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

By Mike Jones

Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

April 24, 2008 03:31 PM

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.

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

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.

Apr 25, 2008 12:06 AM

Doreen McPherson

Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ

Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

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!

Apr 25, 2008 12:11 AM

Marey Hoeppner

Kalamazoo, MI

Your Success Is Our Goal!

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.

Apr 25, 2008 12:25 AM

Clint Miller

Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

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

Apr 25, 2008 12:27 AM

Adam Waldman

Westcott Group Real Estate Company - Hauppauge, NY

Realtor - Long Island

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.

Apr 25, 2008 12:37 AM

Karen Luke

South Metro Property Management, LLC - McDonough, GA

Henry County Real Estate

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.

Apr 25, 2008 12:54 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

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

Apr 25, 2008 03:12 AM

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor

Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ

AzLadyInRed

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

Apr 25, 2008 04:50 AM

Brad Taylor, REALTOR® for Toledo, Ohio

DiSalle Real Estate Co. - Toledo, OH

Good stuff thanks for the positive post.

Apr 25, 2008 04:53 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

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

Apr 25, 2008 08:04 AM

Anonymous

Siobhan Hamilton

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
(

Apr 25, 2008 11:43 AM

#28

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

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.

Apr 25, 2008 01:31 PM

Joan Mirantz

Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH

Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

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

Apr 25, 2008 03:13 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

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

Apr 25, 2008 06:05 PM

Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

AHWD

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

Apr 26, 2008 05:04 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

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 26, 2008 05:09 AM

Susan Davis

Austin, TX

Excellence Advocate

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

Apr 27, 2008 05:39 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Susan,

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

Mike in Tucson

Apr 27, 2008 10:22 PM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

'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.)

May 01, 2008 10:44 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Thanks, Margaret!

May 02, 2008 01:28 AM