13 Quirks Human Beings Have

Many of us will be meeting with family and friends in the coming days. The truth is there are some people we are looking forward to seeing while there are others we are not. It’s likely that the latter group has certain “quirks” and that’s why we dread them. (Is anyone coming to your mind?) Webster’s defines a quirk as: “a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism.” And there are just some mannerisms that bug us to the core. Right? And no matter how many times we say to ourselves, “I’m not gonna let so-and-so get the upper hand this time,” they do~they will~and we go home frustrated. (Has that ever happened to you?) And we don’t have any “quirks” ourselves so that others would dread seeing us? Hmm? And I guess the solution and the only real power we have over “quirks” is in our own life. And it’s interesting how other people’s quirks don’t seem to irritate us quite as much as they did before when we’re focusing on changing our own. That said, here are:

13 Quirks Human Beings Have…
(What might you add to the list?)

Talk about themselves

Never shut up

Pick their nose

Pass gas

Don’t use deodorant

Bad breath

Show up late

Leave early

Drink too much

Foul mouth

Gossip about others

Brag about their job/salary

Hit on your boyfriend/girlfriend (wife?)

Selling Real Estate with the Swine Flu

I just got back from taking my wife, daughter and son to the doctor’s only to find out they each have the swine flu. (I’m not making it up. Who would want to?) And what if you were working with a real estate agent who all of a sudden came down with the H1N1 bug as it’s also known? I’d like to suggest that you might be happy. And before you think I’ve lost all my marbles (maybe you thought that already?), hear me out. (Btw, my family is supposed to be fine. Just need to gut it out for a few days.) Of course, I’m not suggesting that you hire a realtor® who has the swine flu “literally.” Instead, it’s that acronym thing I’ve done in the past. (See “A Successful Realtor® in One Word” for an example: HERE.) This time it’s two words: (spell it) S-w-i-n-e F-l-u. I suggest you search for and find a real estate professional with the following characteristics~not coughing, fever and a headache, but…

S-ervice-oriented
W-orker
I-mpressive
N-o nonsense
E-xpert

F-riendly
L-ocal
U-nderstanding of people

And maybe it’s not such a bad thing to have the swine flu after all?! (If my wife reads this, she’ll slap me. You can be sure of that. Or strangle me?)

The Power of Appreciation (reprise)

My son, Michael, had a writing test a few years ago. My wife, Kim, and I were very anxious about how he would perform. Of course, Kim had invested much time and energy in teaching Michael the things he needed to know (as a home school mom). Then all we could do was pray. To make a long story short, Michael took the test and the woman facilitator said he did very well. We were so pleased! Later that evening I really wanted to make Michael feel good, so I played like I didn’t see him on the other side of the room while I started up a conversation with Kim. I went on to talk about what a good job Michael had done and how happy we were that he’d done so well. You could just see him beaming as I knew he could hear every word. Then I said, “Where is Michael, anyway?” He replied, “Here I am, Dad.” I said, “Wow, I didn’t even know you were there.” Expressing appreciation for a job well done. I wonder if we don’t tend to point out and harp on the negatives we see in people to the exclusion of recognizing their positive contributions. And when was the last time you said to somebody, “Hey, I appreciate what you’re doing and have done and for you being in my life. Thank you”? (I wrote The Power of Appreciation about six months ago, but I thought with Thanksgiving coming another reminder of it’s importance couldn’t hurt. Agree?)

16 Things That Are Said When You Get Fired

Have you ever lost your job? I’m not talking about that you quit. I’m not talking about that you were laid off (as so many are suffering today and we all hurt with you over it that are). What I am talking about is that you were (spell it) ~ f-i-r-e-d ~ fired. (In the interest of full disclosure: As a 17-year-old I got fired from McDonald’s for punching a fellow hamburger flipping expert in the nose. You wouldn’t want to run into me in a dark alley?) So how was it that you were let go? Was it nicely done or not so nicely? And what was some of the language used? Do you remember? Might it have included some of the following? (and what would you add to the list?)…

16 Things That Are Said When You Get Fired:

We need to talk.

Maybe you’re just not cut out for this.

I need to show you the door.

It’s been really slow. We just didn’t need you this schedule.

You’re getting canned.

You’re getting the axe.

You’re being 86ed.

We’ll see ya.

Factory work doesn’t suit you very well.

Don’t let the door hit you as you leave.

We’re going to have to let you go.

Don’t call us, we’ll call you.

It’s been nice knowing you.

I really did enjoy working with you.

You’re history.

Good luck.

(Donald Trump picture permission from wikipedia.org: HERE)

Aesop’s Fables: 5 Lessons for Realtors®-Part 2

(This is the second in a series.) One of the most illustrative and useful approaches to conveying truth is by way of the fable. According to Webster’s, a fable is: “a narration intended to enforce a useful truth; especially one in which animals speak and act like human beings.” Probably the most well known of all fable writers was a guy named Aesop. You’ve heard of him. Some of Aesop’s most famous fables include: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing; The Tortoise and the Hare; The Goose with the Golden Eggs; The Fox and the Grapes. Which leads to where I’m really wanting to run with this. Simply put, I’m going to be highlighting some other of Aesop’s fables/teachings that you may or may not be familiar with and for the purpose and focus of offering helpful business reminders to real estate professionals in particular. (But really these are applicable in any career and/or individual’s setting.) And so here we go with…

Aesop’s Fables: 5 Lessons for Realtors®-Part 2:
(You can read each fable by clicking on the title.)

Fable #1: The Mountains in Labour. “Much outcry, little outcome.” There are those that can talk a great game, but if they don’t put up, maybe they ought to shut up?

Fable #2: The Two Fellows and the Bear. “Never trust a friend who deserts you in a pinch.” A friend will be there when you need him or her most.

