Archive for November, 2008

Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | November 30th, 2008 0 Comments

The New Year is only one month away and almost everyone is already starting to think about those New Years Resolutions.

Good Morning MOJO,

As I open my eyes this morning it is like I have just woken from a coma.  Wait…I have.  I have just woken from a food and booze coma after turning Thanksgiving into a 4 day food and drink fest…”damn, I told myself I was not going to do that again this year”.  I get up out of bed…walk into the bathroom and see the scale out of the corner of my eye, but pretend it’s not there.  I want to stand on it to see how much I have gained in 4 days, but I can’t deal with it…I know all it is going to do is depress me.  So, I jump in the shower and start my day.   “I will get started on my new program after the first of the year…yeah, that New Years resolution.”  Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, this time last year, when we where 5, 10, 20…pounds lighter, we started thinking about those New Year resolutions we where going to make, swearing next year was "really going to be different!"  But for most of us, things didn’t change all that much, and the big question we face now is will next year honestly be any different?  Because, if we don’t make some changes and if we continue to do what we have always done, we will continue to get what we have always got. 

The New Year is only one month away and almost everyone is already starting to think about those New Years Resolutions.  Unfortunately for 99% of the people it is going to be the same New Years Resolutions they had last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and… Most people’s resolutions involve stopping something, losing something, getting rid of some bad habit, etc.  As you start to plan your New Years Resolutions, my first recommendation is don’t wait…implement them today…don’t wait for a month and put yourself deeper into the hole you want to dig out of.  One of the most common goals for most of us is to lose weight…unfortunately between now and 30 days from now the average American will gain 6 to 10 pounds.  Have you ever heard the line, “when you are in a hole, stop digging”.  Well, stop digging.  

The second thing is we have to replace those old bad habits with new good ones or we will leave a void and slip back in the hole.  So, for every thing we are going to stop doing, we need to replace it with something good which is in alignment with our goal.  Then we have to focus everyday on what it is we are going to do (our new habits) and not what we are not going to do (our old habits).  Because we get what you focus on.

The third thing we need to do is to look at the people we are spending our time with…see any similarities in your lives and the way you look?  We can never underestimate the power of our environment and the people we surround ourselves with. The tough part is we are going to need to change our habits and perhaps start spending less time with the people we are now and spend more time with people who have what we want.  Get around people who are actually doing the things we need to do to accomplish our goals.  So, for the next few months+, we have to distance ourselves a bit from those people in our life who will hold you back…those people who whenever you try to make a change for the better become threatened and hold you back.  You know the ones…when you say you want to have a glass of water instead of a beer or glass of wine they give you shit…when you say you want to have a salad instead of a cheeseburger they call you a wimp…when you say you are going to get up early and go to the gym tell you to just relax…when you talk about positive mindset and law of attraction they roll their eyes. If you can make this commitment, before you know it you will start to experience the rewards of your new life.

Make it a powerful week!!!!

Happy Holiday’s,


Top 10 Lists

By Intero Real Estate | November 26th, 2008 0 Comments

New lists highlight top and bottom places to relocate

Some new top 10 lists are out, and these rank the top cities where Americans would want and wouldn’t want to relocate, according to a story on Businessweek.com.

Ironically, the Big Apple tops both lists. Those surveyed said New York has plenty of entertainment to offer and a lot of job opportunities, but it’s also an expensive place to live.

Other cities that made both lists include Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago.

The survey of 2,500 employees and small business owners is from the Human Capital Institute, a think tank and educational resource for professionals in management, human resources and recruiting.

Another recent Businessweek.com article lists the best places to raise children. Mount Prospect, Ill., a middle class Chicago suburb with affordable homes and great schools, took the top honors.

The list includes a town from every state. In order to be considered, cities must have had at least 50,000 residents and the median family income had to be between $40,000 and $100,000.

For California, Arcadia made the list. It’s about  20 miles from downtown Los Angeles and was noted for it’s good schools.

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Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | November 23rd, 2008 0 Comments

In every crisis and in every challenge there is an opportunity…we just have to find it.

Good Morning MOJO,

Why does life throw challenges and crisis at us, like the financial crisis the world is dealing with today?   Because that is the only way we will change…it is the only way we will rid ourselves of evil, bad habits, greed, ego and the wrong priorities.  Its human nature wanting to stay the course…not to rock the boat, and usually the only way we will change is if we are forced into it by some outside influence…i.e. financial crisis, death, illness, catastrophe.  We have to look at the challenges of today as an opportunity…as a way to reprioritize what is important. 

