John's Blog

Apple's New MobileMe - Just What I've Been looking For!

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:08:23 -0500

Apple announced it's newest application yesterday...it's called "MobileMe". This announcement was greatly overshadowed by the highly anticipated announcement of the new iPhone G3, but this newest application did not fall on deaf ears.

It seems as if though Apple has been watching my business specifically. You see I have a Mac Powerbook, an office PC, and now very soon an iPhone. The constant juggling of email applications, calendars, documents, etc. can get a little difficult.

I have a Microsoft Exchange server in my office, though we have never really fully configured our server to take full advantage of all that it's capable of. I have toyed with Google Apps, which is sweet, but there are still apps on my mac that I like better (iCal), so it was still not the total solution I was looking for.

However, now with MobilMe being rolled it, I think I can have everything I want.

I will now be able to sync my email between my MacMail on my powerbook, and Oultook on my PC. If I add a contact or appointment to my iPhone it will automatically be placed in both my Outlook and iCal calendars, not to mention I can access all of this information online from any computer just by logging in to my MobileMe account.

I really think that a lot of people are overlooking this application...however I assure you that both Google and Microsoft will be looking at it very closely...as Steve Jobs called it..."it's Exchange for the rest of us".

Village Maker by RealPro Systems - Your Very Own Active Rain?

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:42:16 -0600

Every once in a while I come across something that just blows me away, and VillageMaker by RealPro Systems in Eugene, Oregon just happens to be one of those products.

This is the ultimate web 2.0 application for todays professional.

Imagine creating your very own "village" (or as Seth Godin describes it, a tribe) where your clients, friends, referral partners, family can gather and share.

Imagine not only having your blog, but your "villages" blogs entwined.

Your very own MySpace. Your very own LinkedIn. Your very own Facebook.

Now imagine it's as easy to manage as any Mac application, with the looks to match, and at a cost that is less than most static "template" websites.

Check it out and let me know what you think? (click on banner for sample site)

3 Things SelfMadeChick.com Taught Me

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:30:32 -0600

I wanted to share with everyone a great blog by Christine O'Kelly who is a freelance copywriter I came across on the internet back in October of 2007. Since October Christine's blog has gone from a couple dozen subscribers to over 1150 this week. These are SUBSCRIBERS, not just viewers.

At the time, Christine had just got her blog up and running and I was intrigued instantly with her message which was basically..."How To Be A Successful Freelancer".

This got me thinking about all of us. We are all basically freelancers.

A couple of weeks ago Christine released her first e-book, and it's already been a big success.

I downloaded a copy yesterday (reasonably priced at $12.00) and I'm glad I did...the opening chapter about creating "deliverables" is dead on.

So, here are three things that Christin has taught me:

1. Blogging. They key to becoming a successful blogger is becoming totally transparent. Know who your audience is, and show them your successes and failures. Use those experiences to provide value and insight to your audience. You can't tell your audience how great you are...your audience must tell you if you're great.

2. Simple things. It's amazing how much time we spend on great advertising ideas, marketing, business cards, signs, etc., though most of the time simple things bring us the best results. In one of her posts Christine discusses how a simple email landed her enough steady work forever.

3. People will pay for knowledge. E-books are still booming, and are not a fad. I know an agent in California who created a blog soley based on "How To Buy Bank Owned Properties". His blog is getting over 1000 visitors per month and he just started it. He is writing his e-book as we speak...he has knowledge about something people want. We all do. What are you an expert at? There is an audience for you.

As I'm working on my new blog, http://oregonmortgageplanning.com , I am so glad that I came across someone like Christine to show me the path to follow.

If you get a chance, check out her blog at http://www.selfmadechick.com , she may not be specific to our industry, but her principles apply to the way we run our businesses.

John Leach

Switching From TypePad to WordPress

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:36:42 -0600

My new blog is located at http://oregonmortgageplanning.com (formerly at http://johnleach.typepad.com/johnleach) as I am switching from TypePad to WordPress.

I have nothing against TypePad and actually think they are great, and very easy to use for someone looking at getting into blogging.

What it came down to for me was that I needed to switch my hosting services and since my new service included WordPress I was able to eliminate the annual cost I was paying for TypePad.

I chose a Mac theme (I love Macs) for my new blog, and though I'm not quite finished transferring and configuring, I think it's looking good.

