Feb. 24, 2009 - Time To Start Thinking of Spring Cleaning!

I love Tucson! It may not be Spring yet where you are, but we’ve had a week of 80 degree weather here this week. The wildflowers I planted a few months ago are almost ready to bloom. We spent last week with birthday’s galore: My youngest, my daughter Dawn turned 40, granddaughter Julia turned 2, and step-granddaughter Emelie is now 11. So I threw a party for February birthdays! My good friend, Mary Pope Handy, also had a big birthday this month and is throwing a party! Smart lady-have fun and connect with friends and clients!

How I love parties……. It was so much fun to relax and enjoy friends and family. The house gets such a nice cleaning and organizing when we are planning a party, a sense of order feels good. We’ve been in this house for 26 years and moving is probably going to be the only way to get my husband to let go of things! I have made peace with the fact that this man won’t change and since I’ve invested 31 years with him, it’s pretty silly to let his habits drain my energy! I listened to Byron Katie say the other day, ”If the socks on the floor bother you, pick them up!” (see below in Resources a call with her tonight)

So, for me, it’s was about where can I make impact and I didn’t have to go very far to see the obvious answer: my office. I discovered there were files and notebooks from my old CoachU days (95-95) and tech files I’ve saved that date back to 2000. So I tackled the letting go of lots of old paperwork. I’m giving away books as well. Throwing away floppy disks! I don’t even have a machine to put them in. Maybe you don’t hold onto stuff like this, but if you do, how about making it a project this month to LET GO?

This is a good fit for using the Law of Attraction, by the way. If you want to attract good stuff, make room for it. Overstuffed filing cabinets, bookshelves and closets don’t give you room for the new, good stuff. Now, I am not espousing waste. Do recycle. We have a great listserve called www.Freecycle.com here that connects people who have stuff to give away and people who need stuff. There may be one in your town too. When you put anything back out into the universe, it releases energy. Letting go gives you more energy and gives others that energy! Pretty cool, huh? I bet you could fill 1-2 garbage bags with stuff you don’t need any more.

While you are clearing the physical mental space, how is your internal level of stuff draining energy? I use, with my clients, a coaching checklist called Clean Sweep that you can use to see where your energy drains are. The assessment has a 25 point checklist for four areas of your life: environment, health, finances and relationships. Realize that EVERYTHING that doesn’t work, that annoys you, that you are putting up with and tolerating is draining energy. Some of it you can do something about and starting today with just one of those items, will lessen the outflow of wasted energy. Some of those things you can’t do anything about and you need to stop worrying or suffering over. Let go and accept it is the way it is. Life isn’t fair. NEXT>>>>> Because there are so many great ways you can spend your energy to make a difference. Take the Clean Sweep and see if it helps you identify some areas to “clean-up” “buff up” or let go of. It doesn’t matter where you start with this assessment, but the goal is to get to about 90 because at that place, you’ll notice there is a lot less drag!

There’s one last area I am going to suggest that can lift a weight from your shoulders. What are you still doing or belonging to or volunteering time with that no longer holds passion for you? Sometimes, we keep doing things out of habit, or say yes when we really don’t want to so someone else will be happy with us. Let go here! Personally, I did this lately in a couple of areas that were hard to let go of, but that I knew weren’t serving me or anyone else because my passion had waned. I sold The Real Estate Games to Coach Patti at the end of last year. And I decided to leave the faculty of No Blogger Left Behind. Both of these courses are fantastic and you’ll still get great benefit with Coach Patti or Frances Flynn Thorsen, but it was time for me to move on. Right now, I am really focused on not having my energy be dissipated by too many obligations. It feels good. I am loving my life.

Use March to get a jump on this, and I’ll bet if you do, you’ll see the results in production in the 2nd Quarter of the Year!

Feb. 17, 2009 - The Future of Commissions and Lots of RESOURCES and opportunities!

I asked you last week what you were doing differently. I focused mainly on asking you about your level of service and what you were doing to WOW them.

This week, I want you to think about the choices you provide when someone wants to hire you.

 If you are still working in the one size fits all mode, it’s time to review your offerings. 

I think this article, 6% Commission is Dead, in Inman News has some very good points.

As you did your business plan for 2009

(you DID do a plan, didn’t you???? You can still get my Awesome Year Plan for $12),

what new ways of representing your clients are you implementing this year?