What is happening with most people today is they are focused…no, they are consumed by what has been taken away and not focused on being thankful for what we have and the opportunities of tomorrow.  Step back for a moment…the reason things get taken away…the reason life throws us challenges and crisis is because it is the only way we will wake up and quit overlooking those things which are really most important in life…our family, our friends, our health, our spirituality, balance, etc.  Challenge and crisis gets thrown at us because it is the only thing that will slap us in the face hard enough to get our attention.  Think back in your life to a time of crisis…yes you may have lost something or someone…there may have been a scare in your life of some kind, but with that a door opened…a new person appeared when you looked in the mirror…usually a better person…a more thankful person…a more humble person…a more caring person…a person with better priorities.

In every crisis and in every challenge there is an opportunity…we just have to find it.  But, until we let go of the pain and anger of what we have lost, and focus on all that we have which is really most important, the agony will not stop.  And, once we do focus on what we have, life will be even better than it was before.  This week and beyond, make a commitment EVERYDAY to give thanks and be grateful for everything and everyone you have in your life…quit being consumed by what you have lost, or the pain will not stop and we will not be able to move forward towards accomplishing greatness.  If we can do this, not only will the pain stop, but life will be better and we will be more at peace than ever before.

Like a muscle when lifting a weight, it does not grow and get stronger until that last rep when you strain, push and power through the pain…it is the short term breakdown which actually makes the muscle bigger and stronger.  In the pain is where the growth is.  Remember, life is about who we become and how we grow when faced with challenge, with crisis, with pain.  It is what life is all about…it is when we grow…it is why we are here.  Who are you becoming?

This week is Thanksgiving…be thankful and be grateful for all we have in our lives.  The rest is just “stuff”.

Happy Thanksgiving and kick some ass this week!!!!!!!!!!


New Leadership

By Intero Real Estate | November 20th, 2008 0 Comments

NAR, C.A.R. have new leaders for 2009

There is new leadership at the National Association of REALTORS® and the California Association of REALTORS®.

Charles McMillan, who’s been a REALTOR® for more than 20 years, is the 2009 NAR president. He is also the director of realty relations and broker of record for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Dallas-Fort Worth.

McMillan was NAR 2008 president-elect, and was the first vice president in 2007. He also served as the Texas Association of REALTORS® president in 1998.

In a speech at a NAR leadership summit in August, McMillan spoke about change, warning, “if you are not ready and willing to address change, you will not succeed.” He also said that leaders must be able to distinguish short-term change and real progress. McMillan’s final point was this: “I believe all change starts at the individual level. It cannot be forced on an organization, each and every member is responsible for doing their part.”

Meanwhile, James Liptak, a broker with Country Real Estate in Paso Robles, is the 2009 C.A.R. president. Liptak is also president of James & Sydney Liptak Inc.

In a story in California Real Estate Magazine, Liptak says he wants to be C.A.R. president because “This is the most successful real estate organization in the world. … We’re the largest state trade association in the country, and we’re the best. It’s like standing on top of Mount Everest. You’re looking at the rest of the world, and you’re looking at it from a very advantageous viewpoint.”

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Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | November 16th, 2008 0 Comments

You and I have greatness inside of us. We have the seed of success waiting to be ignited, shared, and profited from.

Good Morning MOJO,

Laugh at perfection.  "Tom, what did you say?"  I’ll say it again…laugh at perfection.  Unfortunately, for most of us the “school mind” still kicks our butt in adulthood…in a big way. 

“Mom, Dad, I got an A on my test."  We grew up in an environment where shooting for perfection, an A, was always the goal (personally, I didn’t get many of them).  For most people it was the goal of our teachers and parents.  Many people have their self approval wrapped up in the illusionary concept called “perfection”.   However, when we do that, here’s what happens…we get in the real world. We make the shift from being a student…to being an employee…to becoming an entrepreneur and we bring the “school mind” with us…Perfection…Perfection…Perfection.  What crap!!!!!  It locks our feet in quicksand and takes us down.  We lose time, we lose energy, we lose support…we lose self esteem.  "I’ll start this idea/project when everything is just right" (This is the self talk of most new entrepreneurs).  Unfortunately, somehow the right time never happens.
 
