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HOT TOPICS
THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS IS
THAT I SPECIALIZE IN NICE
PEOPLE.
HOT TOPICS 1/7/12
DE-STRESSING YOUR DAYS
It’s nice to begin our new year with less
pressure than 2011 gave us. Here are 5 things
you can do to DE-stress. 1) As you brush your
teeth, think of three things you expect to face
in your day. Frame them with "I will open myself
with curiosity to __________" , and set your
intention to be open and curious, brush away
negative or judgmental concerns, and polish with
thoughts of potential great results. When you
cultivate
positive emotions,
you de-stress your body and meet your day with
optimism!
2) While you're in the shower,
think of three worries that have been troubling
you. Objectify each thought in your mind by
labeling it and then rinse it away down the
drain. Let it go with a deep exhale. Worries
can follow you all day long. When you develop
the habit of letting them go in the morning, you
give yourself the opportunity of a fresh start
every day and redirect your energy for moving
forward.
3) As you take your first morning
sip of coffee or tea, stop for a moment, inhale
the aroma, freeze the frame in your mind, and
notice the hot, tasty liquid as it goes down
your throat. Take this moment to welcome
thoughts of good things in your life. Even one
gratitude habit
can lift your spirits and energize you all day
long!
4) A deep and low belly breath is
your "key" to relaxing your body and quieting
your mind whenever stress takes over. As you
walk out the door to your day, pause to inhale
deeply, filling your abdomen, and then release
the air through your mouth. Do this every day
and leave your stress behind.
5) Finally, As you are falling
asleep, mentally list three things that happened
for which you are grateful and actively
re-create the experience and hold the feeling,
letting them sink into the sponge of you.
Gratitude is a habit. Do this for three weeks
and you'll notice the difference!’’
______________
A GENERAL PRECEPT OF BUSINESS – IF YOU’RE GOING
TO MAKE A PROFIT, LIMIT YOUR OFFERING AND DO
WHAT YOU DO BEST.
______________
REMOVING DRIED BLOOD STAINS.
Nice topic, but we all have them. This morning
I woke up and when I turned on the bathroom
light discovered my left hand and face were
covered with it! Once I verified Tom was safe
and healthy, I realized my dental surgery had
come open, but I had just splurged on really
nice (and expensive) sheets. They looked like a
TV murder mystery! But google to the rescue,
and when I followed the directions – soak 30
minutes in cold water, rinse; soak 30 minutes in
cold water with ½ C of salt, rinse; then even
before I did step 3 to wash in warm water they
were clear and fresh! Next time you are too
heroic, or chop something too aggressively or
whatever makes you bleed, try it, it works
fantastically!
_______________
..."Of
all the things you wear, your expression is the
most important." –Anonymous
______________
FUN WEBSITES:
Storycorps.org – where you can listen to the
stories of ordinary people or record your own.
Testmybrain.org – where you can find out where
your mental strengths lie.
Freerice.com – take a vocabulary test, and every
correct answer so many grains of rice are
donated to the UN’s world food program. Fun and
useful!
Ping.fm – update all social media from anywhere
at one time.
Slydial.com – call a number and go straight to
voice mail without having to speak to them.
______________
JANUARY IS OFTEN A GOOD TIME TO ELIMINATE THE
OLD STUFF, MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW TO HINE.
Take children with you when you donate, helping
them learn to part with things and sometimes see
how grateful receivers are. Start a couple of
“donate” and “sell” boxes in the garage or
attic, and ask everyone to put in at least one
item a week. If children are allowed to spend
the money earned by the sale of their used
belongings, they may get more enthusiastic about
participating. Make an agreement that if you
don’t fix it or wear it in a month, it goes
out. The next Mission Hills Community Garage
Sale is April 21. Be ready!
______________
GREEN BEDROOMS:
Ceiling fans to reduce/elimination air
conditioning, low flow showerheads, hardwood
floors to avoid vacuuming, shutters on glass
doors and windows act as great insulators as
well as adding style, CFL bulbs save
electricity, as do timers when you are away.
Natural fibers make recycling easier when the
time comes to redecorate.
_____________
IN THE 1950’S THE AVERAGE WOMAN IN THE UNITED
STATES HAD FOUR PAIRS OF SHOES. TODAY THE
AVERAGE IS 13.
_____________
RETIREMENT PLANNING.
If you had purchased $1000 of Nortel stock one
year ago, it would now be worth $49. With
Enron you would have $16.50 left of the original
$1000. With WorldCom you would have less than
$5 left. If you had purchased $1000 of Delta
Airlines stock, you would have $49 left. BUT if
you had purchased $1,000 worth of wine one year
ago, drunk all the wine, then turned in the
bottles for the recycling refund, you would have
$214. Based on the above, the best current
investment advice is to drink heavily and
recycle.
_____________
OPEN HOUSES MAY SHOW OFF YOUR HOME, BUT THEY
ALSO OPEN YOUR HOME TO PRIVACY CONCERNS. 
●Go through your drawers and cupboards before
other people do, remove those items hidden in
your sock drawer, under things, in stored
purses. ●Remove prescription medications from
bathroom cabinets and other areas. ●Remove
diplomas and other personal items from walls and
tables, protecting your identity and your
family. ●Shut down your computer. Hackers can
gain a massive amount of information in a very
short time and even the most alert Realtor
cannot be everywhere at once. Likewise, if you
have an answering machine, turn it off during
the open house, you don’t need everyone knowing
your business. ●Talk to your Realtor about the
pro’s and con’s of open houses. I have always
believed the biggest benefit of open houses is
momentum. Real prospects will be willing to make
an appointment for a private showing.
____________
A BORE IS SOMEONE WHO DEPRIVES YOU OF YOUR SOLITUDE WITHOUT
PROVIDING YOU WITH COMPANY.
___________
PASSING TITLE TO YOUR HEIRS.
It is nice when we give something to be able to
enjoy the moment of receipt by the
receiver. But many times it is NOT wiser to
pass on your home to your children or other
heirs prior to your death and to consider other
options. Talk to your attorney (or call me for
an excellent referral to Counsel) about your
choices. Life estates, trusts, and other means
of sharing the benefits while protecting you and
minimizing tax liability.
______________
Next week Tom and I are going to start
discovering things – new places, shops,
restaurants, goings-on, so we will let you know
if we discover anything spectacular. Thank you
to the owners of the Metal Zoo on 1st
Avenue for donning their critters with Santa
Hats for the season, so jolly! ____________
HOT TOPICS
12-31-11
RESOLUTIONS.
For years I have made lists of resolutions for
each new year, expecting enormous improvement
and achievement. And for years Life has
impishly interceded with its own temptations and
interruptions. Most frustrating is the fading
ink on the yellowing lists, making my botched
efforts so obvious and discouraging. The new
plan, executed for the first time two years ago,
is choosing ONE theme, and focusing on it! Year
One of this new procedure was to “Not Let Fear
Run My Life.” It was amazing how as I stepped
up to moments that tingled my spine, whether I
did well or poorly, I gained a huge confidence
from confronting my fear. And this past year my
theme was “To Operate and Make All Decisions
from What is Most Important.” I found this kept
me more in tune with who I want to be, and
elicited a much more positive response from the
world around me. Most interesting is how the
One Theme practice has brought in to play all
the items that might have been on a long list.
