The "Scoop" on Being Successful

You've all heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas, right? In fact, my last blog was loosely tied to the theme in terms of contacting people around the holidays.

Well, last night, I had the chance to enjoy the 12 Scoops of Christmas. It really had little to do with the Christmas holiday. It just so happened that a TweetUp that I attended was held at the headquarters for the Velvet Ice Cream Company located in Utica, Ohio. For those unfamiliar with the term TweetUp, it is basically a planned gathering of Twitter users who enjoy hanging out and meeting each other IRL (short for "in real life). This particular TweetUp was arranged by the great folks at the Licking County Chamber of Commerce.

It's always neat to catch up with friends such as Coldwell Banker King Thompson's Patrick Guanciale and Chamber President Cheri Hottinger as well as regular Tweeters such as Mark Labutis and Ellie Hempelman. I don't make it out to Newark very often (about 30 minutes East of Columbus) and to travel out to Utica (about 15 minutes North of Newark) meant there had to be a great reason..in addition to seeing my friends.

Free Ice Cream, Anyone?

Our hosts for the evening were three of Velvet Ice Cream's leadership team. Joseph Dager is the Chairman of the company and is a third generation of Dagers to run the mini ice cream empire. His daughter Luconda Dager, the President and Nathan Arnold, Marketing Coordinator, were also there to help us taste these delicious flavors of their product and share many of the stories behind the cold creamy goodness in our bowls.

We started with Original Vanilla as if to "start our taste buds." I'm not a huge fan of vanilla ice cream because I always seem to go for some sort of chocolate involved flavor but it was good. Velvet actually has four varieties of vanilla so we also tasted Olde Thyme Vanilla (made with egg which gives it a golden yellow color), Homemade Vanilla and Vanilla Bean. It was neat to hear Joe critique each batch of ice cream as if they were his children in a talent show. He was honest when he said this specific batch of Vanilla Bean disappointed him because there weren't as many visible flecks of vanilla beans throughout the silky white concoction. I guess mine was in my belly too quickly for me to notice and besides...usually my vanilla ice cream is covered with hot fudge.

We then got to sample three new flavors that Velvet is possibly bringing to the market in 2012. I absolutely loved the Blue Ribbon Funnel Cake with it's strawberry puree ripple and chunks of funnel cake mixed in. Close your eyes and imagine a freshly poured bowl of Cap'n Crunchberries cereal right in front of you and take a big whiff. Yep, that's exactly what is smells like, but eating this ice cream won't cause permanent damage to the roof of your mouth the way two spoonfuls of Cap'n Crunch cereal will.

Carrot Cake was a cinnamon ice cream with a cream cheese frosting ripple and carrot cake bits. My dislike of real carrot cake probably predisposed me to not like this one but don't worry because right behind that was a scoop of Root Beer Float. Imagine a root beer float slowly poured from it's frosty mug into a bowl of ice cream and you would have it. Yummy!

Oatmeal Scotchie was a butterscotch ice cream with pieces of oatmeal cookie dough. I really liked this one and even sarcastically hinted to Joe, Luconda and Nathan that if they consider changing from butterscotch to vanilla with chocolate chips and the oatmeal chunks I might consider stock purchase.

Speaking of Chocolate, Where's My Cocoa Beans?



Cheri Hottinger with Luconda Dager

 Next up was a chocolate lovers dream - Viva El Chocolate; Chocolate cinnamon ice cream with cinnamon spice brownie and fudge ripple. I forgive you if you just drooled a little on your keyboard or mobile phone. It was good. I even sweet talked my way to Luconda and Nathan to allow me to bring home a small pint of this for my kids. Perhaps texting them a photo of it right before I tasted it wasn't nice, huh? The folks at Denali Flavors helped create this one as they use their Moose Tracks chocolate.

One of their more popular flavors is the Buckeye Classic - it accounts for almost 1 out of every 5 gallons sold. This is a creamy peanut butter ice cream swirled with thick chocolate fudge and small chocolate peanut butter candies. These are commonly referred to as "Buckeyes," which are very popular here in Central Ohio for obvious reasons. (Think of a large college team with excellent sports programs and a loyal, rabid fan base).

