Patti Puckett's Real Estate Recipes

No, no...NOT David Copperfield, rather an historical,famous "MOON ILLUSION"

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:35:34 -0500

Here is how Wikipedia defines this phenomenon:

Moon illusion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Moon illusion is an optical illusion in which the Moon appears larger near the horizon than it does while higher up in the sky. This optical illusion also occurs with the sun and star constellations. It has been known since ancient times, and recorded by numerous different cultures

A popular belief, stretching back at least to Aristotle in the 4th century BC, holds that the Moon appears larger near the horizon due to a real magnification effect caused by the Earth's atmosphere. This is not true. Although the atmosphere does change the color of the Moon, it does not magnify or enlarge it. In fact, the Moon appears about 1.5% smaller when it is near the horizon than when it is high in the sky, because it is further away by up to 1 Earth radius and also because of atmospheric refraction, which makes the image of the Moon slightly smaller in the vertical axis. (Note that between different full moons, the Moon's angular diameter can vary from 33.5 arc minutes at perigee to 29.43 arc minutes at apogee - a difference of over 10%.^[1])

The angle that the full Moon subtends at an observer's eye can be measured directly with a theodolite to show that it remains constant as the Moon rises or sinks in the sky (discounting the very small variations due to the physical effects mentioned). Photographs of the Moon at different elevations also show that its size remains the same.

A simple way of demonstrating that the effect is an illusion is to hold a small object (say, 1/4 inch wide) at arm's length (25 inches) with one eye closed, positioning it next to the seemingly large Moon. When the Moon is higher in the sky, positioning the same object near the Moon reveals that there is no change in size.

Tonight, Wednesday June 18,2008, as the moon rises there will a fable older than Aesop, and an illusion of gigantic proportions that not even David Copperfield can claim.

Its been known and referred to as the MOON ILLUSION as far back as 4 BC; YEP! BC! Apparently as the moon rises it appears to be much larger at our horizon then when the moon reaches its peak overhead. ITS NOT TRUE, theres NO TRUTH TO IT; its simply an Illusion

The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion

                                            It would seem that even Astronauts "see" the difference in size.

Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.



If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.

I hope you found this tidbit of otherwise "useless " information a soothing break to an otherwise busy busy day of sorting, researching, negotiating or whatever else you might be doing on the other end of this computer from ME!

The BIG "C" in the A.B.C's of Performance: COACH....BE COACHED!

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:01:46 -0500

Coaching

Whether you are new to the business or an experienced pro, coaching has been proven to increase performance levels by 20% or more - while increasing your personal lifestyle!

There are numerous coaches and types of coaching programs - each designed to fit a specific need, budget, or requirement

Self-Coaching

With self-coaching programs, you are given access to tips and resources used by successful Agents and Brokers.

Generally considered a self-study method, you do not receive one-on-one or personal coaching, but instead you can read articles, listen to audio interviews, or use any of the checklists, forms, ads, or other materials provided as part of the program.

Examples of self-coaching materials may include:
- Listing and buyer presentations
- How to work with FSBOs
- Business planning
- Conquering objections
- Marketing tips
- Scripts and dialogues
- Utilizing technology to grow your business
- How to maximize your website
- Targeting specific niches
Self-Coaching is the least costly type of coaching program. Cost can be as low as $30 per month, with no monthly commitments.

Suggestions:

24-Step Real Estate Career Launch Program

iSucceed

www.REtrainingcenter.com

Group Coaching
Group coaching is usually handled via weekly conference calls where you and a group of ten or so individuals meet to discuss:
- Business planning
- Goal setting
- Strategic planning
- Daily scheduling
- Time blocking
- Prospecting
- Objection handing
- Presentations
- Referral systems
- Lead follow up
Group coaching also usually includes workbooks, audio tapes, checklists, and email interaction between you and your group coach.

Pricing for group coaching can range from $200 to $300 per month, with a six month commitment

One-On-One Coaching

One-on-one coaching is personally tailored, and is designed to build your ideal business based on your strengths and the market.

Throughout the year, you are provided accountability for implementation, performance, and results, and your coach plays a pivotal role in establishing a vision for your business and life.

The following skills are typically covered with a one-on-one coach:
- Time mastery and management
- Financial mastery
- Creating strategies for marketing and prospecting
- Prospecting techniques
- Scripts and dialogue
- Hiring an assistant
- Team building
Pricing for One-On-One coaching can cost upwards of $500 per month, and typically carry a year commitment.
Craig Proctor's 12-Month Coaching Program (for example)
Team Coaching
Team coaching is designed to help agent teams.

The coaching curriculum typically includes industry-proven systems, tactics, and techniques that have worked to build thousands of teams that have achieved top tier status in their markets.

The coaching sessions will cover all aspects of your team's mission, vision, values, as well as the execution of your action plan ensuring the achievement of your goals.

This type coaching focuses on:
- Team mission, vision, and values
- Execution of the team's action plan
- Industry-proven systems
- Time management
- Financial management
Pricing for Agent Team coaching can cost $1,000 or more per month, and typically carries a one year commitment.

www.REtrainingcenter.com A Dirk Zeller "Real Estate Champion" System
(an example)
Broker / Manager / Recruiter Coaching
Broker / Manager Coaching is designed for Broker, Managers, and Owners who want to increase company dollars, recruit and retain highly productive agents, and achieve better life balance.

