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Fred Griffin had an excellent post, Major Changes to YouTube and Facebook - What Do You Think? that's stirred up a lot of discussion. Reading the comments has been quite interesting.
In those comments, I see several people here who seem to think that if some of us don't care for the truly abysmal appearance of the Timelines and don’t welcome it or the way the introduction of it has been handled, that means somehow that we are resistant to all change.
Well, I've been coping quite nicely with more change than some of you have perhaps even thought about or really comprehend existed over the past 60 odd years, and I've been coping with change in the computer world since I was learning the New! Cutting Edge! programming language, COBOL. I jumped on the Active Rain bandwagon the moment I heard about it back in 2007, and I've helped in the development of equipment and processes and been the first in my office, or city, or region, with more than a few innovations in my professions (which have been assorted, another indication of embracing change when it's appropriate).
However, when you've coped happily with enough change for enough decades, you learn a few things.
One, change in and of itself isn't a desired end. Change, inevitable or not, can be good, or change can be bad. It's imperative to learn the difference, and to make changes with consideration for their impact AND for the possibility of unintended consequences.
Two, a lot of change exists in the business world simply because people need to justify their jobs – they’ve run out of anything substantive to do so they need to rearrange the furniture in order to appear busy. That’s their main focus, NOT what works best for the consumer.
Three, a lot of times change is to see just how much can be lured out of the consumer's pocketbook without them noticing because they're all excited about "New! Cutting Edge! Everybody wants one! Must stay ahead of the pack!" even if the pack is running hell bent for leather off a cliff. This works on some, but the truly aware will see right through it every time. Happens often when something is working really well and it's purchased by a company that only sees dollar signs, not what made it successful in the first place. That happens way too often, and it usually tolls the eventual death knell of the thing that was so great in the first place.
Four, overload your target market with too much change, too fast, and you may end up going the way of MySpace and friends.
So, while you're so busy saying to anyone who objects to being pushed into the new Facebook Timeline, "Change is great! You're just an old foggy who's resistant to change! I, on the other hand, embrace all change enthusiastically", you might want to consider that perhaps there's a little bit more to the complaints about the Timeline than just resistance to change in general. (Really? Ugliest most user-unfriendly thing to come down the pike in donkey's years; in looking through the ones that are already there I've yet to find one that isn't.)
Now, get off my lawn, you young whippersnappers!
Photo Credit Diane Diederich
To my mind, the holidays are a great example of what our business is really about.
Think about it. Families gather to share the holidays, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Festivus or any other. They eat food, lovingly prepared and redolent of holidays past. They talk and laugh and cry and remember and tell stories and give and receive gifts.
Where do they do all these things? For the vast majority, it is in homes – all gathering at the home of the grandparents, or the first holiday hosted by the now-adult children who not that long ago sat at the “kid’s table”, sometimes the adult children switching back and forth between sets of parents, sometimes, as we did it this year, all celebrating together.
But gather in homes we do. This is, in a sense, the culmination of all of our efforts as real estate agents – families, celebrating together in the homes we helped them find and acquire.
Wise worlds from Gail Robinson. I've also found that if I discuss my interests and theirs outside of real estate with clients, I'm much better able to help them accomplish their goals in a way that is pleasing to them, whether it be finding the perfect home or selling the house they already have.
Via Gail Robinson, REALTOR www.blackrockhomesforsale.com (William Raveis Real Estate, Southport, CT):
 Do our clients hire us just for our professional expertise or are they placing their bets with a whole person? My belief is that if I only talk about real estate to my clients, I would be amazingly efficient (and could catch up on my filing), but I would FAIL. I'd fail to make a lasting impression, create bonds of loyalty, or even miss a potential friendship.
YOUR CLIENT IS MORE THAN A BUYER OR A SELLER
Your client is a whole person with a complex set of desires, hopes, dreams, and fears. That you already know, as sometimes, your clients tell you way too much about their marital problems, issues with their health, and other negative areas of their life. Much of our time is spent refocusing some clients back on real estate, because our business plan doesn't include providing psychotherapy. Other clients remain somewhat reserved and distant, making it hard to build the trust needed for a good partnership.
