thoughts: Gift Cards Revisited…What Do You think?
- 12/21/17 05:28 PM
Gift Cards Revisited…What Do You think?
A few years ago, I discussed my love/hate relationship with the even more ubiquitous Gift Card.
It took me awhile to get accustomed to them. For you see, I was trained by one of the best gift-givers...my mother.
When I went shopping with her, whether for a Christmas, birthday, or wedding gift for someone, I saw how she would spend hours picking out what she hoped would be the perfect gift for someone.
Her goal was to purchase a gift that they would like but wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves.
There were times when I wished … (26 comments)
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thoughts: Sometimes Giving Away a Little Can Get You a Lot back.
- 12/18/17 05:48 PM
Sometimes Giving Away a Little Can Get You a Lot back.
When I started providing home staging consultations it was suggested to me by a fellow and more experienced stager that while we don’t want to give away the store, it always helps to give away a few things for free.
For example, when bidding on a vacant staging, I might walk through and suggest what might be done with a space or how the entry could be enhanced. I’ve gone so far as to rearrange something while I’m standing there talking.
Suggest is the key word...just a taste. Ask most any … (29 comments)
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thoughts: A Memorable Christmas
- 12/14/17 03:52 PM
A Memorable Christmas...
Since I have asked you to share a Christmas memory with the ActiveRain community, I thought it only fair that I share one as well.
In my life, I have been blessed to have wonderful Christmases. There were always gifts, desserts, lots of food, and most of all we were surrounded by family, friends, and lots of joy and laughter.
But in December 2001, we all needed a boost to lighten our spirits after September.
My extended family here in Florida usually spent Christmas Eve night at the Beach Club but that year the patriarch of the family decided to … (27 comments)
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thoughts: It’s Still OK to Wish Me a Merry Christmas!
- 12/13/17 05:01 PM
It’s Still OK to Wish Me a Merry Christmas!
There are times when being politically correct is highly overrated. People are scared to say what they used to say for fear of being called out. To heck with that.
This morning (this is not the first time it’s happened) someone we see from time to time on our walks was trying to wish us a Merry Christmas but I could tell that they were trying not to offend so out came this…
“Merry Happy uh well have a good day.”
I’m not saying that whatever comes out of our mouths should be … (28 comments)
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thoughts: What is consistency?
- 12/07/17 03:03 PM
What is consistency?
Being consistent is something that is discussed often, especially here with regards to our marketing efforts. Barbara Todaro, a constant source of marketing information as well as support, suggests we “market like we mean it” and part of that involves being consistent.
When I meet new agents here I tell them to head to ActiveRain, join, and begin reading. Then I give them the link to Barbara’s blog to learn about marketing.
The other day Michael Jacobs wrote a post about his consistency with this thing we have called blogging.
Some blog every day to maintain their consistency. Others have … (57 comments)
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thoughts: Let’s Keep Those “Thankful” Posts Coming!
- 11/27/17 03:14 PM
Let’s Keep Those “Thankful” Posts Coming!
Many of us participated in Debbie Reynolds ’ 12 Days of Thanksgiving 2017-ActiveRain Challenge and now that it is over, I have one thing to say...Keep ‘em coming!
I don’t know about you, but my spirit was lifted considerably every time I read someone’s post about what they were thankful for.
The 12 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge came just as I was beginning a road trip which was good for me because one of the hardest things for me to do is pick a topic to write about.
On the other hand, because I was on a road trip, … (47 comments)
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thoughts: Are You Working At the Cutting Edge in Your Field or Just Sitting On It?
- 11/08/17 03:59 PM
Are You Working At the Cutting Edge in Your Field or Just Sitting On It?
We are so fortunate to have at our hands just about anything we could want to help us do our jobs. Stagers have phone apps to help us measure rooms or pick paint colors, for example. If we wanted to take it a step further, we could assist clients with virtual staging thanks to software available.
(Don’t go there...this is not a post about should or should virtual staging be used!)
