Gary Woltal's Blog

When Letting It All Hang Out May Not Be A Good Thing

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:38:20 -0600

Today I wanted to write about and solicit your opinions particularly in the online world of social media about "transparency." That is revealing more the personal side of ourselves on blogs or social media like Active Rain or Facebook or with our tweets on Twitter. Sometimes this may not be a good thing. As one might say about your portrayal, "Too Much Information."

Particularly as a business person your image stays out there on the Internet. But especially Gen Y and the Millennials generation, some of them just don't seem to care about any perceived "reputation" they are tarnishing.

A recent blog I read on Active Rain talked about other Realtors "partying" it up and showed pictures on Facebook with everyone cavorting in not so flattering situations. It caused quite a stir.

The public does read this stuff, believe it or not. I guess we have the extremes of the ultra private business only people and the ones that don't care what they put out on the Internet. Maybe somewhere in the middle with some decorum and common sense is the proper place to be. It does seem like that buzz phrase from Vegas that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas should be what to follow but somehow these days it ends up on the Internet.

Are you shocked with what you read about others and FROM others with regard to transparency some days?

Speechless Sunday - Picture Next To Word Crazy In Dictionary

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:38:04 -0600

Virtual or Real, It's All Good

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:21:08 -0600

I've seen banter back and forth between those that thrive in the online world of Twitter, Facebook, email, blogging, and browsing the web saying they enjoy that communication and it is better or preferred over face to face. Who can deal with some of those annoying local people anyway?

Then there is the other camp that wouldn't want to Twitter if you put a gun to their head and prefer meeting people at the local diner. The Moose Lodge. Going bowling. A civic function, soccer game, or on the adjacent treadmill at the YMCA.

OK, if I may settle the score.

Virtual or Real, It's All Good.

Why must one be better than the other? Isn't life more complex than to be one dimensional?

There is a great advantage of the online connection and that is geographically separate people can make connections very efficiently. Couple that with short emails, texts or microblogs, you can get the information fast and in your fingertips rather easily and reply back

However, never discount the power of face to face communication either. The fact of the matter is online complements offline.

Online can "lead to" offline. I think where we are in today's communication is we are sifting. Sifting these online "engagements" over and over again and seeing which ones are worthy of going to the next two steps. A phone call and then face to face. Obviously with the geographic distant relationships, the phone call is not that big a step, and the face to face might have to be put off till another time, travel wise.

But this sifting goes on and on, based on what you are seeing and replying to with the online version of the communication.

It goes for both personal and business relationships obviously. Do I want to "connect" with this person? Will they "connect" with me first? How? Text? Email? Microblog? Facebook? Other web site in common?

THEN, will I call them up? Use the U.S. mail? THEN, meet them. Online communities are truly a gift given to us in the broader world. They are diverse and large. We are not stuck in some valley in the hills of West Virginia where we don't know who lies over the next hill. Now we may find a soulmate in Israel or a fun loving chess partner in the UK. A south Florida Realtor may know the perfect inspector in Seattle.

Above all we must remember it is all about people. They choose you. You choose them. And you go from there. And one thing for the obsessive types, whatever you do, remember the online and the offline are complementary. You never want your whole life to be online.

What Are Your Forgive Them They Know Not What They Are Doing Stories?

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:30:46 -0600

I was a big fan of the second in the series of Star Treks, The Next Generation. I can relate to Captain Picard of the Enterprise in wondering about the actions of his crew or the people he encountered often. He seemed more mired in the emotions of the "real world" than his predecessor James T. Kirk and I saw his frustration rise often.

I am the captain of my own S.S. Real Estate Enterprise and it is amazing what I see from other real estate agents and industry "professionals" at times. I think often it is lack of education, some oversight but more often

I Must Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Are Doing.

