Blogger's Choice: New Host & Here's a Toast!

When I was asked to introduce and interview the new host for Blogger's Choice here on Active Rain, I was quite honored.  When I found out who I'd be interviewing, I was thrilled.  Few ooze class and professionalism more than the following person.  Without further ado (nice choice in wording Mr. Sardi:-) ... I give you ...

  Lola Audu!

*Did Active-Rain find you or you, it?  I would also love to hear your experiences, trials, & tribulations while you've been here!*

'Stumbling upon' would be the most appropriate way to describe how I started blogging on Active Rain.  I had been Blogging on Real Town Blogs for approximately a month and a half prior to joining AR.  I don't know how I found the site, but for some reason I decided to sign up. At that time, I had a butterfly that was my avatar.  I was very skeptical of being online...  I didn't loose the butterfly avatar for several months, but this was the post where 'the first sighting of Lola emerged."

The Parable...The Acorn & The Butterfly.

The most significant challenge when I first came was just being overwhelmed by the incredible amount of talent and information.  I had never had the exposure to so much knowledge about real estate and technology.  It was in a sense, all consuming.  Finding balance personally and professionally continues to be something I work on everyday.

*Most who read you realize what a very astute writer you are, how'd you come about learning how to write?  Who are some of your favorites, whether on AR or the New York Times Best Seller List:-)

Astute...now, that's a word that I need to look up.  Excuse me for a moment...

According to the Free Dictionary online, it means "Having or showing shrewdness and discernment, especially with respect to one's own concerns." 

Hmm...well, I'd agree with discernment, but I had never thought of myself as shrewd.  I'm not quite that calculating.  But, I would say that over time, I have developed about 3 different audiences which I think about when I'm writing.  (my clients, other agents/brokers, those I'd like to inspire...have I covered the world yet?)

On how I learned to write.  Well, it's funny but creative writing was something I liked doing at school, but didn't think I was very good at it.  Getting all the syntax and grammer right always seemed to get in the way of saying what I intended.  I have written outlines for courses that I've taught, but would NEVER have imagined that I'd be writing over 400 articles from scratch.  Writing for me is an outward flow of my thinking.  It's a conversation that's occuring with my fingers rather than my mouth...

I like good writing whenever I find it.  Some of my favorite writers here on Active Rain for prose are:  Broker Bryant, Elizabeth Nieves, Andrew Lenza, Linda Davis, Gary Bolen, Jason Sardi, TLW aka The Lovely Wife, Geno Petro, Elizabeth Weintraub & Chris Elizabeth Griffith.  Then there are so many whom I admire for their tech ability, Jeff Turner & Missy Caulk come to mind and others for their community Spirit, such as Midori Miller, Sally Cheeseman, Kathy McGraw & janeAnne Narrin.

Favorite Blogger outside the "Rain"...Seth Godin

Books I'm currently enjoying...just fininished "An Unaccostomed Earth" by Indian author Jhumpa Lahiri...breathtaking prose...just beautiful.

Boy, Jason...you will have to condense this interview big time...2 Questions and we've already covered enough material for 2 blog posts. :)

(Not to worry Lola, I may actually earn my 200 points today.  Besides, you get mad props for mentioning little old me amongst your favorite Bloggers.  This is good reminder folks.  It's never a bad idea to suck up to the interviewer!)

*Do you have a core philosophy about Blogging?  What are some of your favorite posts that you have written?*

Core Blogging Philosophy...Write from the heart...the blog is done when it resonates there.   Favorite posts...   This is hard.  I write for business and for inspiration. I'd choose the following from Inspiration...   What I Learned from the post Sarah Cooper told me NOT to read...   What I learned from the post Sarah Cooper told me NOT to read.  and from Business...   The New Wild West of Real Estate...( A 6 part series on Short Sales & Foreclosures)   Part 1 Link:  The New Wild West of Real Estate...Negotiating a Short Sale! (Part 1)  The series that I've enjoyed doing the most is "What It Means..."   This series involves looking at things that have had a profound impact in my life.     

