Monday Morning Wake Up Call

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Here’s to a Less-Stressful Holiday Season I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend. Today is the last day of November, which means that the December holiday season is upon us! This is my favorite time of the year: houses decorated with colorful lights, lots of parties, time with friends and family and a time to relax and recover from 2015 as we prepare for the New Year. However, many people find the holidays extremely stressful. They allow the pressures and demands to overshadow the joys of the season. Here are a few tips to keep your stress under control during the holidays: •    Prune the to-do list. Ask, “If I don’t do this, what will happen?” Aim to knock the list of chores down to the rock-bottom necessity. •    Buy, don’t bake. Turn your back on the oven this year. Supermarkets, bakeries and the freezer department are a great source for delicious pre-baked holiday treats. •    Call rather than sending cards. Reach out and touch someone… the easy way. Make a list of whom you will call, and put it in your calendar. You will brighten many days in a very special way! •    Scale back décor. Substitute a simple door wreath for outdoor lighting, a beautiful tree that can be the focal point where you spend the most time relaxing and set out a few holiday serving dishes. Focusing holiday decor on the big three – front door, tree or Menorah and focal point – can bring a festive feel to the house without weeklong decorating sessions. •    Gifts. Do your shopping online this year. Most retailers will even gift wrap your purchases. Amazon offers free shipping for Prime members. As the gifts arrive, place them under the tree, and relax! •    Finger food, not a feast. A smorgasbord of tasty tidbits is easier on the cook than a sit-down dinner. Share the work by allowing everyone to bring a favorite holiday dish. •    Stay home! Cuddling close to the hearth beats holiday travel any day. A holiday         "staycation" allows for evening drives to see the lights, family campouts in front of the Christmas tree and evenings spent with carols and popcorn. Fun! Here’s to the new month ahead. Wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons. If there’s any way I can help, I hope you’ll give me a call! Something to Think About It really doesn’t matter which holiday you celebrate – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day or Ramadan. Each one gives us a chance to relax and spend time with those we love. Weekly Activity This year, why not do some research on a holiday that you don’t normally celebrate. Join in a local festivity, such as "Feliz Navidad." ​ Words of Wisdom “Going home and spending time with your family and your real friends keeps you grounded.” – Jennifer Ellison “As we get older, we get better at choosing in ways that will make us happy. We do a better job at picking activities that make us happy, and at spending time with people who make us happy. We're also better at letting things go.” – Sheena Iyengar “You hear about quality time a lot, but I really think that quantity time with a person is really what strengthens a relationship. That's when you really get to know somebody. You get to know their strengths and their weaknesses, and that brings you closer. That's what ‘Time Is Love’ is all about.” – Josh Turner “Holidays are about experiences and people and tuning into what you feel like doing at that moment. Enjoy not having to look at a watch.”– Evelyn Glennie “In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

Monday Morning Wake Up Call:

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead BE THANKFUL   I hope that you had a fabulous weekend. Many of us will gather with friends and family this week to give thanks. It's so easy to get caught up in shopping, decorating and deciding what to prepare that we sometimes forget to plan how we will show thanks or remember the things we're grateful for.   Have you given any thought to what you're thankful for? As you reflect on 2015, what were the highlights? What are you most thankful for?   We have a tradition at my house where everyone at the table talks about something they're thankful for: health, jobs, relationships, finances or just life itself is a reason to celebrate. This year we will start a new tradition that a friend of mine told me about: a Blessing Jar. Throughout the year, we all deliberately make note of blessings on a piece of paper and put them in the jar. At Thanksgiving, we will set aside time to read through each piece of paper and take a few moments to say thanks for all the blessings in our lives.   What is a blessing? Anything that encourages you or brightens your day. It could be a card from someone special, an encouraging phone call, an encouraging word from a friend, an answered prayer, a friend who comforts you through a tough time. You name it. These are your blessings. Record them, and place them in your Blessing Jar.   I'm so thankful for your contribution to our industry! If there's anything I can help with, please pick up the phone.   SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT   You don't have to wait until next Thanksgiving to start your Blessing Jar tradition. Start this week, and have everyone put blessings in the jar. You can even have a "Counting of Blessings Celebration" on New Year's Eve.   WEEKLY ACTIVITY   How to start your Blessing Jar:   1. Get a large jar or container. A clear one is nice because you can watch it fill up throughout the year.   2. Place your jar in a visible location, and keep it there all year long.   3. Place a pen and a stack of 3×5 cards or paper next to the jar. Also consider carrying some in your briefcase, bookbag, purse, etc.   4. As soon as possible after you experience a blessing, write it down. As soon as you're near your Blessing Jar, place the paper into the jar. Each blessing is written on its own card or piece of paper.   5. At Thanksgiving, or at the end of the year, set aside an hour or so to read through each blessing.   6. Bonus: On discouraging days throughout the year, read a few of your blessings for instant encouragement. Be sure to put the blessings back in the jar for the end of the year reading.   WORDS OF WISDOM   "Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward   "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." -   Ralph Waldo Emerson   "Most of us never stop to consider our blessings; rather, we spend the day only thinking about our problems. But since you have to be alive to have problems, be grateful for the opportunity to have them." - Bernie Siegel   "Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds us to give thanks and to count our blessings. Suddenly, so many things become so little when we realize how blessed and lucky we are." - Joyce Giraud   "You have been blessed with immeasurable power to make positive changes in your life."   - Steve Maraboli

