Remember when?  Art Linkletter was asked about the idea of spending time with loved ones this is what he said:

"I once asked a five-year-old what he would take with him if he were going to Heaven. He replied, 'I would take my parents because I think that up there they would have more time with me'... nuff said."

The good news is, it's actually possible to slow time down in a way that seems to lengthen special events like a day of fishing with your child or a special dinner with a good friend. The key is to consciously honor the person and the event as you experience it. To be in the moment.

In the days and weeks ahead, remember to recognize the people you care about. You don't need to do or say anything specific, nor do you need to spend any money. You simply need to spend time with them. So consider setting aside two hours one day for coffee with a friend. Or if you have children, make special plans to take each one out individually for their own dinner. You can even set aside a short amount of time each day to call some of your special clients to see how they're doing and personally wish them a happy holiday. And when you do, avoid distractions like technology or worries about what else you need to do that day.

After all, once the moment passes, you can go back to that checklist of things to do. But you can never go back to that moment in time.

Maybe a better way to say this: My grandmother would say: "Be still" for a moment: just let the business of business be.  You can afford a moment for this special time of the year.

While I would love to share a cool story that a good friend of mine shared with me we can't do that here for fear of copy right issues so for my friends who might want a copy or those who might want to be a friend, you can get a copy as well.

If you are not a REALTOR just e-mail me at  HelpRhome@yahoo.com Subject: Best Friend's Week

IF you are a REALTOR leave me a comment here with your e-mail and get the story of How one CEO chose his replacement. You might guess what happens but, it is still a good read about the SEED.

Enjoy the rest of January I hope you are 1/12 of the way towards meeting your goals.  I am very excited about next week: We start Superbowl Week here in the North Texas-Dallas area on Monday. I have a friend who has a brother who....works for the DART line and they are prepared for a Heavy Monday SuperBowl start. Extra Transport means more people-more people means Prospects. Who knew we had to be ready by Monday?  I thought we would start about Thursday, Silly me. We are well prepared. Ads are out and dropping all over the Metroplex. We have some small events planned like open houses and such. One has to become part of the events in the area to help move your business along. So this weekend is "Plus more ads" weekend for me. I am helping to make the office phones ring-Go get 'em guys! Traditionally February is a Kickin' month for this office and Superbowl just gives us the chance to Roar into it faster.

Go TEAM

Did you spend some time in December or January: Business planning to find out how much your time HAS to be worth to earn your goal this year? If I spend 15 minutes it gets expensive so I better know how to SPEND it well!

15 minutes spent per day on Facebook Goals:  

• 5 minutes: to make 10 comments on "Friends" activities.  (Goal-Stay involved/connected.)
• 2 minutes to post one link with "valuable information"  (Goal-become a resource)
• 5 minutes to send 1 Personal e-mail  (Goal-be responsive.)
• 3 minutes to find 1 person outside of your immediate network to "friend". (Goal-Add to the network by getting more connected) 

This 15 minutes of time done daily, done well will grow your business and keep you in front of those who matter most. If nothing else you may make 365 more friends and that can't hurt either!

Don't you love short to do lists?

Using your connections to bring more business- More on this soon.

Our youngest daughter Alison, surprised us today with an e-mail that said she is one of 3 in the District with a shot at getting (winning) a $1000. savings bond for her poster.  The energy company Oncor came by their school and brought big pads of drawing paper, Markets, Crayons, colored pencils and paints and they gave a presentation to the 5th graders about electricity and some safety tips. All of the kids took home this gift set and then they asked the students to draw a poster about what they had learned and submit it to win a $1000. savings bond.

So if you have access to Facebook perhaps you will view her page and should you like her ideas: liking it at the bottom of the page will move her closer to her savings bond. We thank you in advance and I think that Oncor had a pretty cool marketing idea- to get the kids involved like this and to get me wanting this for her bad enough to reach out to all of you today. It is fun that she can communicate this well. It is the second time she has been included in a District level art project-I always thought it would be for her writing-but, here we are today! Enjoy her efforts. Log in to Facebook first and it will work faster. Then come back here and click the link.  Thanks again!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=265378&id=26260898491#!/photo.php?fbid=486688848491&set=a.486687518491.265378.26260898491

 Good luck to the other finalists, I am stacking the deck a bit I admit-I have worked for several years to get my online group together so I hope you will play with us today. She is so excited she almost hugged my head off when I got home!