Here are some recently:

Compressed File Ignorance. I am sent these 6 to 10 MB single emails with photos of furniture for sale or every page of a contract at 1 MB per page. I know they must think I have that new 4G cellular service with my high tech self or are perpetually connected to a high speed LAN but I want to clue them in, I AM NOT!! Compress your photos people with Office Picture Manager. THINK before hitting SEND!
No pictures on the MLS sheet. I love this guessing game of what the property MIGHT look like. Is this a ploy to not photograph in high resolution a DUMP? Me as a buyer rep and the buyers as well often just skip looking at this one.
No access information to get into a house. How do I do this? Showing service, combo lock, Supra lock? Why do I have to track YOU the agent down to solve this mystery?
Appointment only listings. This in many cases is a death knell for selling many properties as once again agents won't bother to show these sometimes. Use this one VERY carefully.
Location of lock boxes. Where are the darn things? Certainly not on the door. How about in the bushes, in the back yard, around the side yard fastened to a chain? How about TELLING ME? I love this other hat I have to wear as a detective.
The famous missing key in the lock box. Where did it go? Are you polishing it up on Saturday afternoon at the locksmith? This one not only makes me laugh but I think there are key thieves out there. Usually referred to as the last Realtor who absent mindedly ran off with the key. Slow down people.
No DATE on the final offer contract. Contracts 101 people. NOT a valid contract without a DATE!!
My voice mailbox is full. We have all been there on this one. A major Picard headache!!
No lead paint disclosure form. Back to our REALTOR training. Required on houses built 1978 and older. I have started to see this form on "newer" houses than that. Now these Realtors are really confusing me.
Zero feedback from showings. This is so easy to do with email nowadays, even from our Smartphones. I have determined this is laziness and disorganization on some agent's parts.
And finally my favorite...drum roll please... NO RETURNED PHONE CALLS FROM AGENTS. None, not ever. Not even with multiple calls and emails to them. Are they still in the business? It is their listing or their buyer at least one time sent in an offer or expressed interest in doing something. Option there is to call their broker. Don't waste any more time with the agent.

So as being Captain Picard, we all have to live with this, take a deep breath, and practice a little forgiveness some days to keep our sanity.

Do you have any of your own forgive them for they know not what they are doing encounters of the "strange" kind?

You'll get through this. MAKE IT SO!!!

Two Tips For Reducing Stress In Your Life

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:18:31 -0600

Within our holiday period time of year increased stress just seems a 'natural.' From the Thanksgiving that passed I thought of some ideas in this area.

Two Tips For Reducing Stress In Your Life.

1) Managing Expectations. Here on Active Rain as an example I saw errors such as Proxy Error, Bad Gateway, and Service Temporarily Unavailable. I am not their technology department and can't fix this when these errors happen, so I say it is what it is. Adapt to it or do something else. Managing expectations properly will relieve your frustration.

2) Reduce unnecessary deadlines. Do you know when you create a deadline you create pressure? Like holiday travel with a plane with a departure time vs. a leisurely get in your car and drive and leave on your trip whenever you are ready. Deadlines are necessary, but NOT ALL THE TIME.

Here's to you working with realistic expectations and minimum deadlines in letting you not pull your hair out with stress.

Abundance Means Not Having To Say You're Sorry

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:33:16 -0600

My family used to vacation at this resort ranch in western North Carolina in the summer. They had these huge three meals they served each day and from early summer to mid fall the dogs out on the porch were fed scraps, and no joke, tended to look like this canine. At Thanksgiving some give us the admonition to not stuff ourselves, or save room for dessert. But

Abundance Means Not Having To Say You're Sorry.

I'm not talking gluttony here but a once a year indulgence (with food) reinforces to us blessings we all have in whatever category or to what degree. So once a year think of yourself as this fat dog, and remember, remember, remember ALL that is good in your life.

Life is meant to be viewed from abundance and prosperity and not lack or want.

Do we have days when we struggle or feel we are coming up on empty? Sure. But right in the middle of that place STILL is abundance. It can be all a matter of shifting our "thoughts" that way. A prosperous mind. Do you know the very rich say you can take it all away from them and in a matter of years they will get it back again? Our greatest resource is our mind. It steers our ship. And a great mind works best coupled with a grateful heart.

Being thankful is one of the most important keys in life to happiness.

Remember that last sentence THIS holiday. May you all have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Wordless Wednesday - Good People Endure Tough Times

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:31:03 -0600

Dr. Feelgood's Prescription For Long Term Happiness

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:02:59 -0600

As we gather around tables for Thanksgiving and reflect on our blessings as a mix in our lives with our troubles have you ever thought how you REALLY get to be happy? Here is

Dr. Feelgood's Prescription For Long Term Happiness.

Develop More Healthy Connections!! Divide your connections in life between healthy ones and toxic ones. No middle ground here. Either they stay or they go.