Because the themes are general, they cover it
all, and I work toward the same multiple goals,
but only having to remember one thing! Maybe a
short list would work for you too!
________________
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS REAL ESTATE DOING NOW?
Data through
October 2011, released Tuesday by S&P Indices
for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices,
showed decreases of 1.1 percent and 1.2 percent
in October compared with September, and annual
declines of 3 percent and 3.4 percent versus
October 2010, respectively. On the positive
side, however, Consumers' assessment of current
conditions improved in December. Those stating
business conditions are "good" increased to 16.6
percent from 13.9 percent, while those stating
business conditions are "bad" declined to 33.9
percent from 38.0 percent. Consumers' assessment
of the job market also was more positive. Those
claiming jobs are "plentiful" increased to 6.7
percent from 5.6 percent, while those claiming
jobs are "hard to get" decreased to 41.8 percent
from 43 percent. And consumer confidence is a
critical element of any market.
What does this mean for you? First, you need to
rely on your own crystal ball. However,
if things would remain the same from the
economic turbulence on the other side of the
globe to the huge typical American
do-it-yourself strides our nation is making, I
would expect that in two years we will be able
to SEE the end of our variously timed slides,
and there will be a general sense and
expectation of gain. If you are thinking about
when to sell, remember that the turning point
will not recover as quickly as it slid. If
indeed we “turn” in 2 years, it will be another
two before we get back to now, and more years
before we are above this. Also, keep in mind
that any projections and reports about real
estate stats vary greatly with price
range, community, property type, condition, and
financing. THERE IS NO RELIABLE ONE GENERAL
STATUS OR RULE. Only the surrounding
neighborhood and recent activity counts when
evaluating your property!
______________
CHILD BOOSTER SEAT LAW EXPANDED.
Rather than the previous
regulation requiring children up to the age of 6
and under 60 pounds to be in booster seats, the
new law extends this requirement to children
under the age of 8 unless they are at least
4-feet 9-inches tall.
______________
YOUR RESOLVE MUSCLES.
One of the things that trainers
teach is to use different movements and
activities to strengthen different muscles.
Like a muscle your resolve can be strengthened
with practice, even if you are not trying to
correct a specific bad habit.
Any time you modify your
routine, you’re developing self-control.
For example, if you brush your teeth with your
non-dominant hand, or try writing with the odd
hand, you will quickly gain your ability AND you
will see things or realize things that you
didn’t note previously. And tiny changes grow
into substantial achievements.
______________
BAD CORPORATE SLOGANS
Saks 5th Avenue: "You Could Shop
Here if You're Poor, But That Would be Stupid!"
Nike: "Just buy the shoes, you flabby spineless
lump!"
Canon Photocopiers: "Quit calling them Xeroxes!"
Radio Shack: "You've got
questions, we've got geek losers!"
______________
CLOSETS. 
If you haven’t cleaned your closet in a long
time, c’est moi, you may have a build-up of dust
and moisture that provides a perfect haven for
moths and mildew. Experts suggest that removing
everything from your closet, sweeping the entire
surface down from ceiling to shelves, and floor
corners, perhaps a washing of surfaces with the
reliable Clorox and soapy water to defeat any
potential critters, will set you up for a fresh
start. How did I learn this? My husband’s new
cashmere cardigan has moth holes! Cedar blocks
or paper will help.
The second part is re-organizing
and replacing your belongings. You know the
rules. Review every piece, if you really don’t
like it or it doesn’t fit right, you probably
don’t need it, and some donor place probably
will. Put like kind together so you can find
them. Put the most frequently used items front
and center. There are more storage accessories
than you can imagine, but you generally just
need to remove those things you don’t use! And
the cleaning will protect your belongings.
_____________
“I HAVE FOUND THE BEST WAY TO
GIVE ADVICE TO YOUR CHILDREN IS TO FIND OUT WHAT
THEY WANT AND THEN ADVISE THEM TO DO IT.”
…Harry S. Truman
_____________
LEGAL NEWS FOR LANDLORDS FOR 2012
-
Landlords can
restrict political sign posting on tenant
units to no earlier than 90 days prior or 15
days after a vote referenced by the sign.
-
Properties with 5
or more units must provide recycling
services and require participation by
tenants.
-
Landlords may but
are not required to restrict smoking in all
or part of a residential property for leases
effected or renewed after 1/1/12. Landlords
should verify local restrictions.
-
On or before
January 1, 2013, multi-family
properties must have carbon monoxide
detectors. Single family properties with
fossil fuel burning appliances, heaters,
fireplaces or an attached garage, must have
them now.
-
Small claims court
limits have been increased to $10,000 in
general. There are some exceptions for
guarantors or personal injury.
______________
BUYING A NEW CAR?
AAA says test drive thoroughly
before you buy and look for:
-
Before you shop,
spend a week or so making notes of what
features/qualities are most important to
you. You don’t want to spend $30,000 and
find out you forgot that X is important to
you and you forgot in the dazzle of the
moment.
-
Walk around the
car and look at the tightness of fittings
and seams, quality of assembly.
-
Does the trunk
open wide enough with low “lift-over” for
easy access?
-
Is the spare tire
full sized or a temporary?
-
Roofs with steep
slopes can make entry and egress to the back
seat difficult and compromise headroom.
-
Is there adequate
leg room in the rear, or will your
passengers be miserable?
-
Do you feel
properly situated in the driver seat? My
husband’s car does not sit up straight
enough for me!
-
Are the heat,
cooling, sound and navigation systems easy?
-
Is there enough
acceleration for passing and hills and
protecting yourself in emergencies?
-
I love my Buick
because it has a tight turning radius for a
big car!
-
Excessive noise
over rough surfaces can be grating on you as
well as the car!
-
If the car is
previously owned, DO have YOUR favorite,
trusted mechanic test it out, kind of like
getting a baseline for future service.
Remember, it is probably NOT the
only chance you will have to own that make and
model, even color, so don’t be pressured, and
remember that YOU are the customer and expect to
be treated with respect, not manipulation!
_____________ 
Rubbing a walnut over scratches
in your furniture will disguise dings and
scrapes. Put a stocking over the vacuum hose of
a Vacuum to find tiny lost items like earrings.
_____________
MAKE YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT BY
RESTORING THE LOST ART OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Smiles and frowns can be felt
even over the phone. Treating your customer
like you are glad to have his patronage, his
concerns or needs are valid, and you want to
make him/her happy is critical. Who needs
grumpy?
Respect stands out. Even if the
customer is being rude or difficult, cursing,
name calling, sarcasm, belittling, shouting or
arguing is never appropriate at your business.