This type coaching focuses on:
- Recruiting higher producing sales professionals
- Increasing office stability
- Building loyalty with your staff
- Time management
- Financial management
Pricing for Broker / Manager coaching can cost from $1,000 or more per month, and typically carry a year commitment.

www.REtrainingcenter.com A Judy LaDeur Training System (an example)
Business Review
A Business Review is typically a one-time event where you hire a Coach to perform a detailed review of your business process and receive feedback on how to make improvements.

A Business Review generally includes an analysis of the following:
- Your past and current production
- Your Listing presentation
- Your Buyer presentation
- All written materials in your business
- Your Advertising
- Your Marketing
- Your Follow up
- Your follow through
- Your prospecting
Pricing for Business Reviews are typically a one-time cost that, depending on the depth of the program, can cost several thousand dollars.
www.REtrainingcenter.com The Lones Group (an example)

Please remember that the SAMPLES of programs I mentioned under each heading is JUST THAT; samples, nothing that I necessarily endorse nor dispute----however by going to: www.REtrainingcenter.com is very helpful in providing numerous avenues for you to pursue; depending upon which genre of coaching you are searching out.

I have been active in one on one as well as group coaching events and though I am NOT someone who needs "pom poms" or "rah rah" in order to be motivated I humbly admit that being held accountable to another person is sometimes what I need to move past any "block" I am having.

I recognize that these days can be very trying economically and many coaching programs are pricey; BUT there are many "coaches"; such as Dirk Zeller and The Real Estate Champions that share FREE information in their newsletters on line (ezine) and webinars, calls you can get on; and I have found many of these to be very helpful in spite of/or despite my tight budgets.

Happy COACHING or BE COACHED!

It's First Impression Time! When All Else Fails For You? YOU CAN SMILE...What is your "Listed Home" To Do?

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:06:10 -0500

Selecting a home is not a logical undertaking for most buyers. Most buyers are very swayed by the initial emotions they feel when they first walk through the door of a potential new home. Almost instantly, the home either feels right or feels wrong.

Rarely do people warm up to a home. They receive a first impression and in short order they believe a home is "it" - or it's not. That first impression can be the beginning of a sales success, or it can be a prohibitive factor that you'll find hard to overcome.

I remember hearing my mother tell the story of helping my grandmother find a home to buy. They had looked at a number of homes before they walked into one that my grandmother liked. In fact, within two minutes she was dancing around the house saying, "This is the one I am going to buy. I want to buy this house now." All logic went out the window the moment she found the comfort, warmth, and space for her large dining room furniture.

It didn't matter that the home was next door to a car wash with loud air blowers (fortunately, my grandmother was hard or hearing). It didn't matter that it was about 100 feet from a major street with extensive traffic. It felt right to her, and she bought it that day.

Good first impressions, feelings, and emotions control the sale, and logic takes a distant second place in the decision process.

Enhancing the first glance

A home has ten seconds to make a first impression. All the senses are in play, and either a home passes or fails the initial test.

Use this advice to positively engage all the senses in the first moments of the buying experience:

Scent. Fill the home with smells that invoke feelings of comfort, warmth and calmness. Suggest that the sellers bake cookies or bread or with something that fills the home with a warm honey-like aroma prior to presentations. If your clients aren't quite Martha Stewart types, suggest that they put a few drops of vanilla on some aluminum foil in a warm oven. Or, create a positive aroma with potpourri or incense.

Sound. Play soft, soothing music that is considered pretty-much universally acceptable, such as classical pieces with limited instruments or even just piano music. Gangster rap would be unadvisable. If the home has sound wired throughout each room, your music selections also give you an opportunity to demonstrate a feature of the home.

Ambiance. Ask the sellers to create a visually inviting environment. Suggest that they prepare a nicely set dining room table. Suggest that they place flower arrangements in various rooms. Even recommend that they build a fire in the fireplace.

Brightness. Open all the blinds and draperies to let in natural light and make the home appear larger. Also turn on lights in corner areas to pull the eye to the perimeter of the room and provide a sense of expanded space.

OH and Here are a couple more tips:

1. Stand outside, in front of the front door to the home. Look up and around, what do you see? Spiderwebs? Dead bugs? Dried Dog Doo Doo? How clean is the window on the storm door?

This is exactly what the buyer will see for THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION!

2. Be sure to arrive before your clients if you are the Buyers Agent, and if someone is still living in the home. This gives you a few moments to run around and put down toilet lids, throw something in the closet thats lying in the middle of the room, pick up some trash or dirty towels that the kids left on the floor? OR like I discovered a few weeks back: dried up dog doo in the basement lower level (guarantee the seller never ran down there to check before the showing LOL

3. Always carry a FIRST AID Kit; if you will and I don't mean just band-aids (though that could come in handy) how about toilet paper? air freshener or spray? couple of doggie treats (in case you encounter grumpy dogs or barking dogs in cages) and a roll of paper towels and windex or some sort of spray cleaner. You never can tell when these items come in handy FOR YOU. Remember you are not doing these ER tips and tricks for the Selling Agent; you are doing this for YOU and YOUR BUYER. If the FIRST IMPRESSION BOMBS and you could have pulled off a simple "save"; then shame on you; you should have been more prepared.

ONLY MY OPINION OF COURSE

MICRO MANAGER? OR CONTROL FREAK?? YOU Know Who You are!

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:43:38 -0500

If you know (or suspect) that you're a micromanager and want to change, you need to understand why you're micromanaging and develop skills to allow your team to produce while you focus on leading.

