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It's Not What You Have... It's WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE That Makes the Difference

This photo is the perfect example of that! This is GARBAGE! And it's wonderful!

I ran into an acquaintance who hasn't seen me for more than six months.

She looked sort of sorrowful as she asked "Oh. How have you been doing in this awful market? I know it must be a struggle. Everything I read is SO bad!"

"I am SO glad to be in the lending business right now!" I replied. "You know what they say about making lemonade if all you have is lemons? That's what it's like right now. And the lemonade that I have is selling. People must be real thirsty."

Every time I close a loan, people are happy. Agents, title officers, my appraiser, not to mention the buyer and the seller. I'm doing important work, and my clients appreciate it.

This roadrunner stands sentinel along a stretch of I-10 coming into Las Cruces, NM. He stands on the south side of the highway, facing east. I don't know how many times I've passed him in the last ten years, but two weeks ago, I decided to pull off the highway and photograph him.

I got the surprise of my life. What looks like a beautiful sculpture from the highway is a bunch of junk tied around a steel re-bar frame with chicken wire. It stands about 18 feet high.

It's garbage! Isn't it great? I know I'd like the sculptor. I'll bet he or she has not a negative bone in their body!

It's not what you have. It's what you DO with what you have. In this market, there's a big life lesson for every one of us in the real estate world.

Chin up!

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, Arizona mortgage lender.

Think of me as your local expert.

Posted by Mike Jones on 04/24/2008 10:31 PM

Comments (37)

mike in tucson, active rain, tucson, arizona, tucson mortgage, roadrunner, las cruces, nm

Originally posted at: Tucson By Choice!: It's Not What You Have... It's WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE That Makes the Difference

This post has been included in New Mexico Information Dona Ana County, NM Information Las Cruces, NM Information
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: All About Mortgages/Mortgage Networking
Post is included in group: POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul
Post is included in group: Things to Do/Places to Visit
Post is included in group: The Ninety-ninth Percentile

37 Comments on It's Not What You Have... It's WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE That Makes the Difference

APR

2008

Great Post Mike,

And very fitting for this market which isn't so bad where I am. My business is really picking up.

Ross,

That's so encouraging! Thanks for being the first to comment.

Mike in Tucson

Hi Mike,

You are so right! Well said. So, what kind of bird is it anyway?

Mike,

You are without a doubt the absolutely most positive person I have ever known! Great photos, great post! :)

Great story and photos - that's creative recycling.

Amen. Nice words of wisdom. Great positive response to the AWFUL market.

Mike - You are so right, its is more important what you do with what you have. Everyone expect us to be walking around depressed. The fact is we like what we do and their are clients who count on us.

Mike - Beautiful.

Lemons?

is right!

It's all about mindset. We can either choose to lament the slow market or we can become innovative and thrive. Personally I have to go with innovative. Kathy's expensive. LOL

I'm with you Mike. So many people fold so quickly and refuse to use that creative ability that's within them. You have learn to make something out of nothing. Instead of looking at what you don't have and what's not happening, people have got to take what they have and work it to their advantage. I refuse to be defeated!

Mike, it's true. Attitude is everything!

That ole' roadrunner is a fixture as you come into Las Cruces--he keeps an eye over the valley, waiting for the spectacular sunsets that grace the Organ Mountains. He was just waiting for you to notice him all this time, Mike!

APR

2008

Mike - There is no question about the truth of your statements here. Keep up the good work, buddy!

Mike - One man's garbage is another man's treasure! That's really a cool structure..I need to travel more!

Love treasures from trash. Beep beep!

Mr. Roadrunner is looking for Wyle. Thanks for the uplifting words.

Don R.

That is so amazing. How is it kept standing?

Your Friend in Charlottesville Virginia!

Now, that is real art. Turning chaos into beauty is a work of art.

Thanks.

Sometimes I believe that ActiveRain members should just take up a big collection and pay you to travel around with your camera.

Isn't it amazing what the creative mind will do when let loose. Another perfect example of your use of a photo for an idea for a post!

Mike - You are right, doesnt matter what you have, that wont make a difference for anyone, but doing something with what you have can make all the difference in the world. The photos of that sculptor, wow, wouldn't have known it was made of garbage. That was very creative of them. Thanks for sharing.

My dad used to tell me this when I was a little kid...Now, I tell it to my kids. Excellent advise.

