thoughts: Is Your Job Really Done? - 08/16/23 05:29 PM
Is Your Job Really Done?
 
Whatever work we do, whatever our job is…how do we know when it’s done?
 
Agents have lists and a set of procedures they follow to ensure that they’ve done everything to take their clients to settlement. It’s the same with those in the mortgage profession and home inspectors.
 
The closing date has come. Papers have been signed and all parties leave...your work is done.
 
Or is it?
 
The other day I was in a store and yes, I did purchase what I’d come in to buy. However (and this was not the first time this has happened) the young … (25 comments)

thoughts: How To Help Your Clients Navigate the Real Estate Journey - 08/09/23 04:50 PM
How To Help Your Clients Navigate the Real Estate Journey
 
When you think about the anxiety we feel when experiencing something new, it’s usually not the “thing” causing us anxiety but not knowing what to expect.

Years ago when Larry was having outpatient surgery, we were impressed with how informed the staff kept us. A week before surgery, we were sent a packet of information …What to Do Before Surgery, What to Bring and Expect the Day of Surgery. 
 
We never had to ask questions or wonder what would happen next. 
 
This kind of process is one that we all can learn from. Whether … (18 comments)

thoughts: The Value of Discussion - 07/04/22 05:43 PM
The Value of Discussion
Chit-chat…small talk…how’s the weather…yada yada

Many of us are engaged in the above throughout our day. 

It’s what we do and how we communicate with others…those we work with, our friends, and family. 
 
But, how often do you actually have a back-and-forth conversation with someone…a discussion, even if short?
 I’m not talking about the conversations you have with your peers about work. Ask yourself when the last time was that you asked someone what they thought about a particular subject matter or how things were going in their life? 
 
Early in 2020 as the virus was making its presence known across the globe … (21 comments)

thoughts: Just a Thought...You Don’t Have to Blog to Participate - 11/29/21 02:16 PM
Just a Thought...You Don’t Have to Blog to Participate
Everyone has been so busy this year, it’s been hard to find time to write a post much less comment on other posts. 
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400  and I were speaking a few weeks ago about our Zoom meetings. They were fun, informative, and gave members a way to be a part of the community.
And, that is what I wanted to share with you (thank you, Margaret, for the suggestion)
While ActiveRain is known as a blogging or social media platform for those in the Real Estate industry and related fields, the community offers … (31 comments)

thoughts: Why I Often Read and Comment On Your Market Reports and Listing - 10/25/21 02:40 PM
...or Who Cares!
One of the things that makes this site so remarkable is the community...ie the members. We show support for each other in many ways.
One of the ways is through our reading and commenting on their posts. It's easy to do when the post is about something personal or showing off the Fall Colors, for example. It’s not always easy when the posts are about market updates or new listings.
However, I try to stop by and read and comment on the market reports and listings of other members for 2 reasons…
It’s how I learn…
Even though I’m not an … (28 comments)

thoughts: Breaking the ActiveRain Egg - 10/18/21 02:38 PM
Breaking the ActiveRain Egg
 
Recently I wrote about the first comment I’d ever received on a post and asked everyone to share theirs as well. 

I remember how excited I was to know that someone had commented on it. 
 

So what about the posts we see that have a big goose egg by them? No comments!
I’ve seen some very good members who make it a point to comment on posts from new members, first posts, or even posts with no comments. 

Why bother?
Well, for one thing, it’s a nice thing to do, but beyond that, for this community to grow we need to foster new … (32 comments)

thoughts: The Power of Keeping In Touch - 08/23/21 02:05 PM
The Power of Keeping in Touch
 
There have been so many very informative posts shared here about the importance of keeping in touch. It could be through postcards and other forms of direct mail, a brief call, email, or as  Debe Maxwell, CRS wrote about recently, having a Thank You event for your clients.
 
