How to Accentuate the Positive in Your Real Estate Career
Achieving what you dream of in real estate takes more than believing you can do it. But if you believe you can't do it, you might well never reach your goals. No matter what your background, your unique perspective can help you succeed in real estate. And given the diversity of interactions and skills you'll need to practice, it's not unusual to find some aspects of real estate fit you better than others. Of course, you want to build your skills and address your weak points over time. It's also important to remember that few people achieve rock star status overnight. That means being ready for plenty of learning experiences and relatively few "mastery" experiences. Understanding that can be intimidating, especially when it seems like you are doing all that learning in the public eye, in the highly visible position of marketing yourself as a local real estate expert. When it seems like too much to handle, that's when it's time to look at what you're telling yourself: "Maybe I'm not cut out to be a real estate agent." "If I try this approach, I'll just embarrass myself." "I don't know how I'm going to close this deal." Negative thoughts like these will change your center of gravity. Instead of looking for all the useful and effective things you can do out in your world, they will run you in circles. And while hyping yourself up with positivity you don't believe generally won't help, neither will dwelling on these thoughts. They have nothing new to tell you – and they won't help move you forward, either. At the end of a year, real estate agents need to be particularly alert to what narrative their thoughts are spinning. If you had goals for the last 12 months that didn't pan out the way you wished, you could get knocked off track by that thought – or recognize that January 1 is a new day and keep pursuing them. The key is getting out of your own head. Let's explore how to do it. Motivation Means Focusing on What You Want, Not What You Don't Want Each of us only has so much time, energy, and focus in a day. Negative thoughts are tiring and disempowering. But what, exactly, do you replace them with? In effect, you need to focus your attention on what you want. This can take some imagination. The key skill of staying motivated is to direct your thoughts from what you don't want to what you do any time you find yourself worrying, complaining, or criticizing your own performance. That can be tricky, and it takes practice. So, set up your environment to be conducive to it. Here are some ways to do that: Make Plenty of Time for Yourself to Recharge The first year of a real estate agent's career can be hectic, and it's not unusual to lose sight of what a healthy set of work hours looks like. As time goes on, you define repeatable processes and win back time using technology. But you can – and should – start that process at any moment. Set boundaries so you aren't answering client questions at 2 a.m., and be sure you are getting full weekends off! Foster Human Connections Every Week Scheduling real face-time is getting harder, both in business and among the people you care about. If you're working from home, it's extra important to make sure you aren't isolated. Networking groups can be a big help here, especially if the members share a compatible vision. If you're at the right stage, also consider how you might delegate more tasks by bringing on a virtual assistant or another staff member. Understand What Keeps You Inspired "Inspiration" can seem like something that's hard to gauge or define, but it can be simple. It's a positive emotional experience that makes you feel the power and potential of your ideas. You don't have to wait for inspiration to strike on its own: You can think about what inspires you and get a burst of energy by listening to podcasts, watching videos, or partaking in any other content that aligns with those desires. Define Your Deeper Mission Many of the most successful and long-lasting businesses are defined by a mission with values that go beyond making money. This works especially well for real estate professionals. In everything you do, you are helping someone reach one of their biggest goals in life. So give yourself credit for all the ways you make a positive difference in the lives of others, and it will help you get through the tough days. Three Big Excuses You Can Get Rid of Right Now to Achieve More in Your Business Sometimes, getting stuck in your own head comes from certain habits of thought. These habits arise from preconceptions about how much you need to know and what you need to do to be a valuable partner to your customers. They are particularly challenging for perfectionists. Even the best real estate expert doesn't know everything, and everyone makes mistakes. "What if?" thoughts are especially burdensome. They always represent a place where your knowledge is necessarily imperfect. There's really no way to answer a "what if?" in advance, and trying to is a waste of energy – you have to get out there and work through it as it happens. Those are learning moments. Here are some examples of excuses you can drop in order to do more: "What if I don't know the answers to customers' questions?"One of the biggest pieces of the puzzle when it comes to a real estate agent's brand is their knowledge of the local area and communities. But no matter how hard you work, you will still get questions you don't know the answer to – including those you never thought of before. Learn to take those in stride, get the information, and follow up promptly. Everyone does it, even the biggest successes out there. "That [method, software, whatever] won't work for my people." Many new real estate agents shy away from things like email marketing, social media, and even basics like following up because they believe the people they know are (or aren't) a certain way. But all of these techniques have been used effectively by thousands of real estate agents. They exist because, on average, they do work. Trust in the process, and you will find yourself moving forward. It's that simple. "I don't want to put myself out there like that." Unfortunately, Google and antiquated rules about what constitutes "public information" have already put just about everything there is to know a few clicks away – address, age, and much more. If this feels like a nightmare to you, you're not alone. But you still have plenty of control over what you post on social media. If you don't want to share what you had for breakfast, you don't have to. The good thing about being in your head is that you can get out whenever you wish. After all, you can only do one thing at a time, and that includes thinking. Commit to focusing your attention where you want it to be. That will influence your day-to-day, then your strategy, and ultimately your career. Get a positive start on your goals with a free 30-day trial of DeltaNET 6. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