Our last flavor of the evening was Peppermint Stick, a holiday favorite. This creamy pink ice cream is infused with huge pieces of read peppermint candies. I'm convinced you could eat a huge bowl of this before bedtime and skip brushing your teeth and no one would ever know the difference.

Passion and Pride - Great Ingredients for Great Products

Sitting there listening to Joe, Luconda and Nathan talk about their products was a great experience. Joe said he has been in his role for almost 50 years but obviously, he has been part of Velvet Ice Cream since the day he was born. Luconda is the same way. The words they use in their stories are as richly infused with the pride and history of their family's hard work as their products are infused with flavor.

I could have sat all night and listened to the stories that Joe was spinning about flavors that worked and some that didn't. I pulled out my Flip Camera and got some of his comments on tape so you can get an idea of the deep passion that this man has for what he does. (If you can't see the video below, click here)



If someone asked you what your favorite part of your job is, how would you answer? Would you be able to weave a story behind the answer that makes people want to hear more? Does your passion for your service and results show in everything you do and say? Don't you want people to leave encounters with you and say to others..."That person really enjoys what they do for a living and it shows."

Thanks Joe, Luconda, Nathan for your time, expertise and genuine passion for sharing your craft with me last night. Thanks also to Cheri and Ellie for their planning and to Patrick for always being a great reason to venture out to Licking County to spend time together.

Now...after all this talk about ice cream, don't you wish you had a big bowl of Velvet Ice Cream right now?

Sharing

Welcome to what I think might be my first official video blog post. It's probably not perfect and my guess is that I will not be receiving any calls from Hollywood any time soon but that's okay. I'm not looking for a blockbuster motion picture deal. I'm looking to share with you in a different way than normal.

If you don't see the video below, click here.



I hope you'll connect with the guests I speak about in this video. They are neat people and tremendous Realtors and I'm sure if you start to follow them on Twitter or "Like" their business pages on Facebook or subscribe to their YouTube channels.

Nicholas "Niko" Apostal is from Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Chicago. You can follow him on Twitter (@NikoApostal) or his Business page on Facebook 

The Seattle Divas - more formally known as Kim Colaprete and Chavi Hohm, are from Coldwell Banker Bain in Seattle. They love Twitter (@seattledivas or @chavih) and keep an active Facebook business page, they blog and are active Yelpers as well. If you want to see a really cool e-Newsletter chock-full of relevant content, sign up for their Team Diva newsletter and get ready to get a taste of the Seattle lifestyle.

Michael Ackerman is also with Coldwell Banker Bain and is certainly someone you should be following if you want to expand your marketing to video to capture more business. Check out his video blog on his website or you can see him on YouTube and be a subscriber. He's also on Twitter (@m_ackerman) and has a Facebook business page for you to Like.

Special thanks to some of my friends who helped connect me with these great people including Debra Trappen, Linda Aaron and Virginia Thomas as well as some additional assistance from Stefanie Hahn, Cindy Hamann, Victoria Baker, Gary Kopco and Matt Case.

It's great example of using the relationships you have built to solve some of your problems and have a lot of fun along the way. I hope you'll continue to do the same all year long.

Looking for an Edge?

"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action."

Herbert Spencer, British Social Philosopher

Negotiating isn't easy to learn. The American culture doesn't exactly support the idea compared to many of the other world cultures. Yet in an industry like real estate, the ability to negotiate is an important skill and one that many Buyers and Sellers count on and expect from their agents.

I was honored to spend the last two days learning about the concepts of negotiation with fellow real estate educator Ed Hatch. Ed is a CRS (Council of Residential Specialist) instructor and was the guest of the Ohio NRT Companies in Columbus and Cincinnati. 

I'd like to share a few ideas and concepts that I learned from Ed's presentations with my Realtor's Toolbox readers today. Please understand...just reading a few sound bytes from the classes on negotiations doesn't make you a better negotiator any more than staying overnight at a Holiday Inn Express will make you a successful ball room dancer. If you want to learn more about negotiations, I highly recommend you seek out the class The New Negotiating Edge and see if it's coming to a city near you.

People are predictable - What can you do to eliminate chance from your relationships with customers, clients and helping them achieve their goals?