If you get a chance, I'd love to hear some feedback from others on what you think?

Thanks,

John Leach

Real Estate Company Credits Buyer Mortgage & Title Costs

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:16:13 -0600

http://www.sawbuckrealty.com/Default.aspx

Interesting approach as a real estate company looks to provide all-in-one services.

I'm curious to see how it works out for them

John

What Your Competitors Are Getting Ready To Do...

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:26:53 -0600

First off, if you are in Real Estate and NOT subscribing to http://www.1000wattblog.com you need to be. This is one of the best blogs available and is invaluable to anyone in our field.

Here's an example of a great post on what the new agencies might look like.

Written by Marc Davison:

Real estate in a pickle: Here's a solution

All right. We get it. Real estate’s in a pickle. Former NAR Chief Economist John Tuccillo’s recent observation that Realtor competence has fallen to its “lowest point ever”, has got everyone thinking, how much worse can this get?

Some of us are glass half full people. Others are glass half empty people. Me, I just finish the drink. Barkeep, pour me another. So why wonder how much worse it can get? Let’s start thinking how to make this whole thing better.

The small broker

Let’s start here: the local real estate brokerage with fewer than 100 agents. The following is a list of ten things I would do if I owned "Davison Real Estate":

1. Hire the best, not the most. And when I say best, I don't mean some top producer I'd obsess about poaching then give away the store to. I'd recruit people who are passionate about my vision and give them real training in real business skills: negotiation, property marketing, management and more. No "quick trainings" or "boot camps" for my people.

2. Create an in-house concierge department, hotel style. Whatever, whenever. This concierge department would be ground zero for anything clients needed locally: tickets to shows, directions, coupons. Everywhere referrals. Why just sell someone a home when you can help them live a life?

3. Retail. People buy homes. As soon as they move in they start shopping. Furniture. Bathroom accessories. Kitchen gadgets. If the Wynn Hotel can house a Ferrari dealership, Davison Real Estate can sell welcome mats, sheets, plush terry cloth robes and aromatheraputic candles. All these things would be offered to my customers at a great price and branded to Davison Real Estate. Farfetched you say? Note how many T-shirts sporting luxury brands you see on your next trip downtown.

4. Downsize. Remove all of the office cubicles (we'll deal with the agents in a second). Open the space up. Make it shabby chic with shag throw rugs, oversized mismatched chairs, Mac computers. If my agents and their clients need privacy they can use my boardroom. Or, even better, they'll cut deals in the outside world, where the client prefers to be anyway.

5. Install a coffee bar. Depending where I was, I might add a wine bar too. Who would man it? At my full service, 6% commission facility every single agent would also be trained as a Barista. As would I. If someone walked in interested in my five-figure services, I’d be more than happy to whip them up a double espresso.

6. Davison Depot. I’d have a shed. Inside would be mops, buckets, painting gear, landscaping tools, light bulbs, etc. (again, all branded to Davison Real Estate). When someone buys a home from me, I’d want them coming to my place to borrow whatever they need to get their new place spiffed out.

7. Go paperless. All Davison Real Estate agents would be required to own a tablet computer. Those who balked would go work for the competition and bleed their profits going through ink cartridges, overnight packages, paper clips, staples and stamps while wasting sales time standing in front of a fax machine. My agents might be steaming milk for a client or serving them an imported cheese snack, but there’s no way I’d let them fish files from a cabinet.

8. DavisonRE.com. The home page would feature an interactive map saturated with neighborhood polygons. Users would drill down to street level to retrieve information about every home -- active, pending and sold. The best available local information, school data, and market trends would be fully integrated into the site. It would be completely open to user-generated content. Every homeowner could post home with pictures and video. I'd hold a "best home video contest" and dole out prizes each month. Homeowners could list and sell themselves for all I care. We're not greedy at Davison Real Estate. We see the bigger picture.

9. Go all-in on online marketing. For one reason, and one reason only: Internet consumers are more intelligent, earn more money, spend more money and use up less time. Those are the clients I want -- sophisticated people who appreciate sophistication from their service providers.