From Plan to Reality: Making Goals and Sticking to Them
Real estate is one of the most popular second careers in the United States. Agents come from all sorts of backgrounds and from all over the country. From homemakers to retirees, tradespeople to executives, each person brings a fresh perspective to the industry. Along with a growing number of college students graduating from real estate business programs, all of these various viewpoints and personalities help shape the future of buying and selling homes. What one thing unites them all, more than anything else? They want to succeed – and no matter when they begin their career, they're in it for the long haul. Many people spend their first two years in real estate getting their footing and discovering the ins and outs of the trade: Learning fundamental real estate skills and discovering what appeals to them Seeking out warm leads among their family, friends, and business associates Executing on those crucial first transactions and cultivating a referral network There are few things more satisfying than reaching closing day on your first home. It is a truly transformative experience for many newcomers: The day they can see that they have truly made a difference in a client's life. But how you get started isn't always how you should continue. It's easy to fall into the trap of doing what's worked before for as long as you can. Unfortunately, it's impossible to grow or scale your business without stretching to try new things. If you stay in "referral mode," your profit will always be limited by the hours in the day. And if you push yourself to work too much, you could crash. Instead, real estate agents who have cleared those first few hurdles should take time to plant seeds and find that perfect balance. The Goals You Pursue Today Are Your Seeds for a More Prosperous Tomorrow The most precious resource is time. Few things make that more obvious than a handful of weeks spent working 10-hour days! When you set and commit to goals, you are designing your future in important ways: You determine the highest-value ways to use your skills, money, and time in the long run You go from having a job to owning a business that can help you live the life you desire By growing on the way to your goals, you are more resilient when circumstances change Even goals we don't reach can teach us things we will use in the future — because the purpose of setting a goal is to clarify where you're headed and move in the right direction consistently. It's that second part – consistency – that brings so much challenge, even for high-performing people who accomplish much in many areas of life. Big goals can seem very far away. In many cases, your progress toward them is opaque. So, how does anyone – in real estate or otherwise – stay the course on those big goals? Odds are good you set a few goals of your own in January. Here's how to stick to them and excel: Recognize the Limits of Your "Goal Bandwidth" Goals are critical to being proactive and intentional. But whether you're working solo or you have a team of ten, time and attention set hard limits on goals. From individuals to agencies, most people have room for two or three goals at a time. The more goals you have, the more divided your focus and the less time you can devote to each one. Make Your Goals Impossible to Ignore Goals need to be externalized into the present world to have any effect. Even something as simple as having to open a specific file to review your goals is already too complicated. Just like fundraisers have those iconic "donation thermometers," you need physical reminders of your plans, so your thoughts return to them regularly. Break Goals into Smaller, More Attainable Pieces The bigger a goal is, the easier it is to feel out of reach. Anyone who has ever tried to lose 30 pounds or more knows this feeling. The solution? Break goals down into individual steps, then look at that immediate next step and dice it down even further until you understand precisely what you need to do next. Document Those Small Pieces Wherever Possible Say you discover that one goal has four major steps, and the first of those steps has six little pieces. The odds of you remembering all of them at any given time are nil – they exceed working memory all on their own. Once you figure out your steps, write them down. This will also help you uncover gaps where more research or planning is needed. Make Time to Review Your Goals As you take those small steps, you are making progress. But that progress is often hard to see, let alone be excited by. Goal reviews should happen at least monthly, for two reasons. One, they ensure you are still doing the things you need to do. Two, they put your progress since the last check-in into context, boosting morale. Find Ways to Leverage Accountability Research shows people are much more likely to complete a fitness program if they enter it with a friend and stick together. So, too, with real estate goals. Peer accountability works and avoids the de-motivation traps that top-down accountability to a boss can cause. Accountability to a mentor can also be highly effective. Implement the Tools You Need to Reach Your Goals As you center your goals, you will find more opportunities to update and upgrade your workflows. You might find, for example, that you can save half an hour a day by using a Customer Relationship Management suite to stay aware of what your contacts are doing. Look at the long-term cost-benefit of tools as you decide. Eliminate Distractions from Your Day The bird's-eye view keeps you on the right track, but goals aren't attained at 30,000 feet: They involve daily effort down in the trenches. One of the best ways to rack up those hours is to cut distractions. Start with your mobile device; it should be on mute and notification-free for defined periods of the day while you do deep work. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Guide Daily Priorities President Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander of the Allied invasion of Normandy, used a single tool to optimize his limited time and attention. This four-quadrant matrix immediately clarifies the relevance of any work task: Urgent and Important: These tasks are top priority and should be done right away Urgent, Not Important: These tasks should be delegated if they cannot be eliminated Important, Not Urgent: Time must be set aside for these long-term growth tasks Not Important, Not Urgent: These tasks can be cut out of one's work-time schedule Dedicate Your First Hour to Your Highest Priority Invest the first hour of work (after your morning routine) to the most vital task that will bring your goals closer. This hour should be ruthlessly distraction-free, which is why it helps to do it early: FOMO is often high among real estate agents, who know they must respond to leads in minutes, but always put first things first. Goals become goals because they won't materialize in the normal course of doing business – or if they do, it will take ten times longer than with focused, intentional effort. Using these techniques, you can drive toward your goals more consistently, honor the value of your time and energy, and still get the rest you need. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