MONDAY MORNING WAKE UP CALL

STAYING HEALTHY
  I hope you had an amazing weekend. Last week, we talked about how important it is to keep our stress at bay. This week, I want to remind you to also take time to properly care for yourself physically. Here are five things we can all do each day to stay healthy:

  1. Get a good night's rest. Well-rested people not only cope better with stress but also may have better control of their appetites. Research shows that a lack of sleep can knock our "hunger hormones" out of balance - and possibly trigger overeating.
  2. Enjoy regular family meals. This can promote more nutritious eating and sets the stage for lively conversation. Being connected to family and/or friends is a powerful aspect of a healthy life.
  3. Get a pedometer, and let it motivate you to walk, walk, walk. Forget about how many minutes of activity you need; just do everything you can to fit more steps into your day. No matter how you get it, physical activity can help defuse stress, burn calories and boost self-esteem.
  4. Stand up straight. You'll look 5 pounds lighter if you stand tall and tighten your abdominal muscles. Whenever you walk, think "tall and tight" to get the most out of the movement.
  5. Power up the protein. This nutrient is an essential part of your eating plan and can make up anywhere from 10% to 35% of your total calories. Protein lasts a long time in your belly; combine it with high-fiber foods, and you'll feel full on fewer calories. Enjoy small portions of nuts, low-fat dairy, beans, lean meat, poultry or fish.

​Wishing you a great week ahead! If there's anything I can do to help, I'm all ears! Call or text me any time!

  SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
  The #1 New Year's resolution is to lose weight and get in shape. Don't wait until January. Start now, and you can get in shape FOR the New Year.

  WEEKLY CHALLENGE
  Think about what you eat this week and when. Make healthy choices. Try a few new healthy recipes. Take the time to have a family meal or a meal with friends. Turn off the cell phone and enjoy your meals. There's nothing that can't wait for an hour, and you're worth it. Experts also say not to eat within three hours of bedtime. Follow that rule this week.

  WORDS OF WISDOM
  "Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity." - John F. Kennedy

  "Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you've got to squeeze your buns. That's my formula." - Richard Simmons

  "Always remember to take your Vitamins: Take your Vitamin A for ACTION, Vitamin B for Belief, Vitamin C for Confidence, Vitamin D for Discipline, Vitamin E for Enthusiasm!" - Pablo