10. Obsess on image and brand. If any of my agents have dogs, none of my clients would ever know unless they asked. My people would dress sharply. No Tommy Bahamas, shorts and flip flops. We’d be transacting six- to seven-figure deals, and we’d dress like it. You don't see lawyers, doctors or talent agents walking around with Bichon Frise earrings dangling from their lobes, shirts with their image silk-screened on them, and 20 stuffed animals lining their dashboards.

Think I’m kidding? I’m dead serious. It’s time to re-imagine the whole deal. Start from the ground up. It’s going to be fun. For those who are game.

Have you asked your customers what they want?

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:23:40 -0600

I am not a lead

The New Macbook Air - What We Can learn From Apple

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:55:50 -0600

I posted on my blog today a little blurb about Apple.

My point is how well they listen. Most company's don't.

http://johnleach.typepad.com/johnleach/2008/01/apple-macbook-a.html

Oregon's Mortgage Boutique!

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:41:48 -0600

The Lending Company Inc. (Oregon's Mortgage Boutique) has recently updated their blog.

The author of the blog is John Leach, Senior Managing Partner of The Lending Company located in Eugene, Oregon but serving all areas of Oregon including Portland, Bend, Medford, Sisters, Redmond, Florence and more.

Specializing in mortgage planning, the partners of The Lending Company have created a unique firm that is small yet dynamic in its approach. Nearly 100% of our business comes to us from referrals from past clients which allows us to advertise less, which allows us to keep overhead low which allows us to offer great rates to our clients.

Our new blog will allow us to communicate timely information to our clients and maintain the approach we have to running our business.

To get to our new blog you can access it through our main site at www.YourHomeLoanTeam.com or directly by clicking here.

John Leach

Mortgage Applications Are Still Six Times What They Were In 1990.

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:57:17 -0600

I was reading CNN money today and they were discussing the MBA index that tracks mortgage application volume. It had dropped to around 608.5 (down 8.5% from the same week in 2006).

What I found interesting is that the index itself was created by the MBA (Mortgage Bankers Association) in 1990. The index had an initial starting point of 100 and the though was that this was a great benchmark.

In 2003 the index hit an all-time high of 1300+.

What still blows me away is the fact that todays volume is still six times what it was in 1990 and to me shows that mortgage financing is still strong despite the meltdown and is an industry that is not going to go away.

Are you using a Mega-Phone or a Magnet?

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:08:36 -0500

Here's an excerpt from a post on my other blog:

I listened to a web seminar today by Seth Godin promoting his new book Meatball Sundae and during the question and answer session he said something that is key to planning todays marketing strategy. You can no longer use a "mega-phone" you must now use a "magnet".

I picked up a local real estate listing magazine at lunch and as I turned through the pages all I could see was one company after another using "mega-phones" to tell me how great they were. Imagine if I was currently looking for real estate and actually came across an ad that discussed a free e-book about buying or selling homes that I could get by going to a website. Magnetic.

Advertising is not going away as there is always the need for business to sell products, but it is changing quickly from what it was just a few years back.

For the complete post click here.

Action Steps - The Key To Hitting Your Goals

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:54:57 -0500

I posted this on my other blog today...I hope you enjoy it:

I think we are all getting smarter. I also think we are getting less done. We are becoming semi-experts on nearly everything that interests us with the point-and-click database of knowledge that is the internet.

So, when I discuss with others what is holding them back from success, I rarely find that it is due to lack of knowledge...it is more likely from the lack of action.

My favorite all-time book is The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt. I read, and re-read this book over and over, and each time I'm amazed how much more I learn...but more importantly how much it reminds me to take action.

Creating a written action plans is key to getting what you want done, especially when it comes to changing existing bad habits. Here's an example (taken from The Power of Focus):

A. Habit holding you back:

Example: Allowing distractions and interruptions throughout the day at work.

Consequences: Priority tasks never completed, less time for money-making activities, increased stress, longer work hours, reduced family time.

B. Successful New Habit:

Example: Hire a personal assistant to screen phone calls, minimize interruptions and help with paperwork.

Benefits: Able to complete projects, more time for money-making activities, reduced stress, more energy, better balance at home.

Three-Step Action Plan to Jump Start My New Habit

1. Write up an ideal job description
2. Advertise, interview and select best candidate
3. Train thoroughly

Start Date: Tuesday June 6th

I love this approach to getting things done, and more importantly to getting things "changed". My continual challenge is that I love to get involved in a lot of different ventures, and not always completing them. By making the switch to written action plans I have been able to look at my priorities, and keep my focus (hey that would be a great title for a book)!

