The hijacked jet turned fully-armed missile slammed into the World Trade Center and the man-made mountain of concrete, steel and glass erupted into a blazing inferno. A gaping hole instantly appeared in the side of the buildings exterior wall like a bullet wound opening tender flesh. Angry clouds of fire and the blackest of black smoke poured from the fatal wound staining the early morning sky. Thousands of panes of glass cracked and splintered and rained down violently on the payment below like an unrelenting storm - a storm hell-bent to not merely damage, but to utterly destroy everything and everyone in its path.
The building groaned in agony from the impact and tried its best to be strong - to remain standing until help could arrive, treat its wounds, but most of all: Rescue the people trapped inside.
Slowly, like the sound of distant thunder moving closer in the night: the tower finally became too exhausted and fell to the ground with a deafening roar. A monument to free enterprise and the American Spirit that once stood proudly in the New York sky was no more.
Charred rubble became a tomb. And, the twin would soon follow...
That moment: 8:46 A.M on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, became one of those rare and tragic events that rips the very fabric of time in two - we now define events as "Before" and "After" the towers came down. Most of us remember exactly what we were doing and where we were at.
I know that I do.
The canvas of my mind is forever painted with those ghastly images. I won't ever forget them. I won't ever quit praying for the families that lost loved ones that day.
However, not all towers are made of brick, stone, mortar, steel and glass -these are all items that man can craft and time and the elements can fade away. No, the greatest of towers and institutions are the ideas, the dreams, the thoughts, the actions, the mental attitudes that we hold dear.
When the government seeks to control its citizens from the cradle to grave...the towers come down again and again.
When free men are treated as criminals and criminals are treated as free men...the towers come down again and again.
When freedom of thought, decision, speech and the press are hidden behind a dark and sinister veil of tyranny and slavery...the towers come down again and again.
When the grabbing hands of socialism and ever-growing bureaucracy strangle the very life of free enterprise...the towers come down again and again.
When freedom to succeed or fail by your own volition is replaced with pseduo-equality (we are only equal in opportunity...not outcome) for all...the towers come down again and again.
Today we talk about and celebrate "freedom", but what many people mean is: having the ability to do what they want without any concern for the rights and privacy and property of others. Freedom to take what they don't have, did not work for and did not earn.
This is the 'America' that we've come to celebrate and cheer for. An 'America' that would no longer be recognized by the very people that gave birth to her: The Founding Fathers.
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi....Thus passes the glory of the world
Today is a special day: Jason and I celebrate 10-years of being married - which isn't too dang shabby because we weren't supposed to make it 60 days. :)
We've had 2 beautiful and wonderful children. We've gone places together that few would dare to go. We've seen things that many will never see. We've shared so many special occasions. We've dreamed so many dreams. And, we did it all together.
Sure, we've had our "ups" and we've had our "downs". Plenty of good times and some bad ones too. I'm sure there are more of both to come, but I always remember...
For better or worse,
Richer or poorer,
In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish,
Til death do us part...
no one can get in the way of what I'm feeling:
I love you!
And, if it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart: The only dream that mattered had come true. In this life I was loved by you.
Who knows a game? I know a game Listen to it carefully And follow after me
There's a hole in the bottom of the economy There's a hole in the bottom of the economy There's a hole, there's a hole There's a hole in the bottom of the economy
There's a politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a politician, there's a politician There's a politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy
There's a plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a plan, there's a plan There's a plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy
There's a tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a tax credit, there's a tax credit There's a tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy
There's an even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's an even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's an even bigger tax credit, there's an even bigger tax credit There's an even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy
There's a buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a buyer, there's a buyer There's a buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy
There's a child on the buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a child on the buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a child, there's a child There's a child on the buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy There's a child on the buyer on the even bigger tax credit on the tax credit on the plan on the politician in the hole in the bottom of the economy
And, that child will one day say, "WHAT THE HECK IS THIS ALL ABOUT? I've got to pay for all this?"
Because we need it all like a hole in the sea. You See?
"As the largest real estate office in Georgia south of downtown Atlanta, none of my 140 agents will show a discount firm's listing, ever. It'd be like your arch enemy coming to town and trumpeting "I'm here to cut your throat from ear to ear. Now, would you mind terribly to help me sharpen the knife?" I don't think so."
