“PAY IT FORWARD”

Recently, a gentleman walked into our office and I just happened to be at the front desk answering the phone while our receptionist was at lunch. He walked in and quickly announced he was not there to buy or sell a house…he was there looking for directions for two businesses. The first being “Bob Evans”. He was traveling and knew that he would get a consistency at Bob Evans and looked forward to their pot roast. He also needed to find the nearest O’Reilly’s. He had a GPS in his vehicle but didn’t know cities or zip codes in our area well enough to find them so thought a real estate office should be able to help him…he was right! We were excited to have the opportunity to assist.

Customer service is our passion.. One of the things we enjoy most is helping others so we quickly went to work on the internet finding the closest Bob Evans and O’Reilly’s Auto Store. Gave him the address, directions, and phone numbers. He was very appreciative and left knowing that he was going to find that “pot roast” he had been thinking about the last couple of hours. He lingered and talked about the real estate market and told us about his business. We felt better knowing that we had made a difference in someone’s day who needed a break from a long journey home.

About two weeks later, I received the following email and quickly responded to George letting him know what a pleasure it was to have the privilege of helping him.

“Dear Ms. Kinnard, In this day and age it is rare to find someone who is willing to help out when a perfect stranger walks in and announces he isn’t in your office to buy property, he just needs directions. Having prefaced my thank you with that remark, let me say that being in your office and receiving such help from you was truly refreshing and very, very welcome.

I found Bob Evans and O’Reilly’s and managed to feel much happier on my exit from your office and your fair city as a result.

Thank you again, George (the stranger from Wyoming)

It is sad that he found our willingness to help “an exception rather than the rule”. Wouldn’t it be great if we all went out of the way to help others? Or, just show a little respect? Returning phone calls, responding to emails, smiling at strangers…going out of our way expecting nothing in return. We can make the world a better place. We can make a difference…We CAN Pay it Forward.

It is all about the “Attitude”…Is your attitude like a good dose of Vitamin C?

Attitudes do make the difference! The attitude of leaders and employees can make a huge difference in whether a business succeeds. So it came as a surprise to me when I read that Jon Gordon, one of my favorite authors, says he is not a naturally positive person and actually has to work on it. I love Jon Gordon’s simple little “easy read” books that have a “powerful punch”. Jon recently shared in one of his articles that the latest research demonstrates what most of us always knew…positive attitudes are contagious. Attitudes…positive or negative…can and do impact our work performance…personal lives..…and yes…even our health. Our attitude impacts our productivity and performance in a pretty significant way and affects our health. So whether a positive attitude comes naturally for you or you have to work at it…it can and will make a difference in your success.
None of us want to be around the “negative” person who is always complaining and in a bad mood. You have to ask … how many customers do businesses lose by having a “negative” person on their team. Negativity can act like a cancer and spread through an entire office or organization and can eventually destroy the vision and goals. But there is great news. Positive emotions are just as contagious as negative ones. A group of positive people can accomplish extraordinary things. A positive culture can be created through the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of the leader, employees, and team members. Positive attitudes fuel the performance of a team/company to set new records and accomplish new goals.
The energy you share with others has an impact on them. As Jon Gordon puts it “You can be a germ and attack your organization’s immune system or you can act like a dose of Vitamin C and strengthen it.” Stop and think every time you walk in the door…are you a germ or a dose of Vitamin C?
I feel so fortunate to work with such an extraordinary team that I get a huge dose of Vitamin C every time I walk in the door of our office. The best words I heard today were “We have the greatest staff…they are so helpful and positive”….I am grateful! Share the “Vitamin C”…the “Sunshine” Vitamin.

A Powerful Business Idea!

Recently when arriving for dinner at a dear friend’s house, he had just read “The Go-Giver A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea” by Bob Burg and John David Mann. He handed me a book saying “Dianna, I just read this book and got one for you. You will understand why after you read it”… I took it home, read it, and I then ordered several books from Amazon so I could share the book with others. It is such a simple little story yet has a powerful message about success. Basically, it is about “engaging relationships” and giving without expecting anything in return.

Yes, it is true successful sales people have disciplined work habits, see the glass as “half full” not “half empty”..have good people skills but what sets those who are at the top of their game apart? They truly care about others…give without expecting anything in return. They see opportunities all around them. They seek opportunities to help…to make a difference…to give back to their community…and make the World a Better Place!

It is so refreshing to see a “switch” from the “It is all about ME..Look at how IMPORTANT I am ” to “How can I help YOU”…and a return to “It is My Pleasure to Help YOU”. Giving to others without expecting anything in return enriches our lives in so many ways.

I just read an article by Jon Gordon about the difference your “Point of View” makes. We make choices every day. We can choose to be a positive influence and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our life and the lives of others. We can choose to look for the GOOD in people. It is OUR choice!

“You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Zig Ziglar

From the “Go Giver..A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea” by Bob Burg and John David Mann
#1. The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment
#2. The Law of Compensation: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them
#3. The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first
#4. The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself
#5. The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving

Curb Appeal Counts!

Great Curb Appeal…you are half way there!

