the staff. (See my previous post, "Highly Honored!") There were several requirements for graduation. Since I am half way through my difficult and demanding (but fun and exciting) doctoral degree, I thought a training program like this would also be fun and exciting!

We attended two three hour training sessions (Tuesday night and Saturday morning) for several weeks. Each class was a different topic.

They included:

1. Radio communications

2. 911 Dispatch Center

3. Interview techniques

4. Polygraph tests

5. Weapons scenarios

6. Traffic Stops

7. ID Theft

8. Emergency Response Teams

9. CPR/First Aid

10. Firearms/Shooting Range

11. Probation and Parole

12. Code Enforcement

13. Graffiti

14. Crime Scene Investigation

15. Drugs

16. Gangs

17. Sex offenders

18. Suspicious activity

We both learned so much about people in our community. Neither of us has had experience in law enforcement. The officers and staff are people of compassion and integrity. Our police chief is a leader of excellence.

My wife was able to meet all of the amazing people who trained us in the academy. We were all highly honored!

We are excited to be volunteer contributors to our community!

Highly Honored!

2008-06-07T22:31:18Z

I was highly honored this week!

My son, Chris, and I graduated from our local police department voluntary academy this week. Only half of the people who started finished the academy. It was fun and interesting for both of us!

This amazing experience was fascinating for both of us. We became acquainted with so many professional people in our police department.

Neither of us have ever done anything like this before. We are very excited to be able to part of the solutions to problems in our community.

I have never been so honored in any graduation ceremony. Our mayor passed out our diplomas to each of us. He and all of the people at our graduation were so inspiring to us!

It feels sooo...... good to be able to give back to our community. I encourage you to do something unusual that you may have never done before to give back to your community.

You will be highly honored!

Caring for Your Client

2008-06-04T21:24:39Z

As a professional in the real estate field you are a bridge builder. It's not about selling and buying. It's about being a person who resources and connects your client to resources that they need and want.

When we bought our current house, our agent did not create the best deal. He cared for us. Your client won't choose you because you can create the best deals.

They choose you because they like you! Why? Because you care about them. You are willing to spend the time and energy to find out what they care about. It's not just about buying or selling a house or finding the best financing.

It's about them! Ask them questions about their dreams and desires. You find the resources that will help them. You care about them.

I remember when I was a Membership Director for a well known corporation. I won the National Sales Leader of the Month Award out of 1000 Membership Directors across the nation the first three months I started working there.

Our leaders would always ask me what my "secret" was. My "secret" was that I valued people. I told them that I really care about people. I didn't try and get them to become members. I simply answered their questions as if I were answering their questions with transparency, value and honesty.

If you want to be successful, simply value people. When they feel that you value them, they will choose you!

It's about caring for people!

Safe and Unsafe People

2008-06-04T14:13:22Z

Mirela Monte created a penetrating and powerful post entitled "TOXIC PEOPLE" that struck one of my core values. Thank You, Mirela!

I have discovered through the school of pain and suffering that toxic or unsafe people will destroy me. They are poisonous and poison kills!

I have learned to only associate with safe people. Healthy boundaries are the filters I have discovered to help me associate with safe people and disassociate with unsafe people.

I was a very compliant child. I would do anything to please my parents. That naturally translated into being compliant in my other relationships.

The lesson that I really learned on how to become assertive (opposite of compliant) happened about eleven years ago. I was the leader of a team of people and many influential leaders in our community wanted to join our team. I invited them to join. I soon found out that they were unsafe people. They were hazardous or toxic to my health. They wanted to control me and destroy me.

One day my mentor told me that if I wanted to be a leader I would have to learn how to become assertive. So I did! I asked almost everyone on my leadership team to leave. Some even threatened me!

I learned how to establish healthy boundaries by learning how to say "yes" and how to say "no" and not feel guilty about it. Now I am an assertive person. I don't control people and I won't let them control me. I associate with safe people who may disagree with me, but are not disagreeable. I relate back to them the same way. I need to be challenged to become who I was created to be. I don't need to be challenged in a way that will destroy me. I am accountable to myself and to others to relate to others in the same way.

I am no longer compliant. I choose to be assertive, not aggressive. I value and understand the meaning of the words "yes" and "no" for myself and for others!

How do you respond to "yes" and "no" for yourself and other people in the profession of real estate and in your personal life?

Gaining New Ground

2008-06-03T15:30:21Z

Do you enjoy growing?

I noticed that our large spruce tree in our front yard has experienced new growth. Several limbs have new shoots that are about a foot long.

What happened? The branches grew from where they were to where they are now.