Getting Out Of The Rain...

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:19:04 -0500

First off, I must say wow. In the few months I have been a member of ActiveRain I have found it to be a great community of professionals as well as a vital source of information.

Lately I have been venturing outside of the community into small business blogs, organization blogs, time management blogs, advertising idea blogs, marketing blogs, copywriter blogs...and you know what? There are some other great resources out there.

I would also recommend you consider creating a second blog for yourself that is not just an ActiveRain blog and get involved in some additional communities.

Here's a great blog from a SEO copywriter that I've learned a lot from:

http://selfmadechick.com/2007/10/17/the-4-currencies-of-the-blogosphere-and-how-to-get-your-share/

Have fun!

John

24-Hour Active Rain Challenge To Get More Business

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:54:12 -0500

I challenge all of you to do the following within the next 24 hours (I'm doing it, you can too) and let me know your results.

1. Send a handwritten note to someone

2. Add 3 names to your database

3. Change your voice mail message

4. Hand out one business card to a perfect stranger

5. Call a past client and don't talk about business

This is the beginning of a habit. Do this 3 times per week (takes about 45 minutes to complete).

In three months, you'll have added 100+ names to your database, given your card to over 30 people who would have never received it, and deepened your relationships with 60 others by calling and sending handwritten notes.

The top 20% in any sales industry do all of the above (or slight variations) daily.

I hope this inspires some of you to get started on a routine.

John Leach

FirstDayCEO Blog

Have yout tried meetup.com ?

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:18:26 -0500

There is a fun new networking site in case you haven't hear about it, it's called meetup.com. It's not a dating site.

If you have a business interest (say, entrepreneurship or real estate), or even a personal interest (like dogs, kites, poker) you an create (or join) a meetup.com

For most big cities there are already lots of groups to join, but if you can't find a group (or groups) that interests you, you can create your own and become the group leader.

I have formed one in my area regarding entreprenuership and already have 9 new members. It's a great way to expand your sphere by getting together with others who share your same interests.

Check it out when you get a chance.

5 Days To Getting More Traffic To Your Site or Blog

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:55:14 -0500

http://johnleach.typepad.com/first_day_ceo/

Updated my FirstDay CEO blog today with some free resources provided by Seth Godin on his Squidoo lens that are key to getting more traffic to your sites.

I think he should have added ActiveRaiin to the list:-)

Here's the excerpt:

5 Days To More Traffic

Seth Godin has a great Squidoo lens outlining some of the fastest, easiest ways to generate more traffic, and all of these are simple to do...except one.

Be GOOD. Without a doubt this is the most difficult, yet most important. The good news is that I believe we can all be good. If you are creating something you really have a passion for, it will be good. If you are creating (copying) something just to generate revenue, it's possible that your message will get lost in the wave.

Be GOOD.

Note: I wanted to add one thing to Seth's list from above. Another great way to generate some more traffic is to include names of the popular author's in your posts, if what you are posting about is applicable. For example, by including Seth Godin in my post, a Technorati search for Seth Godin (a popular search term) pulls my site up. Searching for John Leach? Well, I'm still not quite as well known for my speaking and coaching. Maybe one day Seth will use my name in his posts.

If I Was A Real Estate Agent...

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:17:32 -0500

On my other blog, I posted today about setting your self apart from your competition in a cluttered marketplace...here's an excerpt.

Here's an example. If I were a Real Estate Agent (hmmmhhhhh...can you think of a more cluttered marketplace?) what things could I do to stand out from my competitors?

How about GPS? Wouldn't it be cool if an agent loaned loaned you a GPS unit (for those of us who don't opt for the Nav System upgrades) that you can keep in your car while your looking for a house? Imagine the agent emailing you each day all of the new homes that fit your search criteria that you plug into your gps unit, and while driving around the unit tells you if you are close to a match. Seems cool to me.

I'd love to hear some other ideas!

For full post click here:

http://johnleach.typepad.com/first_day_ceo/2007/10/director-of-coo.html

Seth Godin - You Should Close Your Mortgage Business.