By guiding the conversation to a part of their lives that is positive and that they care deeply about, we can avoid the problems of overengaging in personal issues or underengaging and being seen as bores. Outside of everyone's day job, nearly everyone has some kind of interest that they are passionate about. If you can find out what that interest is and make a connection, your clients will appreciate the effort you've made to know them as a whole person and look forward to seeing you again.
I had one client who had spent a lifetime learning about and practicing gardening, another client was involved in monotype printmaking, and so on. In discussing these topics I learned about who they were on a whole new level and made a deeper connection. That connection allowed me to stay in touch with them and lead to referrals to new clients.
YOU ARE MORE THAN A REAL ESTATE AGENT
You are also whole person with a complex set of desires, hopes, dreams, and fears. Your clients don't want to go that deep into your personal psyche any more than you want to go there with them. Keep your deepest darkest secrets and fears to yourself. Instead, let your client know about your avocations and interests as they come up naturally in conversation.
You don't have to say much about your interests for your client to form an impression of you as a more interesting person, who they would like to get to know further. If they ask questions, you can pursue the topic further. Never brag about your accomplishments with your avocations. You may have won awards, but bragging defeats your purpose? Your goal is to connect with your clients and just let them know there is more there than just a hard working, professional. There's a whole human being.
My own avocation is running a grassroots environmental organization, which I founded 8 years ago. That raises a few eyebrows because real estate developers and environmental activists are often are at odds with one another.
CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS
The best gardens have a mixture of plants, not just one variety. They are also weeded, watered and fertilized. In the same way, your relationships with clients are cultivated by what you include and exclude in your conversations with them. Next time you are with your clients, try steering the conversation away from negative personal topics with grace and diplomacy, of course, and begin to find out what your clients are passionate about and give them a peek into your own passions. I'll bet you have a life that extends beyond your real estate profession and you don't have to give away the most personal details of your life to establish that connection.
At this time of year, every year, hearts are opened and people reach out to help those in need.
Here in Central Texas, because of the drought and the wildfires that resulted from it, there are more of those than usual, and many organizations are focusing their efforts on those who lost homes and more in those fires.
The Native Plant Society of Texas is one of those organizations, and the donations raised with their efforts, while only totaling $1800 in dollars, will multiply into more green than you can imagine, and will be of greater value than dollars in the end.
300 groups of children, from schools, churches, and youth groups, took the materials purchased with that $1800 (compost, clay, and seeds), and made 150,000 seed balls containing over 50 varieties of native Central Texas seeds to be given to the victims of the Bastrop County fires to use in restoring their land to its former beauty.
Right now, they look just like what they're made of, balls of mud. But once they're distributed and used by the fire victims, they'll be a beautiful bounty of green helping the land restore itself.
Photo Credit: skodonnell
Anyone in this neck of the woods who's spent any time at all on the roads or in stores has to have noticed a distinct change from this time last year - CROWDS! Whether it's a grocery store or a book store or a department store, there are crowds everywhere you go, and they seem to be buying things. Yesterday, in the middle of a Monday afternoon, my husband and I were out and about, and even at that time of the day, on that day of the week, it felt like a busy Saturday.
I've been showing more houses to more buyers, and had more calls from buyers looking for property - the numbers are up.
Then, today, the Austin Board of Realtors released the November figures, and the news that Central Texas home sales were up about 11 percent and that median home prices were up 3% over November 2010.
Add that to some other positive signs that I've seen here and there, and maybe, just maybe, that light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train after all!
Photo Credit Iain Sarjeant
Photo Credit DHuss
Many people, when they think of Central Texas, don't think of vineyards and wineries. But we have quite a few award-winning ones in the area (there's even a vineyard half a mile up the road from me between Jarrell and Salado), so it's possible to Shop Local for wine, as well as other things. I thought I'd prepare a list of wineries - some you can visit and pick up wine for gifts or yourself, others you can find in local stores.
