If you are a Covey fan then you will be familiar with the "7 habits of highly effective people"-This is one of the business books that I think we should require ourselves to re-read every few years or so. As we are growing up it is fun to see how far our development has progressed since the last read.

I just found out-where have I been? that there was an 8th habit! Good news for all of us: we are already practicing it! The 8th, in case you missed out on it too, is simple+FIND YOUR VOICE! and then help others find their's.  Well doesn't this post and everyone of yours fit the bill? How cool is that-we are on the cutting edge and didn't even have to study this time! Years ago I met with a group of women who were all involved with the Women's Council of REALTORS and we actually scheduled a monthly lunch to get us to talk about and have some accountability for the 7 habits. It was fun and we shared (girl's do you know!)

One of the early points that was notableto me in this new book: Place the focus on the customer. Last night my husband was opening the mail and he harumphed, "i'll bet this is for an HVAC company" (it was) and he commented that they had missed out on selling to him and he tossed it in the garbage. "Being the woman in the room, I asked him why: "all they had done was try to solve their own problems- 'hurry offer only good until the end of the month', '$1000 off' etc. Husband said, "I'm not one of the crowd, I want to buy 3 of them and it offends me that they make an offer like that without considering that homes in this neighborhood have more than one a/c unit." He's a pretty smart cookie so it made me think about how I talk to people and how I might do a better job with just a different perspective=that of solving their problem not my own. The hurry up is their problem unless you tell them why they should- The daffodils are blooming and the warmer spring breezes are on the way-is it time for a new HVAC unit or a checkup on the current one? Inventory is higher at this time of year-the boss is cutting some pretty good deals. Most of the homes in your area are over the 7-10 year lifetime for a central a/c unit. If you haven't considered replacing yours yet....etc..

When is the last time you looked at your ads from the servant's side of the transaction?