There are 2 great courses available that I recommend that will bring you up to speed here:

The SRS, Seller Representation Specialist, is a 2 day live course that I am instructor for. It can also be taken online. It will take in depth into how to best represent Sellers (the equivalent to the ABR course for Buyers Representatives). You’ll learn what you will need to offer to compete in the coming years! (I am taking bookings for 2009 if you’d like the course brought to  you, if you don’t find there is one in your area).

The other course that has an enormous amount of data on this subject is the ACRE (Accredited Consultant in Real Estate).  The designation includes an incredible library of materials and a community of savvy agents that are working and learning to work as consultants! You can save $25 on the course by using my code”win-win”

Tuesday’s Travel Tip

Instead of going to multiple sites, here is the Google of travel sites. You will save time and money and when you become a Preferred Member, you will be guaranteed the lowest fare. You also get up to 30 minutes of concierge service and free travel insurance. Check it out and bookmark it!

Tuesday Resources

1.      Do you suffer or worry? Want to stop it? Last year in my work with people business planning for 2009, I used Byron Katie’s Work. I have found it very powerful. Here’s some great news: My friend, Suzanne Falter Barnes, is a offering a free call next week with this amazing lady. You can get in on the Byron Katie Call by clicking here. Enjoy!

2.      Every year there is an amazing conference of the country’s business leaders called TED . Here is a great video on wisdom from Barry Schwartz

Barry Schwartz studies the relationship between economics and psychology, delivering startling insights into modern life.

3.       Don’t miss this year’s National Real Estate Cyber Convention. The Eighth Annual event opens next Sunday (2/22).
Pick up your comp pass here    I love this event! Lots of great speakers and vendors! And all from the comfort and convenience of your own computer.

Tuesday’s Borrowed Wisdom

“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.”  Richard Bach

Follow Up To Zillow v. Trulia

In case you missed it, you can listen to this 60 minute teleconference that will give you lots of information about how to use these two portals to affordably maximize your marketing. If you are not yet a Trulia PRO, you can try it out with 2 free months by using the special code they have given me to give you: 4JO4NN. Here is a great blog post on getting the most out of Trulia

Tuesday’s Shameless Promotion of Upcoming Opportunities

1.      This month’s Fossland’s Forum is titled:

Follow Your Bliss..How To Travel, Have Fun, & Make Money!

Friday, February 20, 2009 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MST       ·         Do you want to travel less expensively? Do you deserve a vacation (and have it be tax deductible)? Want to have an additional income stream? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this Webinar is for you! You can register by clicking on the title above.   Top of Form   Bottom of Form

Network, Learn, Get Focused and Have Fun

Are You On Track with your goals for 2009?

Do you want to understand more about Social Media and building an online presence?

Join Frances Flynn Thorsen and me

for a 2 Day Retreat and 1^st Quarter CheckUp

		April 5th & 6th in Williams, Arizona   Here is what we have planned: April 5th beginning at 2 PM through April 6 at 4 PM Half of the agenda will be ·         Reviewing where you are with your plan ·         Looking at the opportunities are in the marketplace. ·         Discussion of how to take it to the next level The second half will be focused on ·         Social Media ·         Blogging ·         How to build an online reputation An Added VALUE: This will include Frances’s  4 hour Class ,CE Legal Issues, that you will get credit for called SocialMedia-Tips to avoid a Risk Management Nightmare
		Meeting Site and Sleeping Rooms for first 10 participants Generously Donated by Sandi Foree All this for only: $150 Per person!
		Limited to 20 Participants.          Sign up today at www.joeann.com/gameretreats.htm     Have an AWESOME WEEK!!!!!!!

Feb. 10, 2009 - Shift Happens! Have YOU Shifted?

What are you doing differently this year? I’ve been talking with my coaching clients and the ones who are thriving have shifted into responding to the opportunities available right now instead of trying to return the “basics” and do more, harder, faster of what used to work.

Listen…..it is no longer 2006! That horse is out of the barn and is a long way away. If you want a pony to ride right now, you have to take a look at what is in the barn right now. Maybe it isn’t even a horse. Maybe it’s a giraffe or a mongoose. Chances are, it will take different riding skills that you used for the horse. What new skills do you need? What new way of serving your clients will bring them value?

Tuesday’s Borrowed Wisdom

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"

Tuesday’s RESOURCES

My three favorite reads for shifting…

1. If you haven’t read Gary Keller’s book, Shift, it will give you insight into what kind of animal you are facing and how to ride it.