It sounds simple, doesn't it? If the tree has the right amount of moisture, nutrients, sunlight and temperature, the automatic result is growth.

How many of us desire to grow? Growth for each of us must be intentional. It is easy to get bogged down in a familiar routine, but not much growth occurs in normal every day actions.

Growth happens when we think, speak and act in new ways. We grow when we go from where we are to where we want to be.

In other words, we must create new ground on which we can stand. A new thought, a new word, a new action produces growth.

I know of a little first grade boy who helped his teacher grow. When his teacher held up an apple in front of the class and asked the students what color it was, almost every student shouted out "red!"

But one little boy said, "No it isn't!" He asked if he could come up in the front of the class and show everyone what color it was. His teacher invited him forward.

He stood up there proudly and took a big bite out the apple and showed the whole class the big bite mark and shouted, "It's White!'

We grow when we see in a new dimension! Let's take a new look!

An Amazing Answer!

2008-05-30T18:22:02Z

Yesterday (May 29) I received a call from Dr. Wess Pinkham, Dean of Doctoral Studies, in my doctoral program. He told me that our seminars had to be moved up a week earlier than previously scheduled. He said that the school would pay for any extra fees (typically $100.00).

I rescheduled my flight and discovered it would be almost twice the price because it was only a few days away. About two hours later I received another call from Dr. Pinkham telling me that they were going back to the original schedule because the other seven members of our group could not rearrange their schedules.

I called up a Delta Air agent and discovered that she was in India. I could not really understand her words, so I asked if I could speak with someone from America. She transferred me to an agent (angel) named Debra in Augusta, Georgia.

What a difference an accent makes! That agent (angel) waived all the fees and placed me back in my original reservations at no extra cost. She gave me double for my trouble. She had a southern accent, but I could understand her!

I called Dr. Pinkham and told him the "miracle" that had just be given to me! He was happy!

TRANSLATION = If we do the right thing at the right time for the right reason, we will be amazed!

Seven Steps to Increase Courage and Creativity

2008-05-28T23:33:13Z

I keep seeing a pattern of success. People who succeed find the right people at the right time in the right place. How do they do that?

1) They recognize that they work with people who want to solve specific problems.

2) They offer resources that help people find the specific answers to their questions.

3) They measure success by specific outcomes.

4) They genuinely care about the specific values of people in their circle of influence.

5) They help to create sharper focus.

6) They demonstrate a spirit of excellence in every area of their lives.

7) They persevere with passion to produce the very best product or service possible.

If people recognize that you want to help them improve their lives, they will refer you to other people who want to improve their lives.

The result will be finding the right people at the right place in the right time!

Stunning Statistics!

2008-05-28T17:58:47Z

I have been contemplating my core values in my personal and professional life.

Are the things we are living for worth dying for?

If we don't deal with our issues, will our issues deal with us?

What would happen if we stopped asking "how much will it cost" and "how long will it take?"

What is the difference between urgent and vital?

Who are we and why do we do what we do?

What do feel and think about your core values? Please let me know...

Overcoming the Obstacle of Overload!

2008-05-24T20:02:17Z

I have been doing some research on the obstacle of overload in the lives of people in our American culture. Experts have discovered that we have more and more and we are going faster and faster and overload is increasing in our lives.

My father was a master of wildlife management. He was the Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game when I was in junior high, high school and college.

When I went hunting with him, he pointed out the value of edges or margins around our local farms. Pheasants and quail needed brush and natural cover for protection around the edges of a field to thrive.

Today most our local farms are clean and have no edges or margins around them. Consequently most of the pheasants and other game birds have disappeared.

Nature has taught us a powerful lesson. When we do not create extra time and space in our lives, we develop mental, emotional and physical problems due to stress and overload.

Most Americans have no extra space and time in their lives. They are burning out quickly with the obstacle of overload. More and more and faster and faster is like clean farming. Life suffers.

I encourage you to create more space and time in your life for the necessary refreshing, renewing and restoring that you need. Carve out fifteen minutes, a half hour or an hour a day to do something that you enjoy. We all need time to recharge our batteries!

I just finished pruning some bushes in our front yard. It took me about an hour. I feel much better. Our front lawn looks much better. It was a WIN- WIN experience!

Maybe you can take a walk with your kids, grand kids or a special friend or do something else that you enjoy!

Create some extra time and space in your life! You will be happier, healthier and live better!

Master Yourself through Movement!

2008-05-24T17:58:27Z

I recently started exercising on an elliptical machine we have in our back room at home. What a difference I have felt in my life!