Whenever you say or feel that you "must have something," you have just created a poor position from which to negotiate.

Good marketing should be designed to help people choose you and your services before they need it. Once this occurs, much of the need for people to negotiate has been removed.

In order to truly advance in your career or life, you should first determine those things that are non-negotiable and build your schedule and business plans around them. Remember what German playwright and poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe said. "Things which matters most should never be at the mercy of things which matters least."

The best negotiators are those who always think "relationships" before they think about "transactions."

When you're looking to survive, having more options is the surest way to do so.

Seek to be someone to people rather than something

Know what business you're in. Are you selling the Magic Carpet Wizard or a set of encyclopedias?

Use more "ands" instead of "buts"

Learn the "Duke Tilt" to demonstrate active listening

Understanding the clients "Cognitive Mind Map" is critical to your success. Are you able to answer the five critical questions that lead to clients making a comfortable decision?

Guide people with the right questions. Don't lead them with the right answers.

Until you go to your opponents side of the wall, you'll always struggle to reach an agreement.

"Rapport if the tunnel through which truth passes"

Finally, just because something is valuable and relevant to you doesn't mean it will be to your customers or clients.

Thanks again to my buddy Ed Hatch for spending a few days with the hard working associates and managers from Coldwell Banker King Thompson and Coldwell Banker West Shell. It's always great to learn from others so thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Until next time...keep building relationships, solving problems and having fun.

How Does Jack's 6th Compare to Your Client's First?

I remember it well.

I was sitting in the lounge on the first floor of Rawlings Hall, an un-air conditioned dormitory at the University of Florida. It was mid-afternoon on a Sunday and the weekend was coming to a close. I know I had to get over to my fraternity house for our Chapter meeting that evening but I didn't want to leave. Something magical was happening.

I remember it well.

We had been back in Columbus for about a year and our lease was going to be done or needing a renewal if we wanted to stay in our small two-bedroom apartment in North Columbus. I met with my parents and told them that we wanted to buy a house but we weren't sure what to do. Without hesitation, they suggested we call "their Realtor," who sold them the house I grew up in and my mother still owns to this day. That was 25 years prior to that day.

Experience + Excitement

Jack Nicklaus started that final round of The Masters in 1986 with not much chance of winning. He was 46 years old and the leader board was a virtual "who's who" of the game's biggest stars - Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Kite, Nice Price and Tom Watson, just to name a few. The "Golden Bear" was being called the "Olden Bear" and was really looked at as nothing more than a nice side story early in the round. But what if...?

There was maybe three or four of my fellow dorm residents watching the action when Nicklaus birdied #9, #10 and #11 to really get everyone watching thinking "what if?" A few more people started filing in to see what all the screams and cheering was about. They didn't leave. Nicklaus made a momentum stalling bogey on Augusta National's signature #12 and more than a few people in the room thought, "Well, that was fun when it lasted," assuming Nicklaus was done with any hope of a comeback win for the ages and a record 6th green jacket.

Captain Bob and Bonnie

My parent's Realtor was "Captain Bob" Kidwell, so we gave him a call to say we wanted to buy a house. Kidwell was then the manager at King Thompson (now Coldwell Banker King Thompson) so he referred us to Bonnie Nyikes. Bonnie was a joy to work with and we began searching for our first house.

Like most first timers, we didn't really know what we wanted except for a place we could call home. Bonnie was helpful and encouraging and kept her poise throughout our search. She relied on her experience and expertise to handle the ups and downs of a home search as well as helped handle the emotions that you often see when the pressure of negotiation sets in.

Our first contract fell through due to a home inspection and frustration and fear set in. I remember thinking, "Well, that was fun when it lasted" and beginning to think we'd have to rent for another year.

The Bear Roars Again

Nicklaus relied on his previous trips through "Amen Corner" and knew that there were plenty of opportunities for success ahead of him and just as many challenges in his wake for his competitors to overcome. With Jack Nicklaus, Jr. on his bag as caddy, he added a birdie on #13, an unbelievable eagle on #15, a near hole-in-one turned tap-in birdie on #16 and a lead claiming birdie on #17. CBS Sports Verne Ludquist's famous call of that birdie has to be in most sports fan's Top Ten of most dramatic moments in sports. (Click here if you don't see the video below)



As Jack and Jack, Jr. approached the green on #18, they each had tears in their eyes and the rest of the world was beginning to believe that this storybook ending may actually occur. The lounge in Rawlings Hall, similar to every other dorm, sports bars, airports lounge and country club stag room across the globe was standing room only. People who had never played golf in their lives were passionately pulling for 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus to win the Masters.

