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A HUGE Milestone ----- 9 Years On ActiveRain

By
Real Estate Agent with Liberty Homes RS-#62825

So, the majority of ActiveRain members claim that they are ‘just’ blogging for business;  although for me, it goes much further, much deeper than that.  In fact, the majority of us started out blogging, commenting and eventually, doing Active Rain Meet Ups and Gatherings. These ‘getting to know each other’ events are called ‘connecting’.

Randy ProtheroIn March of 2007 I joined ActiveRain (Randy Prothero invited me!) and took a baby step forward in writing my first post ever. That post was in fact, the epitome of the start and then the depth of how an ActiveRain Blogger blooms.  The larger reality is that that first post opened up more than just the idea of ‘blogging for business’ and writing about real estate.

Back when I started, there were about 19 or 20k members, so we ‘connected’ quickly. (Can you imagine what started as so small a real estate platform that went forward to having thousands upon thousands of  members???) The ActiveRain staff welcomed all posts from Group themed blogs to real estate agents, loan officers, stagers, home inspectors and well, you name it and the real estate industry has it.  The ActiveRain staff was and still is a HANDS ON Real Estate Industry Platform.

REAL estate in HawaiiYou see, REAL estate is ALL AROUND US. I write about real estate, the market, advertising and everything real estate related.  I also write about our Hawaiian Islands history, the island sites, the businesses and everything around my neighborhood.  That is the REALITY of REAL estate. When driving around to show properties to buyers and they ask me what is a HEIAU, or what great Italian Restaurant in Mililani would I suggest; or even the best Acupuncturist/ Massage Therapist ever is? 

YES, we HAVE to know what is going on around in our neighborhoods in order to be the best Real Estate Local Specialist ever!  To this day, I still get calls from posts I wrote back in 2007 and the first Newspaper story that became a repeat client 3x over !

BOB ERINI could never have progressed in the world of real estate blogging without ActiveRain and the help of the staff members and even the ‘founding fathers’ Jonathan Washburn and Matt Heaton who got involved with our members!  I've met many members face to face when they came to Oahu to visit...too many to mention here but I've written about mostly every meeting.

I mostly give LOTS of credit to my mentor, Bob Stewart, for my blogging success. He ALWAYS called me back and there was never a stupid question in his eyes. He didn’t (and still doesn’t) judge people and instead, gives full attention and a listening ear to any member who needs his help. He then gives suggestions on how to approach the situation and solve the problem. If anyone can give a helping hand, it’s ….Bob Stewart.  Without a hands on approach in helping members understand the world of real estate blogging, there would be no continuance of the ActiveRain as I know it. THANKS BOB!!  (And...thanks Erin. With you by his side he's where he is today.... a happy guy!  Well, you know what I mean!.....And Baby Chase will be here SOON!)

This time around we give thanks to Ben Kinney for stepping up and getting ActiveRain back to ACTIVERAIN. I will try and blog more and get back into being a productive member of this community

ActiveRain will always be….the PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORDS.

 

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday WooHoo Sally

Happy 9th Birthday to me.

WOOHOO!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 BOB AND SALLY MEET

P.S. The last week of February 2016, Bob Stewart, his wife Erin, my husband Gary and I…FINALLY got to meet. Erin had a work trip scheduled in Honolulu and of course they both scheduled a meet up for dinner. Both Gary and I were flattered that they invited us to dinner…..and  that I finally met Bob and his wonderful, beautiful wife Erin.  Here’s the post Bob wrote about “our story” and “Gramma Sally in Hawaii”:

ActiveRain Is About Relationships Where Geography Is NO Barrier

     SALLY GARY

Posted by

                                                       

 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman  is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.

 

 © 2007-2015 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's

Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.

All rights reserved.

     

 


 

 

Comments (77)

Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Rain is an international phenomena....and congratulaltions on your tenure and success from one Sally to another .

Mar 21, 2016 10:11 PM
Kevin Morris
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodrick Realty - Danville, PA
Real Estate agent serving danville and surrounding

Congrats on the anniversary. I am curious if "connnecting" still happens. I will keep an eye out and if not I might have to get something going in my neck of the woods.

Mar 21, 2016 10:54 PM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Congrats on your 9 years.

Mar 22, 2016 01:37 AM
Paula McDaniel
The Paula McDaniel Group with Real Estate Partners Chattanooga LLC - Chattanooga, TN
Voted Best of the Best Chattanooga Realtor 9 Years

Congratulations Sally! 

