active rain: Get out of your comfort zone and learn something....Blogs 101 - 05/03/08 02:47 AM
Who wants to leave their comfort zone and purposely try something that might not bring them any pleasure?  I know I don't, but I know I need to.  There' a big difference between want and need.  We do what we're comfortable doing including reading on Active Rain.
 
 
A little over a week ago I was talking to Bobby Carroll of DAKNO Marketing about creating a Blog for me that I could link to my websites, but that could also stand alone.  Bobby told me they used Word Press, and me, the smart one didn't want another template.  I got stuck with one … (30 comments)

active rain: Active Rain Gifts of Appreciation Contest ..Entries are in ~ Updated - 04/29/08 03:05 AM
This is the Official Post for the Contest entries in the Active Rain Gifts of Appreciation Contest....  I will leave it on the e-PRO Dashboard, and it will also be in the Positive Attitudes for the Weary Soul Group.  That way you can find it to read the entries...see who has acknowledged who and for what.  This contest is a win-win, my favorite kind of interactions whether Real Estate related or not.
 *** A true gift is one given without expectation of reward ***   
The Gifts of Appreciation Contest is being held for 2 weeks....We hope to get several entries....as this is a way … (43 comments)

active rain: Monday Morning Gifts...An Attitude of Gratitude Contest - 04/28/08 07:28 AM
It's Monday Morning again ....did you have a good week-end? Today another beautiful spring week is about to begin. MY coffee is brewing, the sprinklers are watering my flowers, and I am preparing for a phone call that I think will finally put my REO House into Contract.....all in all a good way to be starting the week....cool, refreshed, with expectations of positive things to happen.  Sort of like spending time here in the Rain. 
 
We give because we want to, not to get something in return.  Look at all the sharing people here on Active Rain that have given advice, laughter, inspiration, maybe a few words that helped … (38 comments)

active rain: Tuesday Truths.....All of Us Judge each other rightly or wrongly..... - 04/15/08 04:28 AM
How many times have you bought something on  e-bay, or anywhere else on the Internet, but once you received it you were disappointed - it wasn't really what you thought it was.  Think about our jobs, our clients, the homes we list, finance, sell, everything we do including blogging here on Active Rain. How many times have you been disappointed?
For Today's Tuesday Truths I have decided to repost something I wrote many months ago.......I think it is as Relevant today as it was then, maybe even more so.  I have often wondered why someone would write some of the things they do, or … (40 comments)

active rain: Want a Great Marketing Idea......I got mine by Judging an Active Rain Contest - 03/30/08 09:39 AM
This time last week I was helping Judge a Marketing Contest....there were a lot of interesting entries, but 2 of them really stood out for me, and ones that I could see myself using.  That was a week ago, and tonight I just finished implementing one of them. 
The results of the Contest aren't out yet, but the voting is over, so I can say that one of the Entries Virtual Open House  by Misty Lackie  CEO  Go Smart Solutions , sounded intriguing.  I could see the benefit to this, and even though it only got a few comments, those people also saw … (32 comments)

active rain: Active Rain Blogging..... Participating in this Community for Fun and Profit - 03/28/08 08:01 AM
How do you use your AR time?  Do you go to the fun groups, the technology ones, photography, or any one of a thousand groups that are now here...just waiting for your Post, your participation :)  How do you read a Post and comment?
It is almost 9am and I just finished checking out the comments I left for others....yes I ALWAYS go back and check to see what the Poster commented to others, including me.  I don't know about you, but it takes me quite awhile to read Posts, and the comments.......so many of the Posts.....Jason Sardi, and CARNAC are 2 that … (38 comments)

active rain: Tuesday Truths....... - 02/26/08 04:02 AM
As I am about to start my day a few things just popped into my head.  So I grabbed th ole' Agenda, and as the coffee was brewing, I jotted down a few things that were crowding my Mind.  And one of them was a way to Organize what I am doing here on my Blog, both here on Active Rain, and the outside one.
 
Anyway, let me backtrack a bit......since today is Tuesday Truths.  For the past several months I have been barely managing to keep a consistent Positive Attitude.  I would get very depressed, and not do some of the things I … (36 comments)

active rain: Does anyone have a one legged REALTOR® - 02/05/08 01:32 AM
I was sitting here thinking.  We're not allowed to discriminate when we hire someone because it's the law, but what about REALTOR's®? A lot of people have never personally met their Agent. All business was transacted over the phone, electronically, or through the mail. They wouldn't know if you were a green-eyed two headed purple people eater, a nice elderly crank, or someone that acts young.  They don't know......they just see a Marketing Picture; a head shot usually, and we know these aren't always up to date.
 
