Online Newsletter for the Week Ending June 1, 2012

QUOTE:  "The rubber meets the road between your ears, not beneath your feet."  Gymbeaux

THOUGHT OF THE DAY/MAYBE THE YEAR:  The Secret Service scandal was discovered when a disagreement on how much a prostitute wanted for her services came to light. She wanted $800.00. The Secret Service Agent offered $30.00. How ironic is it that the only person in Washington willing to cut spending gets fired?

FROM THE WORLD OF STEVEN WRIGHT:  I bought a house on a one-way dead-end road. I don't know how I got there.

WISDOM FROM MICHAEL DUNN, author of “What’s The BIG Secret, http://readforachange.com   From Page 69:  "Remember the last time you had a good laugh.  When you finished, you felt relaxed and exhilarated.  When we laugh, the muscles we use cause hormones to be released which make us feel a sense of rejuvenation.  Basically we drug ourselves.  ... Studies have been done in mental institutions where mental patients who were on drugs for depression were made to smile and look at the ceiling several times a day for a few minutes because it increased mental clarity.  They were able to lower the doses of drugs and in some cases stop taking drugs altogether.  Try it.  Smile and stare at the ceiling for 10 minutes.  You look foolish but it feels great.  Ok, I just did it, after 2 minutes I felt an exhilarating change in my body.  After 4 minutes my mouth and shoulders got sore.  Guess I am not smiling enough."

SPEAKING OF AMBIGUITY:  The main reason that Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the naughty girls live.      

IMPORTANT REPEAT OF CRAIG’S LIST AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES (LOUISIANA):  Craig’s List is NOT considered a social media site and it is typically NOT space restrictive.  Meaning that when you place a Craig’s List Advertisement you MUST include all of the State of Louisiana’s required information that will appear on every page of the site.  Specifically:

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

2053 East Gause Blvd, Ste 100

Slidell, LA  70461 – USA

985-649-6333 – Office

Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

Broker and Associate are licensed by the State of Louisiana

You can include other information about yourself but the above is the minimum required.  Failure to do so could and probably will result in a “cite and fine” by the Commission amounting to $75.00 for a first offense.

MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER:  ARE YOU WORKING WITH AN AGENT?  Just about every issue BETWEEN agents as to who has a right or expectation to work with a potential customer can be resolved BEFORE it becomes an issue if you ask:  ARE YOU WORKING WITH AN AGENT?  If the answer is YES, you have the right to ask more questions to ascertain if the relationship is current and/or desired.  “When was the last time you had contact with (other agent)?  Are you happy with the service you have received?  Did you sign a Buyer Agency Agreement/Listing Agreement with the (other agent)?”  Once you determine if the relationship is current or desirable, you can proceed either by entering into an agreement the customer or strongly suggesting that the customer contact the agent he or she is working with.

13 WAYS TO MAKE IDEA GENERATING A DAILY HABIT by Kerry Jones.  I particularly like #1.  Have you ever had an idea only to have it “firehosed” by others at the table?  For a definition on “firehosing” read the post immediately below this one.  This is really a great article to read.  Ask yourself, how do I measure up with the 13 ways:  http://www.blueglass.com/blog/how-to-generate-ideas/

FIREHOSING:  Ever heard of the term? “Firehosing is what David Brandt and I (Bob Kriegel), (Gymbeaux Note:  I call it that as well) in our book, Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers, call that response. A firehose dampens people’s enthusiasm, douses their spark and kills creativity. In other words it just plain puts out the fire, killing excitement and motivation. Firehosing is not a legitimate dissent. It’s an automatic response that effectively ends conversation. Genuine differences of opinion extend the dialogue, hosing stops it and you dead in your tracks. Below are some of the more common firehoses.”   Read the 15 Killer Phrases and see how many you have heard or unfortunately may have used with the key word being “used” like in the past but not in the future.

http://www.kriegel.com/blog/?page_id=15

THE SECRET TO GETTING ALL THE REFERRALS YOU EVER HOPED FOR, by Jeffrey Gitomer, the title says it all; now it’s up to you.  http://www.gitomer.com/articles/ViewPublicArticle.html?key=ajcdMibak3ME3B0qWXLMRw%3D%3D

Newsletter for the Week Ending May 25, 2012

QUOTE:  TREADMILLS COULD BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH, JUST ASK WILL SMITH (ACTOR):    "I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together you are going to get off first or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple. I’m not going to be outworked."  Will Smith 

LATEST NUGGET FOR THE NOGGIN by Gymbeaux:  Lost In The Travel Section.  www.NuggetsForTheNoggin.com 

FROM THE WORLD OF STEVEN WRIGHT:   "I hate it when my foot falls asleep during the day because that means it's going to be up all night." 