Sellers…please listen to your agent. Two of the most important considerations when selling your home…Curb Appeal and Pricing your Home Right. If you are getting ready to put your house on the market…please put your “buyer hat” on and look at your home through the buyer’s eyes.

Go out and get in your car and drive around the block coming back to your home as if you were looking at it for the first time. We all know how important “first impressions” are…well, it is no different for your home. What do you see? Is the focal point (front door inviting)….are the shrubs nicely trimmed…weeds pulled…glass clean…does your entry “invite you in to see more?”… If not, that is the first place to start!

It does not matter if your house is priced right..if you can’t get them in the door…you won’t sell your home! Curb appeal gets the buyer into the door. You want the buyer to drive by and say “I could see myself living here”.

A well manicured yard and nice flower garden sends the message that the inside is well cared for. You want your home to “stand out” from the competition. “Bigger is Better” when it comes to pots on the front porch with flowers…make that red or yellow so they stand out and invite buyers to come and see what is waiting inside!

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get great curb appeal. Your agent can make great suggestions. Agents know what is important to buyers. Planting, pulling weeds, well trimmed lawn, and mulching pays off and will give you the competitive edge..

Now all you have to do is listen to your agent again for what the current market value of your home is…and price accordingly!

Happy Selling!

Changing the World One Smile at a Time

I had the pleasure of watching a Brian Buffini live webinar yesterday and Brian’s focus was on how much our attitude can affect the outcome of what we are trying to accomplish. I think we can all relate how important someone’s attitude is to how we respond to them. How we ask someone for something and how we respond makes such a difference in the result or action we get.

Can you imagine if we all focused on taking a deep breath and smiling before we responded to a challenging situation. Can you imagine what result we would get if we smiled before we answered the phone. Can you imagine if we stopped and thought about it…and waited 24 hours…before sending that critical email…or posting something on Facebook that is rude or hurtful to another person? Can you imagine the profound change we could have on the world … one by one.

I challenge all of us to BELIEVE that we can make a difference. CREATE the life that we want to live. INSPIRE others to be the best that they can be. Have HOPE that the World will be a better place because each one of us can and do make a difference. IMAGINE yourself being the happiest person on earth. DREAM big dreams…they can and will become a reality.

The energy you send out is the energy you will receive. Let’s all strive to make the world a better place..one smile at a time! Smiles really are contagious!

“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” Jim Rohn

If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm..Life does give back in kind. Norman Vincent Peal

“Magic Pill” to Success

I had the pleasure of attending a Cinemeeting last week sponsored by Wells Fargo (Plaza Mortgage) where the special guest was Brian Buffini, a much sought after real estate trainer and coach. It would have been difficult to walk way without feeling inspired and wanting to go out and share with the world what a great time it was to buy or sell a home. What a great time to be a real estate professional. The key words here are “share with the world” or “staying in contact with your Center of Influence and Past Clients”.

More than ever it is time to realize there is “no magic pill to success”. Real Estate is no different than any business..you are going to get out of it what you put it in.

It doesn’t matter how long you have been in the business, you must continue to look for new and repeat business every day. Brian said something that is so true….when you don’t stay in contact with your center of influence or past clients..their perception is “you don’t care”. Unfortunately, some agents who give superior service don’t get repeat business because the client could not remember their name or contact information when they were ready to make another move. I shall never forget a conversation with a couple who raved about the agent who had sold them their house. They could not say enough about the great service they had received. I asked why they weren’t going to use that agent again and they said “We would but we don’t remember their name or what company they were with!”.

As a Real Estate Manager and Coach, it is so difficult to watch agents who have had a successful real estate career for 20 years end up “out of the business” because they are not doing the one basic thing that every business must do “continue to look for new business while taking care of past customers”. It doesn’t matter if you are brand new to the business…or have been in the business for 20 years, you must continue to prospect for business daily!

I recommend all agents read “The Shark and the Goldfish” by Jon Gordon. A simple story about the importance of “prospecting” or “looking for food”.

So, it is time to “stop with the excuses”! Set aside time every day to contact at least 10 past clients or people on your center of influence. Watch your business INCREASE!

Live Your Best Life Now!

Winston Churchill said “Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential”. Are you unlocking your potential? Do you believe you can accomplish great things? In order for others to believe in you…you must believe in yourself. To improve ourselves, we do not need to tackle everything all at once… just small improvements over time will unlock our true potential.

Are you living your best life? Do you have a vision of where you want to go? If you don’t know where you want to go, you won’t have the passion to get there. Having passion causes you to take action to get where you want to go. You must be willing to do the things that others aren’t willing to do. You must be willing to look for ways to grow, to continue to increase your knowledge. Be humble but hungry. At age 82, Zig Ziglar was observed in the front row of a leadership conference in Dallas taking notes…he still had the hunger to learn. You must commit to being a lifelong learner. Get out of your comfort zone. Find ways to improve yourself…always set new goals. Practice…practice…focus on improving every day on little things. No matter what you do in life…always strive to do it better.

We learn something new every day. Some days we live our best life..and some days we have to “refresh” and take a U-turn to get back on track. There will be days when we get off track…we are human….but we must get back on track and continue in the right direction towards our vision with focus and clarity.

