Prudential Pacific Properties

Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day!

Here are a few links to check out for Everything Earth Day!

http://www.nature.org/earthday/?kw=google&gclid=CLaolsvD75ICFQTWsgodSjX65A

http://www.earthday.gov/

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/

http://www.epa.gov/earthday/

http://earthday.wilderness.org/

April 22nd, 2008 What will you do to make a diffrence?

Earth Day is a name used for two different observances, both held annually during spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere. These are intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day, which was founded by John McConnell in 1969, each year on the March equinox, while a global observance originated by Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in, and since January 1970 also called Earth Day, is celebrated in many countries each year on April 22, including America

Click here to learn more

Road Trippin'

Going on a Road Trip soon? Click here for fun games to play on the road

To be a Champion one must first eat a healthy breakfast each day and...

Steps to Becoming a Champion

by Dirk Zeller

The other day I was working on the thought, what is a champion?  What does it take for someone to become a champion?  What makes some people champions and other people not?

I came up with seven key concepts that champions adhere to.  See how many you put into action regularly.  I would encourage you to post these and work on them daily.

1. A champion realizes there is a price to pay. 

To be a champion in any area of your life there is a price to pay.  The price is either in time or resources.  You have to be willing to invest your time and resources, or both.

To be a great salesperson you have to invest your time practicing scripts, dialogues, listing presentations, and buyer interviews.  You must prospect regularly.  You must invest your resources of money in training, coaching, audiocassettes and seminars to give you tools you need but don't have today.  Are you willing to pay the price?

To be a great parent you have to invest time with your children.  Your time investment is the price you pay to bring your children to full maturity.  You also invest your resources of money, emotions, and knowledge.  Are you willing to pay the price to be a champion parent?

2. A champion is ready and willing to make the sacrifice that is necessary. 

All success requires sacrifice. A champion will access what is necessary and put forth the effort of sacrifice plus a little bit more. The key is aligning the right sacrifice needed for the situation. 

Many Agents will stop short of what is needed. Some Agents will sacrifice much more than is needed and are on the road to burn out.  Remember you can kill a fly with a bomb but it's really too much energy and sacrifice to use when a fly swatter would be just as effective and also more efficient.  Are you currently making the right amount of sacrifice to be a champion?

3. A champion has the skill to focus in the moment.

The most successful people have the power of focus.  They are intently able to do what needs to be done even when the world around them is falling down.  They put aside the distractions and put into action the top priorities for the day. They take things to completion before moving onto the next activity. Do you have skill of focus that you need?

4. A champion accepts nothing less than excellence.

For a champion, great is not good enough.  That does not mean they are paralyzed with perfectionism.  There is an element of diminishing return beyond excellence.  A champion knows that fine line between perfectionism and excellence.  To execute with excellence the fundamentals is enough to be world-class at any endeavor.  To execute excellently your prospecting, lead follow up, listing presentations, buyer interviews, objection handling, planning processes, cost analysis and leadership will create an income beyond your imagination.  The question is, are you exceptional in all these skills or just good?  Are you maybe even below average in some of these?

5. A champion realizes it's not what happens but how you react to it that counts. 

A true champion has as many slumps, challenges, or struggles as the average performer.  The champion has deals that fall out, difficult sellers and assistant problems as well.  The difference is the span of time they let it affect them.  They understand their reaction is more important than the situation.  If you control your reaction, you have a chance to control the situation.  If you don't control it you have no chance.

The more someone is a champion the shorter the span of time they let adversity affect performance.  The deal falls out and some Agents take a month to recover, others a week, others a day.  The champion performer lets it affect him for less than an hour.  They move on to what they can control.  You can control your prospecting, your lead follow up and your ability to practice the skills you need, if you focus on them.

6. A champion is intent on self-improvement and creates inner pressure to achieve the desired result. 

The ability to seek improvement is reserved for only the most elite performers.  Most people are not born with that desire of self-improvement.  It is either instilled through relationships or circumstances.  If self-improvement is spurred by relationships, you are around the right people.  It means that you are proactively improving yourself.  If self-improvement is sought because of circumstances you are reactive.  You are seeking improvement because of a problem or challenge you are facing.  When the problem is resolved, you will stop your self-improvement. 

Are you constantly investing in self-improvement?Are you reading books, working with a coach, or attending seminars?  Do you have the skills today to be a champion performer?  If not, where are you going to get them?  Who could help you get there?

The truth is, no one has all the answers.  Your job is to search for the answers that will craft the life you desire.  Where are you searching for the answers?  I can tell you it's not contained in nightly TV.

7. A champion always has a game plan and thinks and works on their plan.

Most people just take what life gives them.  They have no real plan to accomplish more and achieve and acquire more.  You have to have a plan to achieve what you want out of life.  How is your plan?  Does it need work, or even to be written for the first time?  Take the first step and write down a series of goals for the next year, three years, five years, and ten years.  You have to know what you want.

Back in the 1950's they did a study of a group of recent Yale graduates. They asked each of them if they had goals for their future.  They also asked them if they were specific and written down.  Only 3% of these graduates had specific written goals.