WISDOM FROM MICHAEL DUNN, author of “What’s The BIG Secret, http://readforachange.com   From page 147 and closely related to the latest Nugget For The Noggin, Lost In The Travel Section, referred to in this newsletter.  “Don’t let your hurts, depression, or addictions keep you from chasing your goals.  You’ll find that in the passionate pursuit of your goals these hindrances will be stripped from you as a butterfly leaving the cocoon.  Yes, they bound you in the past, but when you begin to pursue your goals, you will literally feel different.  When you fly, the freedom you feel overcomes the pain of the past.”  Amen to that!   

SPEAKING OF AMBIGUITY:   If Man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?  (One of my personal favorites.) 

CRAIG’S LIST AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES (LOUISIANA):  Craig’s List is NOT considered a social media site and it is typically NOT space restrictive.  Meaning that when you place a Craig’s List Advertisement you MUST include all of the State of Louisiana’s required information that will appear on every page of the site.  Specifically: 

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

2053 East Gause Blvd, Ste 100

Slidell, LA  70461 – USA

985-649-6333 – Office

Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

Broker and Associate are licensed by the State of Louisiana

You can include other information about yourself but the above is the minimum required.  Failure to do so could and probably will result in a “cite and fine” by the Commission amounting to $75.00 for a first offense. 

JEFFREY GITOMER GEM ON REJECTION; HE CALLS IT BS! http://www.gitomer.com/articles/ViewPublicArticle.html?key=ajcdMibak3P1TC6xdsjS7Q%3D%3D 


WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT; ACTUALLY I DID.  With the explosion of the social media, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Plaxo, etc, what happens to all the accounts and info when a family member dies.  Sounds goofy but it does present a problem.  Check out this article on “Social Media Wills”; it may clear this subject up a bit:  http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/the-social-media-will-an-expert-guide-to-your-digital-afterlife/257112/

LOUISIANA REACHES HIGH RANK EVER IN CEO SURVEY:  Want some good news, read this article about what Chief Executive Officers now think of the State of Louisiana.  Will  raise your spirits:  http://www.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com/led-news/news-releases/louisiana-reaches-highest-rank-ever-in-ceo-survey.aspx

CREATE A URL FOR YOUR PHOTO:  Ever try to upload a photograph only to discover it asks for a URL from which to pull the photo?  It is a roadblock to what you want to accomplish.  Here is a free site where you can create a URL address for the photo you want to upload.  Not quite self explanatory but it does work.

 http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/GymbeauxJB/MichelleQRCode.jpg

MLS DUES RENEWAL is fast approach, please plan ahead.  The dues are due on or before June 30, 2012.  You will be considered delinquent after July 31 and should that happen for anyone in the Market Center there is only one option, returning the license to the state because it is quite probable that MLS access will be terminated for the entire Market Center if not paid.

QUADRENNIAL ETHICS TRAINING DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING.  December 31, 2012 is the deadline for completing your National Association of REALTORS Quadrennial Ethics Training.  It is not offered that often in classroom settings, what for announcements.  You CAN, however, take the course ONLINE at www.Realtor.org.  I took it online and it was a great course.  You must have proof of completion in order to renew your Board Dues January 1, 2013.

HOME PRICES RISE IN HALF U.S. CITIES AS HOME PRICES STABILIZE; report: http://tinyurl.com/chcdxwx  

SHORT SALE AND FEDERAL INCOME TAX; TIME SENSITIVE:  http://ymlp.com/z1hUYl

COMPUTER KEYBOARD WITH BUILT IN SCANNER; Here is a Wal-Mart link to the keyboard I purchased.  I don't remember where I bought it, might have been Office Depot or Best Buy.  I really like the scanner and makes signing documents very easy  http://tinyurl.com/c5fjklq   

GREAT EZINE BY MARTE CLIFF.  I have been reading and following the writings of Marte Cliff and they are both very good and very informative.  I highly recommend that you check her out at: http://activerain.com/blogs/copybymarte

PERSONAL SECURITY APP:  Provided by Yvette Sehon-Caitore.  Titled Guardly, this is the fastest way to contact family, friends, 911 when you are in danger and help them to reach AND locate you.  I typed in Guardly in my App Store and easily found it.  The download is free.  Beyond that I am not certain as to how it works.  Seems like it would be a “natural” for REALTORS meeting customers for the first time.  Check it out.  There were two other programs, one called Bluelight and the second called Safestreet ($19.95 a month).  I could not find either one on my App Store, if you do, please let me know and I’ll spread the word.

SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES.  What Buyer’s Representatives Need To Know.  CE class June 7^th at New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS. Fee Schedule: $135.00.  Course Credit: 1 day, counts as 1 REBAC elective credit toward ABR, earns 1 GRI credit, earns credit towards SFR certification, and 8 hours of CE  Go to:  http://www.larealtors.org/calendar/EventDetail.asp?CompanyID=LAR&ScheduleID=1891 For more information and to register.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MINOR LAPSE OF INTEGRITY:  The following is a daily Gratitude message from Wes Hopper.  It is so true.  The message refers to Peer Pressure as one of the major cause of a lapse of integrity.  We in real estate are also faced with opportunities to violate our integrity because of the amounts of money that can be made on any one real estate transaction.  No commission is worth forfeiting your reputation and integrity.  The “I” in WI4C2TS stands for Integrity – do the right thing; to which I always add, especially when no one is watching. The “Golden Rule” is never MORE prevalent than in the real estate business.  Do unto others as you would have done unto you.  Use Joe Tye’s Direction-Deflection-Question and ask yourself, 

IS WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY OR DO SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO SAY OR DO TO ME?

GRATITUDE – NO MINOR LAPSE

By Wes Hopper 

"There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity"

Tom Peters

I know that all of us would like to think that we speak and act with integrity in our lives.  But as I follow the news and read about people, I see that it's more difficult to stay in integrity than we think.

What is it that makes us prone to slip in this area? It seems to me that  there is one major thing towatch for.  Peer pressure. The desire to be accepted and liked by our group. 

We can start with the best intentions and yet find that we're soon telling little lies to fit in.  We agree with things we don't really agree with. We don't object to behavior that we really should object to. 

It's hard to back out of these patterns so we rationalize our decisions to feel better.  But what happens if we're suddenly confronted by a BIG issue?

---------------------------------------------------

In case you missed the announcement a while back, the collected 2011 Daily Gratitude Messages, all 263 pages of them, are now available. As my thanks for getting the ebook, you'll get a powerful chapter from James Allen's classic, "As A Man Thinketh" too!  These collections make a great reference for inspiration when you need it, too!

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Kx6ZW&m=J62UxJRsPsR9M1&b=MA7V43HxG.jW0TW69I8dsg

---------------------------------------------------

There have been several cases in the news in the United States recently, all involving child abuse and all revealing a pattern of group cover up of the crimes rather than concern for the victims. 

"How could that happen?" we ask ourselves, and we believe that we would never do that!  But we might be wrong, you know. It all starts with the little things. 

So here's the challenge for all of us, today and every day. 

Can we go through the day without even a minor lapse of integrity? Can we determine to tell and act our truth, no matter who agrees or not?  Catching ourselves in the act is the first step to full authenticity in our lives. 

With a little practice we can learn to be gentle and non judgmental about our decisions. We don't have to make anyone wrong, we just have to stick to our truth.  Live, act and speak with integrity. 

All the best, Wes (Hopper) 

Follow @DailyGratitude on Twitter 

Not a subscriber? Get your own issue every week day.

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Kx6ZW&m=J62UxJRsPsR9M1&b=oLjoHv7l6HidWZ.IMrxO.w 

Horn Creek Productions, LLC

PO Box 2965

Peoria, AZ 85380

Online Newsletter for the Week Ending May 18

QUOTE:  On solving problems:  "If we can really understand the problem, the answer will come out of it, because the answer is not separate from the problem."  Jiddu Krishnamurti (writer).  "Every problem contains the seeds of its own solution."  Stanley Arnold (writer)  Gymbeaux Note:  “Seek not to know all the answers but rather understand the questions.”  Cain from the TV Series Kung Fu 

LATEST NUGGET, IS IT TRUE?  By Gymbeaux.  www.NuggetsForTheNoggin.com 

GREAT NEWS FOR THE SLIDELL AREA:  Two more tenants have signed agreements in the yet to be built Summit on I-10 in Slidell.  The following companies have committed to the development the article did not indicate when the construction will start other than soon (sure wish I could say that Slidell would finally have a first class bookstore but not yet): 

·       Ulta Beauty (latest signee)

·       PetSmart (latest signee)

·       Dick’s Sporting Goods

·       Best Buy

·       TJ Max

·       Michael’s

·       Versona Accessories

·       Rack Room Shoes 

SAD NEWS:  With the good news there was also some sad news.  According to the Slidell Independent, the State plan to cut the budget means that K-Bar-B may close after 40 years.  The K-Bar-B was the site for our participation in Red Day in 2011. 