But what if you only had one leg?  What if you got to a listing appointment, and when … (35 comments)

active rain: Is it the Truth...You decide - 12/11/07 01:47 PM
How many times in our lives have we been faced with a difficult situation and not known what to do?  We meet people all day, and the situations that we encounter call for certain actions,  or behaviors....either as a Professional, a Parent, or just a member of a community.  How does our actions affect others......and are we true to ourselves when we behave in ways that are contradictory to the collective conscious of a group.
 
 The FOUR-WAY TEST of the things that we think, say or do.....(from the Rotary International Club)
first.......Is it the TRUTH ?                                                                              second.......Is it FAIR to all concerned?third.........Will it build GOOD WILL and … (26 comments)

active rain: Don't Stress... Do Less...Happy Thanksgiving to All of You - 11/20/07 02:18 AM
This morning I got up early with the express desire to check on a few posts, and people, but hey this is the "Rain" and my plans haven't worked out.  Having a lot of Thanks to give everyone, and Personal Wishes takes time....time I don't have at the moment because I either procrastinated, was too busy "giving", or just didn't think of it :) :)
I am finally leaving for my much anticipated Vacation. Before I go I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone, and have run out of time trying to go to hundreds of peoples Blogs to give a … (34 comments)

active rain: Are your Profile, Blog, and Comments helping you or hurting you......... - 09/01/07 11:45 AM
How many times have you bought something on  e-bay, or anywhere else on the Internet, but once you received it you were disappointed - it wasn't really what you thought it was.  Maybe the picture showed it larger.  Or the description embellished the attributes, maybe there wasn't a picture at all, just the items description. For whatever reason you aren't happy.
Our Presence here, on Active Rain, does the same thing : Look at the 2 Packages below.  Which one do you like the best, and why? What if there was a card telling you what was inside......would that make a difference?                                                                                 
         
 
What  happens when we hire people … (38 comments)

active rain: Real Estate It's all about Relationships....... - 08/26/07 06:25 AM
Everyone has someone to thank.  One of my recent Posts had a comment on there about not forgetting who helped us get to where we are today. Who helped us when we were the "Newbie" in the office? And have we remembered to Thank them.....
 The comment on my Post When Failing is Not an Option......... What Do You Do????? was about how many times people forget that we didn't get to where we are Today by ourselves....someone helped us.  In our fast paced business it is easy to forget, but it is nicer to remember....  I would like to Publicly Thank:
                                                                Melinda … (26 comments)

active rain: Blogging Expectations - 08/05/07 06:49 AM
When you write a Post to your Blog what are your expectations?  A Post takes time to write, time to edit for spelling and grammar errors, maybe find an appropriate photo or other graphic, and hopefully the content is either entertaining, educational, or inspirational, or possibly all of these.
Now that you have it written, you go back and make sure you haven't intentionally offended anyone, and then Post it.....but  what if your intention was to write about one thing yet everyone else picked up on something different. What was your expectation?
I just finished commenting on my last Post Baby Boomers and Technology Without our "Cheaters.".....  and … (13 comments)

active rain: And she STILL only has 850 points... - 07/23/07 04:02 AM
I joined AR after doing a Google Search and finding a competitor, a new one, that was making a small crease in "MY" Market higher in the rankings.  I clicked on the name, and it took me  here- to AR.
I had no idea what AR was, and no idea how she got those points.......but if she could get them so could I :)  After all, I had been working this area for years now, and she just got here.  OK, so she has 850 points....check it out. Nothing spectacular, I can do this.
Profiles, OK, what to write. She is the top Agent, the only … (69 comments)

active rain: Meme...Real Estate with Intensity and Integrity - 07/21/07 04:06 PM
 Many agents come into this business for the money.....other than the education for the exam, what do they bring to be successful.  The dollar.....is that all we're made up of, our desire for a profit?
 I was Meme'd by Rey "Steak Dinner" Gallegos: Loan Officer Las Vegas, NV, and have been neglecting to get this done, so finally here it is. 
Here are the 5 things that come to mind, and all that have helped me not be a stastic when I started in this business, well, except for the cookies :)
 
 
1)  When I was younger I wanted to grow up to be … (19 comments)

active rain: Active Rain - Making Friends and Renewing Friendships - 05/21/07 03:50 AM
I am amazed at the quality of the Active Rain Community, and have been following several people's posts; each time feeling like I made a new friend.  This community has brought me out of my small town USA into a larger arena of Professionals where I have learned many new tricks, tips, and stories. 
This morning I came online again, and of course came here to see what was new.  I wanted to see who is working in my area, and noticed there were 88 Escrow Companies, so I clicked on the link and was shocked to see an old family … (4 comments)