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:07:54 -0500

First off...like many of you I love Seth Godin's books (Purple Cow, Free Prize Inside, The Dip, All Marketeers Are Liars) and insight. He sees what we all see, he is just able to tell us what we see better than we can see it.

I have spent a couple hours each day this week going through the archives of his blog looking for specific references to either the Real Estate or Mortgage industry and I came across this post, The Scarcity Shortage .

Here is a paragraph from that post:

It seems as though once a category becomes successful, the headlong rush to knock it off is stronger (and quicker) than it ever was before. Last week, a woman who came to a seminar in my office was desperately searching for a way to improve her mortgage-brokerage business. I ruined her day when I suggested that she shut her company down and try something else. Twenty years ago, most mortgages were written by the local bank. Those banks planted the seeds of their obsolescence when they eliminated judgment from the writing of mortgages. Once they could automate a mortgage application, so could everyone else. So mortgage brokers used their low overhead and quick wits as an advantage and stole the business. Today, there are an infinite number of brokers to choose from, all offering essentially the same service. The result is that there is no scarcity, and no profit.

Wow. This kind of blew me away, but honestly it does make sense. Why keep competing and working harder, better, cheaper for less and less.

Please pass this post on to as many as you can, because I would really like to hear as much feedback from all of you as possible.

John

A Breath of Fresh Air...Mint.com

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:21:04 -0500

Mint.com is a new online financial money management suite similar to Microsoft Money or Quicken, but free.

I signed up for an account just to see how it worked, and I must admit it was pretty slick. Within a few minutes I had created my account and had imported my financial information from my American Express account.

What appeals to me about the site is the ability to track all of my financial information in one place. However since I currently bank with a local community bank, they are not currently listed as on of the 3500 registered institutions, but for most people I believe they will be able to consolidate all of their accounts into Mint.com's framework.

It has great analysis tools, and can even show how to save money (note: this is how they make their money...banks and service providers pay mint.com to be able to have special offers for customers). However...there was a minor glitch when it compared my AMEX rate of 9.95% to a Chase card at 12.95% it said I would save $500 per year by transferring to the new card (got the numbers reversed)...that's why they say they are still in Beta phase.

There are also great articles on personal financial management, and I am planning on recommending to my clients that they check it out.

If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think.

Are you "Cool"?

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:55:56 -0500

Don't you wish you were the iPod of the Real Estate industry?

I just started reading the book "Chasing Cool" by Noah Kerner and Gene Pressman, and it's really got me thinking about my industry, my company, and my brand.

What I am getting out of this book is that there is just way too much copying going on, and not enough originality...yes, even in the mortgage and real estate business.

We are always looking at others to see how they do things, and then trying to copy them...which of course we fail at because we don't have the passion for the idea like the person who created it. Think about the seminars we attend...the things we subscribe to....the website "templates" we use.

We are constantly being told that "The system has already been built for you, you just need to follow it."

A GREAT example of positioning used in the book is Grey Goose Vodka. Here is a basic commodity that with some original thinking the company was able to charge twice as much as its competitor. Can you imagine if you are a real estate agent and you were able to charge 12% commissions, and be seen as the best in your category. (By the way, the book also goes on to discuss that Grey Goose Vodka was rarely the best tasting vodka in taste tests).

As our industry has evolved into being seen by consumers as a "commodity", it is critical to separate ourselves from the crowd.

The point that this book makes to me is how do we TRULY differentiate ourselves when our ads all look the same, the process is the same, our speech is the same, our tactics are the same.

My goal from now on is to re-create my company, and no longer copy what others do, and I hope you might do the same.

The "Latte" Analogy

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:32:21 -0500

Ever notice how nearly everyone seems to use the "Latte" or daily coffee analogy to sell you something?

For example, an insurance agent might say, "For just the cost of your daily Latte, you could have the security of your family's future taken care of."

Or the finacncial planner who says "If you just invest the equivilent of the cost of your daily Latte into the stock market, at age 65 you'll have saved $236,000."

Or, how the real estate marketing guru tells you "For just the cost of what you spend on your daily Latte you can get this turn-key system."

Well, I for one don't want to give up my daily coffee!

A couple months back I received an email newsletter from Jeffrey Gitomer (Author of many sales books) who discussed this same topic.

He said our focus as sales people should not be the "saving" of the money by not buying the coffee, but rather the amount of money we need to make in order to afford the coffee, or whatever else we value in our lives.