MIKE - Great lesson at the end of the post. I showed the picture to my son, and he thought that it was very cool! Hope all is well.

I checked in this morning for some real estate cheer and go it from you. Thanks.

My mother used to say quite often, "Make do with whatcha got."

We're making do.

Karen,

That's great. Thanks for commenting.

Adam,

I'm glad your son liked it! Thanks.

Clint,

That's encouraging, isn't it? I appreciate your comment.

Marey,

Right you are! Thanks for stopping by.

Doreen,

It was teriffic to get together with you and the other 30 or so yesterday in Gilbert. Thanks for your comment.

Lenn,

I'm all for that! Sort of what Charles Keralt (sp?) did for CBS with the Sunday Morning news program. I'd love that!

Charles,

The legs and feet are steel re-bar about 2" in diameter. The sculpture has a concrete footing with steel strap embedded. The feet are welded to the strap.

Don,

You're sure welcome!

Susie,

Beep Beep back to you!

Candace,

Thanks for all your hard work and sleepless night making yesterday's AZ Blogging Network kickoff happen! And thanks for commenting. Shouldn't you be sleeping in today?

Jason,

I'll keep doing it! Wish you could have been in Gilbert, AZ yesterday!

Kent,

I'm sure you've seen him many times more than I have. Thanks for commenting, and for your active part in Active Rain!

Margaret,

Isn't that so true? No sense whining, when there's life to be lived!

Kevin,

I love your attitude!

Jesse,

I laughed when I read your comment about Kathy, but then I thought "Someone is depending on every one of the 84,000 plus Rainers individually to do what's needed to move forward in life successfully." Thanks for stopping by.

Mike,

Today, you're my favorite Blogger!!

Jennifer,

Right you are!

Chuck,

Awful is temporary. Life is for living. Succeed!

Jason,

It is creative, isn't it! I want to meet the sculptor. Maybe a reader knows who that is.

Jan,

Maybe. But I'm not positive that you're right. LOL

Bill,

You're supposed to READ the post, not just look at the pictures! LOL The key word is Roadrunner!

Mike in Tucson

Mike, you sure you didn't do some magic with Photoshop Elements? ;-) Very nice photo and great counsel. ;-)

Good stuff thanks for the positive post.

Brad,

It's my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Teri,

Never said I didn't! I opened the photo in Photoshop, bumped the contrast up a little, saved the photo as a low resolution jpeg (save for web) and voila! I almost always do that with my photos. Since the computer screen is back-lit, the additional contrast gives the photo more visual punch. I sure appreciated meeting you yesterday!

Mike in Tucson

Wow. Mike, Thank you again for introducing me to this site. I think I know what I'll be reading this weekend. That is the coolest structure. I hope I get to pass it on my way to Texas later this summer. I wonder who put this amazing structure up for us all to enjoy. The point of this article is so true. In our department we have the same dilemma, and the people who remain positive find a way to succed and be happy no matter what may happen with the outside circumstances! I am really excited to get a chance to talk to you and I will be calling you on Monday to set that up!
Thanks again Mike!

Siobhan Hamilton- KVOA Channel 4
(

Beautiful presentation ..with the roadrunner. Sometimes, things/people or circumstance do not always appear to be what is real. To take what we have and utilize it to the extent that we really see what is real is what is.

Mike ...in this case it should be pronounced....gar-bahge

APR

2008

Joan,

The breast "feathers" are all made of sneaker soles.

Sally,

Thanks! I used to have a foreman who would say "Shoulda, Coulda and Woulda!" How 'bout What Is!

Siobhan,

Thanks for commenting! I appreciated your call today; Channel 4 is lucky to have bright employees like you!

Mike in Tucson

Mike - WOW - super statue and what a point it makes!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Barbara Jo,

I have more photos of this statue, and think I'll post a second part with more detail. Isn't the human mind amazing!

Mike in Tucson

APR

2008

Mike, I gotta hand it to you.... can write the most interestring blogs! You have such a keen eye for the colorful things in life. Your writing always brings a pleasant smile to my face.

Susan

Susan,

I'm always glad to bring a smile. Thanks so much for commenting.

Mike in Tucson

MAY

2008

'Just want to let you know that I highlighted this on my outside blog today, Focus On Crofton. (With a mention of and link to several others, as well.)

Thanks, Margaret!

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