From Bitter...to Bitterroot

Just like Nicklaus's bogey on #12, we had lost some momentum after that first deal fell apart due to a bad home inspection report. We started to question whether we were ready for home ownership. That is until we looked in the neighborhood of Sunbury Woods in Northeast Columbus and found a home for sale on Bitterroot Drive.

We liked it, we wrote on it and our offer was accepted as written. The home inspection went smoothly, our financing was clean and we were ready to close the deal and become homeowners.

Green Jackets and Green Buyers

Seve Ballesteros hit it in the water on #15 and fell off the lead. Tom Kite missed a short putt on #18 to finish a stroke back of Nicklaus. As Greg Norman's approach shot sailed into the crowd on the right side of the green and he failed to get up and down for a par, Jack Nicklaus was the Masters champion...again. I think they could have heard the cheers from Rawlings Hall and living rooms across America in Augusta when Jack won that day.

How Big of a Part will You Play in Your Client's Memory?

I got an email from my good buddy Tom earlier this week asking if I remember what we were doing 25 years ago. I replied back immediately saying "I sure do, and I'll never forget it."

I also remember the adventure and thrill of buying my first home. While it wasn't 25 years ago (actually 15 ago now), I certainly remember it well.

As Realtors, we get a front row seat to the action of our Buyers and Sellers. We sometimes get more than that. We get to be part of the action; an integral part of the transaction. What are you doing with each client to ensure that you and your services are memorable one year later? Ten years later? Twenty five years later? Will your clients be able to remember the transaction as if it was yesterday as they recount stories to their friends, children or grandchildren?

If they do, you'll know you have "mastered" your role.

Until next time, keep building relationships, solving problems and having fun

Feeling at Home Away from Home

I am a big believer in the power of great customer service. I always enjoy receiving excellent service and I am guessing that you do too. I always do my best when I am the service provider to make sure my guests, agents or audiences feel that when they were in my care that they received my best - both in efforts and attitude.

When you receive great customer service these days it is usually the exception and not the rule which is probably why it usually stands out as such wonderful service. Sadly, we don't get a chance to recognize the people for making us feel special much more than a "thanks" on the way out or a few bucks extra in the tip jar.

For my loyal readers of The Realtor's Toolbox you know I like to use this blog to spotlight people or companies when I feel they have surpassed the bar of what is expected and really made me feel special. I've written about Bar Louie and The Goodie Shop , The Island Cow and just last fall I told you about a real-life Fred Factor at Thrifty Airport Parking. Today, I want you to know about my friends at The Courtyard by Marriott in Union Centre, Ohio.

My job as the Director of Training for the Ohio NRT Companies (Coldwell Banker King Thompson in Columbus and Coldwell Banker West Shell in the Greater Cincinnati area) keeps me moving. I am usually either in Columbus or Cincinnati and on occasion I have the privilege to get out and speak to other groups of agents or companies. When I venture down to Cincinnati, if I have to stay overnight, I certainly have lots of choices on where to stay. For the last two years, I have been choosing to stay with my friends at The Courtyard.

The Sales Manager of the hotel, Sheri Howard, really earned my repeat business by looking at her guest list over a period of time and realizing that I had spent more than a few random nights there as the hotel is just a block away from our CBWS Union Centre office. Sherri reached out to me to thank me for being a loyal guest and arranged for a corporate price for my stays, helping save me (and my company) on each stay. (Certianly a nice way to insure "repeat and referral" business)

I think the "rack rate" is certainly a nice perk. But it's the outstanding service I consistently receive that earned my loyalty to Sheri and her team of customer service superstars.

I am excited to always be greeted with a smile and a friendly "Welcome Back, Mr. Carpenter" by Lana and the others at the front desk. Lana is a lovely lady who came to the United States from The Ukraine and every day she's at work she seems truly excited to be there and help the guests have a better stay.