What is a connection you might ask? Something that touches you. Family, friends, your pets, hobbies, interests, work, meditation, exercise...

Next, how do you FEEL after the experience with that connection? Your dog licking you in your face. Swinging your child around. A co-worker always bugging you. A great jog through the park. An acquaintance who whines at you incessantly. A spouse who loves you. The point is in putting into the two buckets healthy and toxic you know which ones first to de-emphasize or get rid of and then secondly, and most importantly

DO MORE AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN those healthy connections you enjoy. You see, the prescription is like a happy addiction. Do over and over the things you enjoy and HENCE almost like magic, you will be much more happy. OK, the Doctor is OUT for awhile. He is searching for something HE ENJOYS. A turkey leg!!

I Always Wanted To Be A REALTOR When I Grew Up

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:49:22 -0600

In wanting to be a REALTOR when I grew up, I knew it was for me

set my own hours
the big bucks
walking around construction sites
drive fancy cars
assist buyers picking out their colors with new homes
wheeling and dealing with all sorts of folks
mix of indoor and outdoor work, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

But the truth for all REALTORS is not to grow up to be one, but take time to grow into it. You don't have all the answers. Continuously learn. Say, I will find out.

REALTORS are cute too!!

When Being A Lone Wolf Is A Good Thing

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:43:25 -0600

REALTORS and for that matter many business men and women with that entrepreneurial bent to them are independent by nature. It is not that they can't work on teams or cooperate with groups, but what drives them is from inside not external, from a "boss." They are to a large extent their own boss. Others might at times call them a lone wolf. Lone wolves can get isolated and not always be a good thing. But

A Lone Wolf Can Be A Good Thing.

Especially in terms of a smile, a good attitude, a can do attitude, a person of hope, a problem solver, a thoughtful and caring person in a sea of gloomy faces. Make your lone wolf self shine. Be the difference in the world you want to see. "EVERY" day!!

REALTORS Assist Tenants With Rental Homes Too

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:29:21 -0600

Often overlooked in the increasing number of people looking to just "rent a place for awhile" is the use of a Realtor. Many turn to signs in the front yard, Craigslist, some of the Rental web sites, classified ads, Apartment Finders, etc.

It is true that since Realtors work off commission they would represent a client in those properties that are listed or in some manner would pay a fee for bringing a new tenant to sign a lease. But

REALTORS Assist Tenants With Rental Homes Too

They can perform showings, work through contract paperwork, narrow searches down by property type like townhome/condo, home, duplex, triplex, fourplex. Zeroing in on special needs like school district, or size or maximum rent payment makes them invaluable.

And lest you think some Realtors turn their nose up about smaller commissions compared to listing and selling expensive homes, many repeat customers later on down the road come from the rental market.

Feel free as a consumer to find a hard working Realtor to make your search and your move in date a lot faster than without using them. Like a buyer, most typically the commission is paid by the owner of the property so what a deal!!

What Grade Do You Give Yourself? Shooting For The Top

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:18:07 -0600

If you were to grade yourself in several areas of your life would you get an A+??

Professional skills, how you are doing with your relationships, your finances, your exercise, your personal development, on track with your goals? What grade?

In reality it irks me personally when I don't get that A+. We are truly in competition mainly in life with ourselves in most instances although everyone thinks they are competing with others. Not as often the case as you may think.

For example in taking a real estate exam someone says you need a 70 to pass. I want a 100 and when I get a 97, I want to know which questions I missed.

Excellence in all its forms in life is not hard to achieve if we do our best with what we are gifted with. In all areas of our life will we hit the high mark? Well, not at first. But we can be the BEST in all those different areas if we keep trying. We have to WANT IT!!! BAD. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Don't confuse excellence with PERFECTION. Strive to be the best but don't become an obsessive person.

People will notice your excellence in whatever areas you achieve it in. Why? Because so many just settle for mediocrity. Or worse, sub-par or laziness in thinking and achievement.

So when you are hitting on all cylinders, what then? Cruise and brag to everyone how great you are? Absolutely not. First off, you will have to stay sharp and practice and continue to learn to stay in top form. But secondly, and more importantly being excellent allows you to be of great service to others. Imparting your knowledge, being strong with an assist to the weaker, a huge smile to the downtrodden, a bit of wise counsel to the forlorn. Always strive to be the very best YOU. It is what the world so very much needs to witness.

