These are all very good and very true, lol!

For me it is: have a sick kid home from school. Phone ALWAYS rings. Get a puppy, as it has an accident the phone will ring at that very moment. (Happened to me last week. I watched as he did his deed and I talked about HOA fees)

In all seriousness, I have found the most powerful tool I have to make the phone ring and get appointments is my brain, my mind, my affirmations. When I say them, I believe them, and people see that confidence. 

Richard - It almost never fails when you go on vacation. I will have to try some of these other ones.

Nothing is ringing here, guess I'm do for a vacation back to the East coast!

HA!  I realized long ago that the reliable way to make my phone ring is walk out of my office and into the kitchen where I can't hear the phone in my office ring.

Oh well.

I depart on 2/16 for 21 days. 

God help me.

Interesting list Richard. Thank you for sharing and good luck!

Richard, the vacation thing works like a charm - every single time!

All it takes for me is just once, once, I walk away from my desk and leave the phone lying on it, just so I can grab a cup of coffee/go to the bathroom/gather the chicken eggs, whatever...guaranteed voice mail messages when I return.

The vacation and mid shower works well.  Mid day romance has also been good for a few calls.

All truth here, Richard.  Vacation, even the planning of one, can spur your business to new heights.  Then just when you start thinking you'll have it all wrapped up before you actually depart, your lagging buyer will finally finds THE one and at least two listings will receive offers.  I have to say, I don't mind negotiating a deal as long as I have an ocean view.

If I set down to eat dinner -- the phone WILL ring!  

Here's another one. An inactive license while waiting for the state to process your independent brokerage application. The phone has been ringing off the hook.

My Broker has said taking a vacationis the best way for the phone to ring within a couple of hours of you needing to leave.

Very creative, Richard.  Yes, these do seem to work like clockwork.

Richard, so funny and yet for whatever reason, so true! Enjoy your day!

Richard, you made me smile.  I have two vacations planned this year, one in April and one in June so I'm sure those will be my busiest months.  And, I've been known to take a shower mid day but mostly because my phone was busy and I couldn't get in the shower at 7 because my phone started ringing early!! (while my other half grumbles about "who the heck is calling you before 9am")

Use the restroom, once you are commited and past the point of no return, it will ring.

I enjoyed your post and I was glad Patricia put it on her weekly summary page this week!

Don't forget about ever trying to sit down for a meal. As soon as you take that first bite and your mouth is full your phone will immediately ring.

Those are funny and very true -- 

The last one got me thinking that maybe when people call my home phone trying to sell ME something, I should say something like, "Well, before I answer your question, I have a question for you! Are you in the market to buy or sell a house?"  That seems fair.

I have to chuckle, Richard, because of the truth of these! I often shower mid-day and the phone ALWAYS rings!

Hi Richard, I like the vacation idea. Since we all need to take one once in a while, remembering to schedule one is the hardest part. Then letting everyone now thst all our vacations are working vacations, we only took a vacation to increase our business, LMAO.

Hi, Richard!  You can find this post on today's "Last Week's Favorites". 

Richard, thank you for the sage advice!!! I'm going to try all of them. Will keep you posted. 

And mostly thanks for the laugh!

Thanks for making me smile, Richard. I like Kat's suggestion, too. I will start asking this of every telemarketer who calls trying to sell me "a better way to get leads." Geez.