In a really difficult situation, even silence
can speak louder and more articulately than
anger.
Being proactive is the greatest
demonstration that you care. This means solving
problems before they become one, and when you do
have a problem, going beyond the minimum care
needed to make it right. Listen to what the
customer needs most and start there. Their
anger will dissipate if you are really trying.
Finally, overall it is critical
to keep your word. Do what you say. People
identify you and describe you by the word you
keep. (And I have just plagiarized this from
several sources, but in most cases, customer
service is the beginning and end of our what
makes business a success.)
_______________
SAN DIEGO IN THE PAST
When our nation was starting the
Civil War, the population of San Diego was 731
people, approximately my little hospital
district neighborhood! San Diego was
experiencing her own struggles with severe
flooding, an earthquake of 6.0, smallpox, and a
flood-following drought which killed San Diego’s
once thriving cattle industry. You can imagine
what Alonzo Horton found when he arrived in 1867
and purchased 800 acres of what is now Downtown
for $265 and began to enact his dream. The
Kimballs bought 16,000 acres a little south and
began National City. Horton built a wharf at
the end of 5th Avenue in 1969 and
sold $5500 worth of lots and commercial space in
1 day, beginning the boom of San Diego. By 1870
there were 2300 people in San Diego town. (San
Diego History timeline.)
HOT TOPICS
12-24-11
BEGINNING
EACH DAY WITH INSPIRATION
There are all
kinds of regimens and rules
for finding Inspiration in
our lives, but whatever
works for you, I find that
starting each day with
thoughts of a person,
action, story, prayer, place
of inspiration sets me on my
really best path for the
day. Last week a lot of us
were saddened by the passing
of Bob Lawrence. Following
his journey of courage and
choice the past three years
through the words of his
equally brave and amazingly
articulate wife, Laurie, as
she recorded their days on
the Care Journal, I was
sometimes angered by the
situation, but always
inspired. My relationship
with Bob was slight but
inspiring. I worked with
him regarding the Von’s
redevelopment (he was going
to develop the additional
commercial part of the site
and support their renovation
of the store), and on 1
Mission, the extremely
quality condominiums we are
now fortunate to have anchor
our community at Washington,
Goldfinch, Fort Stockton and
Falcon Streets. Before
Mission Hills Heritage was
even involved in “fighting”
the monolith they saw
threatening the character of
the community, he had
declined to build out to the
maximum space allowed, in
agreement with MHH’s point
of view, and later gave in
to other “demands” more in a
sense of “compatriotism”
than need. Sometimes I saw
him and Laurie on the street
as they walked from their
past home on Arista. Laurie
is like a pixie of sunshine,
spreading appreciation and
welcome. Bob was a man who
held a lot of power but
wielded instead his
humanity. I so admired
him. Without that quality I
would not have been invited
to his company or witnessed
his way of listening to
other points of view and
validating other people’s
positions. I cannot brag
that he was my friend, but I
can be enormously grateful
that he lighted my path.
_________________
"if thERE
EvER comEs a day whEn wE
caN't bE togEthER, kEEp mE
in youR HEaRt, I'll stay
thERE foREvER." Winnie the
Pooh.
________________
CONSUMER
M.L.S. ACCESS
Big news!
Just today (12/21) the 4
Realtor Associations of San
Diego County have opened a
door to the entire San Diego
County-wide MLS system to
the public. This site has
many advantages over the
public sites on line.
-
It will
provide all the
information on a
property EXCEPT the
Seller contact
information and
confidential
information.
-
It will
be IMMEDIATELY updated,
unlike many of the
public sites that can
be DAYS out of date
because they are so many
generations of copying
down the line from the
original source – the
MLS.
-
This will
be easier to navigate
than many other sites
and include school,
populations and
government resources.
Go to
www.consumer.sandicor.com.
___________
SOMETIMES THE
HARDEST THING TO FACE IS
REALITY.
 Do
you remember that recent
book, “Maybe He’s Just Not
That Into You?”, telling
ladies if he doesn’t call,
and you have to put out to
get a second date, maybe you
are on a dead end. And if
your Realtor is representing
YOU and THE OTHER SIDE,
where do you think his
fealty lies? Are you sure.
Do you think his/her
involvement makes a
difference if he can be
involved in both
directions? Do you feel
that your dollars and
position are worth risking
because he/she has control?
Don’t give me “control!”
Control is knowing what you
are doing and making wise
decisions and is ultimately
a fiction! Do you feel
his/her having all the
commission makes it better
for you? And what about
that agent who brings you a
property they have not yet
listed, but are willing to
do both sides to give you a
head start? What kind of a
job are they doing for their
seller, not to let public
exposure determine their
best price? And you think
they are going to be more
ethical with you? I think
facing reality produces
better decisions. I wish
you the best with the truth.
__________________
YOU KNOW
YOU’RE FROM SAN DIEGO WHEN:
● You can
correctly pronounce
Tierrasanta, La Jolla,
Jamul, El Cajon, Via de
Valle, and know where they
are. ● Your high school had
a surf team. ● You know
what IB, MB, OB and PB are.
● You see weather forecasts
for 4 different climate
zones in the same county and
aren’t surprised. ● You’ve
tailgated at the “Q” and
also when it was Jack Murphy
Stadium. ● You know that
“Charge!” doesn’t refer to a
credit card. ● You still
call it the Del Mar Fair,
and Christmas on the Prado.
● You go “to the track” and
people understand it is not
trains. ● A famous
skateboarder lives in your
town. ● You have a North
County, East County and
South County but no central
county. ● You know what it
means to see a girl in a
short skirt or skimpy shorts
on El Cajon Blvd. ● You
know what “the merge” is and
spend your entire day
planning not to be on it at
rush hour. ● You stayed
home from work or school
because it was raining. ●
You stayed home from work or
school because it wasn’t
raining but surf was high.
● You’ve gone to sit in the
first few rows at the Shamu
show to get cooled off in
the summer. ● You don’t
have or need air
conditioning unless you live
in East County. ●No matter
the weather, someone is
always walking around in a
t-shirt, shorts and flip
flops. ● You know that
Santee, El Cajon and
Lakeside are where the
cowboys live and why
Hillcrest is the “Swish
Alps”. ●You know someone
who doesn’t own long pants.
● You remember the Big Sky,
Harbor and South Bay
drive-ins, and when the
Navy and the tuna fleet were
THE big employers.
__________________
GETTING
MARRIED? OR DIVORCED?
Something you
want to be sure to do -
Check your insurance
for:
●Multicar
discounts ●Homeowner or
renters policies for
coverage of personal
property such as jewelry,
art, etc. as well as
property ●Liability
coverage on auto and
homeowners ●Do you
have/need an umbrella
policy? ●Do you have the
correct beneficiaries? If
you need a great insurance
agent, I will be happy to
give you the name of the
lady I absolutely love and
trust to do me right and not
sell me what I don’t need!
And if you need a trust
package, I have an excellent
resource for the most
thorough and reasonable
attorney who specializes in
this field.