We all appreciate your support!

Doris

If you have kids or know folks who have kids this is so much fun to do!  Checkout NORAD's Santa Tracker. Share it with the young ones or the young at heart! This has become a tradition in our home and I hope sharing it here will help keep your little ones and the young at heart busy, too.  Ali is eleven this year but, she still wants to see where "he" is. After bringing her gifts to the tree the very next comment was - "Let's see where Santa is!" Don't miss out on the videos it is a world history lesson too as you follow him around.

We are a bubblelight family, a tradition carried forward from my grandparents trees of 50+ years ago. We were amazed that we could still find brand new strings this year. Keeping the traditions alive, with the little things that still give us the best memories. Alison insisted we find replacement lights this year so they have become important to her too. Please feel free to share this with family and friends.  It's free Fun and could make a new tradition at your house too.

Did you know that it was Martin Luther on the way home at Christmastime who saw stars through a pine tree. It so overwhelmed him with it's beauty that he had to share that beauty with his family. He brought in a little tree and lit candles so they could see the "stars" as he had. So started the tradition of Christmas trees. This was the nicest tree I could find for you this year and I hope the stars sparkle brightly for you and yours this season:

The second gift I have for you is perhaps an important story: from Susan Lassiter who just kicked my attention into high gear-  Check out the link-maybe it will strike you the same way.  Plan and have an excellent 2011

Attitude MATTERS, If you are in it, be in it to win it.

Happy Holidays

Doris Barnett VP Training and Recruiting

RE/MAX Abrams  972-907-0000 x 212

Just got the results back on the Hubby's cancer fight-He's winning! Numbers are undetectible and if you have had or ever known anyone in that fight you know there is no better gift. So this year at least my Christmas is perfect! It doesn't matter what else happens or doesn't happen-I'm good!- been Blessed.

The headline came from our youngest now eleven-Mommy, What was your best Xmas ever? I have 2-The year Daddy brought me home to Texas and this year due to the above facts.  What was your's about? Doesn't have to be health related it could be best gift or best RE experience at the holidays? Best memory?

I love the Holidays and this time of year becasue it let's us remember and make more memories all at the same time. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1686609721234&set=a.1686601601031.2093230.1117396673

 Isn't it neat that you can still find these lights? all these years later? They were on My Grandmother's tree years ago. I now have four strings and my youngest daughter loves them as much as I do.

Happy Holidays.   http://www.playlist.com/playlist/2873670667  Turn up the sound!

I admire those folks who let the entire world know who they are right from the cradle. Most kids seem to do that naturally then somewhere along the line we lose some of that voice that says, "Hello world, here I am: like me or not, I'm happy with who I am and so there." It disappears. Why does it go away? We decide to find a way to fit in. To act like the cool kids or the tough kids or whomever.

Not anymore, This past year I have shown the world a lot about who I am and I'm happier with who I am, so there! Whew it feels good to only get into my own skin in the morning and just be there. I have even gone to the office with NO makeup on at all. Shocking I know! Most days the fix it bag is in the briefcase and I do dabble a bit of something on my face, at some point. Perhaps I should tell you that at home-I am barefoot a lot. Shoes are the first thing that goes when I get inside my front door! I love shoes-I just don't like wearing them at home. Any agent that gets into the office before 8am is likely to find me there sans makeup-Gotta be real until the first cup at least. None of them have run out screaming, yet! ; d

It is an interesting experiment that has evolved as my youngest daughter has started to face the "who do I become and where do I fit in" quandry of moving into Middle School next year. She is now on the top of the heap. Oldest kids in the school-5th grade you know how that is. Everyone knows her and she knows all of the kids in her grade -their names and who they are. All those groups started to form and she doesn't like groupings so much-we know that because her coach and teachers have shared that she will step out of any group anytime someone needs a friend and just go be there for them. Heh yes I am bragging-we are raising a good kid. Maybe I am raising me a bit at the same time. 11 year old me looking at the me I am today and wondering-is this the me I was going to be back then? Maybe not so much-still I like the me I am today-It's a more refined version of "what do you want to be when you grow up?" There may still be a ranch someday with pastures filled with Palomino mares and colts but, until then, this me... is pretty fine, too.