Mar 22, 2016 03:28 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Great story.  I too would not be in Real Estate if not for AR.  Thanks for the post.

Mar 22, 2016 05:08 AM
Mark Lomas
Santa Barbara Real Estate - Santa Barbara, CA
Experience You Can Count On!

Congratulations Rainmaker! Great post - and all the best in 2016 - aloha!

Mar 22, 2016 05:27 AM
Tina Maraj
RE/MAX One - Fullerton, CA
Celebrating 30 Years of Real Estate Sales

Congratulations for sticking with it. I started back in 2006. I have fallen off for a while but I need to jump back into "the rain". 

Mar 22, 2016 08:46 AM
Michelle Grunberg
eXp Realty - Ijamsville, MD
When Honesty, Integrity and Loyalty Matters!

Wow!! Happy 9th Birthday!! So now that you hit such a milestone what would you tell us newbies that you wish you knew and did differently

Mar 22, 2016 09:21 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

You know, I have no regrets about the path I took because I did the right thing. I made a lot of phone calls, emails to other members and I did most of the staff calls to Bob. He was great back then and now with the hands on approach ...one on one...to a great community. What other community do we know of does that? 


 


The biggest thing I believe in...that my readers saw when they found my blog.... is that every word I wrote was mine and I wrote as if I were walking right alongside the reader and 'talking' with them, not at them.  Another tip is that the pictures were mine. I used to go out and take pictures around the island and write a post to the picture.

Mar 23, 2016 03:23 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Sally, That's a lot of years in the Rain!  While we technically were around close to the beginning, it's in name only as we weren't around to get to know Jon & Matt and so much of the lore that comes with the origin of this community.  We're glad it's still going strong after all this time with people like you to tie the beginning to the present. 

Mar 22, 2016 10:40 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Matt Heaton and Sally


Bill...here's a pic of our meetup January 2008 and Matt attended too! CRS Sellabration was held in Hawaii. 


 


BOB Steweart


Bob Stewart was included even though he physically couldn't make it.


 


Jeff Dowlerjeffandsally


 


marlene lynda sally


 


 


 


Marlene, Lynda and me

Mar 23, 2016 03:21 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Mar 23, 2016 04:52 AM
Larry Estabrooks
Independent Real Estate Agent - Moncton, NB
100% representation means NEVER DUAL AGENCY !

Good for you Sally!
Cheers from Atlantic Canada,

Larry
(first AR post January 2007)

Mar 22, 2016 08:37 PM
Josilina Bello
United States - Tampa, FL

Congratulations Sally! 

Mar 24, 2016 05:24 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

thank you for sharing your lovely story Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (Sally).... I enjoyed every word of it and congratulations on your 9th year....

Mar 24, 2016 05:51 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Barbara....'things' prevented me from doing as much blogging as I'd have liked the past couple years...the good part is reading the wonderful ones you push out!  You're like a blogging machine!

Mar 24, 2016 12:02 PM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman thanks for sharing your story. So cool to read about the early days and how good the Rain was to you, especially 's influence and mentoring. This is a great community after all and part of my daily routine. I'm heading into my 8th year this August. Congratulations!!!

Mar 24, 2016 12:59 PM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Congratulations Sally!  You're a great example of what Active Rain and the blogging community can be.  You've touched so many in personal ways.  Thanks for the videos and kind thoughts.  May you be continually refreshed and renewed always.

Mar 24, 2016 01:33 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Lola...YOU should be congratulated!  We've spoken on the phone but I have yet to meet you face to face to tell you how your blog impacted me in so many ways!

Mar 25, 2016 08:32 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Aloha aku ia oukou no ka mea, kaʻana like ko oukou moʻolelo.

Mar 25, 2016 05:54 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Kimo...maybe translate for all of us?  Don't understand but a few Hawaiian words (my mom is Japanese and I only know a few sentences lol)

Mar 25, 2016 08:19 AM
Margaret Kapranos
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services - Novato, CA
San Francisco Bay Area REALTOR. 415-608-5070

Inspirational. Good for you Sally!

Mar 25, 2016 11:00 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

COngratulations Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman, that is quite a milestone that you have accomplished!

Mar 27, 2016 02:56 AM
Jim West
Real Estate Technology Partners - Marysville, OH
Our Passion Is Helping 1st Time Home Sellers

Happy Birthday and Congrats on your milestone!

Mar 27, 2016 09:29 AM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach

That's a long time! Are you still active on ActiveRain? Are you still managing you AR group?

Mar 01, 2023 07:40 AM