Don’t begin
your new life with risk!
_________________
HOW NICE IT
WOULD BE TO BE AN ANGEL.
I am just
starting to breathe as the
Chargers are playing the
kind of game they should
have brought in all season,
and it occurred to me how
much fun it would be to be
able to nod good results to
people who need and deserve
it. So far today the teams
we needed to lose to keep
the Chargers in the “hunt”
have done so, and we are
playing like a dream movie.
Just like some days things
seem to fall into place,
happen for the best, even
though we might not notice
at the moment. And how many
times a day do we have the
possibility to influence
someone else’s day
positively with a simple
smile, gesture, gift or
ear? Not as many as I take
advantage of, I am afraid.
_________________
READY TO
LAUNCH THE 2012 VERSION OF
YOU?
Whether you
are looking for a new job or
a new lease on your life,
experts suggest that the 4
keys to impressing your
prospective employer or
succeeding in your personal
life are:
Problem Solving -
higher-order thinking
and problem- solving
abilities -- which just
happen to be incorporated
into almost everything we
do, -- are keys to impress.
What decisions do your
appearance, posture and tone
convey? What examples can
you use from your past of
challenges you have met and
conquered and what competing
views did you opt out.
Problem solving is more than
just "thinking outside of
the box"; it's about
channeling that creativity
into a viable solution,
juggling [the challenge]
intellectually, and arriving
at a better synthesis.
Prepare for your job
interview or even letter of
introduction with this in
mind, and use it in your
personal interactions to
establish your
“necessary-ness.”
Social Media -
Even if you haven't exactly
embraced Twitter, Linked In,
and Facebook in your
personal life, you need to
recognize that community is
king these days for many
industries. Simply stated:
Social media won't be
dethroned any time soon. A
good start is exploring the
sites on line and notice how
they blow up and embarrass
people who use them
unwisely. Notice how what
you put there is forever.
Be smart, and don’t mix bad
taste with “savvy”.
"Soft" Skills -
"People want to hire people
they like," the experts say.
She notes that a strong work
ethic is always a plus in
any industry, as is the
ability to interact well
with clients -- not to
mention co-workers.
Employers look for people
who "are well rounded, and
don't just keep their head
down at the desk all day."
Someone who uses networking
is a plus to friends and
business. And someone who
is involved in the
community, school, church,
sports, anything else that
gives them FACE TIME is
attractive to employers and
friends!
The Elevator Pitch –
Make yourself a brief (ergo
“elevator pitch”) intro
about what you do at work,
who you are as a person, or
what you want in life. A
few well-chosen words will
have more impact than a 5
minute dissertation. 30
seconds is a good time
limit.
__________________
100 YEARS
AGO. Can you imagine 2111?
T he
1910 Ford Model R shown here
was run only on fuel sold in
drug stores. There were
only 144 miles of paved
roads. The speed limit was
10 mph. ●Only 14% of homes
had a bathtub, and most
women washed their hair only
once a month, and used borax
or egg yolks for shampoo.
●8% of homes had the
newfangled telephone.
Crossword puzzles, canned
beer, and iced tea hadn't
been invented yet. 18% of
households had at least one
full-time servant or
domestic help. ● The
American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas
was only 30! Canada passed
a law that prohibited poor
people from entering into
their country for any
reason. ● 1/5 of
adults couldn't read or
write, and only 6% of all
Americans graduated high
school. The average U.S.
wage in 1910 was $.22/hour.
The average worker made
$200-$400 per year! An
accountant made
approximately $2000 per
year, a dentist $2500, a
veterinarian $1500-4000, and
a mechanical engineer about
$5000. Interesting
priorities, no? 90% of all
doctors had NO college
education but attended
medical schools often
condemned in the press and
the government as
substandard. 95% of all
babies were born t home. ●
The cost of living was
extremely lower than today,
but compare it to the
incomes! Sugar was
$.14/lb. Eggs were
$.14/dozen and coffee was
$.15/lb. ●Pneumonia and
influenza, then tuberculosis
and diarrhea were the
leading causes of death.
Marijuana, heroin and
morphine were all available
over the counter at local
drug stores, and heroin was
said to “clear the
complexion, give buoyancy to
the mind, regulate the
stomach and bowels and is,
in fact, a perfect guardian
of health.” What a world!
_____________
Dave Barry
Once again we
find ourselves enmeshed in
the Holiday Season, that
very special time of year
when we join with our loved
ones in sharing
centuries-old traditions
such as trying to find a
parking space at the mall.
We traditionally do this in
my family by driving around
the parking lot until we see
a shopper emerge from the
mall, then we follow her, in
very much the same spirit as
the Three Wise Men, who
2,000 years ago followed a
star, week after week, until
it led them to a parking
space.
HOT TOPICS
12-17-11
MAKING IT
PERSONAL CAN MAKE IT MORE
MEANINGFUL.
I was surprised three days
ago when I was checking out
at Albertson’s and the
cashier asked if I wanted to
donate to Ruth. “Ruth?” I
asked? Then I saw the sign
and realized that she meant
Ruth Henricks, founder and
spine and chief and indian
of the Special Delivery
group operated right out of
her The Huddle restaurant on
Goldfinch Street that feeds
so many people all the time.
Ruth who tirelessly adds on
whatever these people need,
from providing a used
microwave to a little family
living in a small space
attached to a Mission Hills
house with a mini
refrigerator and 2 kids and
1 lady, to finding at least
some toys or gifts to go
with the holiday meals, and
always a smile for her
“clients”. Right here in
our community and with a
“face” on it, makes the
giving so much more
rewarding than a
corporation. Good for
Albertsons!, who I confess I
am not always so kind to,
and good for Ruth. It is so
much easier to feel the
giving when you have a
personal story. If you
agree, you can make a
difference in someone’s
life. Just ask your church,
your school principal, your
child’s teacher, your boss,
not to disclose the name and
address of the receiver, but
to give you the story of
their need and courage, and
it makes the gift so much
more willing and
satisfying! And we all do
want to help Africa and
Haiti and Thailand and Japan
and on but doing it right
here in our community is
nice too!
__________________
Marvelous
restaurant: REI DO GADO
OK, I
couldn’t grab their logo
from the internet, but this
Brazilian Steak House at 939
Fourth Avenue means “King Of
the Herd”. It has 4 great
things and more. When you
arrive in busy downtown,
they have a VALET Parker!
$8. They have fabulous SPACE
AND COMFORTABLE seating,
room for many (who wants
scrunched and miserable for
dinner!) They have a FULL
BAR, and wine list for those
who do such. Their FOOD !!!
let me tell you. There is a
big salad bar type of
arrange from which you can
pluck and choose from big
meaty shrimps, delicious
cooked salmon, several kinds
of potatoes and other
vegetable side dishes, salad
parts and pieces, mushrooms,
asparagus, and on and on and
on, trust me, and soups and
more! Then at the table
they provide you a big white
napkin, wonderfully sharp
knife and a fork, and then
these adorable (sorry, men)
gauchos keep showing up with
spears of 19 different kinds
of meat they carve off the
spears at your request. I
could not decide which was
my favorite. And the
PIANIST plays anything from
memory at request. Just do
go. 619-702-8464.