ARE YOU READING THE KELLER WILLIAMS OFFICIAL BLOG?  Check it out at http://blog.kw.com/ 

FROM THE WORLD OF STEVEN WRIGHT:  I have an answering machine in my car. It says, "I'm home now, but leave a message and I'll call when I'm out." 

WISDOM FROM MICHAEL DUNN, author of “What’s The BIG Secret?”  From Page 97. On the subject of creating WRITTEN GOALS.  “In the Yale graduating class of 1953, 3 percent had specific goals that were written down.  Twenty years later they went back andsurveyed the same graduates and found that not only were the 3% happier andmore fulfilled, but they were also worth more monetarily than the other 97% put  together.  Why? Well, when they met their original goals they went back and marked themoff and wrote new ones.  Their minds(their own personal computers) work to make it happen.”  www.MichaelPDunn.org

SPEAKING OF AMBIGUITY:   Atheism is a Non-Prophet Organization.  (This one may need to be explained to You-Know-Who.) 

TRULY AN AMAZING VIDEO THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED WITH EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS IN YOUR LIFE:  http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0  \ 

ANOTHER AMAZING POSITIVE VIDEO FROM SEATLE’S CHILDREN HOSPITAL.  Please watch and pass on to your family especially your children.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGCj5mfCk8 

5 QUICK TIPS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE QUESTIONING:  From www.SalesDog.com a great site to subscribe to.  Particularly like the Phrases that need to be retired.  I would add “Roll Out”, “Next Level” and my personal all time favorite, “You Know”.  http://www.salesdog.com/newsletter/2012/sales_training_nl0576.htm#newsletter 

A WORD TO THE WISE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE YOU-KNOW-WHO:  This is a great article and clearly demonstrates how an innocent act could turn into a disaster by not thinking it through.  http://activerain.com/blogsview/3241564/a-listing-agent-s-dollar-mistake 

CUSTOMIZED QR CODES:  Thank you David McLaughlin for this very interesting web link.  You can create a QR code and link it to whatever you desire and you can also insert in the center of the Code a word(s) or even a graphic.  Yes there is a cost but it is certainly a way to “brand” your QR codes.  http://www.qrlicious.com/ 

IF YOU HAVE NEVER FAILED, YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED!  Very short video that defines perseverance:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tjYoKCBYag&feature=youtube_gdata_player 

THANK YOU THURSDAY:  From Jon Gordon.  Check out http://www.thankyouthursday.org  Take time to be thankful for someone you know.  But then again, you don’t just have to do it on Thursdays.

LINKS TO LIFE ENHANCING RESOURCES FROM JOE TYE:  Amazing things.  http://tinyurl.com/c5dkzoq 

BRICK WALLS:  By Joe Tye (my hero and mentor) Sometimes, as Randy Pausch said, brick walls are there to make you prove how much you want something.  And sometimes they are there to alert you that you are on the wrong path in life.  The challenge is often discerning what sort of wall you have just smashed into, and then facing down your fears and doing what you must do - which is the point of today's Promise from The Self-Empowerment Pledge:  I will do the things I'm afraid to do but which I know should be done.  Sometimes this will mean asking for help to do that which I cannot do by myself.  Read the rest of Joe Tye’s Spark Plug Ezine at:  http://goo.gl/GCfQT

TEARING DOWN BRICKWALLS.  Watching this video may cause you to look at your brick walls a little differently.  Amazing!  http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/05/14/theres-always-hope-family-of-disabled-child-who-walked-for-marine-dad-speaks-out-takes-on-new-york-city/

14 SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO BE POSITIVE, by Jon Gordon.  Simple but extremely effective.  Remember, people rain on other people’s parades because they don’t have a parade themselves.  Jeffrey Gitomer.   Don’t let others rain on your parade.  http://www.jongordon.com/positivetip-14-strategies.html

KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR COMPETITION by Marte Cliff.  Good advice in this ezine that I think you will want to consider.  Just remember, it IS important what your competition is doing but the ONLY person you are truly in competition with is yourself.  Are YOU striving to be THE BEST you can be.  Use Joe Tye’s Direction-Deflection-Question:  Is what I am about to say or do leading me to become the best I can be?  Answer:  Following the link to Marte Cliff – YES; DO IT. http://ymlp.com/zR2EKe

DID YOU KNOW?  There are 128 files in the PRODUCTIVITY section of www.SlidellCalendar.com that contain some very remarkable material to help you with your business.  Success leaves clues (Tony Robbins) and these articles, spreadsheets, etc are clues that are not difficult to find.  Have you read any of them lately?  Read….for a change!

TWO FREE BOOKS:  WALKING, LIVING, LEARNING! An Adventure In Personal & Professional Development by Al Argo.  LIMITED TIME ONLY FROM THE AUTHOR:  This is a FREE Download from Amazon to Kindles BUT you can also download a Kindle Reader program to your computer and read this on your computer if you do not have a Kindle.  You need to download the Kindle Reader BEFORE you attempt to download the book at:  www.Amazon.com/KindleForPc.  Then download the book at:  http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Adventure-Professional-Development-ebook/dp/B005D5Y6YS/ref=zg_bs_154949011_1   Also FREE; WRITING YOUR BOOK by Dan Poynter.  http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Your-Book-ebook/dp/B007VP66Z0/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1336974086&sr=1-6  THESE TWO SITES MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PULLED FROM THE INTERNET

NEW REALTOR.COM® TV CHANNEL TO REACH 55 MILLION HOMES.  Read the article on the latest venture into getting listings on the “on demand” cable channels.  http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-releases/electro-mechanical/4372900/New-Realtor-com-TV-Channel-to-Reach-55-Million-Households

PERSONALLY SETTING A GOAL FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD TO SEE.  Want to accomplish something special?  Set yourself up to where everyone will be watching just what you do, or not!  www.RealEstateLagniappe.com

Newsletter for the Week Ending May 11

QUOTE:   "When life's problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate."  Ann Landers   "If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart."   Socrates

FROM THE WORLD OF STEVEN WRIGHT:  The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

WISDOM FROM MICHAEL DUNN, author of “What’s The BIG Secret?”   From Page 70 (actually you could pick any paragraph from the book and make it noteworthy; the book is that good.)  If we as humans spend all our time in the Beta state trying to get all this stuff done, keeping up with the Jones’, or giving up and living with anxiety, tension, and fear, (which by the way keeps us in the Beta state) we don’t receive what we need to function properly – mentally, physically, socially, or spiritually.  We have no personal direction.  We are like a ship being tossed to and fro by the sea in a storm of life that never seems to slow down or give us a chance.  It’s time to stop!  Slow down so your life can catch up with you.  Right now, right here, come on I’ll show you how.  (Gymbeaux Note:  Michael Dunn DOES show you how throughout this wonderful book.  Read it for yourself.  Buy a copy for your best friends and family.  It is a book that WILL make a difference; ask anyone who has read it.)

SPEAKING OF AMBIGUITY:  Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things. 

THE LATEST NUGGET FOR THE NOGGIN:  What Can We Learn From Korean Air?  By Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown (that would be me).  www.NuggetsForTheNoggin.com

PAULENA’S WEEKLY MARKET CENTER UPDATE VIA VIDEO:  Just in case you might have missed it, tune in to the first of the Team Leader’s weekly video Market Center Update posted each Friday:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkTP0S_7HsE&list=PLFCAA853A733E2637&feature=mh_lolz

HOW IMPORTANT IS WRITING?  IT IS THE KEY TO THE LOCKED DOOR OF YOUR SUCCESS!  Written by Jeffrey Gitomer.  This brief article touches on all aspects of writing for success including Youtube Video scripts, LinkedIn articles, etc.  I would suggest that you sign up for Gitomer’s weekly Sales Caffine Newsletter if for no other reason than taking the one question quiz each week.  I am not bragging because I have read all of Gitomer’s books but over the past 3 years I think I have answered all but three of the weekly questions correctly.  Gitomer is a marketing genius, in my opinion, and you would be wise to study his work.  http://www.gitomer.com/articles/ViewPublicArticle.html?key=ajcdMibak3NZbkAyudYAQg%3D%3D