I don't know...maybe it's just me, but I find a statement like that to be anticompetitive, anti-consumer and just down right anti-American. To my way of thinking, it goes against Free Enterprise and the founding principals of our society.
It sounds more like the mob or a drug cartel refusing to let a new ‘player' have any turf on the street. In other words: Typical REALTOR® modus operandi: Strong arm the members, bully the congress, and make the brokerages get inline with their point of view (Shhhhh let's keep the public out of this as best we can).
Let me get this straight:
You own your brokerage, you make the rules, you set the policy and procedures for your brokerage. You are the Big Dog at your company. Ruff. Ruff!
That's cool. I completely respect you and your right to do as you see fit at your company. It's your brokerage. That's as American as Apple Pie and baseball. Heck, I salute you! More power to you.
However, that just isn't good enough for you, is it?
You also want to tell other brokerages how to run their business. What compensation is and isn't acceptable for you and your agents. And, if another brokerage doesn't come around to your way of thinking: You'll just boycott them. At least (to me), that's what you implied by that statement.
Competitive Advantage
You have "the largest real estate office in Georgia south of downtown Atlanta" - that's one of your competitive advantages. Nobody wants to take that right away from you. I'm proud of you. I hope you double it (if you want). There will still be plenty of business out there.
Other "Mom and Pops" also have lots of agents and very nice offices. Or, they also own a development and building company. They own apartment complexes and duplexes. They own mortgage companies. Those are competitive advantages for them. More power to them. There is still plenty of business out there.
The big-name franchises spend millions and billions of dollars to sell franchises to brokersto have brand name awareness - That's one of their competitive advantages. Nobody wants to take that right away from them. I'm proud for them. Despite all that money being spent on tv, radio, print and online medias there is still plenty of business out there. And, there will continue to be business out there.
Being small also has it's advantages
Now, I probably run one of the smallest offices in Georgia. It's just me doing my own thing. Minding my own business and not really caring what other people do or don't do - it's not really any of my concern. However, a statement like yours could possibly impact my business (especially if other people are doing the same thing, but have the sense not to state it out in the open).
See, my competitive advantage is that I work completely from home and I'm 100% mobile. My overhead is way, way less than most offices. I run my "office" out of the bonus room. I'm selective about my clients because they often come over.
My regular monthly real estate bills are: MLS dues, E/O insurance, cell phone, Supra Key, Aircard and DSL. Throw in a few ‘soft costs' like needing toner, paper or hanging file folders and I'm set. So, my expenses don't run anywhere near what most "brick and mortar" operations run from month to month.
In addition: My husband owns a marketing company and does numerous things for me. I can do many things in-house that others have to outsource for. Most of my systems are completely automated. I answer my own phone when it rings. I make my own coffee. I change out the toilet paper in the bathroom. I sweep and mop. I put my own listings into the MLS. On and on and on...
That means I don't have to charge as much as other people. I can do things for a fraction of the cost that many other agents and brokerages have to pay. I pass that savings on to my clients.
That's MY business.
So, please explain to me how you or your agents are more valuable from transaction to transaction?
How can you or one of your agents sell a $60,000 mobile home and get X% commission and be just as happy as a pig eating....
well you know what I mean, but then whine and cry and refuse to show a $400,000 home that offers X% - 0.5 or 1%? Why are you worth $25.00/hour for one closing and then magically all the sudden think you're worth $250.00/hour for the next one?
"Jessica, that's just how it is. Don't question it. It's always been like that."
Well, I do question it.
I question it because it doesn't make any dang sense. In fact, I will go so far as to say it's S-T-U-P-I-D. It's outdated. It's antiquated. And, John and Jane Q. Public are starting to wake up to that fact. Fight it all you want, but it's the truth and they have a right to questions it (just like I am).
What gives you (or any other broker/agent) the right to tell another brokerage what they can or can't do?
What they should and shouldn't charge?
Oh yeah, that's right: You aren't telling them what to do...you'll just boycott them if they don't do things your way.
Sorry, I forgot I'm dealing with a bunch of thugs and not true professionals.