________________
THAT BOOK
THAT YOU JUST CAN’T PUT
DOWN!
Don’t call
me! Don’t ask me to come to
your party, and please don’t
ask me to cook dinner or
otherwise interrupt myself.
So who would think that a
social study would be so
engrossing? Here’s some of
the why I am fascinated:“Cultures
that Work”. All
cultures share certain
Commonalities, stored in our
genetic inheritance.
Children born without sight
display emotion on their
faces the same way as
children born with sight.
All humans divide time into
past, present, and future.
Almost all fear, at least at
first, spiders and snakes,
creatures that threatened
their Stone Age ancestors.
All human societies produce
art. They all disapprove,
at least in theory, of rape
and murder. They all dream
of harmony and worship
God….All children fear
strangers and prefer sugar
solutions to plain water
from birth. All humans
enjoy stories, myths, and
proverbs…People everywhere
rank one another according
to prestige. “
Here’s more: “Which CEO
Characteristics and
Abilities matter? The
traits that correlated most
powerfully wish success were
attention to detail,
persistence, efficiency,
analytical thoroughness, and
the ability to work long
hours – the ability to
organize and execute.”
Studies show tht
“extroversion,
agreeableness, and openness
to new ideas did not
correlate well with CEO
success, unlike emotional
stability and
conscientiousness, being
dependable, making plans and
following through which
did.” “CEO’s with law or
MBA degrees do not perform
better than CEO’s with
college degrees”, and “CEOs
get less effective as they
become more famous and
receive more awards.”
Final thoughts: “Effort of
attention is thus the
essential phenomenon of the
will. Those who have habits
and strategies to control
their attention can control
their lives.”
“It’s easier
to change your environment
than to change your insides.
Change your environment and
then let the new cues do the
work.”
In this
book a teacher helps a
character get his
conscious and
unconscious to work
together: “first
mastering core
knowledge, then letting
that knowledge marinate
playfully in his mind,
then willfully trying to
impose order on it, then
allowing the mind to
consolidate and merge
the data, then returning
and returning until some
magical insight popped
into his consciousness,
then finally riding that
insight to a finished
product”. Got it?
Ready now?
Most of this
book is written as a
story of fictional
characters to make the
information more easily
digestible. I would
loan you mine, but I am
underlining
compulsively! I am so
glad my new friend,
William Jones, turned me
on to this!
Flattery is a
counterfeit money which, but
for vanity, would have no
circulation. --François de
la Rochefoucauld
Flattery is
telling the other person
precisely what he thinks
about himself. --Dale
Carnegie
Chickens
don't praise their own
soup.—Unknown
_________
IT’S THAT
TIME OF YEAR – PLANNING FOR
THE NEW YEAR’S BUSINESS.
8 TIPS TO BE
MORE EFFECTIVE IN BUSINESS! 
To most
people, being more effective
in business means being more
successful. Start by
writing down the ways you
might measure what success
means to you -- sales
revenues, net income, number
of new clients, annual
growth rate. Then choose the
goals you'd like to
achieve. To reach those
goals, the experts believe
it takes a mindset
and an approach that you
need to apply consistently.
Here are key ingredients of
such an approach:
1. Start with the
end in mind. Know what
your goal is in every effort
you undertake. Then keep
that goal at the front of
your thought from the very
beginning.
2. Stay one step
ahead. Some
people call this being
proactive. Just think of it
as taking action. Successful
people act more than they
react.
3. First things
first. You know the
things that are of most
value to you. Focus on those
ahead of everything else.
Another way of saying this,
is do the most productive
thing first.
4. Understand the
client. It's more
important for you to
understand the needs of the
people you're serving than
for them to understand all
the great things you do.
5. Seek synergy.
Engage strategic partners
who bring something to the
table you don't offer. When
it's appropriate, two heads
definitely are better than
one, and your clients will
be impressed rather than if
you muddle through weak
areas ineptly.
6. Success should
always be mutual.
Deliver great benefits to
your clients and great
benefits will come to you.
That's the real meaning of
win-win: constantly seeking
mutual benefit in all your
business interactions. It's
an approach that's very
appealing to prospects and
clients.
7. Stay fresh.
You don't want to get stale,
so self-renewal is
important. Pursue programs
and activities that keep you
fresh mentally, physically,
socially (or emotionally)
and spiritually. These four
areas of our lives are
equally important.
8. Watch your
time.
We all know time management
is key. Books have been
written on how to better
manage your time, but here
are four easy ways to get
more efficient right now:
-
Write a
to-do list.
It can be on your
computer, in an app or,
old school, on a piece
of paper. And it's
critical to using your
time well.
-
Be real.
Realistically estimate
the amount of time a
task will take. Everyone
tends to underestimate.
This is sometimes by a
lot.
-
Keep
organized.
Don't waste time looking
for things. Know where
they are. Scan business
cards into your
computer. Keep all
passwords in their own
little address book.
Back up computer files
daily.
-
Get the
tech advantage.
You don't have to go for
every new gadget. But if
a piece of technology
lets you get things done
during waiting or down
times, it makes sense to
use it.
Start putting
some of these tips to work
right away. They can
represent big changes in
your approach and attitude.
But the more you do them,
the easier they become....
Enjoy a great month!
________________
ONE OF YOUR
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS MIGHT
BE TO REFINANCE. 
If you have been putting
this off and your loan is
over 5.5% interest, you are
putting money in someone
else’s pocket. I don’t get
a nickel if you take
advantage of the all time
lowest loan rates ever, but
you will! We never know
what will turn the tide and
you don’t want to be the
only fish with a guppy
reputation! FHA and VA
loans are now at 3.875%.
!!!! Conventional Jumbo
Loans are 4.375% up to
$546,250. If you have a
great lender, like mine,
James Carmody at Gateway
Funding (858-525-3086), you
can discuss without
obligation or push, find out
what refinancing would
require and what different
it would make. What brought
me to James’ service was his
all about the customer, tell
the truth only, get it
done-ness. Not a bad
quality set for a lender!
_________________
I WENT THERE,
IT’S TRUE.
Kelly Kraus’s
“Rare Bird Consignment
House” is an ever-changing
environment of interesting,
very well-chosen furnishings
at very fair prices! Just
when I don’t really need
more stuff! But you may
find that perfect piece at
great rates or work with
Kelly to sell your
well-loved pieces. 1918
Fort Stockton, Open 7 days
right now while she welcomes
her new neighbors!
_____________________
Who makes
these things ?!
I read that
a new Study by university
economists showed that
people are happier when
their nations are governed
from the left. During a
Democratic presidential
administration, members of
both parties report
happiness, but it is because
Republicans are generally
happier and can be so
whether they are in or out
of power.
