BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM IS NO SIMPLE TASK! Sometimes it is hard to pinpoint the exact reasons for even the greatest team’s success. Is it a strong work ethic? Is it “chemistry”? Is it simply the skill sets? So many contributing factors need to be considered when forming a power team in business. There is also a constant need to have a way to measure results and adapt to any necessary changes along the way to continue to meet your goals and team mission. I am grateful to all the great books out there to read on this subject and the experience of many wise people along the way in my path of life. Nothing helps more than learning from others who are great at what they do and be willing to learn and change to be better at what you do too! An open mind and willingness to learning and change for the better have to be key ingredients to success…one would think!
My new
book to read that I just picked up today is called THE ART OF CHOOSING –
written by Columbia University professor Sheena Lyengar. “Insightful, provocative, and
downright entertaining…a page-turning narrative that blends academic rigor with
pop culture sensibility.” – Boston Globe.
Have you
ever wondered why you sometime make choices that make sense at the time and
then looking back wished you chose differently? I have asked myself that same
question different times throughout my life. I have come to realize a lot of my
choices have been based on my experience (or lack thereof) at the time, my
inner circle of friends who play important supportive roles in my life
decisions, and learning from past bad decisions to make better ones in the
future. I will be very interested in what this book that caught my eye has to
say. Are choices innate, cultural, in our control etc. It all sounds intriguing
to me! I’ll keep you posted…
Do not hurt any other person in order that you may succeed – quoted from one of my favorite books GROW RICH with Peace of Mind written by Napoleon Hill. The passage continues…to step up the ladder by stepping on another man’s face is to make a mockery of the money you earn. There is no peace of mind in this and often there is no health, no ability to be happy, no harmony at home. You can be left with the ability to buy what money can buy----and a degree of unhappiness rather more acute than a beggar’s.This particular passage stood out to me as I have been noticing over time, many experiences with people in my own life have illustrated that their desire for money was greater than the need to do the right thing and their lack of concern of how that affects others. Anything that robs you of peace of mind robs you of life’s greatest wealth. Wise words to ponder on…
Every human being has value, and every player on a team adds value to the team in some way – It is so often that we forget the true spirit of teamwork. Everyone’s individual talents and efforts are all contributing factors to the success of a goal or vision. Sometimes one person may stand out from the rest and in the spotlight, and as a result, they get most of the credit, and the people in the background are likely to be neglected or overlooked. It’s important to always remember what it takes for a team to be a success, and to truly understand that great teams have great depth. So for all the stars in the spotlight out there remember, “The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.” - John Wooden. HAPPY FRIDAY!
WORDS MEAN MORE WHEN TAKING ACTION ON THEM FOLLOWS…I have lost count of all the times someone made a promise to me in something we mutually agreed on and said, “NO PROBLEM!” This particularly comes to mind when I think of people I’ve entered into contracts with. The level of communication can be high, the mood is one of ease, and the contract is written tight and reflective of everyone’s input and level of agreement. Here comes the surprising part to me (although I’m sadly not becoming as surprised anymore)…I am learning over time that many people do not honor their word. In my experience it seems to stem from two main areas. It appears many people have the inability to be accountable for their behavior and choices. If they do not follow through on their word they should want to remedy the situation to align with their original obligation. Also it appears many want to save money and this motivates them to not follow through on the commitments they made at the beginning even if it means breaking their word and legal obligation, leaving another party to be stuck with the real costs associated with their actions. What I probably find the most striking observation from this entire process is that the people that break the contracts the most are the same people making sure they get everything due to them under the contract. INTERESTING OBSERVATION INDEED…
“NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND ADVERSITY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN’S CHARACTER, GIVE HIM POWER,” Abraham Lincoln once remarked. The greatest leaders understand the Law Of the Big Picture. They continually keep the vision of the big picture before themselves and their people. The end goal is more important than the role – or any individual glory they may desire. This passage stood out for me in a book I am currently reading because I received an interesting e-mail from someone that was thought provoking. Nothing of significance was ever achieved by an individual acting alone. Look below the surface and you will find that all seemingly solo acts are really team efforts! The e-mail helped me reflect on the question, “WHAT IS THE REAL REASON PEOPLE DO THINGS FOR OTHERS?” Is it for selfish gain or individual glory? I am hopeful that there are still people who are willing to do selfless acts of kindness for the pure and simple joy of helping someone reach an important life goal and smile when they see that person’s life touched in a great way by their contribution. Oh how the world would be a better place…
BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE, FOR THEY SHALL NOT BE
BENT OUT OF SHAPE – Michael McGriffy, M.D. I have come to
realize how important this trait is to continually develop in my own character
and a necessary one in people I hold close to my heart. There can be many times
in our business and personal lives that we can’t always control unexpected
situations, but we can control how we react and how we let it affect us. Rigid
and inflexible people are difficult to be around and make me feel
uncomfortable. Have you ever known a person that you always find happy,
content, kind of go with the flow mentality. Well the
person that instantly comes to my mind just had a large turnout for her
birthday party! I bet one of the many reasons is because she is such a great
and loving person and makes everyone feel comfortable in her company no matter
what! It is a very stress free experience and a person I always look forward to
visiting. Life can be busy! Either deadlines in
business or children that rely on you to care for their many needs so your
inner circle should bring you added joy not stress! Enjoy the long weekend with
your loved ones or make a new friend…CHEERS!