  "Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams." - Unknown

  "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles

  "Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." - Christian D. Larson

MONDAY MORNING WAKE UP CALL

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Good morning! I hope you had a fabulous weekend. This week we honor one of the truly great speakers of our time: Zig Ziglar. As one of the world's most famous salesmen, he inspired millions with his messages of positivity and personal achievement. He wrote many best-selling books, including See You at the Top and Secrets of Closing the Sale. Here are a few tips from Zig: 1. Keep the motivation up. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” So true for many things in life. It’s not like you can hit a light switch and be changed for life. The most meaningful and important things need ongoing attention and effort. Here are two quick tips for starting your day with your motivation up:  Spend 3 minutes remembering your successes. If you have low to no motivation in the morning, then it’s easy to focus on your failures and get stuck on inaction. Instead, sit down for three minutes, and remember your successes. Let them wash over you to refuel your inspiration and motivation. Make a list of upsides. Take a few minutes to write down all of the benefits you’ll get from achieving something (e.g., getting into better shape or making more money). Be sure to include personal reasons and benefits (e.g., being able to travel to your dream destination or spend more quality time with your family). Put the list where you will see it every day until you achieve your dream. 2. Failure is not permanent. “Remember that failure is an event, not a person.” It’s easy to start thinking of mistakes or failures as permanent things – like they’re you, and you’re a failure. But these things are just like successes: not permanent. Things go up and down. Don’t identify with failure. Take some time to accept that it happened, but don’t beat yourself up about it or make it bigger than it is. You don’t have to be perfect. 3. Look at your world and the people in it through an open and positive lens. “The way you see people is the way you treat them.” And the way you treat them, they tend to treat you. Now you may not become best friends or get along splendidly with everyone. But with a positive and open attitude toward the world and the people you meet and know, you’ll feel more inclined to listen, get to know them and help out if you can. Things tend to even out over time. You get back what you give. 4. Get the ball rolling today. “If you wait until all the lights are ‘green’ before you leave home, you’ll never get started on your trip to the top.” You can wait for everything to be just perfect before you get started, but that usually results in years passing before getting going – or never going at all. Beginning something can, of course, be scary and uncomfortable as you step into the unknown. But you can make it a lot easier to get started and keep going. Here’s a tip: Take one small step forward. Instead of focusing on everything you have to do to reach your goal, just focus on taking one small and practical step today. Nothing more. But make it a small step that isn’t just reading more about what you want. Make it a step that matters and pulls you forward. Book an appointment or set up a meeting. Create a budget, and see how much you can save each month to go on that trip you dream about. Wishing you a great week! I’m here if you need anything! Something to Think About The statement “You can wait for everything to be just perfect before you get started” is true for so many people. However, waiting also can cause you to miss out on the opportunity altogether. Is there something that you’re “waiting on”? Now is the time to do it! Weekly Challenge Zig was famous for his positive attitude toward everyone he met. Here’s a suggestion from one of his books. It’s a great activity for everyone to put into practice and a great weekly activity: “For more openness and positivity toward others, answer these two questions: What parts of this person can I see in myself? How is he or she like me?” This can help shift your perspective from what’s different – or why you feel the need to judge – to what you have in common. It tears down mental barriers, allowing for more understanding of and appreciation for the other person. Words of Wisdom from Zig Ziglar “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” “If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society, He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.” “You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.” “Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.” “The choice to have a great attitude is something nobody or no circumstance can take from you.”

Monday Morning Wake Up Call

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

CHANGE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SCARY!   I hope you had a great weekend and are ready for the week ahead!   As we approach Halloween, we think of things that go bump in the night - or things that are scary, such as change.   Why does change sometimes feel scary? Because change deals with the unknown. When we deal with the "unknown," we sometimes start thinking of what can go wrong. We come up with reasons why we shouldn't move forward, because it's safer to stay put.   But is it really safer or better to stay put? I remember a story of a woman whose motto was, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know." This is based on a proverb that says if you have to choose between a familiar but unpleasant situation and an unfamiliar situation, choose the familiar one because the unfamiliar situation may turn out to be worse! However, this woman was in an abusive relationship. She was afraid to leave, afraid of the changes that would occur, and she became paralyzed with fear of moving forward. That's no way to live.   While it may seem easier or safer to stay with the "devil you know" - it also is limiting. The world is filled with endless possibilities and incredible opportunities if we are willing to take the first steps toward opening those doors and allowing new experience into our lives. Change should be celebrated, not feared. This and every week, I challenge you to be more fearless and open to new doors of opportunity. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT Think back to the changes you made in your life and career that had a positive result. Which of those changes literally altered the course of your life or business? Are you glad that you took the chance? WEEKLY CHALLENGE Start thinking about your personal and business goals for 2016. What changes and/or improvements will you make in your personal life and business career? WORDS OF WISDOM "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." - George Bernard Shaw   "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." - Winston Churchill   "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor E. Frankl   "I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day. And if you are not, just know that in every new minute that passes you have an opportunity to change that." - Gillian Anderson   "It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." - C.S. Lewis