___________________
WHEN TOWELS
DON’T DRY WITHIN A FEW
HOURS,
 mildew
and bacteria, which thrive
in moist environments, can
breed. So make sure after
using, especially in damp
winter weather, that your
towels have ample space to
air out. IF you get mildew,
wash in hot water with 6 oz
of bleach (white or all
colors), skip the fabric
softener, and dry on high to
kill any remaining bacteria.
_____________
“There are
only two ways to live your
life. One is as though
nothing is a miracle. The
other is as though
everything is a miracle.”
Albert Einstein
______________
Want to turn
up the volume on your IPhone
and Ipod? Put them in a
bowl and the concave shape
will
amplify the sound.
Got lots of
stuffed animals? You could
attach a Velcro strip along
the length of the wall and
hang your menagerie along
the wall.
Store rolls
of gift wrapping easily by
running a wire from front to
back along the side of a
closet, and standing the
rolls behind the wire.
__________________________
CONSIDER,
THIS MAY BE NORMAL.
 Every
day at least one person says
to me he or she hopes we
return to “normal” soon.
Well, I totally agree that
recovery to the values we
owned and investments we
held would be a big break.
But I think there is a huge
shift in both the real
estate and the securities
market that has gone from
almost commodity-gambling to
real value consideration and
function. People buy today
what they need for now and
tomorrow, not so much what
they want. They base their
needs more around stability
than gravy train hopes.
With the interest rates and
tax benefits we have in
place, buying a home is the
most favorable position in
our U.S. history. The
overall costs are lower than
EVER, and if we do indeed
recover the gains are the
most profitable. Stocks are
seldom selling at 50x
earnings now, makes sense to
me! But the settlement also
seems to be providing a
stronger foundation for
tomorrow. And that is a
good thing! This is a good
normal.
____________________
YES,
VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA
CLAUS.
As I travel
the last weeks of my real
estate life and the last
weeks of 2011, perhaps
because of the season, I see
all kinds of courage and
loving generosity. I saw
the professionals at the
hospital courageously
telling my friend the truth
he had the right to know to
be better prepared. We see
imitations of the “Gift of
the Magi” deep gifting
during this season. As I
personally age, I come more
and more to understand that
it takes courage just to get
older and have peers bravely
and stoically living with
pain and disability.
Sometimes the greatest gift
is courage and good will and
cheer! I wish you all so
much of that
HOT TOPICS
12-10-11
WRITERS RIGHT HERE IN
MISSION HILLS!
Sabine Starr, Marti Hess, Pat
Fitzmorris, and Mary Winklea
have just brought
out a perfect holiday gift.
Simply This...starts
with Positivity and ends
with Awareness, Acceptance,
and Responsibility. You can
go to
Amazon.com to
purchase the book to
download it on your Kindle,
smartphone, or PC. Don’t
you think we need a writer’s
group right here? Or maybe
we have and I don’t know?
_____________
HOW TO GET THE BEST OF
WINTER WHEN SELLING YOUR
HOME
If your home
will be for sale this
winter, it is important to
master certain seasonal
issues that are less
significant or even
non-existent at other times
of the year. Here are 10
bits of sage advice from
RE/MAX agents that
can help put a
“Sold” sticker on that yard
sign.
Let Those Lights Shine: The best way
to combat winter’s short and
frequently cloudy days is to
turn on your house lights.
For a showing, every single
light in the house must be
on, even in the closets and
utility/mechanical rooms.
And whether you personally
like it bright or dark, for
this purpose buy the largest
watt bulbs the fixtures will
take. Bright looks bigger
and cleaner! Stock up on
all the right bulbs for
lamps and fixtures so burned
out bulbs can be replaced
immediately. Also, it’s a
great idea to keep the
lights on in the front of
the house even if no
showings are scheduled.
People are always driving
past the house, and keeping
it lighted makes it look
happy and welcoming. AND
absolutely open the drapes
and blinds during the day to
let in light and let
visitors enjoy the view.
Provide
Convenient Parking: It’s vital that buyers have a convenient place to park. They won’t
want to walk very far in
cold weather or be forced to
climb over a snow bank to
exit their vehicle. Because
parking is often more
restricted around
condominiums, sellers should
make sure their agent can
pass along parking details
to buyers.
Make It Easy to Enter: Put a
festive area rug at the
front door for a great first
impression and so visitors
can wipe their feet and
concentrate on the house not
their shoes. Have slippers
or disposable booties
available, along with a
bench or chair, if there is
room for one, where a
visitor can sit and easily
remove or put on their
shoes.
Keep
Odors Under Control:
Any home tends to be stuffy
in winter when windows are
opened rarely. That can
allow odors to build up,
which can be a turn-off to
buyers. Pet odors can be an
especial problem. Use a
room fragrance if needed,
but nothing too strong, and
I recommend that in winter
sellers clean more often.
Change the cat litter daily,
rather than every third or
fourth day, or even consider
using an air purifier.
If pets are in
the house, consider setting
the thermostat control so
that the furnace fan runs
constantly during the day to
keep air moving through the
house and dissipate odors.
Also try to avoid strong
cooking odors, especially if
a showing is scheduled that
day.
Cultivate a Festive Look:
Appropriate decorations for
Christmas and even St.
Valentine’s Day help give a
home a cheerful look during
the winter months.
“I really
believe that holiday
decorations can help homes
sell, but don’t go to
excess. “Keeping small,
decorative white lights on
trees and bushes pretty much
through the winter season is
fine, but other decorations
should be taken down quickly
once the holiday passes.”
Don’t
Ignore the Outdoors:
Make a good first impression
on buyers with a neatly
maintained yard. Walks and
steps should be kept clear,
especially of slipping
risks!
Look
after Condo Common Areas: If the home you are selling is a condominium, your job as a seller
may be relatively easy in
winter, if your condominium
association does its job
well. If the association
isn’t doing it, the
homeowner may have to take
responsibility for keeping
the entrance area and
hallways clean.
Don’t
Roast Buyers:
We all tend to prefer a
specific temperature for our
homes during the winter, but
don’t blast buyers with hot
air. Keep the temperature at
a comfortable 65 degrees for
all showings. Remember,
buyers are likely to be
wearing their coats even as
they walk through the house.
Keep
Seasonal Clothing under
Control: Overabundance of cold weather gear is not appealing. Shift some
winter coats to another
closet and put anything not
needed in the closet into
storage. Put a special
container for gloves and
hats and umbrellas in a good
place, where the family
typically enters the home.
Encourage Day Time Showings: A home shows to its best advantage during daylight hours, which
are relatively scarce in
winter. “Encourage your
agent to show your home
before 3 p.m. and have it
ready to show by 9 a.m.
There also are benefits to
winter selling. Buyers out
looking at homes in December
or January are, as a group,
quite serious about buying.
Therefore, sellers tend to
benefit because each showing
is more productive, and
fewer showings are needed to
sell the property. Good
luck!
_____________________
SAY A PRAYER
Little
Johnny and his family were
having Sunday dinner at his
Grandmother's house.