Whether you're a star performer who was promoted to management or you're managing in a new area where you haven't done the work yourself, micromanagement can creep in. There are many drivers, such as loss of control or a sense of inadequacy. These all arise from the same inner issue: fear.

Why fear? Ask yourself: "If I don't micromanage, what could happen?"

Team members could make mistakes. They might not do the work as well as you would. They may do it in a different way than you did; their way might be even better, which could make you feel less valuable. Or maybe micromanaging is the only way you know how to manage. If you stop doing it, then you won't know what you should do. What's worse, your boss and peers may see that you don't know what you're doing. When you think about these possibilities, how are you reacting inside? Does your "fight or flight" response kick in?

The problem with fears is that they lurk just below the surface and remain unexamined. When you become conscious of them, they lose their power. Have a look at what worries you and assess how realistic it is. For fears that have a lot of power over you, create alternate responses. For example, instead of "their way is different, so they must be wrong," try: "Their way brings new possibilities, which reflects well on me as their leader." Once you have addressed any limiting fears, it's time to change your behavior.

Your goal is to have a successful team. To do that, you need team members who perform well and a team leader who leads them to success.

Part 1: Focus on communication and trust.

To help your team members excel, try these tips:

- Assign tasks that include clear, specific and time-bound expectations.
- Allow employees to develop the specifics of how they'll accomplish the task.
- Set up status reporting that fits the scope of the assignment. (Beware of burdensome reporting, a classic sign of micromanagement.)
- Let employees know that you're trying to change, and give them a safe way to point it out if you slip.

Part 2: Be a leader.

Try the term "microleader." You never hear it, because it makes no sense! The language of management lends itself to command-and-control approaches that no longer work in many environments. Instead, leadership skills bring more value and will increase satisfaction for everyone, including you. Options include:

- Investing in each employee through coaching, challenging work and development.
- Removing barriers to success that your team members face.
- Expressing a meaningful vision that helps team members see the value of their contributions.

Most team members don't want or need to be hovered over. As you let go of fears about creating a different type of relationship with your team, you'll break your micromanagement habit.

Micromanagers like many addicts, alcoholics, rageaholics, fanatics, etc. are the last person on the planet to recognize their addiction is in controlling others. The compulsion to look over your employee's shoulders has nothing to do with being meticulous or careful it has everything to do with control. Yes you. That's right I'm talking to you El Presidente. Your employees are calling you much worse. For example, ruler, extremist, bureaucrat, tyrant, bully, persecutor, tormenter. And trust me, those are the nice names. People who micromanage do so because they are the ones who feel unsure and self-doubting.

All-in-all micromanagement is a pathological reaction of paranoia and associated feelings of insecurity and distrust. Being incompetent PIMM rightly feels that that his position is threatened but he/she has no constructive ways to react to this threat. Instead the reaction became highly pathological: gatekeeping (blocking all alternative information flows that does not directly comes from the manager), making all important decisions himself and at the same time requiring frequent detailed reports and data, obsessive preoccupation with procedural details (project plans seems to be the favorite pasture). Further, such manager while in completely basic in theirs technical skills (often grossly incompetent with the level of over-promoted secretary) are unable to understand technical discussions and distinguish good suggestions from bad. To compensate this gross inadequacy they try to over-procedurally everything hoping that this will guarantee making the right decision and prevent exposing their gross incompetence.

This page is written as a self-help material for those who need to buy some time or are unwilling or incapable to leave ASAP. It is important to understand that it such situation you cannot hide in your cubicle; this is a war more resembling hand combat in the trenches. Do not take your situation lightly. This is very serious and despite your best efforts you might be not able to survive for long. Unless you are prepared on the level of Green Berets (which should become your role model anyway, at least as long as you stay in this environment ;-) you might not be in the same office the next month or even the next week. If you want to stay (for example buying your time to obtain some important certification) you might be suffering post traumatic stress syndrome like many solders who spent some time at the front lines: chronic stress destroys most humans really fast.

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Letterman's TOP 10 are GOOD for Laughter--THESE TOP 20 COULD Save Your Life!

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:24:51 -0500

We've all been told over and over which foods are good for us? Which ones provide these vitamins? and those are lacking in that vitamin. Perhaps you've NEVER heard "STORIES OF THE HEART" told in quite this manner before!

FINALLY, even in the S L O W E S T moving parts of America; its SUMMER (or pretty darn near) and "less clothes", "time at the beach" and "outdoor bbq/pool parties" are scheduled on the calendar! Before you POP that leftover from last night dinner or yesterdays LUNCH OUT WITH THE GIRLS. ..............you might want to scour this list for the culprits that will NOT allow you to keep any weight off; and can actually be a catalyst to a REAL BROKEN HEART!

EATING OUT AGAIN? COPY THIS LIST OF THE SALTIEST FOODS IN AMERICA THAT WREAK HAVOC ON YOUR HEART AND BLOOD PRESSURE.

Salty food may seem like the least of your worries, especially if you're among the 40 percent of people who mindlessly shake salt on every dish. An extra dash here, a few sprinkles there--what's the big deal?

A lot, when you consider the fact that a mere teaspoon of the stuff contains all 2,300 milligrams (mg) of your recommended daily allotment. Yet daily salt consumption is on the rise in the United States--from 2,300 mg in the 1970s to more than 3,300 mg today. And according to Monell Chemical Senses Center researchers, 77 percent of that sodium intake comes from processed-food purveyors and restaurants. Their motivation: Pile on the salt so we don't miss natural flavors and fresh ingredients.