They did a follow up study years later.  The researchers found out that the 3% that had written goals had achieved much of what they wanted. They evaluated the net worth of the Yale graduates in this study as well. They found out the net worth of the 3% was more than the net worth of the 97% combined!  You have to have a plan and work on it regularly to become a champion!

I would encourage you to re-read this article daily for the next thirty days.  I would set some specific goals around each point on a separate sheet of paper.  If you don't have the skills necessary to execute all seven points I would encourage you to seek wise counsel.  There is a Proverb that says, "plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed".  Do you have advisors in your life?  Do you seek their counsel on important matters?  A champion seeks wise counsel.

Dirk Zeller is recognized as the premier coach for the real estate industry.  He is one of the most sought after speakers and authors for high volume production while attaining life balance in the real estate industry

Easter Fun!

Sugar Easter eggs are a favorite Easter memory of many families. Instead of buying these confections, you can make them yourself. The kids can even help. Other than simple household ingredients, all it takes to make sugar Easter eggs is some time and patience.

CLAIM YOUR LAND IN THE USA ONE INCH AT A TIME

Can't decide where to buy your next piece of property? How about investing in each one of the 50 United States...all at once.

(I wouldn't take this for anything but grins and giggles)

Fascinating!

Winter storms unearth a Shipwreck. Mystery surrounds the origin of an old wooden ship found on the north spit near North Bend

Click here to see this amazing slideshow! Click on the arrow to begin the slideshow

Just a quote...

"Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.”

John Akers quotes

I've found a solution to one of the most annoying things in life...

y ...and it is here at this website http://gethuman.com/  it's list of companies with instructions to get to a human using their customer service numbers...very handy dontchathink?

I learned something today...

...and that is that i'm not a city girl anymore...I miss Florence...

If Tuesday is my Monday, than Wednesday is my Tuesday?

RISMEDIA, Feb. 19, 2008-(MCT)-Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for workers. At least that’s according to a recent survey of 150 senior executives from the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.

The survey by Accountemps found that 57% favored Tuesday, compared with 12% for Monday and 11% each for Wednesday and Thursday.It was no surprise that Friday was considered the least productive day of the week with 3%. Elizabeth Albright, coordinator of academic operations at Towson University’s College of Business and Economics, says she gets the most work done between Tuesday and Thursday — and in the mornings, too.“ Monday is definitely catch-up time and trying to plan for the week and making sure you have things lined up,” she says. “And the rest of the week, between Tuesday and Thursday, is when I get a lot more work done.” But she adds, “The goal is always to be productive, though.” Accountemps, a temporary staffing firm for accounting, finance and bookkeeping, offers several suggestions to keep productive throughout the week:

–Spend 10 to 15 minutes to plan and prioritize your tasks for the day.
–Cluster tasks that require similar effort or resources so you’re not switching gears often.
–Designate a time to check e-mails so you’re not easily distracted.
–Take short breaks throughout the day so you remain refreshed.

Crabby demystifies strange Internet terms

I stumbled accross this article today, it's got a funny name, but it's full of usefull information. Check it out!

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102571021033.aspx

If you're the police, who will police the police?

My guess would be these guys

Yesterday was such a BEAUTIFUL day here in Florence, that I decided to take my camera out to lunch. We went down to the Marina, and lucky me, I got this cool shot of the Coast Guard.

My Cherie Amour

There's no reason on earth why you should take advice from me on a day like Valentine's Day, so I won’t, Kissy-Kissy Love stuff is not my bag. BUT, I do love a good Cheesy Mix Tape (or illegally downloaded CD depending on what generation you’re living in)

The following is a list of Love songs suitable for creating your very own Cheesy Valentine’s Day Mix Tape

Side 1: For the love struck

1. To Sir With Love, Lulu. Perhaps my favorite love song of all time, To Sir is also the only tune I have ever crooned at a karaoke bar. (Be glad you weren't there to hear it.)

2. Satellite of Love, Lou Reed. Reed's sigh-inducing ballad first appeared on 1972's Transformer; it was later re-popularized in the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine. A must-have for any modern lover.

3. All of My Love, Led Zeppelin. Really, doesn't this song get better each time you hear it?

4. La La Love You, The Pixies. I once had a charming, romantic moment while listening to this song. You know who you are, my friend.

5. Nobody 'Cept You, Bob Dylan. From The Bootleg Series: "You're the one that reaches me/You're the one that I admire/Every time we meet together/My soul feels like it's on fire/Nothing matters to me/And there's nothing I desire/'Cept you, yeah you." Who needs Godiva when you have songs like this?

6. A Case of You, Joni Mitchell. If you don't want to make a mix tape, you can always play Mitchell's Blue, a record which fits any love situation.

7. Real Love, John Lennon. This is one reason why we should love Yoko: Without her, this song may never have been written.

8. Love is the Drug, Roxy Music. Perfect for late-night, slightly woozy make-out sessions.

9. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Elvis Presley. Valentine's Day isn't complete until Elvis enters the building; this classic appeared on E's first album.