Of course upon arrival, there's always a plate of delicious cookies. Sure, I am partial to the chocolate ones but after some days of teaching and travel I will even force down a few oatmeal raisin cookies (even though I have to pretend the raisins are really chocolate chips).

When I pass through the lobby in the evenings as I head out to dinner the team members behind the counter always ask me how my room is and if they can help make my stay more pleasant. The rooms are always clean and comfortable and the modern updated features (huge desk space, flat screen televisions, free wireless Internet and large couches) are a wonderful benefit for a business traveler who usually still has some work to do before bed time.

One of my favorite people at The Courtyard Union Centre has got to be Sandy. Sandy works the third shift so not many guests probably get to meet Sandy but if they do, they know they'll always be greeted with a huge smile, a cheerful voice and a helping hand. Many a night heartburn has had me up searching for a Tums or a glass of water and those next mornings, you know who is the first to ask me how I feel? Yep - Sandy. She reminds me of that favorite Aunt or Uncle who used to magically make dollar bills appear behind your ears when you were a child.

Before you start your day, it's nice to enjoy a warm breakfast and that's what the crew in the restaurant in the hotel do each day. Cheryl and Laura see me coming and get my diet soda ready. Michael behind the counter is prepared to make a fresh omelet and there's always plenty of crispy bacon on the buffet. Seriously, I had you at "crispy bacon," didn't I?

I love chatting with Cheryl about her children because she always asks me about mine. We compare notes of their activities even though hers are adults now. She reminisces about their youth and we share similar stories. Just this past visit, I found out that Cheryl was good friends with many of the stars of The Cincinnati Reds before they were the Big Red Machine. She was close with Tommy Helms, Pete Rose and even went to Johnny Bench's wedding. That's stuff you just don't get from the counter girl at McDonald's is it?

I love what I do and I am lucky to have a wonderful family who supports me in my efforts. It's not always easy to be away from home as much as I am (and compared to some business people, sales persons or OTR truck drivers, it's not that much) but if I have to be out, it's nice to know that Bill Marriott and his family of hotels will probably have a place for me to stay.

I usually get good service from almost every Marriott property I have stayed at and as a new Platinum member of the Marriott Rewards program, I have stayed at a few. I just don't know if they will be as friendly and welcoming as my friends at The Courtyard in Union Centre.

Thanks Sheri Howard and the entire Courtyard Union Centre team for making me feel at home when I am away from home.

Running or Realtor - You've Got to Finish Up Strong

Hey Runners...

When was the last time you ran 26.2 miles? How about 13.1?

Completing a marathon or a half marathon is an incredible achievement no matter what your age, race, sex or physical condition. It takes dedication, focus and a tremendous amount of effort to complete all of the necessary training runs, eat a healthy diet, sacrifice much of your extra time each week and overcome fear as you cross the threshold of the starting line on race day. That not even mentioning the potential pain you may encounter between then and the finish line.

Hey Realtors...

When was the last time you finished a successful year in real estate? How about you rookies looking to finsih your first year (or partial year)?

Completing a successful year as a Realtor is an incredible achievement no matter what your age, race, sex or physical condition or tenure in the business. It takes dedication, focus and a tremendous amount of effort to complete all of the necessary training and development, eat a healthy diet of phone calls, open houses and talking to strangers, sacrifice much of your extra time each week and overcome the fear and pain as you cross the threshold of your office each day of the week.

Been There, Done That

Back in 2005 I ran my first 5K. That led to a 5 Mile Turkey Trot, a few more Jingle Bell Runs and then I ran my first 1/2 Marathon in Cincinnati in May 2006. I made the dedicated effort to complete the Columbus Marathon in October 2006. I ran a few more 1/2 marathons over the next few years up until a knee surgery put me on running's "injured reserve list" for about eighteen months.

I've been back out there lately, running shorter distances, and am excited to get signed up to run some races. Maybe I'll get out on Thanksgiving Day and compete in the Turkey Trot?