Why is that a problem? With ever-expanding portion sizes, supersalty foods are displacing fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in potassium. And a 1:2 ratio of dietary salt to potassium is critical for your health. Studies show that a high-sodium, low-potassium diet is linked to a host of maladies, including high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, and exercise-induced asthma.

To protect your heart, your bones, your muscles, and your tastebuds, we scoured takeout menus and supermarket shelves to expose the 20 saltiest foods in America. No need to take the information with a grain of salt. These dishes provide plenty.

1: The Saltiest Dish in America
Romano's Macaroni Grill Chicken Portobello

7,300 mg sodium, 1,020 calories, 66 g fat

With three items on our top 20 list, plus a slew of dishonorable mentions, Macaroni Grill earns its title as America's saltiest chain restaurant. But what makes this the saltiest dish in America? One word: demi-glace, a fancy French name for the viscous salt slick that blankets this disastrous dish. You would have to eat 32 cups of potassium-rich broccoli to compensate for this sodium avalanche.

2: Saltiest Appetizer
Papa John's Cheesesticks with Buffalo Sauce

6,700 mg sodium, 2,605 calories, 113 g fat, 296 g carbs

If you were to split this appetizer with two friends, you'd still be close to downing your daily sodium allowance before you even reach for the pizza. Each stick packs the same amount of sodium as a small slice of cheese pizza, and that's without dipping. Your best bet? Cheese pizza. Thin crust.

3: Saltiest Seafood Entrée
Romano's Macaroni Grill Grilled Teriyaki Salmon

6,590 mg sodium, 1,230 calories, 74 g fat, 79 g carbs

Think you're playing it smart by opting for fish? The slather of teriyaki, which is essentially highly sweetened soy sauce in concentrated form, sinks that strategy fast. The grilled halibut, topped with a fresh tomato-basil relish instead, has just a quarter of the sodium.

If You are on the East Coast? Specifically Washington DC?

4: Saltiest Kids' Meal
Cosi Kid's Pepperoni Pizza

6,405 mg sodium, 1,901 calories, 93 g fat, 190 g carbs

Kids under 13 should max out at 1,900 to 2,200 mg sodium a day, according to American Heart Association. This pizza serves up nearly three times that much, plus an entire day's worth of calories. You could feed your child 50 turkey sandwiches at Cosi for the same sodium price tag. (But stick to just one.)

So Far, the MIDWESTERNERS are right in the SALT FLURRY!!

5: Saltiest Mexican Entrée
Chili's Buffalo Chicken Fajitas

5,690 mg sodium, 1,730 calories, 107 g fat, 143 g carbs

Here are a few offenders to choke on: fried chicken, Buffalo sauce, blue cheese, smoked bacon, ranch dressing, and sour cream. All make this the sodium equivalent of single-handedly downing three and a half baskets of Chili's bottomless tostada chips. Add rice and beans and you've just ordered 3 days' worth of sodium and an entire day of calories. If you're salt-sensitive, avoid fajitas--any kind of fajitas--at all costs.

6: Saltiest Salad
Romano's Macaroni Grill Chicken Florentine

5,460 mg sodium, 840 calories, 53 g fat

Salads are often the biggest blood-pressure boosters on the menu, since the innocent leaves play perfect host to a flurry of briny toppings and dangerous dressings. Here, salt-laden olives, capers, and Parmesan collide with Macaroni Grill's massive portions and its cooks' affinity for the saltshaker.

The only reasonable insalata on the menu is the Mozzarella alla Caprese: It has 450 calories and 760 mg sodium.

7: Saltiest Comfort Food
Denny's Meat Loaf Dinner (with Mashed Potatoes and Corn)

5,080 mg sodium, 1,210 calories, 69 g fat, 97 g carbs

There's nothing comforting about a dinner that carries the same sodium load as 27 strips of bacon. Trade the salty loaf for the Steakhouse Strip Dinner, which has just 460 mg sodium and 390 calories (before sides).

8: Saltiest Pizza
Pizza Hut Meat Lover's Stuffed Crust Pizza (3 slices of the 14'' large)

5,070 mg sodium, 1,560 calories, 87 g fat, 114 g carbs

A good rule of thumb: Never order a pizza with more than a single meat topping. Because if the calories don't get you, the salt will. This problematic pie has six meats and 4,000 mg sodium too much.

9: Saltiest Sandwich
Quiznos Turkey Bacon Guacamole Large Sub with Cheese and Reduced-Fat Ranch Dressing

4,670 mg sodium, 1,120 calories, 49 g fat, 116 g carbs

First, skip the large sandwich. At Quiznos, few come in under 1,000 calories and 3,000 mg sodium. Next, abandon mozzarella for Swiss, which has a tenth of the sodium. Finally, choose one of the low-calorie subs at Quiznos--the Tuscan Turkey, or better yet, the Honey Bourbon Chicken.

10: Saltiest Bread
Dunkin' Donuts Salt Bagel

4,520 mg sodium, 320 calories, 62 g carbs

This bagel is more like a giant salt-encrusted pretzel, delivering 188 percent of your recommended daily sodium intake.