Driftwood Estate Vineyard & Winery south of Austin
Salt Lick Cellars, likewise in Driftwood
Duchman Family Wines, Driftwood
(Are you seeing a pattern here?)
Spicewood Vineyards, Spicewood
The Vineyard at Florence, north of Austin between Florence and Jarrell
Rising Star Vineyards, Rising Star and Salado
Perissos Vineyard and Winery, Burnet
Stone House Vineyard (on Lake Travis)
This is just a start. You can find more Texas vineyards and wineries at Texas Wine - Toast a Rising Star.
Or, can't make up your mind? Give a wine tour!
Liz and Bill make excellent points in this blog. There's lots of people who THINK they know all about real estate. The ones who really do are those who make their living at it every day.
Who would you rather have handling your real estate transaction? Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):
 People That DON'T Know More About Local Real Estate Than Your REALTOR®!
So you're buying or selling a Warren County home? Then stand by for LOTS of unsolicited advice! As soon as you mention that you're involved in this huge endeavor, you're going to get lots of "help"! MOST of those sources of advice may just be steering you down the wrong path and not even realizing it.
Here's a partial list of people that shouldn't know more about LOCAL real estate than your trusted REALTOR®:
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The national media. They don't know JACK about our local market. They care about New York, Vegas, California, etc. and not an iota about our market. Thousands of miles away, and about as relevant as the back side of the moon. And the generic advice from those "money" magazines about offering 80% of list price? Fine if you don't REALLY want to buy that home!
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The local media. Honestly, they don't know much about the local market either. They'll either take a few anecdotal instances and turn it into a major doom and gloom story, or they're repeating stats provided from our local board. And here's the thing, the greater Cincinnati area is composed of MANY markets. Mt. Adams, Mt. Lookout, Maineville, Morrow and Mason are ALL different.
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Your neighbor. Herb knows a LOT (or maybe he just thinks he does), but what he probably doesn't have a handle on is the latest real estate trends. He knows what the guy down the street SAID he got for his home (and that info just might not be accurate). But what he's not going to understand is why one home got $250,000 and another got $200,000 when they look the same on the outside! That's just one more reason why you need a REALTOR®.
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Your co-worker. They last bought a home in 2005. They mean well, but the real estate market changes FAST.
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Your mom and dad. They know a LOT, and we know they have your best interests at heart, but what they aren't current on is local real estate markets. How long since they last bought or sold a home? When they start with the "it's a buyer's marker, offer 70%" they're killing your chance of getting that home.
- Your great-aunt Ethel who was an agent....in 1975....in FLORIDA! Like we said, real estate changes A LOT, and it's LOCAL. A Texas license, a Florida license...even someone who is active in Columbus or Cleveland might not be able to give you the best advice on what's happening in OUR local market.
So when you get advice and it's got you thinking, TALK to your REALTOR® about it if you have a concern. Don't let it fester and don't let them convince you that your REALTOR® isn't doing their job without at least  seeking to clarify. And if you can't have that conversation with your REALTOR®? Well maybe you don't have the right REALTOR® after all. Communication skills are an important part of what we do.
As Warren County REALTORS®, we're tuned in to the differences in OUR local markets. Mason to Springboro, Franklin to Morrow, we've successfully helped people buy and sell. We track the activity in each market and analyze to make sure YOU are getting the best professional advice we can provide, tailored to YOUR needs! So if you're thinking of buying or selling a Warren County area home, we'd appreciate the opportunity to help you!
Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz
The Liz Spear Team
Elizabeth & William Spear
RE/MAX Elite: Ask for us by name if you visit the office!
Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Office direct: 513-248-3660 Liz direct: 513-265-3004
Bill direct: 513-520-5305 Fax: 866-302-8418 
MailTo: Liz@LizSpear.com Our Website: Warren County Ohio Homes
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 Anyone who’s lived in Texas for any length of time knows about the ongoing Great Texas BBQ Wars that are a major source of entertainment in these parts. You know, “XYZ BBQ has the best brisket!” “No! ABC BBQ does!” On a good day, this can be good for several hours worth of “conversation”, not just of the best BBQ joints, but also the best (read: ONLY) way to cook BBQ at home.