Finally...the words I was looking for!

Please Help...I'm going to Jail!

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:08:39 -0500

I realize that most of us already contribute a lot of time and money to charity, but if you could maybe send at least $5 you could really help some kids out today, and help me get out of Jail.

This year, I have the honor and pleasure of participating in MDA's Eugene Executive Lock-Up to help "Jerry's Kids®". To reach my goal I need your help!

I'd like to include you or your company on my list of contributors who are helping me reach my goal. Your donation would help MDA continue the important fight against muscular dystrophy. Check out my web page by clicking on the link above. There you'll find all kinds of information about MDA, and be able to make your tax-deductible donation on-line using your credit card.

MDA serves people in our community with neuromuscular disease by providing clinics, support groups, assistance with the purchase and repair of wheelchairs, braces and communication devices, and summer camp for kids. MDA also funds research grants to help find treatments and cures for some 43 neuromuscular diseases that affect people of all ages, right here in our community.

I sincerely hope that you'll take the opportunity to support MDA. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me.

On behalf of the families MDA serves, thank you!

Warmest Regards,

John Leach

Click here to visit my Participant Page.

If the link above does not bring you to my Participant Page, cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your internet browser.

https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=d5498dc7-31aa-4b91-acf4-14fb957f8351

You're Fired!

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:37:59 -0500

How would you do on Donald's show? What if this was your task:

"So here's your task...John Leach (insert your own name/profession in place of mine) is one of the best mortgage planners in the country. Your task is to create a new campaign and market this campaign to an audience of owners trying to sell their homes by themselves and get as many appointments as possible for John and his firm within an 8 hour period."

In addition to our many other tasks, the reality of obtaining new clients is necessary... what if you were under the gun to get as many new client appointments as we could in 8 hours? Could you win?

I thought about this after I received an email from the owner of a large national company that promotes a FSBO program. They hired two "apprentices" (highly motivated kids) and sent them out on the streets of Chicago to approach FSBO's for eight hours straight.

At the end of eight hours they had arranged 6 appointments, received requests for 5 CMA's.

I don't know if this is a lot, because personally I have never spent hours working this approach for clients...but I do know it is more appointments than I scheduled today by doing what I normally do.

I am also not posting to promote any one program...just hit me as a great reality check...compete like I am on the apprentice!

Stop Blogging For A Minute And Return Your Phone Calls.

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:12:01 -0500

I do a lot of reading and one of the books I have been reading lately is You Inc. by Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith which is full of short little reminders of the simplicity of sales.

One such reminder is on page 149 where a group of professionals asked one simple question..."What Do Clinets Value Most?"

The professionals thought it would probably be fees, but on a list of the 10 most important things, that ranked ninth.

They also figured technical skills must rank high...nope eighth.

What was number one? Demonstrating in interest in developing a long-term relationship.

And what came in second? "The speed at which my phone calls are returned".

Things can become much simpler when we see us the way clients do...so if you have any voicemails you are putting off while your in writer's mode, stop, dial, and listen.

Have a great day.

John

The iPhone of 1945?

John Leach (Opes Advisors Inc.) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:53:26 -0500

My daughter opened up a Snapple bottle the other day and in the cap there was an interesting fact..."Ball Point Pens were introduced in 1945 at a price of $12.00"

Wow...$12.00 in 1945...I think I calculated the inflation correctly that would be around $125 today...OK, so still not quite as much as an iPhone, but I can imagine the hype surrounding this new invention.

The amazing thing about this invetnion is that even today it is probably the most profitable piece of technology I own. I have a couple PC's, three Macs, PDA's, webcams, cell phones (maybe iphone soon!) and all are great in today's marketing world...but there is something about using my pen, and the more I use it the more results I get.

About a year ago I really made a commitment to send as many handwritten notes and thank you cards as I can even though I have awful handwriting. This has made a huge difference in the feedback I get from my clients and friends...and I think the impact is bigger now more than ever because everyone realizes there are quick efficient ways to send notes (IM, email, etc.) so they realize the effort and reward me for it.

As you spend the rest of the blogging, emailing, or whatever...I challenge you to get out your pen and write five random notes to your friends or past clients...you may not get ActiveRain points, but I bet you score something even better.

Have a fantastic day!