Fable #3: The Bald Man and the Fly. “You will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies.” Offenses will come, but you’re their second victim if you strike back.

Fable: #4: The Fox and the Mask. “Outside show is a poor subsititue for inner worth.” People can be the best at what they do when they compromised their character to get there.

Fable #5: The Lion in Love. “Love can tame the wildest.” Sometimes our affections short-circuit our brains.

For more of Aesop’s Fables, click HERE.

Watch for: “Aesop’s Fables: 5 Lessons for Realtors®-Part 3″ to come soon.

Three Cheers For One of Us

I’m excited to highlight one of our own today. He’s been with Sugar Pine Realty for 12+ years. I’m talking about Coy Knapp. He recently got it in his head to hike up Half Dome in Yosemite. (And if you know Coy at all you know when he gets something in his head he’s gonna do it.) But it wasn’t easy. I got to talk with Coy about his trip. He said they (he and his two companions) hiked up the first day to Little Yosemite where they stayed the night. It’s about 4-5 miles in to get there. Coy made it clear that that first day literally wiped him out. On the second day they set their sites for the top. Coy’s description of this part of the journey says it all: “It was like riding a stair-stepper 7 hours straight” because of all the rock face switchbacks. I’ll let Coy’s pictures tell the rest of the story. Congratulations, Coy, for conquering Half Dome! (All pictures are clickable.)

Lake Tulloch / Copperopolis Area Sales Numbers

I’ve got the latest Lake Tulloch / Copperopolis area residential sales statistics for you to see in four clickable graphs. As usual, the first three graphs cover three years including 2007, 2008 and 2009. The first graph spells out the Residential Unit Sales. The second graph highlights Residential Sales Volume. And the third graph shows Residential Average Sales Price. And finally, the fourth graph focuses on the price range breakdown of Residential Units Sold through September 16, 2009. Before you click on the graphs, here are some of the numbers in simple black and white…

Total Residential Unit Sales:

August 2009 = 66

August 2008 = 70

August 2007 = 59

Total Residential Sales Volume:

August 2009 = $16,605,195

August 2008 = $23,463,252

August 2007 = $23,340,935

Total Residential Average Sales Price:

August 2009 = $251,594

August 2008 = $335,189

August 2007 = $395,609

For more market information and help with buying or selling, contact your Sugar Pine Realty Lake Tulloch / Copperopolis real estate professional today. Call 209-785-5757. (The data used in this post comes from the Calaveras Multiple Listing Service and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.)

Total Residential Unit Sales:

Total Residential Volume Sales:

Total Residential Average Sale Price:

Residential Market Facts & Figures:

Aesop’s Fables: 5 Lessons for Realtors®-Part 1

One of the most illustrative and useful approaches to conveying truth is by way of the fable. According to Webster’s, a fable is: “a narration intended to enforce a useful truth; especially one in which animals speak and act like human beings.” Probably the most well known of all fable writers was a guy named Aesop. You’ve heard of him. Some of Aesop’s most famous fables include: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing; The Tortoise and the Hare; The Goose with the Golden Eggs; The Fox and the Grapes. Which leads to where I’m really wanting to run with this. Simply put, I’m going to be highlighting some other of Aesop’s fables/teachings that you may or may not be familiar with and for the purpose and focus of offering helpful business reminders to real estate professionals in particular. (But really these are applicable in any career and/or individual’s setting.) And so here we go with…

Aesop’s Fables: 5 Lessons for Realtors®-Part 1:

(You can read each fable by clicking on the title.)

Fable: #1: The Dog in the Manger. “Ah, people often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves.” Not allowing room for the success of another actually puts you in a position of being unsuccessful yourself.

Fable #2: The Peacock and the Juno. “Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.” There are some who must be #1 and will stop at nothing to get there. They end up driving themselves crazy (as well as everyone else).

Fable #3: Avaricious and Envious. “Vices are their own punishment.” There are those who are all about achieving success / great gain while they ought to be more concerned about their own character.

Fable #4: The Buffoon and the Countryman. “Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.” No matter how hard you work at being the “real thing,” sometimes it’s the “imitations” that get the attention, accolades and business.

Fable #5: The Tree and the Reed. “Obscurity often brings safety.” Maybe it’s not so bad being who you are and where you’re at after all?

For more of Aesop’s Fables, click HERE.

Watch for: “Aesop’s Fables: 5 Lessons for Realtors®-Part 2″ to come soon.

Eight Years Ago Today~We Remember

Do you remember where you were eight years ago this date? I skipped my morning jog (due to a splitting headache) and turned on the television only to find one of the Twin Towers in New York City had been hit ~ by a plane? And then it happened again. A second plane, right before all of our eyes (the TV anchors included), crashed into the other Tower. I ran upstairs to awaken my wife. I said, “Honey, you won’t believe what is happening.” About 3,000 people were killed eight years ago today (including many at the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field) in the worst terrorist attack on United States soil. We memorialize these folks. And we remember their loved ones who lost them. And as Americans we remain committed to never letting it happen again. Take a moment to remember today. God bless America. (Picture in public domain at wikipedia.org.)

6 Mistakes Bloggers Can Make

It’s been three years now since I first started blogging. In honor of such a prestigious anniversary (I always wanted to use that word, “prestigious”) I thought I might throw in my two cents about blogging and mistakes bloggers can make in particular. And I guess each of these are pitfalls that I have personally come up against, stared down and defeated (well, not always). But for the most part, I have both made and overcome each of these mistakes and been the better blogger for doing it. I’m convinced you will be, too, as you turn away from…

6 mistakes bloggers can make:

1. Forget that it’s hard work.

2. Don’t post regularly.

3. Try to be someone they’re not.

4. Expect success overnight.

5. Never take a break.

6. Give up due to writer’s block.