2. My amazing friend, Margaret Rome’s book, Real Estate The Rome Way, is one to highlight and bookmark as she shares her great ideas. If you haven’t had the opportunity to know (and be touched by) Margaret Rome personally, this book is the next best thing! This awesome woman shares the secrets and systems that have made her one of the best agents in the country. Whether you are a new agent or an experienced one, the gems and straight forward advice this book gives will help you succeed faster. With 11% of agents doing 89% of the business, you want to know what they know!

3. For another compelling perspective, get Bernice Ross’s Book that was the top selling book at the 2008 NAR Convention, Real Estate Dough. And if you really want to have some fun, get her Real Estate Dough Game. It’s a really fun card game that will help you hone your real estate negotiating skills.

If you are a female leader, Bernice’s 3rd Annual Awesome Females in Real Estate Conference is not to be missed: The theme this year is Navigating from Chaos to Opportunity.

You’ll be joining 100 of the most talented and inspiring women leaders in the country in Savannah, Georgia. It's guaranteed to be three great days of learning, networking, and fun.

Feb. 10, 2009 - Cruising…

My brother Andy had the hairiest Chest on the boat!

I love the way a vacation allows me to step back and re-assess. A change of scenery is stimulating and the world view when removed from my nest is an important way for me to have my pulse on the world. I prefer this to watching TV! Bub and I spent last week in the Western Caribbean on a WorldVenture’s DreamTrip on the Carnival Imagination with my sweet brother Andy (who won the men’s hairiest chest contest!) and his wife Judy. I relaxed, read, spent quality time with my family and ATE! We had never been to Key West or Cozumel and will probably revisit both.

My assessing led me to do some late 2009 planning….I’ve come up with my 3 projects for the year: a bathroom remodel, the backyard revamp and a plan to take a trip every month. I’m reworking the budget to make it all work responsibly. This budget thing is one that seems to be coming up with many of my clients. With the economy and uncertainties that lie before us, being prudent is important. Getting rid of fluff or unnecessary frills is part of this (I’ve dropped $40 of monthly movie subscriptions). But, I believe it is time to still enjoy, have fun and find the bliss, we just have to do some shifting! My word for this year is relax and that’s the “mood” I am surrounding myself with AFTER doing the necessary planning!

Feb. 3, 2009 - Today's Borrowed Wisdom

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage -- pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically -- to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'"

Stephen Covey

Feb. 3, 2009 - Having It ALL!!!

You can have it all… you just can’t have it all at once.

As I design and live a life I love, and help others to do the same, the dual goals of achievement and personal bliss seem to compete, frustrate, or simply tire us to exhaustion. There is an elusiveness to the times when everything is handled and there is time for it all.

If you are like me, most things look like opportunities…. There is so much worth doing. There are so many obligations and roles. There are so many ways to make a difference, to earn a living , to express that uniqueness each of us is blessed to carry forward into the world and lives of others. There are still so many things on my list of 100 Things I want to do be & have in this lifetime that aren’t checked off yet!

I feel the frustration and I watch my clients struggle with a keen longing to express a level of excellence with our work while balancing and longing for enough time to live a life that is inclusive of the personal and family roles.

The old song from the movie Dirty Dancing plays the lyric in my head about “Having the times of our lives.” That longing it seems is there but many days the reasons “why not” seem more real than the ability to achieve that fine balance.

My last few tips have focused on simplifying. The work I’ve done in my life & with many of my amazing, inspiring clients this year seem to echo this theme. With the uncertainness that we cant control, it is imputative to make conscious choices every day that bring you to a happy peacefulness or whatever your description would be when it is all working.

• Keep a gratitude journal
• Give away some money.
• Do something to nurture your spirit a your body
• Go outside and marvel at this amazing planet
• Listen to the sound of children laughing

Tuesdays Distinction
Progress not Perfection

Are you harder on yourself than you’d be to another? Do you feel, no matter what you do, it’s not quite good enough? How does That make you feel? Is it motivating or disheartening? Start to notice what you have accomplished. What you do get done. Consistent progress can make a huge difference. Take baby steps. Use the swiss cheese method. Give yourself credit for what you are doing & be proud you have such high standards and stop going for perfection. Lighten up and have more feeling of accomplishment!