Monday Morning Wake Up Call

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Take Some Time for YOU! Good morning. Let’s make it a fantastic last week of June! Hard to believe summer is nearly halfway over! Remember the Week 3 quote from Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Summer holidays are important for many reasons: They give us a chance to recoup from the long, busy spring market. Kids get a break from school to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. They provide an excuse to get away and spend time with friends, family and others we care about. Have you planned your summer getaway, or are you still working away? It’s so easy to keep working when your phone keeps ringing. Thankfully, we’re in a profession that allows us to keep making money even while on vacation. I’d like to share a true story about an attorney who took her daughter on a weeklong African safari as a college graduation present. She told her travel group that it was the first vacation that she had ever taken with her daughter. When asked why she was only spending a week, she replied, “My clients would never allow me to take more than a week off.” It takes 23 hours to travel to Africa and two days to adjust to the new time zone. That means that by the time you arrive and adjust, you only have four good days of vacation. When a fellow member of the group pointed that out, the attorney said, “Well, four days is better than nothing.” The same lady then asked, “Are you a good attorney?” The attorney was almost insulted as she replied, “I’m the best!” The lady then said, “I’m the best at what I do as well, which is why my clients wait until I return from holiday to use my services.” That exchange was the topic of group discussion that night, causing everyone to reflect on the value of the time we spend with those we care about most. Three days later, the attorney ran into that same woman and embraced her, exclaiming: “Thank you! I’ve promised my daughter that next year we’ll make it a two-week vacation, or perhaps three!” Something to Think About I’ve met many Realtors with the same “I can’t take more than a week off” mentality. I once had a broker who said that he NEVER takes vacations with his family. There was always work to do, and he preferred to keep working and make more money. I convinced him to take a week off, and when his wife saw me, she was so excited that she ran up and embraced me. She and the children couldn’t wait to take a family vacation, and it’s a tradition that has continued. We work in a high-stress business, and that stress sometimes comes home with us. We deserve a nice break, and our families do too. When you work, give it 100%, and when you play, also give it 100%. I do! Weekly Challenge Ask your family or others whom you care about if you’re spending enough “fun time” with them. If the answer is no, ask what they would like to do for fun this summer. If the answer is yes, good for you! Words of Wisdom “It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family.” – Philip Green “I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles.” – Zig Ziglar “Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to what they want to do.” – Kathleen Winsor “Balance, peace, and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them.” – Thomas Kinkade “A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” – William Arthur Ward “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” – Unknown

MONDAY MORNING WAKE UP CALL

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Making Time for What Matters What do you value most in life? How do you make time for it? If you’re a dad, I hope that you had a chance to spend yesterday with those you love or doing something that you enjoy – even if it was just sitting around the house doing nothing! Sometimes doing nothing, or relaxing, is what we need and value most. We all work in a high-stress, crazy business that we really enjoy (most of the time), but it’s important to have some down time too. Isn’t it funny that we seem to use holidays as an excuse to do what we should be doing on a regular basis? Yesterday, dads had their “special day.” Last month, it was moms. In the fall, we gather with family for Thanksgiving and eat turkey. We make time for these special occasions because the holiday is preset and on the calendar. What do you value most in life? Who do you really enjoy spending time with? What do you do to ensure that you make time for those who matter most? Wouldn’t it be fun to have random, repeated holidays? Maybe your dad is so special that you could celebrate Father’s Day again later in the year. What a great surprise for dad – and a fun way to honor him. You can even create special days and start a new tradition. It could be Family Biking Day, followed with a picnic. The secret is to put it on the calendar, and plan those special days like all of the other holidays. What will your special day in June celebrate, and whom will you invite? Something to Think About Think back over the past year to the moments that really stand out. Was it a family wedding where you danced the night away? A fun dinner with a friend you rarely see? A day with the grandkids, or maybe a day spent gardening? If you’re like me, during those special times you find yourself thinking: Why don’t I do this more often? Unfortunately, we often get so busy that we forget to honor the things we enjoy and the people we love. Let’s vow to start making time for those special moments. Life is short. It’s often said that when asked if they had any regrets, the overwhelming majority of seniors in a nursing home said they regret not making time to do more enjoyable things and not spending more time with their loved ones. Weekly Challenge This week, plan two activities through the end of June – one with someone you love or care about (one person or an entire group) and the other doing something you enjoy (alone or with someone fun). Words of Wisdom “One thing I didn’t understand in life was that I had $100,000,000 in the bank and I couldn’t buy happiness. I had everything: mansions, yachts, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, but I was depressed. I didn’t know where I fit in. But then I found family and friends, and I learned the value of life.” – Vanilla Ice “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” – Mark Twain “Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.” – Jack Canfield “The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire, not things we fear.” – Brian Tracy “No one is perfect... absolutely no one. Like precious stones, we have a few flaws, but why focus on that? Focus on what you like about yourself, and that will bring you happiness and peace.” – Richard Simmons

