Dec. 29, 2005 - Three Terrific Tips for Peak Production

Tap into the magic of 3s to focus your action and produce better results. This is simple and youll find it has a big payoff.

Does your day start with a pretty long list of To-Do Items? Most successful agents have a crazy and undifferentiated list of places where they could or should be taking action. I find the shortcoming is being able to consistently prioritize and make choices that have you take the actions that have the juicest payoffs!

Here are my 3 tips to easily and effectively producing peak production:

1. The 3 Most Important Activities

• Each morning, decide what 3 activities will bring the biggest payoff. This likely isnt going to be the squeaky wheels, even though you may need to take care of some of these too! Think of your long term or yearly goals and decide what activities are most aligned with getting you to where you want to be in the big picture.
• Once you have identified these 3, write them on a post-it note to carry with you all day. Each time you complete something, look at the post-it and take action on the next thing on your list.
• Base your prioritizing on what you can do today to raise your personal and business success. You may see that prospecting for an hour or planning your marketing for the month are items that will generate future business to keep your pipeline full. You may need to take a class or buy a new software or hardware.
• If you want, when you complete all 3, you can intentionally pick 3 more, but never have more than 3 at one time.

2. The 3 Next Clients

• Each week, look over all your possible prospects and determine which 3 are the most likely to move into action. Then focus on helping these 3 move forward.
• We have a tendency to try to move everyone along, but you will find by narrowing that focus to the next 3 and consciously brainstorming as to how to move them forward, your effectiveness will increase.

3. The 3 Lowest Hanging Fruit

• What 3 people would be the best to call today? Think about those 20% of your sphere that are responsible for 80% of your referrals.
• Maybe it is another business person who can refer clients to you. Or maybe it is contacting a new business person if they are a fit for your target markets and setting up a lunch or meeting to talk about mutual referring.
• Who can you refer business to today? The cosmic dust you stir up when you refer usually comes back at you!

Keeping things simple helps keep the focus on what makes a difference, instead of just getting the busy work done. Wouldnt you rather be productive than busy? Get out your post-its and choose your three!

Dec. 27, 2005 - Get Your Sphere in Gear TeleConference for January

Here's a great opportunity from my friend and fellow coach, Stuart Kaufman

 Get Your Sphere in Gear™ TeleConference....if you want to get more referrals, this class is for you!

Facilitator: Stuart Kaufman, MS, MBA. Stuart is a Real Estate Coach who developed the Get Your Sphere in Gear™ program to help Real Estate professionals get more referrals and sell more homes with less effort.   Register Here Now

Date: Two Tuesdays, January 10 and 24, 2006
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm PST
Investment: $39, Free Workbook Included
Location: A quiet, comfortable place with your favorite phone

Dec. 27, 2005 - Are You Ready for an Awesome Year????

Clear The Clutter

I heard an amazing story the other day about someone who had an old, clunker car and decided to appreciate what she did have instead of yearning for something else. She cleaned it out, buffed it up, changed the oil and degreased the tires. It sparkled and was spotless. She felt better and started to be proud of how it looked. Strangely enough, a couple of weeks after appreciating and accepting what she did have, her sister called and had just inherited some money and wanted to give her $10,000 for a new car! In woo-woo land, they tell me making the present perfect and being grateful are the first steps to having even more prosperity manifest.

With that thought in mind, what can you cherish and buff up? What needs letting go of? Decluttering is a great way to make the best of what you have and create space for the NEW stuff!

Here are 20 ideas of things you could let go of or declutter:

1. Clean out your trunk
2. Clean out the garage
3. Clean out the rest of the car
4. Clean out your closet
5. Give away all those silly kitchen things you never use
6. Make room in your files for the NEW business
7. Throw out the old audio tapes
8. Throw out or give away the old floppy disks
9. Throw away the handouts from classes before 2003
10. Throw away the old magazines
11. Give away any useable clothing that doesn't fit or make you look great
12. Throw out the old makeup and medicines from the bathroom
13. Throw out the old towels and sheets (or take them out of the linen closet and put them away for rags)
14. Give or throw away the old computer and phone parts you don't even know what they are for. Those cords too! How many phone cords do you need?
15. Recycle the books you will never look at again.
16. How about the 8 track tapes?
17. All those scraps of paper with names and phone numbers
18. The craft stuff you are never going to touch again
19. The cookbooks you never use. Every recipe you'll ever need is on the Internet!
20. What is on your list???????

