Hope, what a wonderful name you have and well spoken. The conscience is a wonderful thing isn't it?  It certainly makes you feel so much better to practice the golden rule with our fellow professionals, friends, family members and others. We wouldn't have wars if everyone made this a daily practice...hope this touches everyone!

Ellie, it becomes easier to lash out when things are difficult and boy are we in a difficult time. But, we need to remain the good people that we are and try to bring a little sunshine to others. There will always be those who see a glass half full but we just need to remember to make lemonade out of lemons.  It makes you feel better while making others feel better, too. So easy and yet so difficult for some. Glad to have provided the reality check.

Remax of Sonora, glad to have helped remind you. So simple but yet sometimes forgotten.Go out tomorrow and make someones day and while you're at it, go on over and vote for Lucky...help out one of our own kind.

Paul,sounds like you have a very smart wife with a big heart and a conscience.  Not so hard when you practice it daily. Hope you help make someones day tomorrow.

Sharon, I couldn't agree more. This would be a far better world if everyone would simply practice "the golden rule." Just think...no more wars, peace and less stress. Wonder why it's so difficult for some when the rewards are so much more appealing.

Lou, yes that is an excellent book and should read by everyone. Ahh such simple things in life and ever so easy...make ones conscience feel so much better and actually makes you feel good all over ... sort of like a puppy with a wet nose!

Denise, "the wow" factor helps make our job not only better for the client but it helps us, as well. It's nice to get into the whole thing with a positive, fun attitude...don't you think?

Larry, I know it's sometimes overwhelming when we see so many who are not professional, love to tear down their fellow professionals, irritated clients, etc but remember it starts with you and the more you keep your professionalism others will follow. Don't buy in to their lack, remain true to yourself and your conscience. It may take an eternity for some but you'll feel better for it.

Lynda, oh yeah...LOVE the "WOW in Real Estate!"  Makes it so much more fun for everyone including us. Now, don't forget to go vote fore Lucky!

Fred, I totally believe that and others should, too.  Thanks for sharing that bit of wisdom. Did you help support Lucky, by voting?

Jeff, not that you need reminding. You have always remained level headed and professional.

Maureen, very true and wise words to live by.

Randy,sorry that someone would take offense at what everyone should hold in high esteem. Just goes to show you why we have wars etc. People really need to get back to basics and get off their high horse.

I hope you went on over and voted. Lucky is a wonderful man that I have had the pleasure of calling my friend for quite awhile. He definitely deserves to win again. How lucky you were to meet both of the Lang brothers!

Justin, and not hard either. Not sure why some egos can't get themselves under control but perhaps age and life will help.

Richard, yes the "wow in real estate" needs to start with us and make it more enjoyable for the masses.

Liz,thanks for popping by and for voting. I will put this in the groups that you suggested as well. Thank you. Doing much better thanks and so glad to hear that you are as well. Not sure what your question was about sites. If it's about photos, this one in particular...I paid to use it and I go to several paying sites but most of the time I take my own photos. I believe this one came from fotolia.com

Liz, I added what I recall on how to vote for Lucky. However, once you vote you can't get back into the site so I'm giving the instructions purely from memory.  Hope it serves me well.

I put this into the Texas group but I have no idea where to find the Them, Thems group. Did a search in the groups but don't seem to be able to find it. How about a link to them when you get a chance.

Lucky, I was hoping to make this an overwhelming surprise with a ton of votes before you found out! You are most welcome, dear friend. You certainly deserve all of our support.  I took a look at your instructions and I didn't do to badly working from memory after adding the step-by-step instructions for Liz and others.

Thanks for being you and we all hope you pull through again this year and WIN!

Sheila, absolutely! And it really is so very simple. All we need to do is think beyond the ego and truly live by the golden rule. It's not that hard and the rewards are plentiful. It not only makes you feel better, it shows character and in the end everyone WINS!

Diane, isn't that the truth. It's so much easier to be kind than to be deceptive or cruel. No one wins that way and karma is usually there to help bring lessons to those who don't act in a kind way.

Bill, yes it is a pet peeve of mine as well. We seem to have a slew of agents these days who believe that they too are BANKs and don't need to apply common courtesy. It's such a shame. Things fall through the cracks when agents don't feel the need to respond.

KatFish, REO agents spend a lot of time on the phone with the banks and getting the properties ready for viewing along with an incredible amount of time on-hold with the banks. But, there is no excuse for agents acting like the BANKS and being non-responsive. Agents need to remember, why they are in business, what the goal is, which is to sell the property and respond accordingly.