11: Saltiest Frozen Dinner
Swanson Hungry-Man XXL Roasted Carved Turkey

4,480 mg sodium, 1,360 calories, 70 g fat

Yes, the nutrition data on the back suggests that the package contains two servings, but the label proudly proclaims the 1 1/2 pounds inside, and besides, how many guys are going to share their frozen dinner?

12: Saltiest Beef Entrée
Bob Evans Steak Tips and Noodles

4,131 mg sodium, 822 calories, 43 g fat

Bob lubricates his take on beef stroganoff with a huge ladleful of gravy, damning this dish before you even poke your fork into it. Try your steak without the salt bath: The regular sirloin has half the calories and a commendable 638 mg sodium.

· 13: Saltiest Breakfast

Arby's Sausage Gravy Biscuit

3,754 mg sodium, 961 calories

Yes, cured meat and lard-riddled biscuits are found in this troubled Southern staple, but the coat of gravy carries 2,600 mg sodium on its own, making it the primary offender.

14: Saltiest Chinese Entrée
P.F. Chang's Beef with Broccoli

3,752 mg sodium, 1,120 calories, 65 g fat

Like many Chinese dishes, this ubiquitous entrée sounds deceptively healthy. Also like many Chinese dishes, this meal is swimming in a murky brown sauce made mostly of soy sauce and oil. Skip the fried rice (it can contain up to 2,700 mg sodium on its own) and send out an SOS ("sauce on the side") to your server.

· 15: Saltiest Pasta

Fazoli's Rigatoni Romano

3,180 mg sodium, 1,090 calories, 54 g fat, 101 g carbs

Salt is one of the top ingredients in Italian sausage, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese, the three items that serve as this dish's backbone. Simply order your noodles topped with marinara sauce and peppery chicken. The chicken has just 1 g fat and less sodium than the other toppings you can order for your pasta.

16: Saltiest "Healthy" Food
Chili's Guiltless Grill Chicken Platter

2,780 mg sodium, 590 calories, 85 g carbs

Beware the bait and switch. Many restaurants and packaged-food producers advertise their dishes as being low in calories and fat, only to jack up the sugar and salt content. Case in point: This platter actually has more sodium than Chili's 1,890-calorie Country Fried Steak with sides, toast, and gravy. Stick with the Guiltless Salmon, the best choice on Chili's sometimes-healthy special menu.

17: Saltiest Burger
Hardee's 2/3 lb Monster Thickburger

2,770 mg sodium, 1,420 calories, 108 g fat

More than 100 percent of your daily sodium allowance is trapped inside this burger's bun. And the three slices of processed American cheese are oozing with 780 mg sodium. Try the Low-Carb Thickburger--you'll shave 1,000 calories and 1,700 mg sodium.

18: Saltiest Soup
Baja Fresh Chicken Tortilla Soup

2,760 mg sodium, 320 calories

Soup and salt are nearly synonymous in the food world, but Baja takes it to the extreme, sinking more than a day's worth of sodium into a single serving. Start with a bowl of stewed black beans with a scoop of fresh salsa instead; a serving has an eye-popping, belly-filling 26 grams (g) of fiber, with less than half the salt of the soup.

19: Saltiest Dessert
Atlanta Bread Company Raspberry Scone

1,750 mg sodium, 360 calories

This fruit scone packs the same sodium load as seven servings of bacon at Atlanta Bread Company. If you need a sweet fix, opt instead for the pumpkin bread, which has a tenth of the sodium (160 mg).

20: Saltiest Side Dish
Denny's Honey Smoked Ham, grilled slice

1,700 mg sodium, 85 calories

Calorie for calorie, this is the saltiest dish in America.

This side is steeped in salty brine before it's smoked, soaking up 70 percent of your daily sodium intake.

So Before you grab for that delicious scone stop and remember this post and the very best way to keep us all slim and trim and more importantly in good health: is to SHOP, COOK, and EAT AROUND THE PERIMETER OF YOUR GROCERY STORE. SERIOUSLY? THE BEST FOODS FOR YOU ARE FOUND IN THE OUTER AISLE, NEARLY ALL PREPARED, PACKAGED AND POISON FOODS ARE LOCATED IN THE CENTER AISLES.

Pay Attention to WHAT's Going Into Your Cart.................................

ULTIMATELY, what goes into your cart goes into your body, right? SLOW DOWN!

Let's make the right choices for the next generation, our children

Choose your restaurants wisely as well. Have a beautiful summer season; we have only just begun!

"OH Daddy Dear, you know you're still NUMBER 1,Girls just wanna have funuh.."

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:31:47 -0500

Here are many tiny-priced -- and even free -- gifts that will tell him: YOU'RE MAD ABOUT DAD come June 15:

1. Tell Dad to take a hike -- with you!

Strap on those backpacks (or fannypacks) and take in the wonders of nature, whether it's the wilds of the woods or the greenery of your city park. Cap the day by hoisting a glass or a mug -- your treat, please -- at a cafe or coffee shop perhaps even a microbrew?

2. Give father an al fresco feast
What's more fun than a fancy meal in a four-star restaurant? Why, a picnic, of course. It doesn't have to be a big production and you don't have to travel far. Got a backyard? Spread out a tablecloth or even a big beach towel, bring out a batch of Dad's favorite treats and dig in.

3. Get jumpin' at the gym
The popster could probably use a little more exercise, but few of us respond well to nagging, and sweating solo can be lonely. How's about you and Dad bonding and deep-knee bending a deux at the local Y? Check around and find one with a swimming pool, sauna or whirlpool. (No surprise sign-ups for classes, please. Instead, make the offer in a nice Father's Day card -- this way, Dad can consider and have a chance to check with his physician.) (Kidding MOM!!!)