23 Productivity Hacks to Help Real Estate Agents Boost Their Business
Working in real estate can feel like an impossible task. With new agents entering the market all the time, how can you stay ahead? The key to success in real estate is being more productive than your peers. This does not necessarily mean working more. Instead, you should seek to be more efficient with your time. Here are 23 productivity hacks to help you boost your real estate business.

9 Traits of Wildly Successful Agents
Do you want to learn from and follow in the footsteps of the greatest minds that have succeeded in the real estate business? Perhaps you have already heard some of the formulas and traits discussed and heralded by top producers and their coaches. Let us go over them one-by-one to see what resonates with you and see how you can transform yourself one step at a time into an even greater version of yourself.

Red-blooded Passion Shown by Realtors and a Realtor Association
We all need to find ways to help in our local communities--and the more real estate professionals I speak with, the more hope I have for humanity. Earlier, I shared Melody Botting's story about volunteering at the San Antonio Food bank. This week, I had the chance to speak with Addie Owens, the President of the REALTORS Association of Lake and Sumter Counties in Florida (RALSC). I saw a notice that RALSC was co-sponsoring a blood drive. Before contacting her, I did a little research. The web is filled with stories from the American Red Cross about blood shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I decided it was a timely subject, so I reached out to Addie.

5 Quotes that Will Motivate You to Become the Best Real Estate Agent in the New Year
While the holiday season is just beginning, it's never too early to start thinking about how to take the upcoming new year by storm. These five quotes can help you get motivated to take on 2020 like the champion that you are. And, bonus, each is an image that you can easily share on Pinterest or your other social media accounts!

5 Quotes that Will Motivate You to Become the Most Successful Real Estate Agent
1. "If you're trying to create a company, it's like baking a cake. You have to have all the ingredients in the right proportion." – Elon Musk, Tesla Motors How do you expect to achieve success in your real estate career without having the proper foundation? This is where you have to make sure you have all of your "ingredients" prepared to build your career and turn it into a "delicious cake." Hard work, dedication and networking can only get you so far, but you also need tools that help take your real estate career one step further.

5 Morning Habits of the Most Successful Real Estate Professionals
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier Rise and shine! How do you begin your day? Are you pushing the snooze button and then racing against the clock to get out the door? Or are you truly in charge of your schedule? To be successful in real estate, motivation and efficiency aren't merely useful, they are critical. The name of the game is to move through your day with intention. To be proactive instead of reactive. Pair all of these healthy habits with discipline and consistency – and you've got the recipe for boundless success.