It was what you were designed to be.

The Role Of Chemistry In Selecting An Agent

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:21:06 -0600

Chemistry definitely has a role in selecting a real estate agent. It even starts with the presentation to the public from their web site to a profile description of what they say they specialize in. A younger person may want a younger agent. An individual that wants personal attention might completely steer clear of a team or large group type of agent because they feel they are too impersonal. A shy person may run away from a high ego TOP PRODUCER. Someone wanting to buy farm and ranch properties would shun the residential specialist.

Even marketing yourself with years and years in the business may be a turn off to someone who perceives you don't have the marketing prowess to use the latest tools for the greatest effect for Internet exposure in selling your property.

I have asked clients why they "didn't" chose a particularly well qualified Realtor. Well, some said, it looked like all they did was have listings and lost touch with showing homes and working with buyers. On and on it goes. Many agents with longer careers in the business get dulled to fresh eyes looking at what their materials actually say they are targeting, not realizing that if they do work with buyers but their materials don't say that, they are losing business.

So have another person with neutral eyes review your materials from time to time and tell you what THEY think you are trying to attract into your life and business as your "ideal client." People don't have to work with any agent out there. And Realtors should know who their ideal client is. Some like vanilla, some like chocolate ice cream. It is not a right or wrong, but just trying to get a good match out there for everyone with the business.

Wordless Wednesday - We're All In This Together

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:23:09 -0600

Be The Loving Reflective Mirror People Need In Their Lives

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:57:51 -0600

My good friend, Realtor and Active Rainer Susan Mangigian reminded me the other day about the interchangeable spelling between God and Dog. We need to

Be The Loving Reflective Mirror People Need In Their Lives.

All of us have good in us. Sometimes it takes another with a tremendous amount of unconditional love given to you for you to feel good about yourself again.

Dogs are masters at this. God is too.

But for the rest of us flawed human beings we need to work at this. Just think of an image of a dog and you'll have your loving mirror self down. Touch people this way. You'll change individuals, one person at a time. And you'll make a real difference in the world.

All we need is love!!

Sifting Through Infinity Takes Brainpower And Heart

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:38:09 -0600

I think I am a two stepper thinker finally on this observation.

Sifting Through Infinity Takes Brainpower and Heart.

Think of all these social media connections you may develop for your business or for your personal life. You have 1,000 friends on Facebook, 500 people follow you on Twitter, on LinkedIn you have 200 associates. Your "connections" are certainly making you connected much better than the six degrees of freedom from EVERYONE on the planet. But the tradeoff is

TIME.

Which relates to the QUALITY of the connection. Thats where your brainpower and heart come in. You can't comment back to everyone or touch them all each day. Prioritize what is important to you with the connection.

And the heart part? Sometimes even a connection that isn't a real top business transaction or close "real" personal friend is crying out for your help, a little attention, a deeper connection, or PERHAPS today is their day for you to be the giver of love to them in your life.

The explosion of information was daunting enough for us all and no end in sight with it. The explosion seemingly toward INFINITY with human connection on the planet (or at least a finite 6 billion) shows no slowing down. Do we need to know all 6 billion? Probably not. But whomever you do connect with on a significant and meanigful level, use that heart A LOT, and make today count for something. Your little voice in another's life has a lot greater impact than sometimes you will ever know or realize.

Hamsters Shouldn't Require Batteries

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:19:02 -0600

You know you must be getting closer to geezerhood rather than further away from it when you want to sit on the porch and say, "Sonny boy, back in my day!" Two latest Christmas gifts for this year are life size insects and a hamster character (a Zhu Zhu toy) that can run around in a little car. What happened to live bugs and real hamsters? Aren't they cheaper too?

Hamsters Shouldn't Require Batteries!

I think this is the current generation that everything has to be electronic.

I remember with my pet guinea pigs. I started with two and then somehow magically one day I had sixteen in the fish tank I was raising them in. Something about knowing the difference between male and female would have helped. Maybe I didn't properly read the bar code underneath them that provided me this information or something. Oh well, I won't be a stick in the mud on these new electronic gizmos. What will they think of next? Electronic butterflies that bang into the walls of your house? Maybe they will be controlled by a remote as you sink into your Lazy Boy Recliner.