Last Sunday, October 17th, I volunteered with several co-workers from Coldwell Banker King Thompson to work at Water Station J at the 12 mile mark of the Columbus Marathon. We had to arrive early - 6:15am (see the pre-dawn photo to the left)- to begin setting up and filling over 15,000 cups with water and Gatorade. My 11-year-old daughter Riley also joined me for the second year in a row.

As both races pass through Station J (full marathoners and half marathoners) we had to be prepared to provide water and support to the 15,000 entrants into this years races. It was clear that the liquid refreshments were very important for people's physical needs after running for 12 miles but it also was evident that the verbal support and cheers by the volunteers and fans lining the streets of Columbus were just as vital to many of the runners seeking a physical accomplishment that many had never attempted before (or will again).

As the runners thundered past the tables filled with water and Gatorade, the volunteers held out cups for them to "grab & go" and offered words of encouragement (see video below). Having completed both races before, I felt I had some personal knowledge of some of the runners mental states at this point in the race.

The full marathoners still had more than half their race to complete. 14 more miles seems like a long distance but in a matter of minutes, they would be more than half way done. In just a matter of hours, everything they worked so hard for all summer long would be in the past and they'd be so proud of their determination to finish all 26.2miles.

"Keep it up. Just one more mile and then you have the 'easy' half"

The half marathoners were just 1.1 miles from the finish. For many it is the longest distance they have ever run at one time. I felt encouragement to these runners was even more necessary.

"Keep your arms and legs moving"

"One mile to go. Finish up strong"

"This is why you got up early all summer and pushed yourself. Don't walk now"

"Make all the training before today pay off. Push hard this last mile"

"Run hard now, you can walk tomorrow"



Sure, the encouragement and support was easy for me to say. I was standing in comfortable shoes and wasn't sweating or chaffing. I was enjoying a hot chocolate and donut and didn't have cramps and aches to look forward to later that afternoon. But they needed to hear it.

Can you imagine training all summer to complete your first marathon or half marathon and you give up and start walking with 1 mile to go? Sometimes the negative voice in your head can be pretty convincing and having some other voice push you along just might be what is needed to keep the arms and legs moving for the next stretch of roadway.

Hey Realtors - Finish Up Strong

So how does this relate to the real estate business? We're coming up to our finish line of the 2010 race. For long time Realtors, it's another full marathon that we're about to complete. Will we allow ourselves to ease up and "walk" the last 1/6 of the race or will we grab some Gatorade and dig deep to find that "extra boost" needed to cross the finish line with momentum?

For those who have joined the real estate race sometime in 2010 - the "rookies" - you've got two more months to finish your fist half marathon. Will you keep those arms and legs moving and remember all those long hours away from the family when you were sitting in those boring pre-licensing classes. I know you never figured yourself to be a mediocre agent just walking acorss the finsih line, did you? Remember those early days trying to start up your business in Sunday afternoon open houses or late evening showings with Buyers? Don't slow down now.

To anyone reading this, you've got ten weeks left in the 2010 race. Keep those arms and legs moving, stay hydrated and focus on the finish line.

And remember...next year's race begins as soon as this one finsihes. Get ready enjoy the accomplisgments of this years run but then get ready to tighten your shoelaces and start running all over again.

A View from The Summit

What a fabulous day it was on Thursday, August 19th as over 550 sales associates, managers, staff members and special guests converged on The Roberts Center in Wilmington, Ohio for the Coldwell Banker Summer Technology Summit - Trends, Tools and Technology. This was a huge event with lots of moving parts but all the people who helped put it together really worked together to make it a special day for all who attended.

After kicking off the event with some upbeat tunes and a montage of photos from the 19 branch offices that make up the Ohio NRT Companies - Coldwell Banker West Shell in Greater Cincinnati and Coldwell Banker King Thompson in central Ohio - it was a constant whirlwind of great speakers and plenty of great information.


Leading with the Leaders

Company President Joe King kicked off the day by welcoming NRT Central Region Vice President Joe Reis to the stage. Reis facilitated a panel discussion with two of the real estate industry's most powerful leaders - Jim Gillespie, President and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Company, and Bruce Zipf, President and CEO of NRT.