How to Become, Stay and Feel Successful: The Final Secret (6/22)
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT Opportunity is knocking on your door. Don't complain about the noise... open it! During this 90 minutes with Hall of Fame speaker Floyd Wickman you will learn and be inspired to fulfill your full potential with the opportunities you have now. You will learn how to: Implement the formula that will drive up your production Keep yourself positive and focused The number one tool to balance your family and business time 6 production secret of all top producers Register now!

[VIDEO] 7 Brilliant Tips to Start Making 7 Figures in Real Estate
Want to take your real estate business to the next level and start making some serious money? It's way easier said than done. Founder of "The King of Systems," John Cochran, goes through 7 crucial steps you need to take in order to take your real estate business to the next level. Step number 2 is a game-changer!

I Can't Believe This is Happening to Me!
Ever have one of those weeks where "the sky is falling" and nothing seems to go right? Sometimes, no matter what you do, the chips don't fall your way. That hot new listing you were hoping for signs up with a competitor, your best buyer lead decides to put things off for six months, even your car turns against you and breaks down on the way to work! It happens... these are the things that seemingly are sent to test us. It's almost as if the universe wants to see if we are up to the challenge – before it will offer any new successes. Bill McDermott is the CEO of SAP, the world's business software leader (291,000 customers). He presents himself as a very inspirational leader who understands the necessity for mental toughness. In a recent interview, he shared some very insightful wisdom: "Never let the circumstances of the moment affect the size of your dreams." Mr. McDermott makes a lot of sense. He went on to say that you must always "Stay with your big purpose." Sometimes it's tough to fight through the "circumstances of the moment" when grenades are going off all around you. The next time you have one of those days or weeks when nothing is going right, here are five ideas to get you back on track: Protecting the Size of Your Dreams 1. Your Goals/Dream Board – Make sure you're very clear on your big goals. As Bill McDermott says, "Focus on your big purpose." What are the real reasons you are working so hard? Have a look at your goals list every morning, spend a couple of extra moments looking at your dream board. If you don't have one, Google some pictures and make one up right away – it won't take long. The main thing is to stay motivated.

Convince Yourself First
When I started prospecting for my business, I hated the phone. I felt bad for interrupting people, I was anxious to accept any excuse and hang up. It took me a long time to get my own head right, and that experience has led me to one hard truth – long before you convince your prospect, you've got to convince yourself. Since 1997, I haven't picked up the phone without thinking these words: CALM CONFIDENT GROUNDED STRONG HAPPY Say these words to yourself before each call. People can smell a pitch coming from miles away, and that's okay, because they can smell, touch, taste and feel your sincerity. If you can get yourself to a place where you genuinely care about making a positive difference in the lives of every single person you have the privilege to touch, you're not only MILES ahead of your competition, you're playing an entirely different game.

5 Great Sales Tips from Steve Jobs
Here are five great sales tips from Steve Jobs that I know you will enjoy: 1. Do not compete on price – compete on value - Consider the way retailers like Costco operate. Almost everything is discounted from the competition. Their televisions are sold primarily based on price. Very few purchasers spend time checking out the various features offered by the manufacturers – the lowest price is the main buying criteria. Now translate that concept into you having a listing agreement signed at full commission. When you show extra value, your seller will be happy to pay you more because you're going to get them more. It is critical that you show them how you're going to do that. Your listing presentation must demonstrate that extra value and equally importantly; it must be entertaining, compelling, and full of conviction. This is definitely not the time to "wing it." 2. People do not know what they want until you show it to them (Steve was a master at introducing new ideas that everybody decided they needed) - Make sure that the value you bring demonstrates how current you are with what works today. A couple of interesting examples here: A) For your sellers — Open Houses are much more effective now than they were five years ago. This is due to the fact that buyers are much now more actively searching the Internet. This is obviously not a new idea but it is one that should be resurrected. B) For your buyers – With there being such a shortage of inventory right now, doorknocking the neighborhood your buyers are interested in can be amazingly productive (and profitable). Make sure when you are asking for the Buyers Agency Agreement signature, you are pointing out that this is the type of "above and beyond" approach you will be taking. It will open their eyes as to how serious you are about helping them find exactly what they want.

