My promise to my community and clients

Commitment, service, and community are words bandied easily it seems these days, but not seen often. This is my promise. I promise to work diligently for my clients, friends, and family: to be a man of integrity, learning the newest methods, becoming not only proficient at cutting edge technologies and practices, but to become an expert for their benefit. I am committed to being their advocate, to helping improve their lives, both professionally and personally, in all ways I am able.

I honor service: service to my home of North Idaho, service to my family, service to my country. I honor the service I have given, honoring my time as a soldier, my time as an airman, the many events, charities, and needs I have served. I understand the job is never done, and will offer my time, the monies I am able to give, and my expertise in creating a place that people are proud to call home.

I believe in my community. I know the place I live in is special in all of history. Sandpoint, Idaho is the best small town in America, and America will own a position high in the annals of time. Such a special place takes special care, and I will protect this place and do everything I am able to help my town and country continue to be a community we are all proud of.

I understand that this is not the normal business model, and that community service takes time away from the standards of commerce. I will work towards having others become aware that this country was founded on service. That part of its greatness comes from the sacrifice our forebears made so that all of us could enjoy not only freedoms, but the standards we now have as part of our routine lives.

Finally, I commit to work harder than my competitors, so that I will have the time to not only give to my community, giving service to my country, but will learn to be smarter with my business practices, so that the time I devote to my business will be successful on behalf of my clients, friends, and family.

Following these tenets is an absolute for my life. I have always followed them, and always will.

Living in the paradise of Sandpoint, Idaho, where I have found more and better friends than any place I have ever been before, though these troubled times have weighed heavy on my soul, these thoughts have prevailed upon me:

This I commit:

I commit to be positive every day, to help others to find that which can help us all to discard depression and see that which is best in the world.

I commit to buying locally, helping my fellow business people survive in this down economy.

I commit to look back on the last thirty days and if I haven't done something to help another in my community, to do something beneficial over the next seven days.

I commit to speak well of my neighbors, whether they are deserving or not.

I especially commit not to be detrimental to those in my community. Not to gossip, not to slander, libel, or otherwise do harm.

I commit to be kind.

I commit to be instructive and to help teach what I know to those who need it most.

I commit to learn and become better educated every day.

I commit to help mentor other small businesses, especially those that are being started by young people.

I commit to support community and church events.

I commit to offer support no matter political affiliations, religious beliefs or race, color, creed, or sex.

I commit to be there for my friends in times of need as well as in times of plenty.

I commit to help those that want to live here find a way to do so. In this matter, I commit to helping find employment, homes, food, or whatever small or large thing I can do to make this happen.

I commit to be a community cheerleader, singing the praises of my town.

I commit to getting rid of the negative. When I complain or whine, I commit to saying one hundred positive things for every negative thing I say.

I commit to be a better family member, to be more loving, supportive, and understanding than I have ever been before.

I commit to helping my clients in better ways every day. I will learn the new methods, work the hours needed to get the job done, and do more than I did yesterday to help them accomplish their dreams.

I commit to never quitting.

I commit to making my company better by helping my fellow workers improve their lots and positions. By helping them to improve themselves, it will bring more clients into the company fold, and my position will improve in like fashion.

I commit to be happier, to love unconditionally, to be patient with children, to honor my country.

Most importantly, I commit to trust in a better new tomorrow. How do I know this will happen? I commit to it.

Is my business plan on target and working?

In the last three years, I have gone from a new REALTOR® to a trusted member of my profession. This is illustrated in three waterfront sales this year, along with a waterview lot, a home sold in town, and three other REO sales, all in what many consider to be our worst market since the Great Depression.

I have written almost two dozen other offers, including contracts for up to $1,400,000. The market, as well as other obstacles, have derailed many of these.

I have done this by the following measures:

•·         Hosting two local radio shows - North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts & Adventure

•·         Becoming one of the most viewed internet hosts on the web concerning Sandpoint and North Idaho

•·         Working with charities and events diligently over the last five years

•·         Working diligently at my profession to provide the best realty services I am able

•·         Building and selling homes in a down market

•·         Learning the best cutting edge methods, both as a REALTOR® and in technology

•·         Becoming one of the most viewed video segments on Sandpoint on YouTube

•·         Networking

•·         Blogging

•·         Working towards being part of and joining every web-based part of what can promote my business and community

In the next week, I will have my SWOT Analysis complete, and will have my business plan for the new year in place by January 1^st.