*If AR entered a show-down with some of the other High-Octane Real Estate Blog Sites and you were in charge to hire 5 Bloggers to represent AR, who would they be and why?*  

-Lenn Harley...writes some of the best real estate stuff out there. Her Hard Core Real Estate posts could be a text book!  And she is remarkably productive!  

-Jeff Turner...again prolific...I think of Jeff as high tech with a heart.  Good blogger, but always on the look-out for the next best thing and willing to share his finds everywhere...Serious, he's a face I expect to find on any site worth joining.  

-Jeff Dowler...Excellence in local blogging.  Interesting & indepth analysis of the local scene in southern California, but also writes insightful articles about real estate and life.  

-Craig Shiller...brilliant writer, brings insight and creativity to the art of staging and doing it right.   

-Janet Gauilault...one of the best writers that I've read in the mortgage industry.  She knows her stuff and can explain it to the rest of us.   As you can see, my 5 choices reflect an emphasis on real estate and financing.  

The question was about a High-Octane Real Estate Site.  While I love non real estate related blogs and write them myself, I think that a real estate networks greatest cache is in making real estate interesting, informative and relevant.    

*Most folks remember their first transaction.  Sometimes it is a nightmare, sometimes it goes smooth.  Do you recall your first closed transaction in Real Estate?  Can you summarize that transaction?*

   Yes, I remember vividly my first transaction.  I had asked some friends if I could "practise" my listing presentation on them.  They agreed.  At the end of the presentation, they said, "Where should we sign?"  I thought they were kidding.  I was totally unprepared for my first listing and had to scramble to find someone who knew how to fill out the paperwork.  They ended up selling their house and buying another one within 4 months.    

*The idea behind 'Blogger's Choice' is a great one.  Got any plans in store as the New Host?  

Blogger's Choice evolved out of observing some of the discontent expressed about Featured Posts. The truth was that there were some excellent posts that were being missed for a variety of reasons.  I thought that it would be great to give bloggers the opportunity to speak for themselves about the content which they wrote and to have the entire focus of the group be driven by contributing members.    That was the idea behind having a Spotlight in which one member could choose posts they liked.  The other important aspect of the group was to get to know people better...thus the idea of introducing the host with a separate post.  It's an Open Source Group, so we're open to ideas and ways to improve.  Blogger's Choice belongs totally to the members.  I was simply a catalyst.    

*Do you recall who you first 'Subscribed To' on AR?  Are they still active here?*  

I have absolutely NO recollection of who I subscribed to First on AR.  And...that is NOT a politically astute answer. :)  

*Outside of Real Estate, what are some of your interests?  What is Lola doing at 9:00 on a Saturday Night?*

   Outside of Real Estate, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.  I like a good movie and trying different restaurants.  We also do a fair amount of entertaining.  Saturday night often finds me online finishing a blog post before mid-night.  Then I'm totally disconnected from anything electronic until sometime on Monday.  This is when I catch up on my TV viewing and books that are piling up by my bedside table.  

*There's got to be something in life you haven't done but have wanted to do?  What might that be and what the heck are you waiting for?*

   Now, this is absolutely hands down the best question of this interview.  There's a lot of stuff that I'm working on or working through.  We'll leave it at that...  

*How did you generate your business when first starting out?  Does it differ from now?  What would you say to newer agents and even those who now may be struggling, to let them know how to generate more leads and business?*  

When I first started my real estate career, I had a trainer who told me I was sitting on a gold mine.  He was referring to my sphere of influence.  It took me awhile to understand what he meant, but he was right.  Relationships have always been the center of my life.  Starting with my relationship to God, my family and friends, this thread weaves itself through my business.    I care about people and I care about trying to determine what works for them.  I'm intrigued by the WHY behind the transaction.  My advice to newer agents would be to spend your time wisely...avidly seek a good mentor, respect their advice, time and attention and then DO what they tell you to do. There's a reason why it works!    

*Can I have an autographed business card?*  

Are you serious?  Nobody has ever asked for my autograph. LOL     Thanks Jason.

No, thank you Lola.  I'm still waiting for that autograph though;-)