A true professional could submit an offer and negotiate for additional compensation. It isn't my job to reject your request. That's up to my client. Ask and you may receive...
A professional could explain his/her value to the buyer and request to receive additional compensation directly from their clients/customers.
Aren't you worth it? Can't you explain the value that you offer? The expertise you bring to the table? Surely, they will pay the difference if you're really worth it.
Instead, you expect others to negotiate your compensation for you - when they get the listing agreement - to automatically know what you think you're worth. To negotiate a commission based off your needs and not what it costs for others to run their business and still have a decent and acceptable profit margin.
And, you know what? That's just as arrogant as hell.
Yes, I realize that a million things could happen between now and closing, but it sure does feel good to put a home under contract that is owned by an actual person and not a bank. To be able to pick up the phone and get a straight answer. To fax over paperwork and not worry about it getting lost in the shuffle.
Like I said: a million things could happen between now and closing, but right here, right now...I'm So Excited! And, so are my buyers. It just feels good. Forgive me... :)
This morning when I woke up, there was an e-mail in my inbox from an Active Rain member.
The subject: "IMPORTANT! Please Read! I just want to let you know..."
Well, with a subject like that...I just had to read it - right then and there (minus coffee).
Now, when an Active Rain member tells me something is "Important", I figure it's actually going to be important...
It could be business. That means money! Better get on it!
The member might have a potential client moving my way (it's happened before). Cha ching!
They could have a family member or friend in my area that needs to sell (it's happened several times). Cha Ching!!
They might be writing to let me know that my corporate license is about to expire with the Georgia Real Estate Commission and I need to renew it (Long, long story and rather funny too, but not today...). Oooopsie! :)
Heck, it might even be a member telling me that they've decided to pay me the money they owe me for the work that Jason and I performed (I'm not holding my breath on that one...). :(
Anyways, "Important" means important and it gets my attention (even if I don't really know the person that well).
You just never know...
So, I clicked on the e-mail to open it up. I had to find out about this "important" news...
Well, the first thing I noticed is how the e-mail started off: "Dear Friend" and not "Dear Jessica" or "Hey Jessica!". It wasn't even the common: "Look B&^%H!!!!", or something along those lines. The second thing I noticed: The e-mail was very long. The third thing I noticed: The e-mail was very, very long. The fourth thing I noticed: I better go ahead and fix my cup of coffee before reading it - I'm going to need it.
So, I did. I'm glad I did...
This person e-mailed to let me know that she was taking on a full time job and would only be doing real estate "on the side". She had "fought the good fight", but the market was just too tough and she didn't have any other choice. She isn't making any money and she can't continue to ignore the realities of the situation. She had to get a full-time job. However, she didn't want me to think poorly of her because of this decision and she felt compelled to explain her reasons for not being around Active Rain (like I would have noticed...)
Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah...
Blah. Blah. Blah....
Blah. Blah...
Blah.
P.S. She hopes that I will understand and still keep her mind for any business that I send to her area (Just like a good little REALTOR(R) is taught).
She has problems.
She has problems in her personal life. She has problems with her husband. She has problems with her kids. She has problems with teachers that teach her kids at school. She has problems with her parents.
She has problems at her real estate office. She has problems with her broker not taking up for her. She has problems with agents in her office not giving her messages....
She has problems with her sellers not wanting to reduce their price. She has problems with her buyers not wanting to be realistic when they offer. She has problems of not getting the listing when going on appointments. She has problems getting buyers to sign a Buyers Brokerage Agreement. She has problems not getting the proper training.
Eight paragraphs of problems (Oh yeah, her cat is giving her fits too, because it's in heat) and complaining about them.
Three paragraphs of justification.
One paragraph about not having enough time to do anything...
My only question is: WHY???????
Why write me and tell me these things?
Why share your business with a stranger? Yes, I've made a few comments on a couple of your posts, but I'm not even subscribed to your Blog! I don't know you and I'm not your priest. I may have been ‘friendly' in my comments, but that doesn't make me your friend.
I have very few friendships in this world and I like it that way - The ones that I have aren't pseudo-friendships. They are the real deal...
And, you aren't one of them. You aren't even close to being one of them. It's doubtful that you'll ever be one.