10. My Cherie Amour, Stevie Wonder. Serenade this to your sweetie and watch the sparks fly.

11. Be Mine, R.E.M. One of the few love songs the band has released, Michael Stipe says Be Mine's lyrics were inspired by messages on candy hearts. ("I wanna be your Easter bunny/I wanna be your Christmas tree.")

12. Valentine, The Replacements. While not necessarily a love song, it's still fits the occasion — not to mention it's much less cliché than My Funny Valentine.

Side 2: For the lovelorn

1. Love Hurts, Gram Parsons. Countless artists have recorded it, but I prefer the version on Parsons' Grievous Angel. Best enjoyed with a fifth of whiskey and a tear in the eye.

2. I'm Not in Love, Tori Amos. Since everyone already owns at least five tapes with 10cc's version, I'm recommending Tori's take, which appears on Strange Little Girls.

3. Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me, the Smiths. And if that doesn't do the trick, you can always mope to Moz's Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, Girlfriend in a Coma, Will Never Marry or Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.

4. Divorce Song, Liz Phair. Everything on Phair's flawless Exile in Guyville spits in the face of tired, typical love songs. Divorce is a mix-tape favorite of mine.

5. I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Loved You), Aretha Franklin. "You're no good, heartbreaker/You're a liar and you're a cheat ..." Wow. Even when I haven't been jilted, it feels good to scream these words with the Queen of Soul.

6. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams. I'll say it again: Pain.

7. Honk if You're Lonely, Silver Jews. This one used to be taped to the dashboard until I realized it was depressing my passengers.

8. Lonely Holiday, Old 97's. It may be, but at least you don't have to spend 50 bucks on flowers.

9. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight, Whiskeytown. Before Ryan Adams went solo, dated Winona and won Elton John's adoration, he played equally introspective, shoegazing songs with this band of honky-tonkers.

10. I Wanna Be Adored, Stone Roses. Don't we all?

11. Kiss Off, Violent Femmes. Go ahead, take three for your heartache, four for your headache, six for your sorrow and eight for ... wait, what was eight for again?

12. Love Stinks, J. Geils Band. Ah, those guys always had a way with words.

All you need is Love...Just one day a year...

So here we are February 13th, the day before one of my least favorite holidays of the year. My mother is a florist, a dang good one I might add. Needless to say Valentine's Day week around my house growing up has always been quite...shall I say "Tense." So please thank your local florist this Valentine's day.

Here are some fun Valentine's day links I've found just for you!

The History of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Survival Guide

How Valentine's Day Works

Godiva Chocolatier

Ghirardelli MY PERSONAL FAVORITE!

Send your Valentine an E-Card

And in closing I leave you with a Valentine's day Joke...

A guy walks into a post office one day to see a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them.

His curiosity getting the better of him, he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he is doing. The man says, "I'm sending out 1,000 Valentine cards signed, 'Guess who?'"

"But why?" asks the man.

"I'm a divorce lawyer," the man replies

See what happens when I stay up too late...

Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff. 

 

Come here often?

If so leave me a comment...PLEASE...I would love to know who's stopping by, plus comments are fun!

E-mail Organization

Modern society moves at the speed of light and communication has followed suit. Instead of printing and distributing a memo or going over to talk to a co-worker to ask a question, we send e-mail, a lot of it. With everyone sending e-mails, it can be difficult to stay on top of what is important. Use some of these tips to help you reduce the amount of e-mails in your inbox, keep track of your workload and automatically file messages.

Deleting
When you have e-mails that are more than 3 months old in your inbox, you might want to consider deleting them. If you haven’t viewed an e-mail in over a month, you will likely never view it again. If the thought of deleting terrifies you, print important e-mails out and file them to reduce the size of your inbox.

Flagging and color coding
This allows you to maintain your workload and keeps you aware of which e-mails you need to respond to. When you have more than one e-mail that relates to the same topic, you can flag them using the same color.

Create rules
These are helpful to have especially if you receive multiple e-mails from one person or a group of people each day. If you want to keep your personal e-mails separated from your work-related e-mails, you can create a rule. For example, when a friend sends you an e-mail, it will automatically be sent to the folder you specify. This limits the amount of e-mails in your inbox.

What is a Widget? Is a Widget cute? Is a Widget something like a hampster?

So this morning during our Friday meeting one of our "computer-friendly" brokers mentioned the term "Widget"

Don't know what a Widget is? It's OK, neither did I until recently, here are some definitions of the word "Widget"

1. General-purpose term for any hypothetical object, esp. used in textbook demonstrations.

2. A floating widget is found inside cans of beer where it collects nitrogen from the fluid and forcefully releases it upon opening, creating a foamy head in imitation of drought beer.

3. In programming, a widget is a graphical component often used to build a graphical user interface.

Also, "Widget" would be a good name for a a dog, who looks like this

Happy Groundhog Day!

Phil Says Six More Weeks of Winter!

Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/08 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Here Ye! Here Ye! Here Ye!

On Gobbler's Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2008
Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators,
Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a weathered eye toward thousands of his faithful followers,
Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:

"As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!"

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