Finding True Job Satisfaction in Real Estate
Real estate is an entrepreneurial business. Each agent or broker who makes it puts his or her heart, soul, spirit, effort, professional and personal self on the line every day. In some ways, this puts you a step ahead of the general population, because it's unlikely you went into the risks of entrepreneurship for something you didn't feel passionate about. Sure, some people are only in for the money, but, from experience, they don't end up succeeding as well as those who do it for the love of the industry itself, the freedom of self-employment, and the ability to have just that little bit more control over their lives. With risk comes reward, and that reward is job satisfaction. I recently saw a blog post on motivation by Chester Elton, co-author of What Motivates Me: Put Your Passions to Work, with Adrian Gostick, and it struck a chord. Elton wrote about his 20+ year career as a consultant, particularly the last 10 years, in which he and his team conducted three research studies on workplace trends, comprising more than 850,000 interviews. All those interviews, all that research, all that data answered some questions. More than that, it highlighted a "key difference in those people who are most energized on the job." So what is that key difference? Well, Elton says, "The happiest have aligned more of their work with their core motivations. As for those people who are most unhappy at work, as you might expect, their jobs are out of whack with what they are passionate about."

December Blogging Plan
Week 1: All things holiday related The December holidays provide a wealth of topic ideas that can inspire multiple blog posts. You can cover seasonal events like christmas tree lightings and parades, or direct readers to the best neighborhoods to see holiday light displays. Recipes, decorations, and homemade crafts are always a favorite, too (find ideas on Pinterest). Whatever you do, don't try to cram all that seasonal information into a single post! Start dripping out the holiday articles early and continue to post them throughout December. Additional or alternative topic: Staging your home during the holidays This month isn't all tinsel and light--serious real estate business is still going on amidst the hustle and bustle. And with homes harder to sell during the cold months, it's important that your sellers stage their home properly. Advise them to make sure their holiday decorations don't clash with their home's interior or overpower its best selling points. Seasonal decor can actually draw attention to great features. A beautiful fireplace, for example, can be tastefully staged with hanging stockings.

November Blogging Plan
From elections to Thanksgiving to Hurricane Sandy's aftermath, November presents a wealth of blog topics. We've rounded up eight more for you to help you jumpstart your writing. Week 1: What You Need to Know About Filing Insurance Claims In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, this is an especially pertinent topic. If your business is located in an area affected by the storm, be sure to urge homeowners who experienced damage to file a claim right away. Because claims are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, the high volume of claims is sure to delay payments significantly. For areas outside of Sandy's reach, offer practical tips for dealing with common issues in your area, whether floods, fires, or other problems. Let your readers know why it's important to make sure their home is not underinsured, and advise them to get their own repair estimates from a contractor before the insurance adjustor arrives.

Follow the Leader: Top Agent Justin Havre on the Value of Technology
Justin Havre is a real estate agent from CIR Realty in Calgary, Alberta. CIR is the largest independent firm in Canada with about 650 agents. With his team, Justin Havre & Associates, he has been number one or two in his brokerage over the last three years. To put that in perspective: in 2011 they were number one, closing 171 sides with an average price in Calgary of about $430,000. I sat down with Justin recently at a technology conference put on by his web technology provider, Real Estate Webmasters, to find out how technology fits into his success. One thing that became clear immediately was Justin's intent to make technology an integral part of his business from day one. Before real estate, he worked in the cable industry on the technology side, but, after some time, decided that he wanted to make a change. He set his sights on real estate. He chose CIR Realty (Canada's largest independent brokerage) because of the great virtual tools they offered and their overall commitment to technology. Everyone in their office, he pointed out, does their own documents online, manages their deals online--including deal processing--right down to payment of commissions. It was exactly what he was looking for.