4. Remind him of the little boy still inside

Go through the family archives, and find a photo of Dad as a tyke or as a schoolboy. Frame it and enclose a note, perhaps saying "Forever young at heart." Or, heh-heh, "You haven't aged a day!" (The latter is recommended, if you still owe him for, say, school loans.)

5. Show him your smiling face gazing up at him every day

Take a plain glass paperweight. Trim a photo of yourself so that it's slightly smaller than the weight's base. Affix the photo (face-up, of course) to the weight with clear tape around its borders. An added piece of ribbon can help cover up the tape.

6. Make him a memorabilia book

Corral all those old photos, ticket stubs, matchbook covers and bits of flotsam of a family life well-lived and arrange them in a scrapbook or photo album. Don't forget little captions, jokes and other personalizing touches.

7. Give him words to live by

But every day I'm growing --
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away

So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small

march 1962 love Patti Ann

Is there a poem, song lyric or religious verse he finds especially uplifting? Recreate it in needlepoint or cross-stitch or have a calligrapher letter it on heavy-stock paper, then laminate or frame it.

8. Here's an 'extra, extra' nice gift
A subscription to his hometown newspaper or to a publication dedicated to one of the passions in his life. To find some of the more obscure periodicals he may not even be familiar with, check out titles at your nearest book superstore or do some research online.

9. Be charitable
Does Dad love his four-footed friends? Consider a contribution in his name to a humane organization or to any other pet (no pun intended, honest) projects. He will be especially touched if you haven't previously shared his enthusiasms.

Dogs "You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, 'My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'" - Dave Barry

10. Put on a show
Have a "family night" with different family members showing off their performing skills, or lack thereof (it's the spirit behind it). Perhaps a little basement karaoke?

11. Ask Dad to teach you
No matter how old the old man's gotten, he's still better than you at something, whether it's throwing a ball, fishing or golfing. Ask him to teach you his special skills. His self-esteem will soar, and you'll have a terrific bonding experience.

12. Spend a dollar -- and give him the dream
Yep, we're talking a lottery ticket, or two or 10. Perhaps enclose a note reading, "You helped me fulfill my dreams. Hope this helps with yours." And remember, if he wins, it's all his!

14. Play it again, Sam
Call the disc jockey at dad's favorite radio station and request he play Pop's favorite song, along with your very special dedication. Make sure you call in advance, then visit daddy-o to listen in or take him for a long drive with the radio tuned to the station.

15. Free for you and me!
The digital age has led to a world of free online greeting cards. You can send one of these, or if you go to TheFreeSite.com, click on "Seasonal Freebies," then "Father's Day Freebies," you'll find access to digital Father's-Day-themed greeting cards, postcards, desktop wallpaper and graphics you can use -- all free, free, free. If you have Vonage Phone Service? Look at their website, you can call a 700# and have a FREE phone card message delivered to dad..ITS AWESOME!!

Go ON, Take Off "their" Rose-Colored Glasses....Help Your Buyers SEE!

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:48:02 -0500

When showing property to buyers, your job is to help clients imagine living in the home. The quicker you can get them to think about what it would be like to move into the

house, the more quickly you'll help move them to their decision.

The way to help the buyer move in is to ask questions like these:

Laura, would you arrange YOUR furniture this way?
How would you arrange it differently?

Which of these bedrooms would be best for Tim?

Where would you place the swing set?

Where would the patio table go?

How would you change the back yard?

How would you arrange the kitchen?

How would your oval nook table fit in this nook area?

Where would you put your workbench in the garage?

Where do you think the big screen would go?

What do you feel is the best location for the piano?

Any question that engages the buyer's imagination is a good question. If the answer conveys negative feedback, then the home is probably not the right one for the buyer and you can cross if off the list and move on.

I have observed agent after agent walk buyers through a home making inane comments like, "This is the family room," as if the client may have mistaken it for a kitchen. Assume, quite safely, that buyers know which rooms are living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. They don't need an Agent to tell them what's what. But they do need you to help them trigger their imaginations so they can decide if the rooms within the home are right for them.

Go ON, Take Off "their" Rose-Colored Glasses....Help Your Buyers SEE!

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:49:56 -0500

When showing property to buyers, your job is to help clients imagine living in the home. The quicker you can get them to think about what it would be like to move into the

house, the more quickly you'll help move them to their decision.

The way to help the buyer move in is to ask questions like these:

Laura, would you arrange YOUR furniture this way?
How would you arrange it differently?

Which of these bedrooms would be best for Tim?

Where would you place the swing set?

Where would the patio table go?

How would you change the back yard?

How would you arrange the kitchen?

How would your oval nook table fit in this nook area?

Where would you put your workbench in the garage?

Where do you think the big screen would go?

What do you feel is the best location for the piano?

"AVOIDANCE ANNIE" and her SCAREY SPHERE( of influence) What's YOUR Name?

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:44:34 -0500

As an experienced real estate professional; I know that some "TRUTHS ARE SELF-EVIDENT............" FEAR....its PARALYZING ; if you succomb to its power ( I've seen it so debilitating FEAR can stop even a 280lb Football running back......dead in his tracks! If you allow it to become of monster proportions it can shut down your business.