What did we ever do before electricity? Don't get me started about my Dad talking about the ice box and the horse drawn wagon coming down the street with the blocks of ice. For real. It was less than eighty years ago!! One can only wonder what the marvels of technology will bring to us next. Of course, cleanup after the new Zhu Zhu version is probably better. Just the fun probably runs out when the batteries go dead after a day!!

Just What's Up With Agent's Hours Of Operation?

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:23:40 -0600

I've noticed with some Realtors it is really hard to pin them down exactly when do they call it a day for work, or when do they start, or do they take off one day on the weekend or such. It must really be hard on their clients or new consumers trying to reach them. With today's voice mail, email, and texting one would think this shouldn't be a problem at all with clear communication. So,

Just What's Up With Agent's Hours Of Operation?

It seems if you take a Wednesday off completely or don't work Sundays or stop listening to your cell phone messages past 7 p.m. or whatever an agent's rules for themselves are, they could clearly communicate that to those who contact them, at least after their first inward contact. If you call Saturday at 6 p.m. agent to agent, or consumer to agent, you probably don't expect to have to wait till Monday to get a response (unless they know that is standard for you). We are not mind readers here people.

A tip agent to agent or also from the consumer side is to leave a voice mail AND an email together with the same message. Oftentimes with the Smartphones nowadays you may get a faster reply with the email (or text).

Then the dirty little secret. Some agents NEVER check their voice mails. Gag. And people say they are making a living from this profession.

And then of course you can set yourself apart and say you don't have to worry about any of this "responsiveness" talk cause you label yourself as a 24/7 Realtor.

Good luck with that with your business AND YOUR LIFE!!!

Overwork has this strange tendency to cause burnout, confusion, and above all

MISTAKES!!!

A refreshed person, is an optimally performing person. Bottom line, effectively communicate to all your "hours of operation"

Home Buying Is In The Declaration Of Independence

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:18:43 -0600

If you look at satisfied homebuyers, whether they be first time homebuyers, move up, move down or just run of the mill dream home buyers you will no doubt discover that

Home Buying Is In the Declaration of Independence.

You remember. Founding fathers. July 4, 1776 and all. Pledging their sacred honor.

It is in the second paragraph if you grab a copy. Last four words.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That is the real reason people buy their home!!!

Can't you just see it in their faces??

One Thing Needed To Stop Fringe Living

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:23:25 -0600

A new fall TV show's name sparked a thought. If we are cognizant of our behavior over time we reflect back on it, and "diagnose" what we are doing wrong. Some work hard at this. But still we can fall into a trap of "fringe" living. That is "almost" getting to where we want to go. There is

One Thing Needed To Stop Fringe Living.

It is COMMITMENT. Why do we not quite lose the weight desired? Why do we not advance in a career to a level we want? Why are we still struggling with a relationship?

There just has to be a burning desire in there somewhere to get what you want. Otherwise you are stuck on the "fringe." Never getting to the promised land. Figure out what you want out of life. Limit it to a handful of things not a huge broad spectrum. Then "commit." People may call you crazy with you having such a burning passion to hell or high water you are going to get there. Laser focus. Visualize. Get up early. Whatever it takes. You WANT that prize. Otherwise you will be relegated to that proverbial living lives of desperate quiet desparation Thoreau quote.

FAQ's On The New Tax Credit Programs For Homebuyers

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:30:58 -0600

Much has been written on the extension of the first time homebuyer tax credit and the credit for existing homeowners. A few frequently asked questions with answers to go along with all of that:

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?

Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.

Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit?

Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement.

Question: I am a first time homebuyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit?

Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill.

The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase,

which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement,

you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phase-out

range).

Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a non-negotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit?

Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount

above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an

absolute ceiling.

Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the other eligibility tests?

Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you

will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000

and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in

the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and

occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The

keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he

did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility.

Question: I am an eligible first-time homebuyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me?

Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as

if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30

(or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

Check Out the NAR Cool New Website For Consumers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:36:30 -0600

Most consumers are fairly familiar with Realtor.com for home search from the National Assn of Realtors. Now they have come up with another consumer site.

HouseLogic

It is currently in Beta version, so take a peek. It is intended for homeowners to protect, maintain, and enhance the value of their homes PLUS provide business-building tools for Realtors. How about that? Something for consumers AND their Realtors.