UNDERSTAND
THE CONTRACTS YOU SIGN! I went to a great meeting the other night of local
investors who meet monthly. The guest speaker this occasion was a commercial
lawyer. Well I have to say he was EXCELLENT!! It was well worth the attendance
and he had a full captive audience. He focused on the need for buyers and
sellers to fully understand the documents they sign in any legal transaction.
Be it a mortgage document, purchase and sale agreement, understanding specific
zoning bylaws and legal use of a property, migration documents, proper and
protective wording of conditional clauses in real estate transactions and that
just TOUCHED THE SURFACE OF HIS PRESENTATION. His top advice to all was to do
DUE DILIGENCE! Read every word on a document and UNDERSTAND its meaning and
interpretation. Much can be gained with understanding the clauses to write
before entering into an agreement because it can be very costly and delay a
closing if problems arise unexpectedly.
GETTING THINGS DONE! We are all faced with this challenge on varying degrees in our professional and personal life. One of the most cherished books I have read that to this day I have implemented his effective and practical advice is called just that, “GETTING THINGS DONE.” He demonstrates with a practical application of developing a simple system of habits to teach busy lives the art of stress-free Productivity. I really appreciate David Allen’s wisdom and expertise on this subject. It is simple, straightforward common sense concepts that can be applied and see the results immediately. That in itself is convincing and impressive to me. He says his main reason for writing the book was to teach busy people how to be maximally efficient and relaxed, whenever you need or want to be. CHECK OUT THIS BOOK – IT’S WELL WORTH THE READ!
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL? I’ve had an interesting challenge this past week with this very question that maybe I naively yet passionately can answer from the heart. However, I have come to realize that with many individuals and certainly there are your wonderful exceptions, what was once valued seems now forgotten. When I first started into this profession with excitement and expectation of great things to come has now been transformed into the realization that people have slowly replaced us with google and advice from apparent trusted family/friends of maybe a few real estate transactions in their lifetime. I suppose this is no different than those that don’t require educated lawyers, certified builders, experienced accountants, etc. The years of education, wisdom, proven abilities and level of experience count for zero in their books. Actually, I am going to step out on the limb and give an educated guess…it has to do mainly with MONEY. I have always valued and had respect for those who know more than me and are trying to help and protect me with their knowledge expecting to give them a reasonable return for their efforts. Maybe all this is just food for thought…
REASONS FOR HOPE! Last night I had the privilege of attending the Annual Spring Halifax Chamber dinner at the World Trade Centre. The Keynote Speaker was DR. JANE GOODALL. She was eloquent, humorous and as passionate as ever for her continued conservation efforts in Africa and the Roots & Shoots program in
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX! It is interesting how things can happen in life that causes you to think in a different way than you have learned and applied for a number of years. I am being challenged in a very innovative advanced real estate course this weekend to do just that! I have successful real estate investors teaching me concepts I never knew existed and yet wonder why these creative ideas and solutions to increase and facilitate more successful real estate transactions are not readily accessible? With banks tightening lending continually there is a need more than ever to think outside the box. Traditional thinking is holding back a lot of people who may come across the perfect investment for them and are told they don’t qualify and to wait and come back another day when they have a bigger down payment. Not all situations warrant that reaction or response. Choose a lender who understands investors and is one themselves and they will already be thinking outside the box. Find a Realtor who understands the obstacles of investing non conventionally and looks for solutions to help you build your investment portfolio rather than miss opportunities! MASTER A FORMULA AND THEN LEARN ANOTHER ONE!