I admit to being a BBQ aficionado, myself. Not in the preparation (I leave that to the menfolk in the family, resting on my gumbo laurels), but in finding the best commercial BBQ around.
You may have heard that Bon Appetit, a few months back, declared Franklin’s BBQ in Austin to be The Best BBQ In The Country. Now, no insult intended to Franklin’s, but the Texas BBQ expert who dubbed them so is from Georgia, then New York City, and my guess is that he hasn’t had the proper grounding and experience in the pit boss’s art - and art, not science, it is - necessary to make such a statement.
I propose that he come back down to Texas, and be taken on a Grand BBQ Tour of Central Texas. I have my own list of places that I’m pretty sure he should try, and then he can revisit the issue. I’d be surprised if you do not have your own such list; why not post your suggestion or suggestions in the comments section and we’ll compare notes, and perhaps make up a list of suggestions to send off to the fine gentleman?
My list would be sure to include the following (this is by far not a comprehensive list; I am not going to give away ALL my secrets!): Sam’s BBQ in East Austin (recently closed and I do not know if it's reopened - it's been in Austin as long as I've been in the area); House Park in Central Austin; Cooper’s in Llano or New Braunfels; Laird’s Barbecue in Llano; Black’s in Lockhart; Schoepf’s in Belton; Taylor Café in Taylor; City Market in Luling; Perez BBQ in Bartlett; Snow’s in Lexington, O.D.'s in Jarrell. That would be good for a start, and then we could drive the roads of Central Texas looking for those priceless jewels, the little BBQ shacks that can be found dotting our highways and byways, offering the intoxicating aroma of pit smoke and the promise of the BBQ of your dreams.
What about you? Where would you take someone to initiate them into the delights of Texas BBQ?
Been a busy couple of days. Yesterday was spent on planning and on coming up with some properties for a couple of clients to view - would love to have both of them close in January 2011!
Today has been a thinking day. I need to be more organized (I can organize anybody perfectly - except myself!), and that involves figuring out what kind of workflow works best for me, not what the latest organization book or software thinks SHOULD work best for me.
Think I'll clear out the extra room that we use for random storage, move all that stuff up to the attic (or out with the trash!) and set my office up in there rather than in the dedicated corner of the living room it currently occupies. Now that my husband is retired, I suspect it will be a lot easier to stay focused that way At least it will be clear to both of us that I'm At Work!
Here we have the next batch of Morgans/Morgan crosses that have found themselves in a dire situation (one hoof on the truck to slaughter), have made it to foster, and are now looking for their forever home. Take a look and see if one speaks to you.
For the month of December we'll be running a holiday special on adoption fees. One of the rescued Morgans below could be waiting for you, and you alone, to take them home for the holidays and ever after.
For more information, and to apply to adopt, contact us at ForeverMorgans @hotmail.com. More information on who we are, what we do, and how you can help, along with an application to adopt, can be found on our website at www.forevermorgans.org.
 Forever Dakota and Bella
Barn name: Forever Dakota
Registered name: NA
Registration #: NA
Sire/ dam: Dam: Bella Sire: Unknown
Color: bay
Height:
Age: foaled 6/20/2011
Gender: colt
Links to other photos and/ or videos:
Source: Rescued in utero from Enumclaw Auction
Current location: Molalla, Oregon
Comments: Forever Dakota was a surprise! We rescued his dam, Bella, from the Enumclaw Auction, and she smuggled Dakota in on us. Dakota was weaned and Bella has moved on to her new forever home. Now it's time for Dakota to find his! Isn't he something? Ready for you to take home and bring him up right!
Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $250
 Mac
Barn name: Mac
Registered name: NA
Registration #: NA
Sire/ dam: NA
Color: Black
Height: 14.1H
Age: Approx. 7 years
Gender: gelding
Links to other photos and/ or videos:
Source: New Holland
Current location: Thompson, CT
Comments: Very pleasant, sweet, kind boy, very willing and cooperative. 14.1h. Excellent stall manners, no cribbing, no pawing or kicking. Crossties well, good for hoof cleaning. We are still evaluating him for other training. Lunged him this weekend for a short time, he was very receptive. We each tried leaning over his back from the mounting block, again, no issues displayed. He is not familiar with clippers or electric concepts in general - he's Amish, but learning the non-Amish ways. Has had his first round of shots, and one round of deworming. Sheath and teeth scheduled for tomorrow, along with his follow-up shots.
Getting very attached to him!
Update 12/3/2011: Mac did a fine job this morning. We fitted a bridle for him (took two tries, he's likely cob size), and saddled him. He had been lunged with a saddle last week and leaned over/on but we had not been on him. At his "evaluation" a gentleman was on him bareback but clearly Mac was confused about being ridden. The theory is he was driven as he arrived a the broker pen with "lots of harness marks". It was very chilly in CT and as this was his first outing, Valerie rode him up and down the road with me walking with them and then I saddled my horse and we rode together down the road for a ways and then back to the barn. We decided to end on that note and will likely go further tomorrow.
Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $385
 Tony
Barn name: Tony
Registered name: (grade)
Color: bay, back right white
Height: TBA
Age: approximately 7
Gender: gelding
Links to other photos and/ or videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmJukOdYCY
Source: New Holland
Current location: Pennsylvania
Comments from Tony's current foster: This is our sweet Tony. When he came to us we nick named him "Boney Tony" due to the fact that he was so very thin. Tony had a full set of road shoes on. When hitched to a cart he took off like he was shot from a gun, as he had been expected to do in the past. Tony had three gaits, all of them at the trot, fast, faster and fastest. Tony was traumatized by his experiences and by being shipped to slaughter. He wanted so much to please us. The trouble was he was so anxious and nervous, obviously afraid of being hit, that it took some time for Tony to learn that we were not going to hit him, no matter what he did. In a manner of speaking, Tony tripped over his own feet in his frantic effort to do what was asked of him. He was adopted on his very first day here and returned the next day due to his anxiety. Had the adopters only given Tony a chance and a little time they would have had the perfect horse but they didn't take into consideration that he had been through so much and needed time to learn to relax. After all, the cardinal rules of horsemanship are "calm, forward and straight". Calm comes first for a reason. If you don't have that in both horse and horseman, you might as well forget the rest. Tony drives and rides like the pro that he truly is. He appears to be sound, has no vices, loads, clips, is good with farrier and vet. Tony loves to be loved and has been lavished with attention for the past several months by a fourteen year old girl. He is ready to be the best Christmas present for someone who wants a devoted friend. We age Tony around ten years old. He truly is a wonderful horse and deserves to have a wonderful forever home.
Tony needs help in keeping weight on. He benefits from being fed beet pulp and a flax supplement. He appears to be very healthy and strong but he is a svelte boy. He is good with farrier and vet and pleasant to handle in the barn. Tony is also easy to catch, always the first one to the door when he hears the grain bucket.
Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $600
 Cherish
Barn name: Cherish
Registered name: (grade)
Color: chestnut, 3 white socks, star, snip
Height: +/- 15 hands
Age: approximately 14 years
Gender: mare
Links to other photos and/ or videos: http://youtube/Bk1q2Ptnyx8
Source: New Holland
Current location: Pennsylvania
Comments:
Cherish is a darling little mare, somewhere in her early teens, 13.3hh, beautiful chestnut with some chrome and the sweetest face. She is absolutely safe to be around in the stall and on the ground. Cherish loves to be groomed and loved on. The smallest horseperson can pick up her feet with very litttle practice. Cherish is very willing to please to the point of being anxious so she needs a confident rider. For a small mare Cherish is fast at all gaits but obedient. For instance, if you ask her to walk, she will but it will have impulsion, a "can't wait to see what is around the next corner" attitude and a lively, forward step. She worries that she will make a mistake and needs a gentle, reassuring hand. Cherish came to us with a full set of road shoes on her feet. They were overgrown and she had some road founder. We removed her shoes and with regular trimming she is starting to move sound again. Once her feet are fully grown out and with regular attention Cherish will eventually be usably sound. She also had severe muscles spasms in her neck. We have had a massage therapist working on her every week and the spasms have improved but they may never resolve completely. In any work Cherish is asked to do in the future she should not have her head checked up. She doesn't need it to drive and it is detrimental to her well being. My opinion is that this petite mare with the huge heart was asked to pull heavy loads for long distances at a fast rate of speed. Cherish did whatever was asked of her until she was completely spent and then was shipped off to the sale. Her deportment under saddle suggests that Cherish had some english / dressage type training prior to becoming a working road horse. She rides and drives very well but is not for a beginner rider due to her fast, forward go and anxiety. Cherish has no vices of any kind. If anyone has any questions about Cherish please feel free to call me. I will work with any potential adopter to make a happy, successful transition for Cherish in a loving, patient home.
Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $550
 Harley
Barn name: Harley
Registered name: (grade)
Color: bay, back right sock, star
Height: TBA
Age: TBA
Gender: gelding
Links to other photos and/ or videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgYHHAffpCc
Source: New Holland
Current location: Pennsylvania
Comments: This is the beautiful Harley. He is well named because like his name sake, the motorcycle, Harley is hot and fast. Unfortunately, Harley met with some kind of accident that caused his ribs to be caved in near the girth area. The area is reminiscent of perhaps a broken shaft that struck him in the ribs or,we hate to think this but it could have been caused by the strike of a hammer. Regardless the cause, Harley has some definite flash backs to something that traumatized him. He has come a long way since his arrival here several months ago but it seems unlikely that Harley will be suited to riding. He might be driven if someone were to work with him patiently to get a bridle and bit on him. Harley has progressed so that he willingly puts his head in a halter and he will ground drive quite nicely in that. We have not had success in bridling but I like to think we would have if I had not broken my leg in September. Harley is a beautiful Morgan with huge eyes, tiny ears, a beautiful face, lovely "up and over neck" and good type and conformation. It is quite likely that Harley has always been "hot" and that temperament coupled with some kind of trauma may have rendered Harley unusable for riding or driving. He has no vices otherwise, is good with the ferrier and can be worked on by a patient veterinarian. He has progressed with worming from being completely resistant to having anything put in his mouth to accepting a wormer with only a little fuss. We have had to use two Power Packs of pyrantel pamoate with Harley due to a heavy load of worms that have been resistant to regular deworming. Whoever gives Harley a good forever home will need to keep a close watch to be sure he remains free of parasites. Harley might have some arthritis in his hocks or hips. Some days he seems perfectly sound but other days he is stiff and sore. That said, when you see Harley put his tail up over his back and take off in that powerful "above level" trot you can't help but be taken in by his beauty. He would make a good pasture pal. He loves to be with mares and does well with only one gelding. He does mix well with mares and geldings at the same time. Harley is about 14.1hh, dark bay and probably in his mid teens. More pictures to follow. Our weather has been horrible and wet so taking pictures is a challenge but we will prevail. Please be patient with us. Anyone who is interested in Harley is welcome to call or write. Harley would make a wonderful, worthwhile project for a knowledgeable horse person who is able to really get into a horse's head and earn his trust.
Take Me Home For The Holidays Adoption Fee: $550
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Tricia Jumonville, The Agent With Horse Sense
Georgetown,
TX
More about me…
ERA Colonial Real Estate
Office Phone: (512) 868-0403
Cell Phone: (512) 423-6466
Email Me
A blog about things Texas, about things horsie, about real estate issues, about life in the country, about food, about whatever strikes my fancy pertaining to life, the universe, and everything and, especially, real estate.
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