I started out at pedaling for 15 minutes and then worked up to 20 the next day. The third day I made it to 25 minutes. On my eighth day, I burned 404 calories in 34 minutes! 3o days after starting I just burned 818 calories in 30 minutes!

Now, I want you to know that I'm not an exercise fanatic, but I have noticed renewal in my mind, emotions, body and relationships through extra movement. I feel more hopeful and encouraged!

If you need hope and encouragement, why not try something different?

Start out by taking a walk around the block or go up and down some stairs. Start out slowly and then increase it a minute a day with a goal of working up to 30 or 35 minutes each day.

I heard a medical doctor once say that if you walk 20 minutes a day, you will lose a half a pound a week.

When you move, think about the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse!

Extra movement has worked for me! I encourage you to try it. Little victories add up!

Five Creative Concepts for Selling Your Home!

2008-05-17T19:47:28Z

I am astonished at some homes I see for sale! I am amazed at how empty, dark, cold and uninviting they appear!

My wife and I concentrate on the five senses when we help someone sell a home:

1) Visual - Stage it with Scenic and Stunning Beauty!

2) Sound - play some soft music that gives people a peaceful feeling!

3) Smell - create a pleasant smell with the proper scent. Test which one people like!

4) Feel - create a nice entry way where people can feel a difference!

5) Taste- offer some simple candies or tasty refreshments!

Why not create beautiful and functional spaces to honor your special guests?

Simple Steps to Overcome Discouragement

2008-05-17T18:45:29Z

I feel that one way to overcome disappointment and discouragement is to help someone who needs to be encouraged!

When we give encouragement and hope to people, we always receive more than we give!

Why not take action and do something opposite of the way you feel?

If you are emotionally down, lift someone up who needs to be encouraged. If you are struggling physically or relationally, give some words of encouragement to someone who is hurting in the same way!

I am a candidate in our local police department Volunteer Academy. I have been very encouraged! I want to be a solution agent in our community. I am meeting some wonderful people who also want to help solve problems!

Why not try something to encourage someone?

You may be surprised at the result!

The Rewards of Being Resourceful

2008-05-17T14:51:55Z

I was curious about the definition of "being resourceful" so I looked up several definitions on Google. Most of them were not clear and concise. I was looking for the most "resourceful" definition.

I did find one on www.allwords.com that painted the "resourceful" picture I was looking for. Here it is:

"capable, Capable or clever; able to put available resources to efficient or ingenious use; using materials at hand wisely or efficiently."

They also illustrated a sentence describing being "resourceful":

"With a use of space and a fresh coat of paint, the room became a pleasant library with a comfortable seating area."

Why did I want to know the meaning and rewards of "being resourceful?"

1) I have noticed that successful professionals in real estate are "resourceful." My wife is a perfect example. As a stager, she will create beautiful works of art in homes by cleverly being efficient and ingenious with the materials she has.

2) I have noticed that resourceful real estate professionals are always thinking of new perspectives to "creatively connect" with home buyers or sellers. They are always asking the main question: Who am I and how can I be a creative "resource" to a specific need?

3) "Creative connectors" anticipate future needs and they stand out as shining stars! Think of Magic Johnson as a basketball player. He was always anticipating what would happen next and responding "ahead of the curve." People would comment that he seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.

You don't need to be a superstar! All you need to do is be resourceful!

You have what it takes!

Be encouraged! You can experience "The Rewards of Being Resourceful!"

One Month Milestone!

2008-05-15T14:39:40Z

I have been a member of AR for one month today!

What a special day!

Thank You, Active Rain Members!

I am amazed at the quality of people you are.

You are creative, courageous, risk-taking, encouraging, supportive and caring team players!

I appreciate who each of you is, especially AR Newbies!

I enjoy your thoughts, ideas and insights.

You are a winning team!

Is Marketing Like Hunting or Gardening?

2008-05-14T11:24:10Z

Marketing is a word that has many types of interpretations.

It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing marketing to hunting. My father was a master hunter. He could find birds and animals where people wouldn't even think of looking.

Some people see marketing like hunting.

Ready, aim, fire! They see targets and hope to hit the bulls eye!

My wife and I have discovered an aspect of marketing that is simple, but profound!

The "Ah Ha" moment when the light bulb came on one day happened when we realized that marketing is more like gardening than hunting.

It's like marriage. We must cultivate it so it can grow!

We have learned that "visibility" is much more valuable than "ability." If people don't know who we are or where we are, it doesn't matter how much ability we have.

When people find us, they know that we care about helping them solve their particular problem!

I encourage you to plant seeds in new places! You never know what kind of fruit will spring up!

Who needs you? Why do they need you?