Specifically I am referring to our SPHERES OF INFLUENCE (friends, family, co-workers,parents of your childrens friends, people that are close to you)

Serving as a mentor to many others in my profession, I notice very often that AVOIDANCE is dramatic, blatant and oh so sad with regard to contacting those in our sphere..WHY? (is this so sad?) Because most of us know that people in our "sphere" are typically a good source of referrals

SOOOOOO...........with LOVE in my heart; and CONFIDENCE in my gut; I implore you to:

P I C K U P T H E P H O N E !!!and begin dialing for dollars; and try some of this:

Here are some tips to stop avoiding and start finding the GOLD.

Tip 1: Define and Rate your Sphere of Influence When is the last time that you took a good look at your sphere of influence? What is the total? What are the categories in that group? Do you have past clients, friends, acquaintances, people you hardly know? Before you do any thing else go into your data base and group your sphere of influence in categories.

Do you know who in your sphere is likely to refer to you? Do you know who in your sphere already works with another agent? How many have moved away? Start deleting the inappropriate ones.

Be sure to ask all of them this question at some point: "If you were buying or selling a home do you have a real estate agent that could help you?" If they say "yes" delete them. There is no point in continuing, they are not prospects. By keeping in touch With your sphere of influence as we will describe below, you'll begin to find out who is an A,B, C, or D.

A= someone likely to refer to you

B= someone who with a little more contact with you, would refer to you

C=Questionable

D= Delete

Tip 2: Send an Item of Value to your sphere each month In my 10+ years of coaching Real Estate agents to double their incomes, I am amazed at the fact that sometimes their sphere never gets a mailing. Or sometimes the mailing is not well thought out. I worked with a client today who admitted that the material she was sending to her sphere was standard and boring. We brainstormed about Items of Value that would be interesting, fun and unique. So far she has come up with recipes and inspiring quotes. What do you send to your sphere of influence?

I always watch the local newspaper and if I see an article or photo of someones child excelling in sports, or being nominated for an award, etc; I clip the article, write a short note and drop it in the mail. Shows them I am always watching and paying attention.

Is it something you would want to receive and find valuable? If so, then I guarantee that your sphere will like it too. How many creative Items of Value can you come up with?

Maybe someone has a newborn, or several children in diapers? Send coupons that you might get in the mail that YOU have no use for? They might appreciate the gesture.

Tip 3: Overcome your blocks to calling your sphere Everyone I have ever worked with resists calling their sphere.

They tell me things like

* "I don't want them to think I want something from them"

* "I'm afraid they won't like me"

* "I don't want to be like a telemarketer"

The list goes on, but I think you get the idea. What you need to understand is that you're a giver. When givers give to other givers, they get back. So, in other words, if you send an Item of Value , you are giving, when you chat with them and listen to what's going on in their lives, you're giving again. So at the end of the call, say something like, " Oh by the way, if you hear of anyone even whispering about buying or selling a home, please give me a call with their name and number." Then say, "I'll be happy to send referrals to your business, as well." Guess what? You're giving again.

After doing these calls monthly (after your mailing of Items of Value) you'll begin to know your sphere of influence and they'll know you. You'll begin to learn which ones are you're A's, B's, C's and which ones to delete. Then what will happen is that you'll be in their stream of consciousness. Soon you're the first one they'll think of when they think of real estate. Don't be surprised if you get referrals in the first few weeks.

Tip 4: Be in the right mindset

Don't make these calls if you're feeling anxious, upset or desperate. Remember, desperations doesn't sell. So psych your self up in the right mindset. Think of your self as a giver and how happy they are going to be to hear from you. Tip: if you have been thinking negatively, switch your focus to what you are grateful for. That usually puts you in a much better mood to pick up the phone.

Tip 5: Make it a daily ritual

Just like brushing your teeth, calling some people out of your sphere of influence is essential. Even one a day is better than nothing.

As I Jokingly tell my clients, "Only make more calls to your Sphere if you want to make more money."

Here's the GOOD News: It gets easier with practice.

GOOD CALLING TO ALL OF THE ANNIE'S OUT THERE

"AVOIDANCE ANNIE" and her SCAREY SPHERE( of influence) What's YOUR Name?

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:41:05 -0500

Specifically I am referring to our SPHERES OF INFLUENCE (friends, family, co-workers,parents of your childrens friends, people that are close to you)

SOOOOOO...........with LOVE in my heart; and CONFIDENCE in my gut; I implore you to:

P I C K U P T H E P H O N E !!!and begin dialing for dollars; and try some of this:

Here are some tips to stop avoiding and start finding the GOLD.

Do you know who in your sphere is likely to refer to you? Do you know who in your sphere already works with another agent? How many have moved away? Start deleting the inappropriate ones.

A= someone likely to refer to you

B= someone who with a little more contact with you, would refer to you

C=Questionable

D= Delete

Is it something you would want to receive and find valuable? If so, then I guarantee that your sphere will like it too. How many creative Items of Value can you come up with?

Maybe someone has a newborn, or several children in diapers? Send coupons that you might get in the mail that YOU have no use for? They might appreciate the gesture.

Tip 3: Overcome your blocks to calling your sphere Everyone I have ever worked with resists calling their sphere.

They tell me things like

* "I don't want them to think I want something from them"

* "I'm afraid they won't like me"

* "I don't want to be like a telemarketer"

Tip 4: Be in the right mindset

Tip 5: Make it a daily ritual

Just like brushing your teeth, calling some people out of your sphere of influence is essential. Even one a day is better than nothing.