The site will also allow homeowners to speak together with Realtors to federal legislators on public policy issues where homeowners and the real estate industry have a common interest.

Consumers will get the big push about this site come February but for now Realtors are encouraged to explore around and give your feedback.

Aren't you glad I gave you first dibs??

Bookmark it.

You get all my good stuff!

The New You Is Up To You

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:47:45 -0600

In my unique way of seeing the world I have ALWAYS thought any of us could change ourselves and go a new direction at any point in time in our lives. Similar to inserting a new computer board in a machine, you could go from a meanie to a nice person. From bitter to sunny. From cold to caring. Likewise you could go to the dark side, from social to isolated. From family oriented to loner. Then there are some that never change. Are you a Rush Limbaugh, a Vanna White, or a Tony Robbins?

Do you want to change? A little? Improve? A lot?

What I have seen with the stick in the mud people that don't seem much to change, they are either oblivious to the fact that they are stuck or from a positive point of view are very content with who they are and are perfectly happy to coast to the end in their persona. A la Rush Limbaugh types. Can you imagine Rush Limbaugh turning into Mother Teresa? Sometimes a radical shift does happen. Major events happen to us in life like 9/11 that shake us to our core. Sometimes we get sick and tired of being sick and tired. The school marm prim and proper lady turns into a born to be wild biker chick. Maybe it is a mid life crisis, and we see the sand in the hourglass moving so much faster to the bottom. I have concluded

The New You Is Up To You.

Do not fear being the new you, if you decide a hard right turn is in your future. Even here in blogging land I have seen some diehard bloggers hit the wall and adopt a been there done that philosophy and MOVE ON, never to be heard from on these pages with the written word again. They have their reasons if you talk with them. It is ALL OK. Just know that pulling the plug, changing that computer board, "putting on that new face" is perfectly normal at the right time that we choose in our lives to do so.

Think of it always like a butterfly and you got stuck in that coccoon for awhile, and now, time to spread your wings in another direction. I'll be cheering you on. It is up to you. Maybe even myself will catch up to that biker chick on the open road and give her a thumbs up as I ride up the highway on my Harley bellowing out its roaring sound. Life is meant to be lived. The story is being written by YOU. Hold fast to that pen and always remember to keep it in YOUR hand!!

Why Breaking Out Of Jail Is Good For Your Real Estate Career

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:33:49 -0600

Did you know that breaking out of jail is good for your real estate career?

I'm talking about developing your maximum potential. We don't get the best out of ourselves a lot of time because of fear, laziness, or our mind is dulled by being too "busy."

Add more good people into your life that help you and encourage you. Fire a few friends. It is very empowering.
Select better television shows or rent DVDs that make you think.
Learn from books and classes and pencil that activity into your schedule each week. Feed your mind!!
Adopt a BEGINNER attitude with everything and embrace discovery as part of what makes you happy.
Realize the naysayers holding you back are gripped with their own fear. Turn a deaf ear toward them.
Practice serendipity. Eat new foods, drive a new direction and see what you find. Unlike what you've been taught, talk to strangers.

Break out of the jail that can be your own limitations you impose on your life. When will you start living life to the fullest? I challenge you to start that TODAY. You never want to die with the music in you.

A jail break!! How's that for a goal??!! This kind of busting loose you will never regret. It might even surprise you how far you will get from your original cell.

Just Thinking Fun

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:05:39 -0600

I was thinking about how fancy cell phones have become a status symbol. I can't afford one, so I'm wearing my garage door opener clipped to my belt.

I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans.

I was thinking about old age and decided that it is a lot like when you still have something on the ball but you are just too tired to bounce it.

I thought about making a fitness movie for some older folks and call it, "Pumping Rust".

I think I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease....when your chest is falling into your drawers!

Employment application blanks always ask who to notify in case of emergency. I think you should write, "A Good Doctor!"

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator in hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give their vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic garbage bag will open from the end you first try?

Why do old men wear their pants higher than younger men?

How come we never hear any "father-in-law" jokes?

If at first you don't succeed, shouldn't you try doing it like your wife told you to in the first place?

Why is it that men can react to broken bones as 'just a sprain' and serious wounds as 'just a scratch', but when they get the sniffles they are deathly ill and have to be bedridden for weeks? Then they whine to their wife or girlfriend constantly about it.