There’s an art to knowing just how much “keeping in touch” you want to do...remember Goldilocks?
Multiple texts and emails will soon shoot you down the “unsubscribe” hole.  Once a year? Not enough??  Twice? Birthdays and holidays??
 
Early last year I donated to the Houston Food Bank. Because in-class learning … (35 comments)

thoughts: It Isn’t Always About Real Estate… - 08/09/21 04:49 PM
It Isn’t Always About Real Estate…
Larry asked me a few years ago if the upcoming weekend was when we were supposed to spring forward for the time change. After thinking a second, I told him that I didn’t think so because no one had written about it on ActiveRain.
You can laugh but trust me, there are always posts that will remind us about the time change!  And that’s not a bad thing.
ActiveRain isn’t a platform solely for topics about or related to the real estate profession. No offense to anyone but can you imagine how boring that would be if … (42 comments)

thoughts: Keeping You Informed- My Kind of Client Service - 06/14/21 04:50 PM
Keeping You Informed- My Kind of Client Service
 
Most of us have our pet peeves about client/customer service. One of mine is not being kept informed of steps and procedures. 
 
Several weeks ago, when I had some routine annual tests done at the Methodist Hospital near me, I was terribly impressed with how everyone at the hospital went out of their way to make all visitors and patients feel comfortable. 
 
 
This is a large facility and it would be easy for anyone to get lost or turned around. But when I came through the door there was someone to point me in the right … (38 comments)

thoughts: Best Friends - 06/07/21 02:01 PM
Best Friends

I read that today, June 8, is Best Friend’s Day it made me think about what a best friend is to me. When we’re younger we have tons of friends...from school, work, the neighborhood, church. 
 
Years ago I read that as we age, the number of friends we have decreases, and instead we tend to have more acquaintances. 
 
I know that has been the case for me. And, that’s ok. 
 
So I thought about what is something I look for in a good or best friend and in turn, who I try to be for them…

Loyal
Short of certain legal and criminal infractions, I … (34 comments)

thoughts: Looking Back… - 06/03/21 12:35 PM
Looking Back…
 
This month’s Post-Pandemic, Let Freedom Ring Challenge prompted me to review some of my photos I took back in June 2020. 
 
Our salons and restaurants began opening with limited capacity and restrictions as early as May 2020 however many took a cautious wait and see attitude. 
 
 
We saw the above chalk art while on one of our morning walks.  
 
For me, seeing this inspired me and it reminded me of all the good that is out there.  Hope and kindness are powerful ingredients that we all need. 

The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in … (30 comments)

thoughts: What Would You Tell YOU? - 05/20/21 05:15 PM
What Would You Tell YOU?
 
This is the time of year when many students and their families and friends are celebrating their graduations from college. We’ve had two celebrations and one more on the way. 
 
I pulled a Michael Jacobs and began pondering with a little wandering into the way-back machine.
 
What would I tell ME (if I could) when I graduated from college?
 
I can’t think of just one thing though. Sure, I might tell myself to invest in Amazon as soon as you can, but no that’s not what I mean.
 
 
So here are just a few things I would tell me when … (29 comments)

thoughts: Thoughtful Thursday… - 05/19/21 05:38 PM
Thoughtful Thursday…
 
Did you ever have someone out of the blue do something nice for you? It may not have been for you...you may have seen or heard of someone who did a kind act for someone. 
 
If you’re like me, may have slapped your forehead and thought...That was so nice, why didn’t I think of that?!
 
Larry and I’ve met a sweet lady on our walks who shares our interest in wildlife and birds in particular. She loves hearing about the bluebird nests that we have and monitor. 
 
 
The other day when we were in the parking lot where we walk, she said...I have … (35 comments)

thoughts: When Your Blogging Tank Registers Empty - 05/10/21 04:42 PM
When Your Blogging Tank Registers Empty
 
It happens...to all of us...well many of us. If you’ve been blogging for any amount of time...heck even if you’ve just started...there comes a time when your blogging tank registers empty...nada, nyet, nichts. 
 