As I Jokingly tell my clients, "Only make more calls to your Sphere if you want to make more money."

Here's the GOOD News: It gets easier with practice.

GOOD CALLING TO ALL OF THE ANNIE'S OUT THERE

X + X = X + Y = Paycheck! Get to Know the Newest Formula's (They're Your Bread & Butter)

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:22:11 -0500

Learn About WHAT Generation Y is Looking For When Buying a Home

So, Who is Generation Y?

Those born between 1978 and 1994. They're also called Millennials, the Internet Generation, Echo Boomers, Nexters and the Digital Generation. Generation Y follows Generation X, a term coined by fiction writer Douglas Coupland to describe those born after boomers, roughly 1965 to 1978.

Generation Y is growing up fast. The average age of a first-time home buyer is 26, three years younger than for Gen X or baby-boomer buyers. So what's up with that?

Sure, favorable rates and terms make buying a house easier for young people these days, but the trend may be most affected by the characteristics of this generation: they are tech-savvy. Generation Y can't remember life without a computer. This means they are consumers who research everything, including buying houses.

They are confident. Parents told them they were special, challenging their children's teachers on poor grades and negotiating with their coaches for more playing time. Stores like Baby Gap, channels like Nickelodeon and numerous magazines and catalogs have catered to them their whole lives. So Gen Yers don't doubt themselves or their decisions, including buying a house.

They don't believe in paying their dues at work. They want respect at the office now and if they don't get it, they'll move on. Similarly, they don't wait to buy homes.

To find out more about their housing preferences, we spoke to three Gen Yers. Each is a housing expert. None has yet turned 30.

Generation Yers grew up with soccer games, tennis practice, swimming lessons, French class, etc. They've carried that over-scheduling tendency into adulthood. How has that affected the type of home they want?

GEN Y COMMENT: Growing up, I did dance lessons, cake decorating, French horn, drama, soccer, softball, T-ball, gymnastics, piano. I'm still busy like that, so I'm not a homebody. That said, I want a place that's simple and free of clutter and that has a connectedness through technology.

GEN Y COMMENT: Because of my busy schedule, I'm not willing to do a long commute. I want to be close to work, close to friends and close to local services.

This generation is looking for low-maintenance homes that are easier to care for. More brick, steel and glass, but also more condo living and less emphasis on land.

In the next 20 years, a big backyard is going to move from asset to liability. Mention "acreage" and a 50-something hears "peaceful place away from the pressures of the city," while a 20-something hears "isolated maintenance nightmare."

Gen Yers seem to be more into the environment than previous generations. How does being green affect their homes?

Green design is a trend the way indoor plumbing is a trend. Today's 20-somethings are more globally aware and civic-minded than tuned-out and cynical Generation X. Developers and architects will be forced into environmental awareness purely by market demand.

The buzz topics that will spill from architects' discussions to homeowners' discussions will be SIPs (structural insulated panels that go up faster, use less wood and are more energy-efficient than traditional frame building) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a certification program through the U.S. Green Building Council). Other topics include rehabilitation of older buildings instead of new construction, an end to the use of vinyl products, geothermal heat, tankless water heaters, solar power, sun angles, embodied energy, reclaimed timber and xeriscaping.

Being green is just a way of life. It's so important that a Gen Y'er wouldn't date someone who didn't recycle. Eco snobbery has become a status symbol for Generation Y.

Sustainable housing and furniture are important to this buying group. It also affects where they live. They like to take public transit or, ideally, walk to work.

Generation Y wants a smaller space so it's easier to take off and go. A house that's low-maintenance is good. Generation Y travels a a great deal and will continue to do so through life. So a big yard isn't a plus, either.

The huge space thing as a status symbol is gone. Well-used efficient space is best. Many want a house that reflects who they are and where they've been. In big houses, people buy meaningless stuff just to fill them up. Living in a cookie-cutter subdivision with vinyl siding and no trees is not palatable to most.

Homes that offer more connection to the neighborhood instead of privacy for their owners: front porches, less space between homes, more density, smaller yards, building up instead of out, condominiums, duplexes, etc, these are all priorities for these buyers.

Technology means more modernism. ONE INTERVIEWED Y'ER STATED: My architectural psychology class taught me that people who feel overwhelmed by change, or that the world is "going to hell in a hand basket," usually choose traditional style. They see the past as being better than the future, and they create whatever link to the past they can.

Generation Y is just the opposite. They want more and more change. Another example of CHANGE: "My 60-something aunt wants to live in a Monticello-esque house because she makes a link to the noble founding of our country. My generation learned about Jefferson as the guy who had a bunch of illegitimate children with his slaves. We don't want to live in his house."

Homes that fit into their DREAM? Lofts,high ceilings, huge windows and brick of old buildings. These components are often difficult to find in new construction. The elements with which they perceive value are: a connectedness to the neighborhood, big balconies, green space, ability to walk or use public transportation and high tech abilities.

( I have a couple of GEN Y'ers and a few GEN X'ers, and indeed they have very different ideas and priorities from their parents (ME) and certainly their grandparents.

THESE ARE NOT OUR PARENTS SHOPPING LIST!

X + X = X + Y = Paycheck! Get to Know the Newest Formula's (They're Your Bread & Butter)

Patti A Puckett (Broker Associate/Realtor/ISA with Nouveau Riche) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:06:16 -0500