There’s a phrase that says all work and no play makes jack a dull boy. I don’t know about you but lately I’ve been a pretty dull boy. The effort needed to meet the challenge of today’s market has had me putting my nose to the grindstone in a way I haven’t for years.
 
Recently I rediscovered one of my hobbies, however, and I realized that part of me had been missing. Maybe you’re a writer, a musician or a painter. Perhaps you like to golf, read, jog or do some gardening. There are probably another 200 I didn’t mention but in an environment like this it’s so easy to forget those things that put a spring in our step and the joy in our journey.
 
So just a little word to the wise; make sure you’re making room for those interests that make you who you are. Get on your hobbyhorse…because nobody wants to be a dull boy.
 
It’s a good life!
 
Brian

Aloha! I’m writing to you from the Big Island in Hawaii where Peak Performers is about to kick off. But it’s not the only thing about to kick off…The Summertime Surge is getting close and registration is open! Have you registered yet?

The Blitzmaster, Joe Niego, and I have been working hard on the design of this Blitz to maximize your personal energy and your business productivity. Let me tell you, you’re going to love the daily activities and love how they impact your business. Here’s a taste of what’s to come:

• Week 1 – Popping-by with a Dose of “Sunshine”
• Week 2 – “Cutting the Cord” on Calls
• Week 3 - Beach Blanket your Database
• Week 4 – Iced Coffee and Calls
• Week 5 – Making Lemonade
• Week 6 – Defeating the Dog Days of Summer
• Week 7 – Morning Time Mixer
• Week 8 – Blitzing the night away

As you can see, this is a whole new Blitz with 60 days of concentrated fun in the sun so it’s time to get registered, get ready and get Blitzing! Go to the Member’s area today and make sure you don’t miss out on heating your business up with The Summertime Surge.

It’s a good life!

Brian

A couple of weeks ago I wrote from the Santa Clara Turning Point that Brian had ‘finally gotten it.’ Well last week we traveled to both Dallas and Boston and guess what…he’s still got it! The new Turning Point is packed with powerful content giving a perspective you’re not going to hear anywhere else. Weaving his way through the last century and right up to today with historical data, Brian offers a different way to view the current market and how to not just weather this storm, but come out on the other side with a great business.

The new Turning Point is a combination of education, motivation, and inspiration all packaged in good old Irish wit. I know I’ll be at the next one!
 
David Lally

I’ve been flooded with emails from people wanting to know are we headed for another Great Depression. Now just to set the record straight, neither the Secretary of the Treasury, nor Warren Buffet are calling me asking me for my input…but I don’t mind providing my understanding of where we currently fit into history.

Panic doesn’t cause depression; bad policy does. Foolish decisions regarding increased taxes, trade tariffs, and monetary policy are what caused the Great Depression. A great read on the subject is a book called The Forgotten Man – A new history of the Great Depression by Amity Shlaes. You’ll see how the 1929 stock market crash did not cause the Depression.

Another great example of how different a time this is to 1929 is that during the Great Depression countries, especially America, were isolationist by nature and tried to enact a win-lose economic policy. Just last week the Fed, European/British and Canadian Central Banks all lowered rates in unison and even though this cut won’t do much to bring up the credit market, it is a radical contrast to what took place during the Depression.

We are obviously in a recession and will be for a time but, as we are already seeing out West, there’s plenty of demand for discounted homes. Many short sales and foreclosures are in multiple bid situations. There’s money to be made in times like this but it requires us to take the emotions of our fears and apprehension and pour it into the diligence of our daily activities to generate leads.

I don’t know about you, but I am keeping my eye on the situation and then putting my head down and getting back to work.

Hope this helps.

It’s a good life!

Brian

 

We had a blast at this year’s MasterMind in San Diego. 4500 of our favorite Members and their families joined us on opening night for a performance and interview with YouTube sensation, Paul Potts. What an inspiration!

On our first full day, I challenged people to live life without limits and rather than reinvent themselves rediscover the core of who they are and who they’re destined to be. We examined the character qualities of immigrants who came to America and made this country so great:

* Ambition

* Faith

* Perspective

* A Sense of Adventure

* Perseverance

* Drive

* Hard work

Just before lunch, Joe Niego and I released the first editions of our new book Work by Referral. Live the Good Life! And we decided that our audience needed their spirits lifted, a special surprise and a good belly laugh. Check this YouTube clip out and see for yourself.

In the afternoon we heard a spectacular presentation by Nido Qubein who is a living embodiment of the rags to riches American story. We finished the night off by discussing how to simplify our lives – reducing the complexities that cause us so much stress.

On the last day of MasterMind, I took the opportunity to reenergize people about taking control of their finances and the ways to do it. Marcus Buckingham enthralled the crowd with his hilarious stories and anecdotes that reminded us all to rely on our strengths.

In the afternoon, we set five-year goals and built a personal accountability letter of what we will achieve by MasterMind 09 – due to arrive to each attendee 90 days before next year’s event.

I finished up Day 2 by challenging the audience to live life without giving into excuses and to being willing to make personal sacrifices. This was embodied by a surprise visit by Patrick Henry Hughes. Born without eyes and the ability to straighten his limbs, he not only inspired us with incredible renditions of America the Beautiful and Believe, but also stole the entire show with hilarious insights coupled with the world’s greatest attitude.