There are buyers and selling agents waiting for responses. Even a response of "I don't know, yet" is better than ignoring. This effects everyone and many home buyers are looking elsewhere for homes simply because there has been no response from the BANKS nor the Agents representing the BANKs. This needs to STOP. If there is too much work, cut down on the workload.

TREAT others as you wish to be treated and let's put the "WOW" factor back in Real Estate.

Jon, I agree for the most part we have many Realtors who do act professionally and remember what they were taught. However, with the onslaught of REO's it seems as though there are so many who don't. When agents have several hundred listings, they are NOT servicing them in the manner to which they should be. It's unfortunate that anyone takes on so many.

When the voice message of that agent says, I do not return phone calls, only emails. I don't accept faxes, only emails...there is something mighty wrong with that picture.

Just the other day, one of my clients met me at a property and took off work to do so. When we got there the key was not in the lockbox. This is a rehab property and there was a contractor box but I had no knowledge of the combination.

When contacting the agent by phone, the voice message stated that he did not accept calls, only emails. Later I found out from his manager that he had 11,000 emails in his inbox.

That is inexcusable!  This type of thing goes on each day and it's time to stop and get back to how we MUST do business. Don't take on more than you can handle and handle each one as if it were you're on property.

Just a little sensative on this subject especially lately...sorry for the ramble.

Jennifer,I agree. When in someone else's shoes we often will defer to a different tactic...a better one!

Kay,ah yes professional courtesy should be top on our list. Not only with our clients but with each other. I see agents who belittle other agents and it's not a good reflection on them. It only makes them look small and very insecure. We all need to remember, even within our own communities, there is enough for everyone and no need to put others down.

Michael, absolutely...pass it on!

Craig, good words to live by and execute.

Robert, you obviously have a sense of humor. Some actually believe that but those are typically the ones who don't listen to their conscience.  Thanks.

Russell, yes unfortunately it isn't a perfect world but with very little effort, it could be. Something so very simple that some make so difficult.

Liz, thank you so much for coming back with the link. It sounds like a great group and I will be sure to put this in it after I join. Thank you.

Liz, I join the Texas group and added the article. Thank you.

I'm so disappointed that the voting ended. It would have been so fantastic to have AR come out in mass and vote. How cool would that have been. I'm sure he'll win again this year, anyway. He is the best! I appreciate you trying and I know Lucky does, too.  Thank you.

Garren, there are a lot of people like you and I hope that we will be able to convince more. Sometimes, it's easier to put others down or not give 200% but at the end of the day, I bet you feel good about yourself and how you treat everyone. Let's have some more like you!!

Geanne, a Remax Gold...I'll have to check you out! I've heard that same thing and isn't it such a shame. Some folks have forgotten how to do business. Greed has gotten in the way where some feel the need to grab as much as they can and give little or no service. It's very sad! I feel your pain and have experienced the same, unfortunately.

Cynthia, isn't it a shame that we need to give service a new name...it is so lacking in so many different areas and I for one hope that it comes back, soon.

Cynthia, it's so nice to hear that you do help remind your agents how important service is...more should do the same. Any agent working on the other end appreciates it, too.

Jim, I love the acronyms. There GRRRRREAT! Leaving the ego behind works so much better for everyone and shows that a person has risen above the rest when they do. Thanks for sharing the PPPP and earn P...absolutely love it! Go out and make it a GREAT weekend!

Russell, that is quite an impressive line-up. It would be wonderful if we could all volunteer full time and money was no object but like you said the next best thing is to provide impeccable service in our profession and help make dreams come true.

Dwight, being fully aware of the importance of understanding an escrow full is indeed our fuduciary responsiblity with each and every client but at the same time, we really do need to loosen up a bit and let that "Wow" factor penetrate. A home buyer needs to feel that while knowing that they are in the safety of your professional arms.

Russell, by all means please feel free to add me as an associate and it would be a pleasure to add you as well...anyone that still listens to Janis can't be all bad, right?

Many times with Realtors in the same marketing "niche" there is some sort of competition that exudes, a feeling of superiority and strangely a persona that all MUST be mine. This is where it becomes even more important to grasp, that there is plenty for everyone, no one person has all the answers, no one has the crystal ball, and not all clients feel comfortable with each one of us.

I have no problem sharing. I learned that way back in kindergarten.  I am confident enough in myself to know that I will not get every single home buyer or home seller and that there are enough for each and everyone of us.

I hope we can be friends. It's always nice to have a good relationship with our fellow "nichers." You never know when our paths may cross in an escrow. And how sweet that would be.

However, you are in Texas and I am in California so I don't think we are in the same "niche" but couldn't resist writing for all of those who are in the same "niche."