Let's see if we can build the list to 100!

Dec. 27, 2005 - Join The January Cleanse to Lose 4-10 pounds in 9 days!

Dec. 23, 2005 - An Anonomous Man Shares GIFT WRAPPING TIPS

This is the time of year when we think back to the very first Christmas, when the Three Wise Men; Gaspar, Balthazar and Herb, went to see the baby Jesus and, according to the Book of Matthew, "presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh." These are simple words, but if we analyze them carefully, we discover an important, yet often overlooked, theological fact: There is no mention of wrapping paper.

If there had been wrapping paper, Matthew would have said so: "And lo, the gifts were inside 600 square cubits of paper. And the paper was festooned with pictures of Frosty the Snowman. And Joseph was going to throweth it away, but Mary saideth unto

him, 'Holdeth it! That is nice paper! Saveth it for next year!' And Joseph did rolleth his eyeballs. And the baby Jesus was more interested in the paper than the frankincense."

But these words do not appear in the Bible, which means that the very first Christmas gifts were NOT wrapped. This is because the people giving those gifts had two important characteristics: 1. They were wise. 2. They were men.

Men are not big gift wrappers. Men do not understand the point of putting paper on a gift just so somebody else can tear it off. This is not just my opinion: This is a scientific fact based on a statistical survey of two guys I know.

One is Rob, who said the only time he ever wraps a gift is "if it's such a poor gift that I don't want to be there when the person opens it."

The other is Gene, who told me he does wrap gifts, but as a matter of principle never takes more than 15 seconds per gift. "No one ever had to wonder which presents daddy wrapped at Christmas," Gene said. "They were the ones that looked like

enormous spitballs."

I also wrap gifts, but because of some defect in my motor skills, I can never completely wrap them. I can take a gift the size of a deck of cards and put it the exact center of a piece of wrapping paper the size of a regulation volleyball court, but

when I am done folding and taping, you can still see a sector of the gift peeking out. (Sometimes I camouflage this sector with a marking pen.) If I had been an ancient Egyptian in the field of mummies, the lower half of the Pharaoh's body would be covered only by Scotch tape.

On the other hand, if you give my wife a 12-inch square of wrapping paper, she can wrap a C-130 cargo plane. My wife, like many women, actually likes wrapping things. If she gives you a gift that requires batteries, she wraps the batteries

separately, which to me is very close to being a symptom of mental illness.

My point is that gift-wrapping is one of those skills like having babies that come more naturally to women than to men. That is why today I am presenting:

GIFT-WRAPPING TIPS FOR MEN:

* Whenever possible, buy gifts that are already wrapped. If, when the recipient opens the gift, neither one of you recognizes it, you can claim that it's myrrh.

* The editors of Woman's Day magazine recently ran an item on how to make your own wrapping paper by printing a design on it with an apple sliced in half horizontally and dipped in a mixture of food coloring and liquid starch. They must be smoking crack.

* If you're giving a hard-to-wrap gift, skip the wrapping paper! Just put it inside a bag and stick one of those little adhesive bows on it. This creates a festive visual effect that is sure to delight the lucky recipient on Christmas morning:

YOUR WIFE: Why is there a Hefty trash bag under the tree?

YOU: It's a gift! See? It has a bow!

YOUR WIFE (peering into the trash bag): It's a leaf blower.

YOU: Gas-powered! Five horsepower!

YOUR WIFE: I want a divorce.

YOU: I also got you some myrrh.

In conclusion, remember that the important thing is not what you give, or how you wrap it. The important thing, during this very special time of year, is that you save the receipt.

Dec. 22, 2005 - Be Gentle With Yourself

says Max Ehrmann......

Dec. 21, 2005 - Your Presence vs. Your Presents?

