business: Surviving Your Serengeti - Stefan Swanepoel - Business Book Review - 02/19/11 03:32 AM
7 Skills to Master Business and Life
I was going to reblog ActiveRain's post about the Surviving Your Serengeti Challenge, but reblog is currently down.  As you can read in my comment, I received an advance copy of the book and I thought the book was an excellent read - both as a story and as a business book.  Stefan definitely has a way with words, no doubt about that.
What I liked most about the book was that as I read through the tale of the epic journey the animals of the Serengeti take (often rated as the number one … (7 comments)

business: Skeptical? Me too. But I'm not afraid to say I was wrong. - 09/24/10 12:55 AM
Sometimes I'm wrong.
I can be very skeptical when it comes to a whole host of things, but since becoming a Realtor®, I've found that my skepticism has grown.  Don't take it the wrong way and think I pace about all day not believing anything, but in large part due to the fact that we agents are constantly bombarded with calls and emails telling us how to succeed, win, make more money, guarantee us more production...whatever the promise, few people deliver and we all know that.  So we turn inward to our own doubts and fears and shut out most of … (27 comments)

business: Friends or Acquaintances? Which Do You Seek From Your Clients? - 03/03/10 05:45 AM

photo courtesy of StuSeeger
Are online friends your friends?
Last week I wrote a post at AgentGenius about connecting with clients and consumers on a more meaningful basis than just business.  That article, prompted a response by AgentGenius writer Ken Montville, "Your Client Doesn’t Care: A Contrarian View" about how the consumer doesn't care for your friendship - they just want a great real estate agent.
He's right, most consumers want to hire the best real estate professional the world has ever seen and little more.  But during that time, they have a basic human need - that of connection.  … (8 comments)

business: What time is the best time for blogging? Do you have a pattern? - 11/05/09 10:10 PM

photo courtesy of woodleywonderworks
I woke up early...again.
I sat at my computer, checking emails and reading blogs as I usually do while the coffee working its magic.  Once I was fully awake, I began to ponder what I would write today.  Blogging for me is an all day affair - I don't have just one blog to write for, so I tend to write several different posts a day.  As I considered this, I thought about how I write and what time it is when I write it.  I had never thought about it much, but it seemed to … (11 comments)

business: I'm all out of words. Comments are hard to come by. - 11/04/09 10:51 PM

photo courtesy of stev.ie
My commenting isn't nearly what it used to be.
I've slowed down on commenting a lot.  I hit the blogs I subscribe to just about everyday and usually take a peak at the Featured Posts once or twice a day.  I even scroll through the blog list to see what's been written by those I may not know.  I do a lot of reading.  Commenting, is a different story.
Why you might ask?
Well, the first (and obvious) reason is that I'm busier than I once was.  I've got a lot more going on.  Not just … (18 comments)

business: BlogWorld 2009: The secrets of Las Vegas are not so secret anymore. - 10/19/09 07:44 AM

photo courtesy of ChicagoGeek
It already feels like it was weeks ago.
I landed in San Antonio late last night from my trip to BlogWorld 2009.  This morning it already feels like it was a long time ago.  So much fun had in such a short space of time always seems to make it feel like the distant past a lot quicker.  To say it was a blast would be to lie.  It was more than a blast.  Seeing friends, meeting new ones, listening to some of the best and brightest, and toying with new products for a few days … (36 comments)

business: Charge a little here, charge a little there - how much does it cost to be an agent? - 06/07/09 05:00 PM

photo courtesy of Andres Rueda
The "beat goes on" and the dollars keep flowing.
Earlier today I got involved in a bit of a posting frenzy as each writer began to expand on the topic and run with off shoots of the thoughts being presented.  This post is no different, but before I get into it, I wanted to say a) I couldn't be happier to see this going on ActiveRain - I think it's part of where the true power of communities like this are and b) please take a moment to read the other posts and send a … (17 comments)

business: The post that just kept growing and growing and growing... - 06/07/09 05:47 AM

photo courtesy of Alex Barth
A post in reply to a post in reply to a post in reply to a post.
Every so often on ActiveRain, a single post becomes larger than life and spawns new posts that feed off of each other.  I love the idea of these posts taking on new life and expanding the topic deeper and wider each time.  This post is no exception.
It all started when...
Carol Culkin posted "Get A Job? - Realtors Who Have To Do, What They Have To Do..." dealing with the idea of agents having to moonlight or … (47 comments)

business: My wife, my work, my friends, and NAR. Four days in the life of a year old Realtor®. - 05/11/09 12:29 PM

photo courtesy of me and my iPhone
Has it really been four days?
I just looked at my last post and basically, I haven't been around much in the last four days.  I have a good excuse though, my wife just returned from England after a week's vacation visiting her family and to be honest, I wanted to hang out with her more than all of you.  Not that I don't enjoy my time spent here on ActiveRain, but the facts are the facts - I love my wife a whole lot more.
It's also been a busy four days.  … (8 comments)

business: This is why I never give up on someone (a referral story). - 02/23/09 03:27 PM

photo courtesy of AchimH
We all love a good referral.
Its the pinnacle of a job well done in real estate.  The best pat on the back you can receive for the work you do.  The signal that you're doing things right and your clients are happy.  We all strive to get them and when you do receive one, you take great care in making sure that the referrer is thanked and the new client gets the excellent service that your past client told them about.
I received a referral a few weeks ago.
I consider this referral rather special.  … (46 comments)

business: Sometimes Jumping In With Both Feet Doesnt Hurt - 02/12/09 07:51 AM
 
It might be a bit odd, but I'm doing it anyway.
I never thought I'd re-blog something about myself, but in this case, I thought I would.  Not to toot my own horn or even to generate new business for Clint.  Nope...not my intentions with this re-blog.  After I wrote my comment on the original post, I thought about how important I feel testimonials are.  Sure, I've been to plenty of sites with testimonials that didn't sell me on anything, but if we all took five seconds to back the people and products that are doing well for us, wouldn't … (2 comments)

business: My first attempt at using the ActiveRain referral system. - 01/22/09 08:29 AM

photo courtesy of Jared.P.
I have an out of state friend, who called me for help.
My friend is looking to buy a house back in Los Angeles, so she called me for help.  Obviously, my license is no good out there, so I needed to refer it out to someone.  I called my agent back in L.A., but she is very busy these days and couldn't take a referral for that area (its a bit far for her - L.A. is a massive sprawling city).  She recommended someone else, but that didn't work out.  I sent out a tweet … (9 comments)

business: You're Not Doing It Wrong...I'm Just Doing It Different! - 01/20/09 07:37 AM
 
I read Clint Miller's blog, but I also read and speak with Sarah on occasion.
I've always liked Sarah, she's nice and always up to something that will get you smiling or laughing.  She oozes positivity, even when she's had a hard day (and I've seen her have a few here and there).  I mentioned in the comments section that I think this post should be handed out with every new Wordpress account an agent opens or with any new ActiveRain account.  We all struggle with the idea of "is this the right thing for me?"  Sarah sums it up … (1 comments)

business: The Danger of Being Prolific? - 12/16/08 10:32 PM

photo courtesy of Old Shoe Woman
Recently I wrote more than normal.
Over the course of two days I wrote a little more than normal.  In those two days, I commented like mad and wrote 4 posts (2 a day) and even re-blogged one I thought more people should see (with permission of course).  I was feeling good about my recent uptick in activity and was even prouder of the content.  In all this good feeling (and flurry of commenting), I found true happiness in blogging.  I knew I liked it, but the sense of accomplishment I felt over those … (22 comments)