Have you ever considered a year where you just let folks know who you really are? It is a pretty amazing feeling to be just fine, being who you are. I think that more people do this than you may realize-I didn't realize I was in this group until I deliberately noticed and chose to STOP that! Both of my parents were in Sales always selling stuff and themselves-I'm in sales-but, now I'm selling me and it's amazing the incredibly real responses that you get when you decide to GET REAL. I know it's a choice but, I have to say I like this years real experiences. We have had a lot of life "stuff" and it has been easier to just let my hair down while it has been going on.

Maybe there is someone else out there who needs to hear this message-Give the world a chance to like the real you-I'll bet that you are pretty amazing that way and it makes it so much easier when you don't have to wear the extra cloak every day. The cloak of who I am and where do I fit in in the world. Is this the old version of the invisibility cloak? Let your light shine. You can put the cloak back on anytime you need it but, right now-I'm liking this version!

Happy Holidays,

Doris Barnett  972-907-0000 x 212

Yes I did think twice about sending this on-mostly to check the spelling and wondering will I ever regret putting this out there-the answer is still nope! Honesty works best for me and I still have the toolkit if I ever feel the need for Cloaking again! Be Well.

This is an open letter to Lisa Molino, an aspiring Networker who taught me something today! We both joined an online Networking group on Linkedin and she was mystified that no one was "talking" in the group it seemed that all they wanted was to connect to anyone/everyone and that is like taking a shotgun to a dove hunt. You will probably get the bird but, what the heck do you do with it then? (Sorry for the Texas style example if that was too shocking for anyone)--Let's talk Networking:

Dear Lisa,

Well Lisa I think you have a winner attitude and I would love to stay in touch. I teach a class for REALTORS about networking and maybe some of my hints to them will help you in "real life" and online.

I see the same thing happen over and over and like you I look for solutions. My agents are maybe shy, quiet or confused-or pick a new word- with folks they don't know so when I perceived this fact, (the AHA moment!) I suggested that they could be meeting just one new person at any meeting and that includes online. Here's how it goes:

• when you go to the Chamber, PTA, Elks whatever:
•      Have a goal-why are you going?
• To meet 3 people who can help you in your business?
•      Who would that be? Be able to describe it. 
• I might need 5 out of 40 who know someone they could refer me to who might be moving in the next year or someone who knows a LOT of people that might like to help me meet a lot of people who might be moving in the next year. (An apartment manager might be perfect...)  
• Understand we all have something valueable to give to the world and be prepared to speak about yours.
• Then when you get there, scan the room and find that one person, Maybe it's a watcher type who sees everything (the wallflowers-Know stuff)
• Ask the normal "make friends questions":      
•      Hi is this your first time here?    
•      What is the best way to get to know folks at this meeting?    
•      I came for business reasons what would be the best way to get introduced to the right person   to help me with that?    
•      How can I help you in return? explain why you are there and if they know the person who can  help you?     
• Try to understand their needs and use that fine brain of yours to discover someone in the room to help them too.      
• Ask what you can do for them in return... Now you have a friendship.  
• As you meet new people introduce them as your new friend and maybe get them off of the wall and in the middle of the group, talking and laughing make it fun, tease a bit.
• When you find the next wallflower go smile, speak, introduce your new friend(s) and  repeat until you have either reached your goal or run out of folks to speak with.
• It is FUN to actually be at an event and gathering new friends as you move through the room and all you are doing is bringing them into a group and don't we all want the same things?    
• To be accepted and appreciated for something special about ourselves-once you find that something special...it's easier-
• Listen to it for a minute:    
• Hello My name is Doris, I'm new here but, I wanted to introduce you to a new friend of mine...This is Tom and he is looking for people who need ie____copier services-He told me that or "I know that" he is trying to be the best copier sales and service company in our town.  Maybe you need his help or know someone here that does?  ___What do you need today from this meeting? Heh Tom, this is Susan she sells paper products, like copy paper and such... you guys should talk you may have a lot in common...and so it goes.   It's like playing the live Concentration game where you get to match up real folks with real needs and get the benefit of them wanting to help in return.