Everyone was seated around
the table as the food was
being served. When Little
Johnny received his plate,
he started eating right
away. "Johnny! Please wait
until we say our prayer."
said his mother. "I don't
need to," the boy replied.
"Of course, you do "his
mother insisted. "We always
say a prayer before eating
at our house." "That's at
our house." Johnny
explained. "But this is
Grandma's house and she
knows how to cook.
____________________
WHEN IT IS
SMART TO USE CREDIT CARDS
-
 On-Line Purchases with a credit
card offer some
protection against
hackers who do not
therefore have access to
your checking account.
-
Always book travel
with credit.
If your flight is
cancelled Or your bags
lost, you may be
reimbursed. And
frequently you can get
points from BOTH your
airline frequent flyer
account AND your credit
card. Check with you
credit card about
additional protections
they offer.
-
Recurring
payments.
Prevents you from over
drafting your checking
account, if you forget
about a charge.
-
4. Big-Ticket
Purchases. If it
doesn’t work properly,
you can withhold payment
or protest through your
credit agency.
-
5. Reward
points. If you pay
off your cards every
month, you can still
build points and accrue
savings for all the
things that would be
by-passed if you paid by
check.
…USAA Winter 2011
______________
MAKING THE
BEST OUT OF OPPORTUNITY
If you were
in the market for a watch
in1880, would you know where
to get one? You would go to
a store, right? Well, of
course you could do that,
but if you wanted one that
was cheaper and a bit better
than most of the store
watches, you went to the
train station! Sound a bit
funny?
Well, for
about 500 towns across the
northern United States,
that's where the best
watches were found. This
was all arranged by
"Richard", who was a
telegraph operator himself.
He was on duty in the North
Redwood, Minnesota, train
station one day when a load
of watches arrived from the
east. It was a huge crate of
pocket watches. No one ever
came to claim them. So
Richard sent a telegram to
the manufacturer and asked
them what they wanted to do
with the watches. The
manufacturer didn't want to
pay the freight back, so
they wired Richard to see if
he could sell them. So
Richard did. He sent a wire
to every agent in the system
asking them if they wanted a
cheap, but good, pocket
watch. He sold the entire
case in less than two days
and at a handsome profit.
That started it all.
He ordered
more watches from the watch
company and encouraged the
telegraph operators to set
up a display case in the
station offering high
quality watches for a cheap
price to all the travelers.
It worked! It didn't take
long for the word to spread
and, before long, people
other than travelers came to
the train station to buy
watches. Richard became so
busy that he had to hire a
professional watch maker to
help him with the orders.
That was Alvah. And the rest
is history as they say. The
business took off and soon
expanded to many other lines
of dry goods. Richard and
Alvah left the train station
and moved their company to
Chicago -- and it's still
there. It all started with
a telegraph operator:
Richard Sears and his
partner Alvah Roebuck!
___________________
THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRY AND
TRIUMPH IS A LITTLE “UMPH”
________________
COMBINED
HOUSEHOLDS GROWING.
Since 2007 Homes hosting a
combination of extended
family members or other
individuals has risen nearly
11 percent, to 21.8 million
in the spring of 2011,
according to the U.S. Census
data, now accounting for
18.3% of all U.S.
households. Young adults
25-34 make up the largest
portion of doubled up
households. Think the job
market could have something
to do with that?
_________________
THE OPEN
QUESTION.
A long time
ago when I, and thousands of
others, took the Werner
Erhardt EST training, my
very favorite learning was
the “Open Question”. It
says basically that the
minute we determine an
answer and consider it
“done”, our mind stops
operating on that thesis.
We don’t get any new ideas
and are generally not
observant of any relevant
information that comes in
later. When we hold the
question open in our mind,
on the other hand,
considering other options,
seeking new ideas, our
Unconscious automatically
feeds us more information.
Have you ever waked up in
the morning with an “aha!”?
Probably the result of your
Unconscious conscientiousl
Just a reminder to take
advantage of one of our best
friends, our brain, and not
close things off too soon.
___________________
WHEN
REFUNDING A TENANT’S DEPOSIT
is it legal for an owner to
charge for his own labor at
the going rate for the type
of work and deduct that
amount from the tenant’s
security deposit?
Kimball, Tirey & St. John
LLP say that “it is not
illegal to deduct for your
own labor , you can charge a
reasonable hourly rate and
state the time and rate in
your security deposit
disposition statement.”
What should a
landlord do with abandoned
property after a tenant
vacates?
Kimball,
Tirey
says: “the landlord is
protected by California law
if they keep the property
safe for a period of 18
days from the date a notice
of abandonment of personal
property is mailed to the
tenant’s last known
address. If the tenant
claims the property, the
only condition of release is
that the tenant pay
reasonable storage costs,
but only from the date the
owner regained possession of
the rented premises. If the
property is not reclaimed
and if the property is worth
less than $300, it can be
disposed of in any manner.
If the value is greater than
$300, the property must be
sold via public auction.”
__________________
TECHNOLOGY. 
In my life that word is
often followed by
expletives! I find it is
generally helpful and way
too often too expensive in
terms of dollars and time.
Tom and I are planning to
make changes to our service
companies as soon as we
retire and have time to do
the research, because in
technology most of all
“customer service” is a
misnomer if not at a
downright lie.
But,
yesterday, I learned to
text. Not a big deal once
someone showed me. I
understand some plans charge
by the # of characters
typed, which is why
abbreviations are so often
used, but I found it useful,
because the person I needed
to talk to could not take
calls or emails in her
meetings, but could check
text messages. So I
learned. I think there is a
great business opportunity
out there for some who can
combine geek skills with
customer service!
Especially knowing which
tools a person might really
need and how to coordinate
them. If you are that
person, call me!
_______________
MONEY CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS,
BUT IT LETS YOU GET A BIGGER
SHOPPING BAG!
HOT TOPICS
12/3/11
Remember!
SANTA WILL BE HERE AT
COLDWELL BANKER SUNDAY,
DEC.4, 11a.m. – 3p.m.
Free 4”x6”
print of the visit will be
provided by professional
photographer, Meredith
French, to each family, and
we will have cookies and
punch and ho
ho’s!
____________
"pRomisE mE
you'll alwayS REmEmbER
you'RE bRavER thaN you
bEliEvE, and stRoNGER thank
you sEEm, and smaRtER than
you thiNK."… Christopher
Robin to Pooh.
_________________
FOR YOUR
SPECIAL OCCASION OR SPECIAL
PERSON“CAKE”
IS HERE.
Down on Reynard Way across
from the Framemaker and
Redwood Street, is a
delicious café that invites
you to work with them to
design exactly the sweetness
you crave, or to stop in for
a bakery tasting and coffee
in their retail cafe. Seen
on the Food Network’s
Cake Challenge, this is
San Diego’s premier source
of wedding and specialty
cakes, and it’s right here
on our Mission Hills
street! They are at
3085 Reynard Way, or
by phone at
619-295-2253 or by
email at
FabCakesSD@gmail.com.