Monday Morning Wake Up Call

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Smile Power Let’s celebrate! Did you know that there are 30 crazy ways and crazy days to celebrate in June? It seems as though you can celebrate something every day this month, but I really like today because it’s Smile Power Day. Feel the power. Give everyone you see a big, friendly “I like you” smile. You never know… your warm smile just might turn someone’s day around – for the good! Love may make the world go ‘round, but a smile makes the world a happier place. A smile is a powerful thing. Best of all, it’s contagious. And make sure it’s sincere; people can see right through phony or forced smiles. A smile is so powerful that it can add years to your life, make you an overall happier person and make someone else a happier person too. It’s a mood changer for the giver and the receiver, improves relationships and, in business, sends a great customer service message. So let’s celebrate Smile Power Day with a great big smile! Something to Think About Everyone’s heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine,” and now we know how true it really is. Smiling can boost your mood and even your immune system. Here are some facts about smiling: 1. Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood. Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by forcing yourself to smile. 2. Smiles boost your immune system. Smiling really can improve your physical health. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system. 3. Smiles are contagious. It’s not just a saying; according to scientists, smiling really is contagious. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles on their own. 4. Smiles relieve stress. Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress. 5. It’s easier to smile than to frown. Scientists have discovered that your body has to work harder and use more muscles to frown than it does to smile. 6. It’s a universal sign of happiness. While handshakes, hugs and bows all have different meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance. 7. Babies are born with the ability to smile. Babies learn a lot of behaviors and sounds from watching the people around them, but scientists believe that all babies are born with the ability to smile, since even blind babies smile. 8. Smiling helps you get promoted. Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident, and people who smile more are more likely to get a promotion. 9. Smiles are the most easily recognizable facial expression. People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognizable facial expression. 10. There are 19 different types of smiles. A UC-San Francisco researcher identified 19 types of smiles and put them into two categories: polite “social” smiles that engage fewer muscles and sincere “felt” smiles that use more muscles on both sides of the face. 11. Babies start smiling as newborns. Most doctors believe that real smiles occur when babies are awake at the age of four to six weeks, but babies start smiling in their sleep as soon as they’re born. Weekly Challenge Spend the week with a big, bright smile on your face. Flash a toothy smile to everyone you encounter. Follow this link for even more “reasons to celebrate” in June. http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/june.htm Words of Wisdom “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa “ A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” – Phyllis Diller “A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.” – Denis Waitley