August Blogging Plan
Have you been following our monthly blogging plans? If so, you've been leveraging some pretty cool topics (if we do say so ourselves) this Summer. If not, you can find the first two months here: June Blogging Plan July Blogging Plan Most of these topics aren't too time sensitive, so you can use them now if you haven't already. Remember: these are consumer-facing topics, so they should be written to an audience of buyers, sellers, and/or homeowners. You might also want to check out these great topics from Karli Larson of ePropertySites: 10 Great Post Ideas for Your Real Estate Blog We're going to continue with this month's weekly blog topics (as well as additional/alternative topics). Most experts recommend blogging more than once a week, so don't be afraid to use all of the topics we've included here. Week 1: Home Improvements Sellers Should Avoid "Planning to sell your home in the near future? Here are _____ [your number goes here] improvements that will cost you money but won't increase your home value." So begins an easy-to-write post about home improvements that sellers should avoid. You know what these so-called improvements are from your own experience, but you may want to consider things like: fancy landscaping, new carpets (many people prefer hardwood floors), converting a spare room into a home office (many people don't work from home and would rather have the blank space). Additional or Alternative Topic: Tips for Attracting International Buyers As with the topic above, this is geared to sellers. This post should explain why it's important to reach out to international buyers as well as the ways that you, awesome agent that you are, can do this. Of course, if you're not doing anything for global marketing, this isn't the topic for you. (Want to get started with global marketing? Here's some recommended reading: Golden Opportunity: Translate Your Listings. You can also browse our product directory for global marketing and language translation.)

Goals 2012
This post comes to us from the Happy Grasshopper blog. Seriously folks…it’s almost March and nearly all of us have abandoned our New Years’ Resolutions.  We’re better than this right? In this video, you’ll get specific tips from industry leaders on how to make the rest of 2012 really count.  Many thanks to Jeremy Blanton, Jared James, Roberta Ross, Mike Selvaggio, Eric Stegemann, Greg Grospitch and Chris Smith.

Fight Your Way Out of the Doldrums
Contributor Peter Toner of Web Real Estate Marketing shares this post: Have you seen this agent recently? Not necessarily greedy, in this current market they are more likely to be desperate Really great real estate agents uphold the principles they live by – honesty, integrity and solid morals. Working diligently for their clients, day in day out they provide a level of service that is unwavering even if they have demanding or difficult clients. These experienced dedicated agents are part of the 10% that do 90% of the business. On the other hand it’s true that some agents struggle because they are lazy, some are nasty, mean or even dishonest. But it’s no wonder more agents are struggling when you examine these charts -

Find What You Love
In any profession, it can be easy to lose heart and wonder if you chose the right path in life. In 2005, Steve Jobs was asked to address Stanford University's graduating class. His advice to these young Americans was simply that to be a success you've got to find what you love. Here is the full Commencement address delivered on June 12, 2005. "I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories. The first story is about connecting the dots. I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

5 Blogging Lessons Straight from Hollywood
For this week's movie night, I gave up my chick pick and let my beau choose. It was a good call. He picked one with a super hottie. The Fighter chronicles the story of Mickey Ward and his journey to a Welterweight Title. if you haven't watched it yet, it's out on DVD and you should definitely rent it. Ward was known for his left hook to the body and his ability to take a lot of punches while waiting to land it. In fight after fight he was basically declared dead before coming back to drop his opponent. Sometimes we all feel like we are being beaten down by a faster, better prepared opponent. But, like in so many stories, it seems to be those who can take a bit of punishment that can end up victorious.

4 Reasons Giving Positive Feedback Rewards
I made someone`s day last week. How do I know? She told me. I had a bit of time to kill before an appointment and I was starving, so I stopped off at a nearby deli for a quick bite to eat. I had my notebook with me and started to think about the content for the leadership course that I am coaching in a few weeks. I was looking for words to describe leadership skills. Coming up a bit short, I asked a waitress who was wandering around the following question: "What makes your boss a good leader?" She thought for a moment, and then proceeded to give me a list, which I wrote down. After my meal, I bumped into the owner of the deli (the waitress's boss) and I shared my findings with her. She was absolutely dumbfounded and delighted. She wanted to know why I asked the question and who I was. She wanted to know what I do for a living and asked for my card. It was a haphazard encounter, but it was one that was immensely rewarding and insightful for me. Events like this trigger epiphanies, and slowly they formulate strategies that turn into implemented ideas. So what does all this have to do with everyday life? Everything.

Go Into Your Week Smiling
To Smile is to... Wake up – Show others you care by giving attention to their needs Be thankful – The opportunity to serve is a gift... not an entitlement Be approachable – We're at each other's service and contact is where it starts Complain less – Being positive is more fun Smile. Really – It's where pleasantness begins To Move is to... Start early & go long – Get lost in your service to others Exceed expectations – Dismiss mediocrity. Expect and enjoy more from yourself Have a sense of urgency – Everyone's time is valuable Be resourceful & resilient – Results are what we're all really after

Start the Week with Inspiration
Take a minute out of your busy Monday to gain some perspective about what motivates us. Ten quotes, ten inspiring individuals and only 1 minute of your day.   The glass if half full already. 