PICK YOUR PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE EXPERTS WISELY! I have come to realize that not all professionals are created equal. Many people often win you over with their words and promises, but what I have come to realize with experience is that actions speak volumes more. Today reminded me of how lucky I was the day I met a particular appraiser. She has always been professional, knowledgeable, and given me and her clients that extra mile every time. So today I want to say to her THANK YOU FOR CARING! So many people forget to appreciate their long term clients and referrals and I appreciate she gives me her best every time and as if it were her first time meeting me. She is a gem and a true example of the meaning of PROFESSIONAL!
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT! “Houses are the biggest thing most of us will ever buy in our lives. You have to protect that investment,” says Mike Holmes. I read an article that gave some great yet simple advice on Home Renovation. 1) Slow down - don’t rush into a
WINNING ATTITUDES! There’s only one thing more contagious than a good attitude-----and that’s a bad one! Most bad attitudes are the result of selfishness. People always project on the outside how they feel on the inside. Attitude is really about how a person is. That overflows into how they act. This really hit home for me when I read it in a book recently called LAWS OF TEAMWORK. Have you ever worked with someone that no matter what you did or said their attitude was negative, critical and unproductive? Well I have and it was no fun! I consider myself the eternal optimist and solutions oriented. So my best advice from my own personal experience is to surround yourself with people on your team in life that are good people with great talent and awesome attitudes. Now that sounds like a winning solution!
IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE DREAMS! Robert Browning said, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” That’s what keeps us going and on track with turning our dreams into reality. My dream is having financial freedom for my family by investing in real estate. That personal dream turned into a passion for a career to help others achieve the same. Turn your dreams into reality and love life!
GREAT QUOTE OF THE DAY – If you approach life with a sense of possibility and the expectation of positive results, you’re more likely to have a life in which possibilities are realized and results are positive. (Lisa Funderburg) I read this in one of my favourite books REAL ESTATE INVESTING IN CANADA. It was the chapter on PLACING Your Offer and Getting It ACCEPTED. Fear can be one of the biggest obstacles in finding an investment that may be just right for you but you let it pass by. Write offers with a Realtor that has earned your trust and knows exactly what you are looking for and then let go of that fear of writing an offer when the right investment comes along. Be confident in your decision and good luck with the possibility of owning a great investment!
BEFORE YOU BUY THAT HOUSE, CONSIDER THIS! Just read great article in the Chronicle Herald this morning written by Alison Griffiths. As a Realtor, I am asked what costs can be expected when buying a house. This article covers most of the ones to expect but each individual property transaction may vary so be sure to ask your Realtor, lawyer and mortgage lender a run down on costs prior to making an offer. CHECK OUT THIS LINK TO ARTICLE http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1234169.html
GOOD ADVICE FOR MAKING ANY OFFER IN REAL ESTATE – Along with the creative financing scenarios, there are also many basics that you should feel comfortable with before you make your first offer. Among your skill sets should be the ability to analyze property value, know the trends within the market you are analyzing, be comfortable estimating repair value, and your ability to obtain financing. If you are using a specific strategy, you should also be comfortable with it. A great book to read is Robert Kiyosaki’s - Rich Dad Poor Dad. Enjoy the sun today!
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR MARKET – it is important to remember when investing in real estate you must know how to analyze an overall market to determine what is happening within it at any given time. Choose an agent wisely so that you can use their knowledge to identify the most profitable neighborhoods within that market to give you the stream of income that meets your business strategy. Have a great weekend and happy investing!
HAPPY
When renovating a home be careful to not overspend. Some tips to keep in mind are focus on improvements that add value but also positive cashflow to your pocket in the event of resale. Buyers love wow factor focal points that make your home standout from the rest. Kitchens, flooring, the right paint color choices, curb appeal are an example of areas to shine in when going on the market to sell. Keep in mind and know the values of the homes in the area and what specific selling features they offer when renovating. Ask a Realtor you value and trust for their input to help you achieve this goal of success!
Market has been picking up and Buyer traffic has definitely been increasing. Spring is just around the corner so it is a great time to put on your listings. The Buyers are looking now to buy!
I went to a great orientation seminar last night in
Be sure to check out my daily website Blogs and read all the exciting Real Estate articles. Also follow me on Twitter @margowhitman.
I'm happy to answer your real estate questions anytime!
Cheers
Margo.