These three men shared their thoughts, experience and overall wisdom on today's market and where we may be headed in late 2010 and beyond. Both Gillespie and Zipf were optimistic about the housing sector's ability to help lead the country out of the economic challenges but stressed that we must continue to focus on the right activities each day and stay engaged with today's buyers and sellers. Zipf shared his four areas of focus for a strong conclusion to 2010; Prospecting, Pricing, Communication and Embracing Technology.

Tracking the Trends


What a perfect segue Zipf's final area of focus was as our keynote speaker, Stefan Swanepoel, took the stage. Swanepoel is considered by many the finest authority of today's real estate trends. As well as being a fantastic speaker, Swanepoel is also the author of 17 books including the definitive book on what's happening in today's (and tomorrow's) real estate world, The Swanepoel TRENDS Report.

Swanepoel spoke about the constant change our industry struggles to accept - from the game changing fax machine back in the mid '70's to the social networking and inundation of video today. He discouraged the audience not to think they've got it all figured out, reminding them that mega sites like Google, You Tube, Facebook and Twitter weren't even mainstream ten years ago.

Give Me a Break(out)

The event featured twelve breakout sessions and all the presenters shared great information with some tremendous energy that was greatly appreciated by the attendees. To see what the topics and sessions were about, check out the descriptions here.

Special guest presenters included Sara Bonert from Zillow, David Siroty, Senior Director of Public Relations for Coldwell Banker, Evan Matteson from Coldwell Banker Apex in Rockwall, Texas and Andrew Eklund & Dawn Hepper from Ciceron. Other breakout presenters included some "home grown" talent with Dori Gehling, Michael Jones, Sarah Poston, Marty Soller, Michelle Barnett, Sue Price and Stacy Serey.

Video Killed the Radio Star?

There was also a fabulous closing session presentation on the power of video in today's real estate environment facilitated by Coldwell Banker VP of Marketing, Michael Fischer. Fischer's message to the audience was that the power of video to "tell the story" is so much more powerful in today's "digital, on demand world" than the cold, black and white text found in newsprint or MLS print outs could ever be. Fischer then welcomed CB Apex's Matteson and Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Properties (Florence, Alabama) top agent Mike Randall to the stage for a great panel discussion about how the use of video has changed these two agents businesses. (See samples of Evan and Mike's video styles below)

Evan Matteson, Coldwell Banker Apex


Mike Randall, Coldwell Banker Pinnacle



It really was a wonderful event with plenty for every attendee to leave with something to add to their "technology toolbox" of services and systems to help their Buyers, Sellers, past clients and also to reach new customers.

Roll the Credits

I personally would like to thank all the special guests, panelists, presenters, attendees and invited guests as well as some of my teammates who helped make this event so wonderful.

My Training Coordinator, Jaimie Shaffer, was fantastic at keeping all the logistics organized and maintained a calm demeanor from early March when planning started through 4:35pm on Thursday when the event concluded.

A big thanks also to the hard working staff at our Central Region Hub who provided much of the behind the scenes details - Lisa Morrow, Amy Eiduke, Charlotte Irrrang and Prabu Gopalakrishnan. Thanks also go out to the following people for making this a great event - Joe King, Jerry White, Glen Wilson, Sarah Poston, Michelle Barnett, Susan Trefilek, Randy Wax, Rick Walker, Julie Verne, Marlene Price, Janet Davis, the management teams at CBKT and CBWS, Diana Schneder, Walt Saxe and all the hard-working staff at The Roberts Center in Wilmington, our friends at Coldwell Banker Home Loans, Quality Choice Title, Residential Title, and American Home Shield for sponsoring, Cardinal Transportation and all the attendees.



I am excited to see the creative, innovative, trendy ways our associates and managers are going to implement what was learned at the Tech Summit. Much like a climber who scales the mountains, it's always amazing how much clearer you can see when you've been to the summit.

When You Look Up, What Do You See?

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

'That laundry is not very clean,' she said. 'She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.'

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: 'Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.'

Her husband said, 'I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.'

And so it is with life.

What we see when watching others depends on the window through which we look.

Judge Not... It might be your window that needs cleaning!

Thanks for Deborah Hutchings at Coldwell Banker King Thompson for sharing this with me today. After you're done cleaning off your window, who will you share this with?