11 HABITS FOR GRADUATES AND YOU:  Very timely article by Jon Gordon.  You are strongly encouraged to read as much Jon Grodon as you can, he is always “right on!” as in this case.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkTP0S_7HsE&list=PLFCAA853A733E2637&feature=mh_lolz

IRRATATING LISTENING HABITS, from www.SalesDog.com.  This is an extremely useful article that mentions how few training classes there are on how to become an effective listener.  The SalesDog people would proud of our Market Center as we HAVE such a course.  Have you ever attended?  Read the article and you may want to consider attending the course a top priority.  http://www.salesdog.com/newsletter/2012/sales_training_nl0575.htm#newsletter

NO FEAR WEBINAR BY JEFFREY GITOMER.  The webinar is designed to teach you to be fearless and achieve your objective at such events as the Chamber Afterhours specifically and networking events in general.  The cost is only $29.00.  May 15^th, two different times to register; get more information at:  http://www.gitomer.com/products/Webinar_NoFearNetworking.html

REAL ESTATE CLIENTS WHO DRAIN YOUR ENERGY – IT COULD BE TIME TO FIRE THEM.  Great article by Marti Cliff, Copywriter.  I think we all have come across someone in business that would apply to this article.  How much does it costs to continually work with people who drain your time and energy?  Do you mean if you DO; or if you DON’T?  I have added Ms. Cliff’s blog link to the upper right corner of www.ReadForAChange.com.  All of posted articles are GREAT!  http://ymlp.com/zmM16d

LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE  by Joe Tye:  http://GOO.GL/4qUXR

TRULIA OVERHAULS INDUSTRY OFFERINGS.  The changes are suppose to enhance broker/agent services on internet listings on the www.Trulia.com site.  Click here to read the entire announcement: http://corp.truliablog.com

SITTING ON A THUMB TACK; OR, THE POWER OF DISSATISFACTION

By Joe Tye

Two things happen when you sit down on a thumbtack that's pointed business side up.  First, you become incredibly focused.  At that moment you are not thinking about how annoyed you are with your spouse, the overdue mortgage payment, what you're having for dinner, or anything other than the sudden searing pain in your rear. 

Second, you become incredibly motivated.  No matter how fatigued, stressed out, or lethargic you were when you sat down, you are not going to procrastinate getting back up for a single nanosecond.

That is the power of focused dissatisfaction.  And sitting on a thumbtack is a great metaphor for it.  Learning to tightly focus your dissatisfaction can lead to life-changing results.  Unfortunately, most people scatter their dissatisfaction like dandelion seeds in the wind, with the result that instead of being focused and motivated, they are unproductive and unhappy. 

If you can discipline yourself to be unhappy about - and to complain about - one thing and one thing only, you will have given yourself an almost unstoppable power.  Let's say that the one thing you allow yourself to complain about is the dump of a house you live in (like Jeff Foxworthy's redneck, your house has wheels and your car doesn't). 

Every time you catch yourself starting to complain about something - even if you're just thinking it - you redirect that mental moan toward the one thing you've given yourself permission to be dissatisfied about, in this case the house with wheels.  So a typical inner dialog might go like this: 

I can't believe they're charging eight dollars for a cheeseburger - when I'm in the new house I'm going to grill cheeseburgers every weekend! 

I wish those kids across the street would stop making such a racket - in my new house I'm going to have a silent sanctuary where I can go to meditate and pray. 

Uh-oh, they've delayed my flight by an hour - that will give me a chance to read the book I just checked out from the library on fireplace design. 

If you get into the habit of redirecting every mental complaint - every single one! - toward that one big goal you've given yourself permission to be unhappy about, you will start dreaming at night about ways to fulfill the goal and waking up in the morning with the determination to work toward it. 

Oh, and by the way, you'll serendipitously end up being a much happier and more fulfilled person who is a lot more fun to be around than the one who was always complaining about whatever little annoyance was on your mind.

GYMBEAUX NOTE:  The greatest single tool I have ever been given was given to me by Joe Tye.  It is the Direction-Deflection-Question (DDQ).  It works for anything you want to achieve in life.  You simply ask yourself a question and then follow the direction both your gut and your heart provide:

IS WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY OR DO CONSISTENT WITH (YOU INSERT YOUR OBJECTIVE OR GOAL SUCH AS) BEING MY OWN BEST SELF, or ACHIEVING THE BIG WHY IN MY LIFE or WEIGHING 185 POUNDS?