It is time to regroup, refocus, and re-energize your life…let’s do it one day at a time and live our best life now! There is no better time than now.

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come.” Oprah Winfrey

Does “Luck” equal Success?

Have you ever thought how ”lucky” someone was because their life or business seemed to be a great success?

If you have read “The Shark and the Goldfish” by Jon Gordon it gives one a simple approach  to the “secret to success”.  It is pretty much on target with the real world of successful people.  When I hear someone say ”They are just lucky” and that is why they are so successful…I have to pause.  Luck is when a positive attitude, hard work, belief in yourself, passion for increasing your knowledge, embracing change, and opportunity meet!

We have just been through what we hope was one of the most difficult times in the real estate industry.  Some agents thrived and even increased their business during this time.  How did they do it?  They stayed positive and focused and continued to look for new business while staying in touch with their Center of Influence and past clients.  They made sure that they conveyed what a great opportunity it was for buyers to be able to take advantage of low interest rates.  They projected a positive attitude and educated themselves about current market inventory while becoming knowledgeable of the great opportunity available for first time homebuyers with available tax credits.  They educated sellers that even though they may have to sell their homes for less than what it was worth 3 years ago, it was a great opportunity for them to move up and take advantage of current interest rates and “adjusting” home prices.  They could buy a home they might not have been able to afford three years ago.  It could be a win-win for them.

They seized the opportunities available to them.  They never allowed themselves to become a “victim”.  They continued to learn from challenges associated with change, which meant they had to work a little harder and be open to learning new ways of doing business.  They embraced change!   They were passionate and positive and worked hard to achieve the success they so richly deserve!  Ask yourself these questions…  Are you ready to take action?  Are you inspired to do your best?  Read “The Shark and the Goldfish” and hit the ”refresh” button.  Best wishes for much success in 2010….you are on your way!

“4 Steps to Thrive During Change:  Embrace the Wave of Change.  Ride the Wave of Change.  Stay Positive during Change.  Thrive because of Change.”  The Shark and the Goldfish: Positive Ways to Thrive During Waves of Change”  by Jon Gordon

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.  Maria Robinson

Success

Do you ever wonder why some people find success, why others don’t….but what is success?

Success is something different to everyone. If you interviewed a thousand successful people, you will find that each one of them had one trait in common…they believed they could achieve success. Successful people have confidence in their ability to succeed. They let go of the outcome…or at least don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on it…they just move forward. They are magnets for continuing success.

Life is an incredible journey with so many details of our life unknown… We can make so many choices every day. We can choose to be happy, we can choose to be positive, we can choose to do whatever it takes to find our success. Your mindset makes the difference…Choose to make every day the “Best Day of Your Life”…and that is truly SUCCESS!

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge but rather a lack in will.

Vince Lombardi

New Beginnings – It’s a New Year!…And its going to be a Great Year in Real Estate!!

Have you ever wondered why some people are successful and can accomplish just about anything they set out to do..and others start and then give up…just when success is at their door?

As a real estate manager and coach, I have the opportunity to interview lots of potential agents…and work with some of the best agents in the business.  What makes the difference between success and failure?

I was watching the “Shark Tank” the other night and something Robert Herjavec said really caught my ear.  He was in a verbal exchange with Kevin O’Leary (as they are known to do from week to week)…Robert said he was going to go with this girl because she had PASSION and really believed in what she is doing.  Robert was interviewed recently and asked what he thought the most important characteristic a successful entrepreneur should possess.  He responded that they should be a great communicator and someone who communicates thoughts clearly and immediately…in essence, someone who is PASSIONATE about what they believe in and is not hesitate about sharing it!

If you don’t have excitement about what you do and what you believe in..how can you get others to place their confidence in you?  Buyers and Sellers are making some of the biggest investments they will ever make when they purchase a home, they want to work with someone who has knowledge, confidence, is passionate and committed.

Robert also said when recently interviewed..you can’t look back with regrets because you can’t change it.  When someone asks him about his business he says “Wonderful…because they have their own issues, their own problems, and they don’t want to hear about yours.”   How do you respond when someone asks you about your business?  Are you the type of person someone you would want to do business with?

Real Estate is one of those careers when success is just around the corner when some agents give up. We ask Why?  There are many reasons…financial probably being No. 1.  Real Estate Agents are independent contractors..not employees.  Agents don’t earn a commission until the transaction is closed.  Unfortunately, many transactions do not close due to loan denial, loss of job, etc. especially in the last couple of years with the changing economy.   However, agents have invested so much time, energy, and dedication and out of pocket expense that it can be devastating to them.  But, I would have to say…the real No. 1 reason that people aren’t successful is lack of passion, lack of enthusiasm, lack of commitment, and lack of focus to continue to gain knowledge which brings confidence!

First and foremost…real estate is a people business.  So put on that happy face…fill that glass back up…be enthusiastic and passionate about pursuing your dreams, pursue continuing education and knowledge of the business…..if you reach for the stars..you might be amazed at how close they actually are!

Find your Passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.

-T. Alan Armstrong