So, you're taking on a part-time or full-time job????
Big Dang Deal! I know plenty of great (and I do mean GREAT) part-time agents, but it isn't any of my business what you do or why you do it. That's between you and your family. That's between you and your broker. That's between you and your clients/customers. Why write me and tell me about it?
Why mention that you'll be putting a post up on Active Rain to let everybody else know (but you wanted me to know in advance)? Is it any of their business? Is it any of my business that you'll be doing it? Do the people on Active Rain pay your bills? Do they put food on your table? Do they tuck your kids in at night? Do I?
I think not.
So, why share your problems with them? Why share your problems with me? Why justify your actions to me? Why attempt to justify your actions to them?
Why do you have a guilt complex about not being able to leave comments on my posts and feel the need to let me know that it isn't because you don't care? Do you really think I care if you care or not? Do you really think that my life is going to stop and that I won't have the strength to go on living if you don't have the time (because of your new job) to comment on my posts?
Do you really think I'm that shallow? Do you really believe that I base my significance on you or anybody else commenting or not commenting? Heck, I don't even post on here regularly any more...
Let me tell you something: You would have a lot more time and be a lot more productive if you stop whining about your problems to people you don't even know. You'll have even more time when you stop going around justifying your every decision/action to people. You will be a lot more productive if you stop trying to assuage your quilt complex about not being able to do "this" because you have to do "that" instead.
It's nobodies business.
Why make it their business? Why make it mine?
You want sympathy? Well, I've got my own problems, but I'll give you some sympathy: Click Here for your "Sympathy".
Don't like my answer?
Tough. That's what happens when you make your business public. You get opinions. Opinions that don't really matter....
So, I hope this helps. Or, not...
All my best,
Jessica Wynn Horton Broker/Owner
P.S. Please keep me in mind for any referrals that might be moving to the South Metro Atlanta area. :)
I know we didn't tell you, but we've been 'expecting' for quite some time...
Jessica Horton & Associates is pleased to announce: The stork has landed and we've just given birth to our new baby!
Be very, very careful, because it's very, very tiny and so totally cute! In fact, you can hold it right in the palm of your hand!
We now have mobile searching at our website! If you have an iPhone, Blackberry, or any device that supports mobile web browsing, you can now view a mobile version of our home search (will only load mobille site if you're on a mobile device)!
As with all our online applications, it has been engineered for ease-of-use, simplicity and speed! Yes, we are proud parents! Can you tell??? :)
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
The hijacked jet turned fully-armed missile slammed into the World Trade Center and the man-made mountain of concrete, steel and glass erupted into a blazing inferno. A gaping hole instantly appeared in the side of the buildings exterior wall like a bullet wound opening tender flesh. Angry clouds of fire and the blackest of black smoke poured from the fatal wound staining the early morning sky. Thousands of panes of glass cracked and splintered and rained down violently on the payment below like an unrelenting storm - a storm hell-bent to not merely damage, but to utterly destroy everything and everyone in its path. 
However, not all towers are made of brick, stone, mortar, steel and glass -these are all items that man can craft and time and the elements can fade away. No, the greatest of towers and institutions are the ideas, the dreams, the thoughts, the actions, the mental attitudes that we hold dear. 
And I quote:
You have "the largest real estate office in Georgia south of downtown Atlanta" - that's one of your competitive advantages. Nobody wants to take that right away from you. I'm proud of you. I hope you double it (if you want). There will still be plenty of business out there.
Now, I probably run one of the smallest offices in Georgia. It's just me doing my own thing. Minding my own business and not really caring what other people do or don't do - it's not really any of my concern. However, a statement like yours could possibly impact my business (especially if other people are doing the same thing, but have the 
So, please explain to me how you or your agents are more valuable from transaction to transaction? 
Oh yeah, that's right: You aren't telling them what to do...you'll just boycott them if they don't do things your way. 
Posted by 
This morning when I woke up, there was an e-mail in my inbox from an Active Rain member. 
The member might have a potential client moving my way (it's happened before). Cha ching!
She has problems.
My only question is: WHY???????
So, why share your problems with them? Why share your problems with me? Why justify your actions to me? Why attempt to justify your actions to them?
;)
;)