Think about it, if the answer is YES - say or do it!  If the answer is NO; don't!

Newsletter for May 4 2012

QUOTE:  "Man does not simply exist, but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment."  Viktor Frankl (Author)   "Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself."   Rita Mae Brown (writer)

FROM THE WORLD OF STEVEN WRIGHT: I put instant coffee in a microwave and almost went back in time.  

LATEST NUGGET:  Just posted the latest Nugget for the Noggin, "Look, Jimmy is the only one in step",  Enjoy, Gymbeaux   www.NuggetsForTheNoggin.com

WISDOM FROM MICHAEL DUNN, author of “What’s The BIG Secret?”  Your life is a direct reflection of the picture you hold in your heart.  Your heart is where your treasure is; so start digging.  Michael Dunn  www.michaelpdunn.org   Also from Page 71 of What’s The BIG Secret?:

“Eagles Wings”

 by Debbie Lemacher

An eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks.  The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come.  When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.  While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.  The eagle does not escape the storm.  It simply uses the storm to lift it higher.  It rises on the winds that bring the storm.  Gymbeaux Note:  Need any more be said?  We all face adversities.  The question is do we go deeper into the adversity or do we “rise on the winds that bring the storm”?

PUSH TO ADD DRAMA:  è   Thank you Stacey Chehardy for this fabulous link.  Did you push it?  Come on, some of you did.  Nothing happened right?  Watch this short video to add drama to your life; it is so cool, what would you have done?   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316AzLYfAzw&feature=youtu.be

FROM ANXIETY TO ACTION, by Joe Tye.  This applies to just about everyone.  http://tinyurl.com/cw4zzas

TOOLS FOR CARVING THE FUTURE YOU.  By Joe Tye.  This is unquestionably some of the best advice anyone could receive provided you read it (and of course) for a change:  http://tinyurl.com/83o5atn

MANAGING MULTIPLE OFFERS, MORE SPECIFICALLY COUNTER OFFERS:  Here is a link to an article regarding submitting more than one counter offer at a time when multiple offers are received.  This was/is an expensive lesson to all involved.  Generally speaking, you should never encourage your customer to counter more than one offer at a time!  If you want to read…..for a change and more importantly protect your own bank account, go here:  http://www.larealtors.org/legal/redstick.asp

WRITING IS NOT A MYSTERY.  IT’S YOUR BEST CHANCE TO ACHIEVE MASTERY:  By Jeffrey Gitomer.  All I can add to this article is AMEN!  As usual, Jeffrey has nailed it and so can you.  http://www.gitomer.com/articles/ViewPublicArticle.html?key=ajcdMibak3MR4LtH9AtEKg%3D%3D

CELL PHONES AND COMMON SENSE OR LACK THEREOF:  Read it for yourself:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "distracted driving," where the driver's attention is focused on an activity other than the road ahead, is a growing problem. In fact, the proportion of fatalities linked to distracted drivers rose from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009.

While the overall number of U.S. traffic deaths is on the wane--from 43,510 in 2005 to 33,808 in 2009--the percentage of fatalities associated with driver distraction is on the rise.

Nearly one in five (18 percent) of all fatal distracted-driving crashes last year reportedly involved cell phones as the distraction, according to a new NHTSA study. In those crashes, the phone was either in use at the time of the crash, or was "in the presence of the driver" when the accident occurred.

The Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at the University of California, Berkeley found that overall traffic deaths went down by 22 percent, two years after the law went into effect, versus two years prior. They also found that hand-held cell phone driver deaths dropped 47 percent.  Source: Cell Phone-Related Traffic Deaths Drop | NBC San Diego

Common sense should suggest to you that it is impossible to have two dominant thoughts at the same time.  In the case of cell phone use and driving, these are two dominant thoughts and you focus on one or the other; not both.  You are not as good a drive as you may think you in under the best of circumstances.  Add using a cell phone and you are more than likely the kind of drive you hate to see on the same road as you – erratic at best.

If you are involved in a car accident and it can be proven that you were distracted by your cell phone you could be held liable for reckless endangerment.  Not only you but also Keller Williams Realty Professionals could also be served in a civil suit because it would be virtually impossible to determine that you were NOT using your cell phone to conduct your real estate business while driving.  The company policy is that you pull OFF the road and then use your phone.  You do not use the phone will driving.