The holidays bring a challenge that pull us to get caught up in chasing  materialism. Ads abound to  help you find that perfect gift. There are lots of ways to spend that money that many have been so successful in creating this year or to take money you haven't even made yet. (Please do not run up credit card bills as a present to yourself)

It's my experience, however, that your loved ones want your presence more than their presents.

To that end, I have a question for you:
How can you create memories this year?
Think about what you got and gave last Christmas or the year before. Do you even remember?

In our busyness...it if often easier to throw money at the holidays rather than thinking of how to give something that will be remembered and cherished...

One year, I took the family on a 5 day trip including the train to get there from Tucson to Mazatlan in Mexico. The adventure of the train (the kids were 11 & 13) and the days together on the beach produced memories we still talk about.

A friend who took up this challenge rented a limo on Christmas Eve to take her grandchildren through our spectacular neighborhood of lights called Winterhaven and then for a picnic in the desert.

I attended a funeral this year for the mother of one of my husband's high school friends. Mother of 5 and grandmother of 30+, she was remembered for the presents she made each Christmas. One grandchild said she did not realize they were poor when she got a handmade doll when everyone else was getting Cabbage Patch Dolls, but the fact her Grandmother made it was more treasured than the pricey store bought doll. And her Grandmother had made one for dozens of granddaughters!

As my father and uncle grew older, we gave the gift of the "Thursday Lunch Club" whereby one member of the family would host lunch each week so they could see one of us and each other. I know that gift was more precious than another shirt or jacket.

Take the stuff back to the store and ask yourself....What memories can you create???

Now, you may not be a seamstress, or artist, but I bet you could think of a way to give of yourself.

My shopping didn't take me to the mall this year....only a trip to the airport to cash in some frequent flier miles and vouchers from overbooked flights (the legacies to my many days away on the road). I am giving the family a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii next month! And now, I'm off to make a Snow White outfit for Lily's American Girl's Bitty Baby that will match the Snow White Dress I made her for Halloween (photos to follow!)......Have joy filled holidays!

Dec. 19, 2005 - Top 10 Ways to Create the Best Year Ever in 2006

While this is a great time to do your business planning for 2006, there are some other important ways you can tweak your personal operating system to bring success to you with less efforting. Shift some attention from working on the what to working on the who you are going to be in 2006 and youll tap into a natural flow of attracting what you want!

1. Right now, visualize your perfect year. Ignore the committee in your head if they start in about being reasonable or knowing how. A big goal that excites you in its possibility can get achieved and is more likely to be fun, stretch your mind, your capabilities and your thinking. Small goals  lead to more-harder-faster thinking and working, rather than forcing you to do re-design. Think of transforming yourself into a butterfly instead of becoming a faster caterpillar.

2. Simplify What you say no to or let go of could be the most important decisions to make for the coming year. The actions that made you successful last year wont yield the same harvest this year. Markets are changing.

• You need to weed the field before planting new ideas. Let go of the bottom 50% of your marketing efforts if they didnt give solid results last year and reposition your marketing to the low hanging fruit.  Stop doing things because everyone else is or because you think the seller expects it. Use your sales skills to educate the seller to what does work and why.
• Make room for the new business. Throw out old stuff. Let go of the high maintenance, energy vampires. Upgrade your rolodex.
• Say No to people and obligations the memberships in groups you dont enjoy.
• Say No to the things that you are less than passionate about

3. Continually Raise Your Standards This is one of my favorites! While I believe a business plan can be very useful I see lots of people with plans that are in no way empowered or excited about their plans. On the other hand, I see successful people who are solely focused on continually increasing their skills and value by raising the bar at every opportunity. Each day ask yourself this question, How can I do this (whatever process you are doing) better? Then implement. Put the change into your systems, procedures or habits. By consciously watching for opportunities to excel & do things better, you will find your goals get achieved in a more relaxed manner. A daily focus on excellence will bring results beyond what can be planned.