Home inspectors, lenders, agents...everyone has access to tools that can put them on the cutting edge.
Many … (48 comments)
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thoughts: Well...What Do You Know!
- 11/01/17 05:40 PM
Well...What Do You Know!
Wednesday morning one of the first ActiveRain tasks I had was to change my profile photo from a Jedi Knight (for Halloween) back to my normal (until I get up enough nerve to have a new photo taken) profile photo.
Mind you, this is something I may do every other year if that. So, I was quite surprised to see that somewhere between one time and another, I’d passed another milestone.
For me, the excitement of reaching an ActiveRain point milestone can never quite match the first milestone I reached...when I hit 50,000 points.
Don’t laugh...ask anyone who’s … (67 comments)
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thoughts: Are You As Sharp As You Think You Are?
- 10/24/17 03:39 PM
Are You As Sharp As You Think You Are?
It is the time of year when we begin looking back at what we accomplished for the year and develop plans for the coming new year.
You know that you’ve put in hours of hard work, made sure that your pipeline was flowing, and marketed like you meant it! (right Barbara Todaro !)
2017 should turn out to be a banner year!
You may be analyzing your numbers and like what you see.
But what if you’re not quite where you want to be?
Does that mean double the number of Open Houses you give or increase … (62 comments)
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thoughts: Are You So Focused On The Process, You’re Forgetting The Goal?
- 10/11/17 05:32 PM
Are You So Focused On The Process, You’re Forgetting The Goal?
Last week Larry spent several hard days working on the top to our convertible. He could have taken it to someone who does this all of the time but like many men I know, he’d rather have a root canal than trust his car to a dealership or mechanic.
Besides, he enjoys the problem-solving process.
This one involved hoses, removing the back seat, and hanging over and in the trunk.
All this while we had 90% humidity and temperatures that made it feel close to 100 degrees.
He came to a … (52 comments)
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thoughts: Blaming is Lame- Be the One to Take Action
- 10/02/17 02:19 PM
Blaming is Lame- Be the One to Take Action
To look around our area, it would be hard to notice that Hurricane Irma came through here less than a month ago.
There is very little structural damage to houses and buildings, and unless you look up very closely at the trees all looks fairly normal.
Well...except for the dried vegetation lying in wait for someone to take them to parts unknown.
The blame game has started...why municipalities didn’t have enough trucks… are companies price-gouging or do they have to charge more to hire extra staff? When will everything be picked up?
Residents have been … (38 comments)
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thoughts: Frivolous Foodie Friday- Shhhh -Don’t Tell Barbara Todaro!
- 09/21/17 04:57 PM
Frivolous Foodie Friday- Shhhh -Don’t Tell Barbara Todaro
Let me preface this by saying that this is not a post that we want Barbara Todaro to read. Let’s just direct her to some of our other posts…. Hear that Brian England!
I just read and heard on the news that a study showed that taking a 2-week break from dieting can actually boost weight loss.
In my food world, I’ve eliminated the word “diet” because it makes me feel as if I’m depriving myself of something. What I prefer is a lifestyle change in how I eat.
Earlier in the month, Dick Greenberg wrote about … (34 comments)
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thoughts: Help Hurricane Victims With Your Own Hurricane Supplies!
- 09/14/17 04:32 PM
Help Hurricane Victims With Your Own Hurricane Supplies
This is an idea that someone in our community is doing and I wanted to pass it on.
If you have seen the videos of the flooding in Houston thanks to Harvey or the devastation that Irma inflicted on the Florida Keys, west coast, and Jacksonville areas, you know that there are many who need urgent assistance.
Having just gone through Irma myself, I know that I have a stockpile of supplies that are sitting waiting for the next (hope not) hurricane to hit.
What about taking those supplies and donating them to agencies … (39 comments)
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thoughts: How I Choose My Sunday Feature Posts
- 09/13/17 08:27 AM
How Do I Choose Posts for My Weekly Sunday Post?
