January 2010 Archives

If you are anything like me, and had anything happen in your life in 2009 even remotely close to some of the things I have gone through, then you really need to read this list of the Top 5 Must-Reads....these books can change your whole life (and should). Be forewarned, it might be more than 5.

Number One:

I am recommending all things Dave Ramsey...I recommend this if you are tired of the rat-race, and the feeling of having to work to pay bills, as opposed to working because you enjoy it. His books very simply...and I do mean very simply, explain how to focus "like a Giselle" on eliminating all debt (including student loans and mortgages) from your life. He says, if you want to live like no one else, you have to live like no one else.

So, first and foremost, you gotta read...



Number Two:

The E-Myth Manager....this is a great book that helps you focus on what you really need to do to successfully grow your business. It is especially helpful for the small-business owner. You know as a small business owner you get so caught up on finding the next potential lead of business that you lose sight of running/growing your business...it sort of falls to the wayside, and you think you can catch up by pulling an all-nighter, but you keep falling behind, and eventually the love of what you are doing begins to wane. So...I highly recommend you check this out.




Number Three:
Another great business resource is...

This book is phenomenal. It is a great illustration of what breaks down and/or blocks great teams. It is something every business owner should read.




Number Four:
This book is where I really started wrapping my brain around starting my own business, and I have been obsessed with it ever since.




Number Five:
This is the book that got my incredibly "artsy" mind headed towards strictly business. Yes, I still have to remind myself "it's all a numbers game." But, then I remember some of the words of wisdom I learned from this book, and get back on track. Even though this is about becoming a top real estate agent, the principles can easily be applied across many professions...industries...what have you.




So...this concludes my recommendations for getting your mind right for 2010. By the way, the biggest lesson becoming a real estate agent has taught me is that if you are a real estate agent, you are 100% a sales person, and everyone is a real estate agent.

Well, as I am looking at my brand new year (decade...WHAT), I am, of course thinking about the things I want to develop, grow, experience, and most importantly learn. So, for me learning starts with reading, and I am planning a series of Top 5 lists, will consist of recommendations of some of the various things I have discovered that will help me on this road called life I am traveling on. And me, being who I am, I want to share my discoveries with you...the world.

So expect to see these lists roll out over the next week...

I spent the last couple of months working in a new real estate office, and getting used to its systems. I love this company, ZipRealty, because it is really cutting-edge and a real web-based company. It puts your home search right into your hands, while giving you an expert, me, to help you through the process, whether you are buying, selling, or both.

So, the great idea I want to share with you is this...

I was out with some really great buyers, and while we were looking at homes, they pulled out a video camera to record the homes they really liked to loved, so they could review the homes while making there decision on which one to make an offer on, and to help them as they visualized moving their family into that home.

Now, as a Realtor(R), I went out to jump into the new video camera craze, and although I looked very lovingly at the Flip, which is a great little tool, I ultimately decided to go with Kodak's Z18. This camera has great resolution, zoom-ability, a flip-out USB plug, easy YouTube intergration, a memory card slot, and HDMI A/V ports.  It is small and incredibly portable. It fits in your pocket.

What sold me on this particular camera was it's resolution. It surpassed Flip, in my humble opinion.

Take a look at it here...