4. Practice Extreme Self Care The word, selfish has a bad connotation in our society. Heres the rub…If you dont take care of you, there is no golden hen to lay the eggs. Besides, being in the real estate business is really the ultimate opportunity to have a life: to go on your dream trips or spend time with family rather than being an end of itself. So….what fabulous ways can your pamper & reward yourself next year? One of my favorites is a monthly spa day: Sometimes, Ill go alone and spend the day in reflection and pure unadulterated relaxation. Sometimes, Ill invite a couple of girlfriends (why not make it a reward to all who refer to you in that month?). Either way, it revitalizes me to focus and be super productive afterward.
5. Forgive Someone Unforgiveness is like swallowing poison, waiting for the other person to die. Leave behind in 2005 any hate or resentment. The energy drain is all within you. It doesnt mean you have to accept what happened was just or right, but it means you will no longer rent that person a piece of your psyche. I do believe everyone is doing the best they can, at all times, given what they perceive. When Ive been treated badly, heres what I do: I disconnect from my reaction & try to imagine what that person must be seeing to have their stupid action be the right one. Im able to be more compassionate or not take it personally or sometimes even get an insight into a different way of approaching it, when I try to look through their eyes, instead of gathering evidence to justify my position. Ultimately, though, whether I can shift my understanding of it or not, the holding on to it just wastes my resources. Like a computer with too many programs opened, shutting some down frees bandwidth! Go forward into 2006, leaving behind the old stuff!

6. Quit Tolerating What are you putting up with? Is it a messy workspace? No Systems? Lack of time or money? People who suck energy or dont show you the proper respect? Start 2006 by zapping these tolerations. You get treated the way you let others treat you. Take Control: Its up to you what you put up with. Set boundaries with others. Set time to clean up. Wasting time & energy on the things you can easily take care of is just plain silly.  Hire an organizer-if you need professional help.

7. Practice Gratitude The amazing wealth that surrounds most of us gets overshadowed by our longings for what we dont have yet. What you focus on expands. Each night, write down 5 things that you have to be grateful for. Your unconscious brain will take in the abundance and create opportunities for more of it because of your awareness. If there is more that you want, being a good steward of what you have already been given will set the stage for it to get even better.
8. Expand Your Community Whos part of your team/community? In 2006, if you expand your team, youll accelerate your business. Ask others too help you. People want to contribute! My Granddaughter, Lily, when shown a finger on each hand asked what 1 plus 1  makes, replied: 11!!!! Tap into the power of master mind and you too can make 1+ 1=11 instead of 2! Quit trying to be so darned self-sufficient and include others in your expansion of your business. Yes, this does mean you will sometimes have to give up the control freak part of yourself. Can you do it?
9. Pay It Forward The premise of the novel by Catherine Ryan-Hyde Pay It Forward is one that any person can implement in his or her own life, at any time. It begins with doing a favor for another person-- without any expectation of being paid back. Then make a request that the recipient of that favor do the same for someone else: ideally for three other people. The unconditional favors can be large or small. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Make the world a better place by giving before you are asked! Heres my challenge to you: take $10 today & figure out a way to "pay it forward or increase its worth to make the MOST difference you can: get it matched, invest in something that will grow, be creative and ask others to play with you!

10. Accept The Present is Perfect Everything is perfect right now. You are alive, you have food & shelter. While everything may not be your preferred state – it is where you are, based on your total life experiences and choices. It is the only place the future can be built from. All of your challenges and road blocks have given you valuable lessons to help with the future. Even if everything in your life isnt your idea of perfect, start to more fully cherish what you do have. Keep that old car absolutely spotless.  Use the resources and community that are right under your nose. The acceptance of what is and the letting go of longing about how it should be gives you the place from which to create an incredible future.

Some work on the personal operating system will position you to be all that you can be in 2006! Will you be having your best year ever? I hope so!

Dec. 19, 2005 - Rumi says "Listen"

"Make a way for yourself inside yourself. Stop looking in the other way of looking. You already have the precious mixture that will make you well. Use it."

Trust yourself and enoy!
Bonus quote today from my beloved husband, Bub:
"If you are not enjoying yourself, you are doing it wrong!"

Dec. 16, 2005 - Ah, life...

"Never forget that life can only be nobly inspired and rightly lived if you take it bravely and gallantly, as a splendid adventure in which you are setting out into an unknown country, to face many a danger, to meet many a joy, to find a comrade, to win and lose a battle."
Annie Vesant