Many years ago, I decided to write a post showing that you can learn something everyday here. I’d been saying it in my comments or posts and decided that it was time to put my money where my mouth was. And so it began.
Several weeks ago, Joe Pryor suggested that it would be nice to know how I went about choosing posts to feature in my weekly Sunday post.
During my sojourn with Irma, I’ve had quite a bit of time to think about it, and came to one conclusion...It’s purely subjective and … (68 comments)
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thoughts: A Toothy Business Lesson
- 09/07/17 05:44 PM
A Toothy Business Lesson
When I tell you it’s been one of those days, I’m not kidding.
No matter how much you prepare for a hurricane, there are always last minute things to do and decisions to be made.
Do I stay or do I go? (Be quiet Sally K. & David L. Hanson )
Is Irma going to knock my roof off or flood my house?
Why didn’t I scan ALL of my pre-digital era photos?
How much wine do I take to our friend’s house where we’ll be staying? (just kidding)
Now the icing on the chocolate cake of this day is this…
Towards the end … (41 comments)
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thoughts: Don’t Mess With Texas...Seriously
- 08/31/17 05:49 PM
Don’t Mess With Texas...Seriously
I really don’t like to get political here or anywhere for that matter, but when they say “Don’t Mess With Texas” we mean it.
Houston and the surrounding areas are hurting, but I know we will thrive and survive.
People around the country have expressed their admiration for the many who have stepped up with making donations of clothing and other necessities, volunteered their time at shelters, and come in with their own boats, kayaks, jet skis and canoes to rescue those in flooded areas.
So, when I read comments here, on Facebook, and other social media from … (63 comments)
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thoughts: An Interesting Tidbit I Learned…
- 08/30/17 04:58 PM
An Interesting Tidbit I Learned…
In my never-ending effort to learn something new and sometimes, even useful, I did just that this week.
I have no idea how scientifically sound it is but my niece’s husband used this tip (found on the internet) when they left their home before the arrival of Hurricane Harvey.
With a newborn, they did not want to deal with what might happen, so they drove to Austin. Besides securing their home, they wanted to know that if they lost power, how long it may have been off.
If the power had been off for days, then returned they … (59 comments)
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thoughts: Our Relationships With Others Mirrors the One We Have With Ourselves
- 08/23/17 04:58 PM
Our Relationships With Others Mirrors the One We Have With Ourselves
At a luncheon once, one of the guests said something that has always hit home with me.
Until we like ourselves and are comfortable in our own skin, it is hard to focus on and be supportive of others.
Think back on some of your favorite managers or leaders. One of the most effective and well-liked managers I worked under wanted us to succeed...she supported what we did and encouraged us when we wanted to try something new or different.
She had no ego to satisfy and felt comfortable being who she was.
It … (60 comments)
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thoughts: Don’t Call Me Tonight...I’m Busy.
- 08/02/17 04:00 PM
Don’t Call Me Tonight...I’m Busy.
It has been a long 6 months but finally tonight...can you hear it...more importantly...are you ready?
Are you ready for some football??
Granted tonight’s game is not the official start of the NFL season ...it’s the Hall of Fame Game. And, no, most of the starters will not be playing but it’s football. The Cardinals vs The Cowboys (that’s Arizona vs Dallas)
Last year’s Hall of Fame Game was cancelled due to field conditions so let’s hope Canton has everything set and ready to go.
This off-season I watched March Madness, the NBA, some of The Tour De France and one … (33 comments)
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thoughts: Just How Important Is It For You to Be Right?
- 07/26/17 12:33 PM
Just How Important Is It For You To Be Right?
The other day we were in a doctor’s waiting room and listened as a gentleman went to the receptionist’s window. He presented her with his driver’s license and insurance cards and the forms that he’d filled in and then printed from the medical office portal.
He was prepared and had everything they had asked for. It’s so much easier to do this rather than sit in the waiting room trying to fill out the forms while your clipboard is balanced on one knee, and you’re thumbing through your phone for addresses and … (36 comments)
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Gift Cards Revisited…What Do You think?
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