Are You Ready to Give Thanks?

Monday Morning Match is a quick post - maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea - intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

Give Thanks

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, think of all the things you have to be thankful for.

• A spouse or partner who supports your efforts every day to build relationships, solve problems and have fun.
• Children and parents, living or dead, who love you unconditionally whether you close a deal this week or not.
• Extended family members who want your success almost as much as you want it yourself.
• Clients who have trusted you to assist them with their real estate needs in 2011 or years previous.
• Anyone who has referred you a lead, whether it came to fruition or not
• Your branch manager who coaches and supports your efforts
• The hard working staff (full time & part time) of your branch and company whose work behind the scenes helps you do your jobs better and more efficiently.
• Your company leadership who provides you with tradition, teamwork, tools, technology and training in your local marketplace.
• Local affiliates such as lenders, title company personnel, home inspectors, builders and any other vendor or might have an impact on your transactions.
• Your local board, state associations and National Association of Realtors for continuing to support and work hard to protect private property rights of all residents.

Who else?

Leave anyone I forgot in the comments below or drop me an email. I'm curious to know who you're thankful for this year?

 "None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy."

~Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

 

 

 

Live & Learn

Another Thanksgiving has passed us by and there's just 5 weeks left in the year. Before we worry about what we can do over the next month and a week, let's look back at one of my favorite blog posts from two years ago which still rings true today.

What Realtor's Can Learn from Black Friday

Maybe some of you will be reading this while you're in line waiting to pay for your early morning haul. Others will have avoided the hustle and bustle and stayed at home on your butts (and laptops).

Either way, shop hard and get ready for the holiday season.

Give Thanks

Monday Morning Match is a short post - maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea - intended to spark some motivation inside of each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

A Season for Thanks

Last year at this time of year, I wrote a blog post about my personal "thanks" and recognized some of the influential people in my life who helped me get to where I am today. You can find the first of the three-part post here.

This year, I turn the attention to you, my reader. Or should I say I challenge you to read this post to yourself and take it personally?

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

~ John F. Kennedy

What are you thankful for? It's been a challenging year for those of us involved in real estate but there have certainly been some wonderful opportunities. Have you taken advantage of them? Will you make more opportunities in the new year and overcome the obstacles in front of you?

Have you been lucky enough to make some mistakes in 2010 that you'll learn from and be better in 2011? Just think - some people never make any mistakes but that is not because they are perfect, it's because they never do anything. Be sure to be thankful for the learning experiences that life has provided.

Have you been lucky enough to assist some families with their real estate needs in 2010? Perhaps you helped some buyers find a new home or maybe you assisted some Sellers and helped them get on to their next chapter in life? Have you thanked them for their trust in you and also thanked them for the opportunity to help solve their problems?

Maybe you're a manager or broker? Have you been lucky enough to challenge, encourage or inspire any of your associates, staff members or peers? Be sure to give thanks for them allowing you to be a part of their careers.

You probably sat in a class, workshop or training event where the speaker, instructor or teacher made you see or hear things differently. Maybe something confusing became clear? Did your hearing advance to listening which became understanding inspiring you into action that will eventually lead to mastery? Be sure to thank that person (or those people) for giving you the key to opening your mind. Be sure not to close that open mind in the coming year.

Is there a group of friends and family who have stood beside you and behind you throughout 2010? Have you felt their hands helping you? Sometimes that hand has been pushing you squarely in the back and other times it's just been touching you on the shoulders, providing simple guidance to keep you on your path to your goals. They want nothing more for you than to see you achieve the levels of success you aspire to and deserve.

We can get occupied spending so much of our time looking over one fence, wishing we had the things others possess, yet never realize that the neighbor on the other side of the yard may be looking at us and admiring what it is that we have. As Sheryl Crow sings, "It's not having what you want. It's wanting what you've got."

Please take a moment this week to be thankful for all the things you have.

Thank you for being a loyal reader of The Realtor's Toolbox. I hope you've been able to build relationships, solve problems and have fun so far in 2010 and will continue the journey in 2011.

Happy Thanksgiving to All