Monday Morning Wake Up Call

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Say Yes! I hope that you’re having a phenomenal June! Here’s a thought to make it even better: Learn to say YES! In 2008, Jim Carrey starred in a movie called Yes Man, and I’ve grown to love the idea behind it. His character makes a covenant to stop being a “No Man” and vows to answer “Yes!” to every opportunity, request or invitation that presents itself. Although it’s impossible to say yes to everything, you could almost certainly say yes to more than you do. Listen to yourself. When someone invites you to do something they love – and that you’ve never tried – what do you say? Do you take the chance and try it? Or do you politely decline because you’re too busy or because it’s not something that you think you’re interested in? Learning and living are the same. When you stop learning, you start to die a little every day. Scientific evidence confirms that brain cells can re-grow at any age if you give them some exercise. Your brain is a case of “use it or lose it.” So try it. Say yes to something you normally would turn down. Try different food, different music, going to a movie you’d normally avoid. Try behaving differently. If you’re usually shy, try making the first move to speak to someone interesting. If you’re extroverted, try standing back quietly and watching others take the limelight. Whatever happens, you’ll learn something. You may even discover something unexpectedly good. It doesn’t need to be dramatic. What matters is that you open yourself to more of what life has to offer instead of hanging back and staying with what you already know. Something to Think About Many people go through life convinced that there is only one path open to them. That makes it true, because they never try anything else. But the world is a huge, glorious experiment, not a set of rules to be followed or boxes to be checked. How much you’re willing to join in that experiment is up to you. The closer you stick to the same script, the less you discover what might be even better. What holds most people back is fear of losing what they already have, however imperfect it might be. Just remember that you’re in control of the experiment. You can try a little change as easily as a huge one. And if it doesn’t work, you can always go back and try again. Saying no is the real risk, because it closes the door forever on anything different. Weekly Challenge I would like for you to consciously work on saying yes instead of no for a week. I was amazed at the opportunities that presented themselves when I did this. Please share any success stories that occur as a result; I’d love to hear them! Words of Wisdom “Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.” – John C. Maxwell “To my young friends out there: Life can be great, but not when you can’t see it. So, open your eyes to life: to see it in the vivid colors that God gave us as a precious gift to His children, to enjoy life to the fullest, and to make it count. Say yes to your life.” – Nancy Reagan “Just keep taking chances and having fun.” – Garth Brooks “I believe in taking chances and living your life. Sometimes doors open and others close, and you have to figure out which one you’re going to take. I’m always for the one that’s challenging.” – Gisele Bundchen “What is outrageous is not what you ask for. What is outrageous is what you settle for.” – Alan Cohen.

Monday Morning Wake Up Call

Celebrate the Good Life
 
Good morning, my friend. I hope that you had a fantastic weekend.

June is one of my favorite months. It’s a time of new beginnings and reflection. Summer holidays are beginning, graduation and wedding season is in high gear, flowers and trees are in full bloom, and it’s the perfect time for walks in the great outdoors. A nice long walk provides a wonderful opportunity to think and reflect.

This week, let’s reflect on what constitutes a good life. Here’s a great article to get you thinking:

 
Six Things That Constitute a Good Life by Jim Rohn

The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars, a bank account or a home. The ultimate expression of life, in my opinion, is living a good life. But what constitutes a good life? This is my shortlist:
1. Productivity. You won’t be happy if you don’t produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What’s the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It’s to see what you can do with it – to try your hand to see what you can do.
2. Good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don’t deny yourself the time to develop it. Nothing can match it. It’s extraordinary in its benefits. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you.
3. Your culture. Language, music, ceremonies, traditions and dress – all of these are so vitally important that you must keep them alive. It’s the uniqueness of all of us that, when blended together, brings vitality, energy, power, influence and rightness to the world.
4. Spirituality. It helps form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don’t be careless about the spiritual part of your nature; it’s what makes us who we are.
5. Don’t miss anything. My parents taught me not to miss anything. Don’t miss the game; don’t miss the performance; don’t miss the movie; don’t miss the show; don’t miss the dance. Go to everything you possibly can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possibly can.
6. Your family and the inner circle. Invest in them, and they’ll invest in you. Inspire them, and they’ll inspire you. Take care of the details with your inner circle. If a father walks out of the house and can feel his daughter’s kiss on his face all day, he’s a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and can feel the imprint of his wife’s arms around his body, he’s invincible all day. It’s the special stuff with your inner circle that makes you strong, powerful and influential. So don’t miss that opportunity. Make sure in your busy days to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do.

 
Something to Think About

I’ve noticed that most agents are more productive when they’re happy and their life is in balance. Think of the times when you were most productive in your career. Was your personal life positive? If so, then 2-6 on the list of things that constitute a good life are essential for 1 – productivity – to occur with the least amount of effort.
 
Weekly Challenge
Take a walk this week, and reflect on all of the blessings in your life. What are you grateful for, and what seems to have the greatest impact on your overall mental well-being? Is there an area of your life that needs some attention? This is the week to address it!
 
Words of Wisdom
“Life comes from physical survival; but the good life comes from what we care about.” – Rollo May
 
“We are constituted so that simple acts of kindness, such as giving to charity or expressing gratitude, have a positive effect on our long-term moods. The key to the happy life, it seems, is the good life: a life with sustained relationships, challenging work, and connections to community.” – Paul Bloom
 
“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” – Bertrand Russell
 
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” – Carl Rogers
 
“The definition of success to me is not necessarily a price tag, not fame, but having a good life, and being able to say I did the right thing at the end of the day.” – Jeremy Luke