business planning: Olema Cottages, a great place for business planning - 01/06/19 08:57 AM
I just returned from my annual business and life review and planning retreat. I'm most productive and efficient when I head out of town for 2 or 3 days on a solo trip. I settle in, get my computer and papers set up, and get to work. I break an hour or two before darkness sets in to take a hike and think, then heat up dinner and get back to work. Next day, the pattern repeats, adding in some yoga mid-morning.
Perhaps because I live in an urban area, perhaps because I love to hike, nearby West Marin County usually … (27 comments)

business planning: Sharpening the Saw - 11/30/17 04:57 PM
Many of us have read the books by Stephen Covey, "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and "The 8th Habit." Those books first introduced to me the concept of "sharpening the saw" and why that is essential. If we don't take care of ourselves, if we don't replenish ourselves, we can't help others.
One way I "sharpen my saw" is by scheduling quarterly off-site review and planning days. This is when I take a look at my business and personal plan for the past quarter of the year, see where I'm on track, ahead or behind, and then set my course for … (49 comments)

business planning: How's my business plan at mid-year? - 07/14/16 09:34 AM
Our colleague, Mark Don McInnes of Sandpoint Idaho, has spearheaded an Active Rain challenge. He is asking us, "How Is Your Business Plan Looking?"
The beauty of these types of contests is two-fold:
They encourage us to review the year to date while there is still time left to revamp or set new goals; and By reading others' plans it's likely we'll have an "aha" moment (to borrow Kathy Streib's phrase.) This afternoon I returned from my usual quarterly business review and planning. I hole up in a wonderful B&B (the link takes you to an earlier blog post I wrote) -- … (16 comments)

business planning: [brief] by Joseph McCormack - 03/31/16 07:13 AM
These last two days in March have been devoted to my quarterly business review, assessment and planning. I'm most productive when I leave home and can hole up and devote myself to the task at hand with few interruptions, and that often means heading to the Pt. Reyes Peninsula, to the little community of Inverness Park, and checking into the Abalone Inn, which is where I arrived yesterday.
While waiting for my room to be ready for check-in, I got to work in this lovely patio, and began reading [brief]...make a bigger impact by saying less.
In our overly busy world, with so … (20 comments)

business planning: It's Quarterly Business Review and Assessment Time - 09/30/15 05:11 AM
Here we are, already at the end of the third quarter, 2015. As I try to do each quarter, I left San Francisco this morning and enjoyed the drive to Inverness, a tiny town on the peninsula of Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
The drive is an easy one, leaving San Francisco at 9:30, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and arriving here shortly before 11:00 AM. My hostess at the Abalone Inn accommodated my request for an early check in, so in less than 30 minutes, I was unpacked with computer set up, ready to have lunch and get to work.
My … (8 comments)

business planning: Changing my Mantra - 07/03/15 01:22 AM
For the last several years I have had a mantra on which I'd focus. Last year I wrote how "I am happy, I am healthy, I am kind" works for me.
Now I'm finishing up my quarterly review and planning session, enjoying the bird-song in the marsh across the street, hot coffee in my mug, nibbling on a fresh nectarine and plums from the trees at the Abalone Inn. (My hostess brought up a bowlful last evening.) I've had my phone call with one of my accountability partners, and will soon finish up the outline of my 3rd quarter plan. Then it … (21 comments)

business planning: Business Planning, Birdhouses and Active Rain - 04/03/15 10:38 PM
What do bird houses have in common with business planning and Active Rain?
Recently I spent a couple of days away from my office working on my business. I am most efficient with this type of work away from the daily distractions. One of my favorite destinations is heading to West Marin County, holing up in a simple B&B, and getting down to work.
So off I went to the Abalone Inn, a 102-year-old house in Inverness Park, next to the Point Reyes National Seashore. In the garden of the inn, with climbing roses scenting the air with their fragrance … (10 comments)

business planning: Work continues-storm or no storm - 12/11/14 07:13 AM
Our rainstorm has caused a lot of havoc in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco has been hit especially hard, with 93,000 customers without power at one point. Urban flooding is widespread; many traffic lights along Van Ness and Lombard are still out and have been all day. Many (most?) business in the Financial District are closed, as are schools throughout the area.
Power went out at our end of the city (northern neighborhoods--Marina, Cow Hollow, Pac Heights, Russian Hill, etc--this morning. At our condo it has been out since 7:30 AM -- it's now 3:20 PM and is still … (18 comments)

business planning: Hunkering down before the storm - 12/10/14 07:11 AM
Rainstorms have been all too rare in the San Francisco Bay Area in the last three years. However, this winter has a different feel to it. We've had several days of rain in the last couple of weeks, and the thirsty hillsides are beginning to green up as new grass sprouts.

Now, we're hunkering down for a storm that is supposed to be the strongest since 2009. High winds, followed by heavy rains are expected in Marin and Sonoma Counties this evening, spreading south to San Francisco, then the Peninsula and Silicon Valley during the night. By morning, flooding, downed power lines … (14 comments)

business planning: Planning for Success - 10/04/14 06:15 AM
A couple of weeks ago Bob Stewart invited us to share some of the things we do this time of year to prepare our businesses for the fall and winter.
In my area of the country, specifically San Francisco, the Peninsula and Silicon Valley, real estate keeps on chugging. Buyers are waiting for the right properties to come on the market, anxious to find a home before the typical zaniness of February, March, April hit with full force. Sellers are still listing, although that is beginning to slow down.
To capitalize on this trend I focus on:
Contacting all potential buyers … (18 comments)

business planning: Plan to Work and Work Your Plan - Successful Agents do - 05/10/14 02:51 AM
We've all heard the saying, "plan to work and work your plan." I have no idea who coined that phrase, but it's a good one.
Being successful in the real estate business takes planning.
First, we need to know the 'why' and then plan the steps to bring that to fruition. Start with a written yearly plan, then break it down into quarters. Review monthly to see how the quarter is going and make adjustments as needed. Every week review what was completed, started or dropped, and set the plan for the next week, adjusting where needed.
I've got … (18 comments)

business planning: What I've learned about growing my business - 09/20/13 10:55 PM
Active Rain Ambassador Paul McFadden has created a September contest, "What Have Your Learned About Growing Your Business?" There's still time to participate, so join in and share - we learn a lot from one another.
Since getting my license in 1996 and striking out on my own in the year 2000, there have been many changes, especially around technology and our use of it. I've changed, too, in how I run my business.
I've learned:
Clients and potential clients want to hear from us. We're not bothering people by staying in touch. I've often received an email, or heard words … (8 comments)

business planning: 2011 -- My Motto for the New Year - 12/23/10 01:20 AM
2011 - My Motto for the New Year
A new year is just around the corner; we've been hard at work with business planning to ensure that 2011 gets off to a great start, and planting the seeds to make that happen.
I woke up early this morning with this tune going through my head, and decided: this is my motto for the new year. Make it yours, too!

 
… (21 comments)

business planning: R&R Day in San Francisco, California - 07/22/10 05:01 PM
R&R Day (Review and Reflect Day) in San Francisco, California We're now well into July (in fact, the end of the month is quickly arriving) and it's time for me to stop and review my business plan for 2010. With six months of the year behind me I want to know:
where do I stand? am I on track professionally? personally? what adjustments do I need to make? what is working well and should be continued? or ramped up? what isn't working? what have I overlooked? have I served my clients well? could I do better? how? what new idea … (29 comments)

 


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