Someone once told me it’s impossible to shine a light to someone else’s path without lighting your own. I do all these things and organize a program like this to renew and recharge our Members – especially at a time of market instability. And yet the one who comes away most rejuvenated and recharged is me. I’m very thankful I get to do this as my work and so appreciative of all of you who attended.

It’s a good life!

Brian

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

Some say that Rudyard wrote this poem to encourage soldiers in the war. It seems rather applicable for Realtors®, lenders and those working in the service industry in this market.

It’s a good life!

Brian

DESERT PETE by The Kingston Trio

"I was travellin' West a buckskin on my way to a cattle run
Cross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin' sun
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump
But I tell ya I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump
I took it to be a mirage at first, it'll fool a thirsty man
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can
"This pump is old", the note began, "but she works so give'r a try"
"I put a new sucker washer in 'er, you may find the leather dry"|

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe"
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive"
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

"Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire"
"Under that rock you'll find some water I left in a bitters jar"
"Now there's just enough to prime it with so dontcha go drinkin' first"
"You just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you'll quench your thirst"

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe"
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive"
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

Well I found that jar and I tell ya nothin' was ever prettier to my eye
And I was tempted strong to drink it, cuz that pump looked mighty dry
But the note went on "have faith my friend, there's water down below"
"You got to give until you get-I'm the one who ought to know"
So I poured in the jar and I started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound
Of water bubblin' and splashin' up outta that hole in the ground
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treat
I thank the Lord and thank the pump and I thank old Desert Pete

"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe"
"You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive"
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet"
"Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"

Like the thirsty traveler, you’ve got to give of yourself to get. It’s not about money; it’s about keeping up all the work you are doing to get leads. All the calls, notes and Pop-Bys are your version of priming the pump. And one of these days the referrals will start to flow.

It’s a good life!

Brian

Humble pie is the pastry that’s never tasty. I don’t know where I heard that but I like it. The word humility has its roots in the Greek word, humus. Humus is the soil that is 6 to 9 inches below the surface. Typically this soil is nutrient rich and extremely fertile. That’s why when a farmer goes to plough his fields, the blades on the plow will dig 6-9 inches deep and turn the soil. This way, the most fertile soil is now on the top ready for planting, fertilizing and optimal growth.  

Personal humility seems to operate the same way. When we’re in a state of not having all the answers, not feeling completely confident or if we are full of ourselves, it seems we are then most primed to grow. Sometimes we do things in life that bring about a humbling experience. Sometimes circumstances conspire together and turn our world upside down. Whether self-inflicted, or a consequence of circumstance, know this; coming to the end of yourself can be the best place to be.  

I’ve been on both sides of this equation. Today, my mindset is to try to put myself into a state of humility so that I’m constantly learning, questioning and growing. I must admit, humility has never been a natural state for me. But as I like to say, be humble or get humbled because that’s the only way to truly grow.

It’s a good life! 

Brian  

That was the phrase I heard most growing up as a child. My mother was consistent and relentless in encouraging me to believe in myself. As a young boy, I was very small and slight for my age. (I’ve filled out nicely in recent years!) I was also put into school early and I was typically a year and half to two years younger than my classmates. My mother didn’t want me to know I was small or young or had any other potential shortcomings or excuses. She just consistently championed me to believe in myself.

 

A funny thing happened. I guess it worked! I can never remember a time when I didn’t believe in myself. In fact not having many pictures of my youth, I don’t ever remember being small or thinking of myself as small. Today, one of my youngest children is very small and slight, but I’ve kept up my mother’s winning ways by telling him he’s unstoppable and there’s nothing he can’t do. At every turn, his stature is an advantage to him. When he plays basketball, we remind him of the diminutive Spud Webb who at five foot seven was an all-star in the NBA.

 

Maybe you didn’t have a cheerleader growing up, but there’s nothing to say you can’t be your own cheerleader today. Not only that, but I have found it even more empowering to become other peoples’ cheerleaders. A word of encouragement spoken at the right time can be life-changing for someone.

 

The words we say to ourselves and others can make all the difference in the world. Make sure you’re building up; not tearing down, encouraging; not discouraging, strengthening belief and not causing doubt. You can do it…

 

It’s a good life!

 

Brian

In 1974, Morris Albert recorded this Grammy award winning song. At that time, it was considered one of the most strongly emotive and moving melodies. As time has gone by, when viewed in hindsight, the same lyrics that won a Grammy have often been lampooned as the sappiest song ever written.

 

Whether you like the song or not, feelings can be very dangerous for your business. In today’s market, there are lot of emotions; fear, anxiety, frustration and regret. Maybe you don’t know where your next commission check is coming from. Maybe you’re consumed with fear about where the economy and this market are going. Maybe you’re dealing with frustrated sellers who constantly focus on how much their home used to be worth as opposed to what’s it’s worth today. Perhaps you even have a ready, willing and able buyer who’s just afraid to pull the trigger because they don’t want to pay too much for a house.

 

The answer for a professional is to manage their emotions by keeping perspective. You need to know the historical trends of this business, how good of an investment real estate is (check out www.housingmarketfacts.com), and keep track of your own daily activities so you know you’re doing your best each day.

 

Feelings are great things. They let you know you’re alive. Personally they deliver the highs and the lows of the human experience. When it comes to your business, feelings don’t help at all. Manage your emotions, manage your business and manage your success.

 

How many calls, notes, Pop-Bys and business to business meetings are you having?

 

It's a good life!

 

Brian