Monday Morning Match - Making Excuses

"...Or Maybe You're Just Making Excuses"

Being of of the "best ever" certainly gives today's Monday Morning Match some credibility when it comes to motivation. Before you say to yourself, what can Michael Jordan do or say to inspire me - he's in a different world than you and I.

That's true - professional basketball isn't real estate. But he wasn't Michael Jordan - "Greatest Basketball Player Ever" before he was just Michael Jordan - "skinny kid from North Carolina."

Watch this video and then scroll down below for the rest of this message...









Don't look back to the boom market and say "maybe it will return to being like that."

Don't look at the top agents in your office, company or local market and say "maybe they'll retire soon."

Don't look at your data base of people you know and say "maybe they'll call me today.

Stop making excuses and get in the game...today!

Monday Morning Match

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

~ Mother Teresa

All Real Estate is Local...Right?

Regardless of which side of world you're on, all real estate is affected by the local economies and vice versa. Here's a humorous look at the current economy from the "other side of the pond."

Selling the Area

As Realtors, it is extremely important to be knowledgeable on the local areas and communities where you work. Your customers and clients will certainly have questions so it will help you if you have answers.

Creating a video to promote your area is one option...



Creating a video to lampoon your neighborhood is another... (enjoy this one!)

Blogger Note: These "Arlingtons" are two different areas in two different states. The first, Upper Arlington - is in Central, Ohio. The latter is Arlington, Virgina.

Monday Morning Match

We can all use a little help now and then, can't we? I know lots of people who swear by following "to do" lists or really feel like they've accomplished something when they can cross off things they have on their "honey do" list.

Checklists and systems are some of the best things to develop, create and follow if you want to achieve your goals.

So what if one of your goals is to create a healthy life? I received an email from a client of mine that is just one of these lists. Simple, funny and one that, if followed, will lead to success in some aspect of my life.

It comes from Regina Brett, a columnist with The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and was originally published in October of 2006. It is called Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on. Here's the first 10 lessons...

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

To read the rest of Regina's lessons, please visit her blog by clicking here

Handling Negative Real Estate Media

One thing is for sure, the media isn't going out of their way to paint a pretty picture of the real estate market, are they? Now I understand that isn't the role of media and I am sure many other industries can say "what about the way they treat us?" Auto, pharmaceuticals, politicians and others get the typical "negative" slanted stories because that's what "sells" in the media. Charity, good deeds and kindness just doesn't seem to get the headlines very often.

I received an email from an sales associate in my local Coldwell Banker company asking me for some suggestions on how to combat some of the negative news out there about the housing market. This was specifically addressing a recent article by one of the economic sector's Godfathers - Robert Shiller. Shiller is a Yale University Economist and the co-founder of the Case-Shiller Home Price Index Report.

The article, Yale's Shiller: Don't expect a quick rebound in home prices was on the Daily Finance page of AOL.

Here's a portion of the email I received...

"Hey Sean,

"I struggle a bit with articles like these. I know these aren't facts for certain..and the economy could perk up..but how do we as trusted advisers advise our buyers to purchase today in this scenario? I worry about the future after doing so...I worry about employing maybe my own tunnel vision or rose colored glassed to get the job done...I know the bottom of a buyers market can't be predicted..only seen for certain when it's over..but.."

"Your thoughts??"

Signed, Nervous About the News in New Albany

Here's my reply...

"Dear Nervous.

Greetings and thanks for sending me this article.

Here’s a few “Sean Carpenter” thoughts plus some other ideas from some of the great trainers I've been lucky enough to have learned from for you to ponder.

#1 – “If it bleeds it leads.” Negative news is always more glamorous than the opposite. Take it for what it is.

#2 – I don’t think you have to be wearing “rose colored” glasses but just speak honestly. If you helped a buyer buy a house today and they stayed in it for 3-6 years (the average for ages 25-37) would they benefit by being homeowners over that time frame? The answer is yes – not just from an “investment” view but from a lifestyle view. How much is it worth to them to host their friends for a Fourth of July party? How much is it worth to them to push their stroller up and down the sidewalks on a cool fall night? How much is it worth to them to have neighbors who they can count on to “watch” their property while they are away on a family vacation? Can they get that at their local apartment complex?

Being a homeowner is about way more than “investing” in a piece of real estate.

#3 – If they are selling and moving up, have you explained how this is in their benefit? Buying up in a down market is always a benefit for the seller soon to be a buyer.

#4 – What will they do while they are waiting and these low interest rates slowly creep up to 5.95% or higher? How quietly have gas prices slid up to $2.90? There’s just more in the news own to occupy the media but watch when prices hit $3.01. All of a sudden those with the H1N1 virus will be a couple of unfortunate soles who chose the wrong week to get the Swine Flu.

#5 – Lack of multiple offers – The on-line lender named Lending Tree states that “when lenders compete, you win.” Well, when your buyers compete for a house, they clearly lose. In multiple offer situations, your clients will either pay too much for a house (when emotions take over) or lose on a great opportunity and be upset with you (and the real estate industry for causing their pain).

#6 – Inventory is high right now but that won’t stay that way for ever. If your clients are unencumbered buyers (no home to sell) they hold a lot of power - Not to mention the possibility of $8,000 tax credit in their pockets to use in their negotiations.

Just a few thoughts for you to consider. I hope this helps. Keep focused on your real estate when you can and don’t allow the media or your clients to control your actions or attitudes. Help people see the “big picture” from both sides – their “emotional” side and the neutral “logical” side.

Sean

I'm curious...would you have answered any differently? How would you suggest "Nervous about the News In New Albany" approaches these types of articles in the future?

Leadership and The Moment

I found a new blog post from Pete Blank, one of my University of Florida fraternity brothers and good friends, to be quite meaningful, not just for today but for any day. Pete is a Leadership Consultant with ATLAS based in Birmingham, Alabama, a dedicated husband and father and a loyal Gator fan (even though he lives in the heart of Alabama territory).

I hope you'll take a minute to read Pete's message now by clicking here

We all seem to move fast from one thing to the next and before we know it, we look back and wonder what happened. The challenges we choose to face today will hopefully be the accomplishments we will celebrate tomorrow.

Whether it is filled with sunshine or rain, work or play, I hope you have a great weekend.

Sean

W.W.C.D. - What Would Cramer Do?

Jim Cramer from Mad Money talks about the "housing bottom"? Encouraging message or just spin? What do you think? Have you seen any upturn in your activity?