And are happy to work with
you to create YOUR favorite
dessert treasure. They are
having an
OPEN
HOUSE this
Sunday, 12-4pm, which should
be a yummy visit!
_________________
QUICK TIPS
FOR NAVIGATING NEGOTIATIONS
-
Know your
market parameters and
keep your expectations
realistic. Looking for
what you need in-stead
of the value in what you
are offering, just sets
you up for repeated
disappointment.
-
Focus on
the objective or benefit
for each party to gain a
solution.
-
Open the
door to alternative
solutions. If the other
party seems trapped in
his/her own unrealistic
point of view, try to
open a discussion of
where their value
assessment is
supported. Are their
needs represented by the
dollar amount that could
be met in other
solutions?
-
Try to
focus on one or two
decisions at a time, so
that the table is not
overwhelmed with
unfinished questions to
be managed.
-
LISTEN.
The clue to all success
will come from your ears
not your mouth.
-
At all
times manage your
emotions.
_________________
HAVING A
PRE-MARKET HOME INSPECTION
CAN BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO A
SELLER,
 because it
reduces the buyer’s power
when the seller already
knows what issues exist. It
also allows the seller to
obtain repair/replacement
bids from resources he
trusts, so that numbers are
not exaggerated out of
shape. It is also often
true that buyer’s cannot
make a decision until they
have “enough” information,
(in the eye of the beholder)
and having that inspection
available for a buyer to
review and any subsequent
bids can forestall the
buyer’s fear and
hesitations!
__________________
“LION IN
WINTER WILL
HEADLINE AT THE NORTH COAST
REPERTORY THEATRE THIS
JANUARY.  Her many
fans will be happy to hear
that Kandis Chappell will be
bringing the keen verbal wit
and historical drama to life
January 7-29 in
Solana Beach. If you are
familiar with this play or
movie, you know the dialogue
is perfect challenge, and if
you have ever seen Kandis,
whether New York or our Old
Globe, or etc., you know
that she brings dimension
and power and clarity to
everything she does.
__________________
PROFESSIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHY IS A MUST IN
SELLING YOUR HOME FOR THE
BEST PRICE!
If your agent
isn’t hiring a professional
photographer, you are being
handicapped. Where do you
start when you are looking
at properties? Are not the
photos the most important
feature of the presentation,
and if absent don’t you
shortly move on?
Taking a few
classes and buying a camera
no more makes a professional
photographer out of a
Realtor, then reading real
estate listings and
developing a social media
program creates a
professional Realtor. Would
you want surgery performed
by the ambulance driver?
Photography pros have
special equipment, training
and experience.
And the
photos need to be BOTH
photogenic AND informative.
If you have a great yard,
show me what that means.
Most descriptive words are
“in the eye of the
beholder”, pictures can give
better information. You
will probably spend a lot of
time “staging” your home
with attractive furnishings,
decluttering, and cleaning
to a spit shine. If it
doesn’t show in the
pictures, you have wasted a
lot of time, perhaps money
too.
______________
3085 Reynard Way
ENJOY AND
SMILE:
A Sunday
school teacher asked,
"Johnny, do you think Noah
did a lot of fishing when
he was on the Ark ?"
"No," replied
Johnny. "How could he, with
just two worms.”
DEFINITIONS:
IRONY - the
opposite of wrinkly.
THE HOKEY
POKEY CLINIC - a place to
turn yourself around.
D.A.D.D. -
Dads against daughters
dating.
_______________
619-295-2253
You can’t go
back and make a brand new
start, but you can start now
and make a brand new ending.
_______________
“DRINKING
FROM THE FIREHOSE” – Making
Smarter Decisions Without
Drowning in Information
By
Christopher J. Frank and
Paul Magnone. Information
overload is half the
problem, and mostly unspoken
but just as true is
information
reliability. The
old saying was “you can’t be
too thin or too rich”, but
today’s maxim expanded to
“too think or too rich or
have too much information”.
Remember Gordon Gekko? But
most of the information we
get is irrelevant. The net
effect, say these authors is
like to take a sip of water
from a fire hose at full
nozzle.
The authors
suggest the right tools –
fire hose questions – to
help you break the habit of
collecting and presenting
too much information. To
refocus the analysis and
re-evaluate the information,
begin by identifying
the essential question for
your business. This
becomes the filter.
Information overload can
prevent us from recognizing
critically important data.
What is the single essential
piece of information that
will move the project
forward.
Putting the
customer first and center –
unlike the airlines who have
eclipsed customer
satisfaction so far that
people avoid flights if
reasonably possible –
doesn’t have to be
expensive, just smart.
Learn who they are,
recognize them and their
individual priorities, and
remember it is about
their experience.
Being alert
to surprises in the data
numbers is a sure-fire way
to shortcut the learning and
use. What new learning can
we take from the
unexpected?
Avoid rocks
(insufficiently illuminated
data), don’t’ let quantity
of data overwhelm quality.
Study your
“swing voters”, those
customers who are not loyal
and committed to you, what
would make that difference?
Most of the
time, they say, you don’t
need more data, you just
need to pay attention to
less of the data you have!
My favorite
message – I don’t have to
know it all, I just have to
know and pay attention to
what matters!
________________
9 OF THE 10
MOST SEARCHED MARKETS ON
REALTOR.COM WERE
SUN-DRENCHED CITIES.
Weather PLUS
change conditions such as
foreclosures, taxes,
Interest rates and other
factors created a huge
interest in: 1. Las Vegas,
2. Los Angeles, 3. Orlando,
Fl, 4. San Antonio, 5.
Miami, Fl, 6. Phoenix, 7.
San Diego, 8. Austin, Tx, 9.
Tampa, Fl, and – the one
exception – Chicago!
_______________
It’s not who you are that
holds you back, it’s who you
think you’re not.
_______________
THE COUNCIL
OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS
and COLDWELL BANKER UNITE TO
PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE
ORGANIZATIONS.
The
Certified Residential
Specialist (CRS)
is the highest Designation
awarded to sales associates
in the residential sales
field, and they will now
accept certain Coldwell
Banker company courses for
credit toward their
designation. CRS has long
been my most valuable
resource for locating the
best agents in other parts
of the country, and
achieving their designation
was very important to me.
It is exciting that CB, long
recognized for their
exceptional standards and
training, would be the first
company to make an
arrangement like this with
the nationally recognized
standard of excellence.
_______________
●Adding ¼
tsp of bleach to 1 Qt of
water in a Vase of
flowers, will extend their
life.
 ● Diaper wipes
Are great for cleaning spots
on walls, furniture and
upholstery. ● Spray your
silk flowers with hairspray,
then when they get dusty,
you can simply blow them
clean with your hair dryer.
●Pour lemon juice on the
rners of your upholstered
furniture to discourage dog
from chewing. They don’t
like citrus! ●Window
cleaner is fabulous for
spots on rugs and carpets!
_______________
The smallest good deed is
greater than the grandest
intention.
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