How One Cashier Generated Clients for Life
Every one of us has the opportunity each day to build loyalty among our clients and customers. This week, take a minute to be reminded about some simple truths about customer service. 1.) Put your personal signature on the job 2.) Focus on positive thoughts each day 3.) Great service comes from the heart Want an example? Take a lesson from Johnny,  a bagger with Down syndrome at a grocery store and watch how he made a difference in the lives of his customers.

How to Play Your Team’s Personalities to Their Advantage
Guest Contributors Ray Martin and Jennifer Hixson Say: In our popular Personality and the Team program, we have the opportunity to show people how many of their behaviors can flow from their personalities. If you know their preferences on the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality sorter, you can have insight into how they might act: as individuals and together in a team setting. Let's take a look at the four scales: Extraversion - Introversion (attention and energy focus) Briefly, extraversion (or "E" in MBTI shorthand) has its focus on the outer world and gets energized from interacting with others. Their energy drains when they are alone. Introversion ("I"), on the other hand, has its focus on the inner world and gives up energy when interacting with others. Their energy recharges when they are able to separate from others into a private space or activity.

Making Your Goals a Reality
Have you ever set goals for yourself?  Would you say you meet most goals you set, or are you someone who has the best of intentions but not much to show for them? As a real estate professional, who is in the business of generating leads and closing deals, setting goals can be a key component for success. But the secret to success comes in writing actionable goals down and holding to them. Zig Ziglar, popular American motivational speaker and self-help author, gives a short example about how powerful goal setting can be in achieving success. Ziglar himself came from humble beginnings and grew to become an expert sales person, best selling author, and highly sought after

Committing to Success in 2011
“Make a decision!” My strident internal voice creates a slice of pain that arches over the crown of my head—a jolting order shrieking loudly enough to cause my heart to pound and my face to burn with frustration. It isn’t as if I am making a choice between life and death. I only have to determine how my business will grow over the next two to five years. Certainly, I can delay mapping out my career until I have a “safe” amount of discretionary cash set aside. Except one thought keeps hounding me: What came first? The chicken or the egg? Now, I understand that it doesn’t make any difference which came first. All I have to do is commit. No excuses, no lop-sided rationalizations that I might not be meant for what I want to do. Just set one foot in front of the other and take the first step. Whether that first step will falter or stride confidently forward is determined by my attitude and strength of belief in my own skills, attributes and character.

Money Doesn't Buy Happiness
“The value of a man resides in what he gives not in what he is capable of receiving”-  Albert Einstein “For it is in giving that we receive” – St. Francis of Assisi Happy  Monday!  It is hard to believe it is less than a week until Christmas! If you celebrate Christmas I hope your shopping is done and you are looking forward to short week. Last week my office took a little time out and volunteered to ring the Salvation Army bell at our local mall for a couple hours.  I have to say it was probably a little out of my comfort zone and I had pre-judged what to expect. I stepped further out of my comfort zone by agreeing to take ballroom dancing lessons with my wife but that is a different story. I think I was less concerned about skydiving then I am about ballroom dancing! Despite the weak economy, I was really surprised how many people stopped at our kettle and at the amounts they donated. If you stopped by thank you! It quite frankly restored my faith in people. However, there were still a ton of people that walked by without donating.  It made me start thinking about what makes someone want to give and someone just walk by.  As a general observation, the people donating were smiling and friendly. There wasn’t one person that walked by that couldn’t spare a buck so economic reasons don’t come into play. I think the bottom line is it has to do with attitudes towards money on whether you donate or not. Image: Chris Sharp / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are You Remarkable? If You Choose to Be
The end of the year is approaching, and as we all look back over our years and evaluate the successes and room for improvement, it is important to empower yourself with a positive outlook.  Certainly realism is of value when looking through where you are in life, where you are looking to go and how you are going to get there.  However a key ingredient to many successful people is that indomitable spirit that drives individuals  to take risks and ultimately reach their potential. Enjoy this short motivational video.  May it inspire you this week to meet challenges with a smile and to re-evaluate your progress in 2010 with budding hope for 2011.