MONDAY MORNING WAKE UP CALL

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

Be Thankful I hope you had a great weekend!   Now is the time to prepare for your November mailings. What are you thankful for? This is a great time to tell your clients that you’re thankful for them. I’ve heard many great ideas over the years, but maybe the most effective also is the simplest: a handwritten notecard to every client that reads, “At this time of year, when I reflect on what I’m most thankful for, I’m thankful for you and the trust that you have placed in me to meet your real estate needs. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.”   Another great idea I heard was an agent who personally delivered a pie to every client at his/her place of work! He left a few business cards at each drop-off and discovered that the pie recipients’ co-workers were so impressed with his gesture that many called him for their real estate needs.   Most important, take the time to show appreciation for your clients, your family and your friends. They, after all, are your true employers.   Something to Think About A recent USA Today article reported that – in today’s technology-driven world – a handwritten note is the best and easiest way to get someone’s attention.  Weekly Challenge Send a handwritten note to 10 of your clients. Be sure to remember those who have referred business to you. Use this week’s message as your guide, or get creative with your own way of reaching out with gratitude.   Words of Wisdom “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” – Albert Schweitzer “Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude.” – Nick Vujicic “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde   “If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” – Harold Kushner   “You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” – Sarah Ban Breathnack

MONDAY MORNING WAKE UP CALL

Your Motivation, Inspiration, & Direction for the Week Ahead

The Power of Color I hope you had a fabulous, colorful weekend. Fall typically is the time when we notice the beauty of color on trees, but did you know that the color you wear affects the impression you make on others all year long? Color has a lot of power. While it won’t make up for lack of experience, wearing the right color can start you off on the right foot with a client. “Your appearance tells more about you than what you say or how you say it,” declares New York image and style expert Carol Davidson. “And out of all of the elements of your wardrobe, color speaks first.” How much thought goes into what you wear on a listing appointment? If not much, maybe you should rethink the importance of your choices. How do you want to be perceived by a client you’re meeting for the first time? Here are Davidson’s thoughts on making the perfect first impression: Black conveys leadership. It’s a strong color and highest on the authority scale. If you want to appear to be in charge, black is a great choice. Red is a color of power. Red comes across as bold and assertive. Use caution when wearing red to meet a client for the first time. Red can give the impression of being domineering. “There is a fine line between assertive and aggressive,” Davidson says. “And red is a risky choice. That said, the feisty quality of this color might be well-suited in sales.” Blue gives the impression of being a team player in addition to being enterprising, trustworthy, honest and credible. Gray reads as logical and analytical. Rock solid, wise and reliable. Because gray is a bit more understated, add a red scarf, yellow shirt or purple tie for a bit of personality. White gives the feeling of being organized. It’s a reassuring color that can convey a feeling of new beginnings, impartiality, cleanliness and purity. Green promotes a sense of calm and well-being as well as wealth and prosperity. Yellow signifies optimism and creativity. Purple says creativity. It sends a message of being artistic and unique. Brown says you are simple and slow to change. Comforting and reliable. Orange topped the list as the worst color to wear. It’s the color most likely to be associated with someone who is unprofessional. No matter which color you choose to wear, Davidson says you also should consider its tone. “All colors can be scaled from authoritative to approachable,” she says. Dark colors are perceived as formal and authoritative, while light colors make the wearer appear more friendly and approachable. Bright colors convey confidence, while muted colors are conservative and less threatening. And contrasting colors can send a message, too. “The higher the degree of contrast – wearing black and white or navy and white, for example – the more powerful you will appear," Davidson says. “The lower the degree of contrast, the more approachable and friendly you seem.” Something to Think About Whether it’s color or style, we work in a people business, and the way you dress does give “an impression.” What impression do you want to project? Weekly Challenge Intentionally wear specific colors on your appointments for the next few weeks, based on the feeling you want to project. Note whether you see or feel a difference with your clients. Words of Wisdom “I’m in love with red. I think it’s such a passionate color. Every flag of every country pretty much has red in it. It’s power, there’s no fence-sitting with red. Either you love it or you don’t. I think it’s blood and strength and life. I do love red. I love all colors. Great shades of blue, you find them in nature. They’re all magic.” – Bryan Batt “Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up.” – Allen Klein “Red is such an interesting color to correlate with emotion, because it’s on both ends of the spectrum. On one end you have happiness, falling in love, infatuation with someone, passion, all that. On the other end, you’ve got obsession, jealousy, danger, fear, anger and frustration.” – Taylor Swift “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.” – Steve Jobs “Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” – Edward de Bono