For many years, I have tried posting every day. I do this not for business (I’m retired) but for me. Blogging keeps my dendrites going and I know (fear) that one day when I decide that I’ll pass blogging that day, it will be harder for me to get back into the blogging habit. 
 
This works for me and it may not be what works … (35 comments)

thoughts: Backspace...Delete...Move On - 04/26/21 03:16 PM
 
Backspace...Delete...Move On
 
No, it’s not what you think...it’s not about what others might say. 
 
The other day while commenting, my little fingers were just whizzing away. It wasn’t anything that was negative or derogatory...not at all. 
 
But I stopped and asked myself...Is all this really necessary?  I’d already made a comment that showed I’d actually read the post. 
 
And more to the point, what I was writing was extraneous or perhaps just added fluff to my comment. 
 
And so, I reread my comment and decided to backspace and delete the extra words. 
 
 
I asked myself if what I added would matter to the author or add anything … (25 comments)

thoughts: It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here...Just a Thought - 04/15/21 04:22 PM
It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here...Just a Thought
 
In case you’re wondering, yes there have been some people who have been told “It would be so nice if you weren’t here” during my 13 years or so at ActiveRain. 
 
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! asked in the Q&A if we agreed with the decision to give the boot to those who have chosen not to abide by the ActiveRain Guidelines.
 
And of course, it’s not an easy question to answer. As in life, the answers aren’t always a simple Yes or No. 
 
Over the years I’ve seen some who were asked … (49 comments)

thoughts: Wanda Asked a Question...My Thoughts - 03/18/21 02:25 PM
Wanda Asked a Question...My Thoughts
 
Yesterday Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! asked an interesting question…  Do you think that ActiveRain members have failed those who choose to leave the platform? 
 
“Oh no...what should I have done to keep the members here?”
 
That response would have been what a much younger version of me would have thought. However, having been a member for many years, I’d have to say “Not in the least!”
 
This is not to say that I or any other member doesn’t give a hoot about members who leave. Not at all. 
 
If you’re referring to new members, then there are many members here … (32 comments)

thoughts: You Learn to Listen When You Can’t Do Anything Else... I’m Listening - 03/15/21 02:53 PM
You Learn to Listen When You Can’t Do Anything Else... I’m Listening
 
One of my all-time favorite television series is Frasier. Years ago when the series was still on, we would often sit out on our lanai and watch it. I laughed so hard and loud, Larry was worried that we would get a call from our neighbors. 
 
Frasier’s radio tagline was “I’m listening.” As a psychiatrist, it was one of the skills he needed the most. 
 
In my other lives, I was lucky in that some of the training I received was focused on listening. 
 
In graduate school (Applied Clinical Psychology) my practicums placed … (33 comments)

thoughts:  Comment...Respond...Both...Neither? - 02/01/21 02:16 PM
 Comment...Respond...Both...Neither?
 
Social media platforms usually work best when members participate and interact with others on the platform. And that is certainly true of ActiveRain. By reading and commenting on other’s blogs...responding to their comments, we learn more about each other. 

However...there are times when I have to make a choice...respond to comments you left on my post or head to your post and comment on it. 
 
When time permits, I try to do both but even though I’m retired, I do have a life!  

I know that some members never respond to comments on their posts or comment on other posts. They do however write … (28 comments)

thoughts: What’s Your Intent? - 01/27/21 03:25 PM
What’s Your Intent?
 
Good grammar has always been something I value. It doesn’t have to be perfect, because who is, but I still cringe when I hear double negatives or someone saying Me and Joe are going instead of Joe and I are going. 

Thanks to Marte Cliff we’re also more aware of how our message can be diluted if the reader is tripping over errors in grammar.

That said, I am curious about someone’s intent when they call out...in public...an error in grammar. 

In a post on a social media platform, someone wrote wining instead of whining. 

It was clear what the author meant … (27 comments)

 


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