I ran across this by accident as most GREAT Lessons come to us...I saw an old friend at an Industry meeting and as I met other people and introduced myself, I asked them if they knew my friend and it turns out he was there to sell a product to this particular group. After he met 5 new people that he hadn't ever thought to speak to, he was so impressed at how easy it was he offered me a job. I was busy noticing how well it worked for all of us. I hope by now you are planning which groups and what goals and to use the Advocate concept in your next meeting-a smile works wonders and in fact if you try this on your own office you will be quite surprised at the results. You will be the person who seems to know everyone.  Power is in the people you know and you already know that or you wouldn't have reached out to me so easily!  

Have an incredible year and enjoy the many blessings of the season with family and good new Friends. It's a great time of year to network/party/visit. Ask the questions and be surprised.

Maybe this has helped someone else today and if so you can go look for Lisa Molina online on Linkedin today and tell her Doris said HI.

Rambles this morning-

Love the concept: The Group from Colorado They started Ninjas-I found them years ago and loved the CRS class on Ninja Selling-Now I am liking the blog posts! Like everyone else I too come from someplace- This same topic came up yesterday when talking with one of our agents- I am blessed and cursed to be in real estate. My mothers fault-She took her 4 kids to new home builders for years for decorating ideas for our personal home. We ended up moving 21 times before I was 18 (Not all military-some was Motorola too) and had many different kinds of decorations in our houses-perhaps the most memorable the orange carpet with the foil wall paper? or the 6-8" bright orange and yellow flowers, again the wall paper, in the kitchen -(I never, ever had a hangover in that house-thanks to that wallpaper! I wouldn't chance it) It could have been the pine green living room with brown painted cement floors. Now you have an idea why I was destined to be "in real estate".  If you friend me on Facebook you can see the foil paper behind a very old Prom photo! My oldest daughter's idea of a joke. (Thanks for sharing it with her, Mom!)

The only thing of value on this page is the Ninja info: See the link. I am so... rambling today. Maybe I need a nap before I go to work or maybe it is a good day for creating postcards or working on websites-goofy is fun and good for your mental health once in awhile. So enjoy the link and forgive the silliness on the page.

http://thegrouprealestateblog.com/2010/06/10/something-to-be-said-for-home/comment-page-1/#comment-3804

Payback for my mother's harrassment of those poor builders having to put up with 4 kids running through the house. Yep one of them was me. I still go through a house pretty fast-you see I know what I'm looking for: exactly which walls can be moved around-thanks Mom! I have even learned which ones are probably load bearing so you can't just "take that one out and imagine the space you will have." Thankfully we have moved past the time where huge floral patterns on walls was popular and into a new era of treatments. More fun and not so precise. In fact for those who love to DIY; mistakes can turnout to be a new decorating idea...as in textured walls?! Still, I like to make some mistakes, makes the wall feel good. I suspect there is less cleaning required too-as here in Texas, the browns and beige's are still a popular color scheme and little hands that might be the tiniest bit dirty are usually dirty in that color range. Rough walls might = less touching so less wiping up after the kidlets too.

Even when I look at homes through Google earth and zoom in to see if I am sitting in the backyard when they took that photo-I can still tell it is my house. Look closely you can see the path in the front yard that my husband has complained about for years-the one that I take across the front yard to get to my front door. Yep right through the grass-it has a nice curve but, I guess he has a point if you can see it from space or Google heights maybe I should be using the sidewalk! Poor grass-well I do mow it too-maybe they will catch me on digital camera doing that next time, so I have proof If I help mow it maybe I should be able to stomp on it sometimes! Just saying... Have an excellent day.