I have several friends who are incredibly successful. They have big houses, vacation homes, drive nice cars, have fat bank accounts and I have never seen ANY of them be perfect in ANYTHING…Never.  Let me sell you on a philosophy that changed my life…not only myself, but thousands of others who have bought into it.  You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.  Let me say it again…you don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.  Imagine NOW picking up this idea called perfection and throwing it out the window.  Stop stealing your greatness from the world because you’re waiting for everything to be just right…it’s not necessary.  Stop seeking approval and acceptance from everyone around you…give it to yourself.  Now, allow yourself to take action…allow yourself to make mistakes.  Who cares if people laugh at you? Even those close to you…Big deal. You’ll be laughing at them someday living the life of your dreams.

 
You and I have greatness inside of us. We have the seed of success waiting to be ignited, shared, and profited from. I know sometimes it’s tough. You’re kind of alone with your goals and plans. People around you might think you’re wasting your time. Well…we can do it.  We don’t have to get it right, we just have to get it going.

What have you been putting off…what have you been waiting for everything to be just right for, that you thing you can take ONE action on today?   Start…NOW!!!!!!Make it a Powerful week and Go For It Full Out!!!!!!!


Web Site Recognition

By Intero Real Estate | November 13th, 2008 0 Comments

Intero Web site ranks high in recent report

A new report ranks Intero’s Web site among the best for real estate brokerages.

In its report, 1000watt Consulting called the Intero site a “technological wonder” and said the home page “looks and feels unique, and evidences exceptional design quality.”

The report also praised Intero’s site for its integration of market and local amenity data and said “Intero has done a great job offering a Web site that rivals any search site on the Web.”

1000Watt Consulting considered several criteria, including content, design and usability, as it examined the corporate Websites for 500 of the largest brokerage companies in the United States.

Intero President Gino Blefari says Intero’s mission is to stay innovative in the marketing place. “We constantly seek to provide agents and customers with the best tools the industry has to offer,” he said.

Intero Chairman Robert Moles says that as the company expands its franchise system nationwide, Intero believes “it is critical to offer our master franchisees the most innovative tools, systems and technologies.”

InteroRealEstate.com is powered by Terabitz.

The report by 1000Watt Consulting was published in conjunction with RealTrends, Inc.

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Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | November 9th, 2008 0 Comments

At one point in their life wrote a blank check Made payable to The United States of America for an amount of “up to and including my life??

Good Morning MOJO,

Tomorrow is Veterans Day and for this week’s MOJO I would simply like to thank all of our Veterans for their service and sacrifice.  With all of the stress and uncertainty many currently feel, it is not even close…

This is a great story…

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.  It was going to be a long flight.  “I’m glad I have a good book to read.  Perhaps I will get a short nap”, I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.  I decided to start a conversation.  “Where are you headed?” I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.  “Chicago…to Great Lakes Base.  We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Iraq”

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars.  It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.  As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  “No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.  Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks.  I’ll wait till we get to Chicago”.  His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.  None were buying lunch.  I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.  “Take a lunch to all those soldiers.”  She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly.  Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.  “My son was a soldier in Iraq…it’s almost like you are doing it for him”.  Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated.  She stopped at my seat and asked, “Which do you like best – beef or chicken?”  “Chicken,” I replied, wondering why she asked.  She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.  “This is your thanks.”

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.  A man stopped me.  “I saw what you did.  I want to be part of it.  Here, take this.”  He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was  not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of  the plane.  When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, “I want to shake your hand.”   Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand.  With a booming voice he said, “I was a soldier and I was a military pilot.  Once, someone bought me a lunch.  It was an act of kindness I never forgot.”  I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs.  A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine.  He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.  Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.  Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.  I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars.  “It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich.  God Bless You.”

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.  As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return.  These soldiers were giving their all for our country.  I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little…A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life wrote a blank check Made payable to The United States of America for an amount of “up to and including my life”. That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

Make it a Powerful week and remember to thank and show respect to our Veterans who have made the life we live possible.


Election Reaction

By Intero Real Estate | November 7th, 2008 0 Comments

NAR: We’re in a good place

REALTORS@ are “in a good place,” 2009 National Association of REALTORS® President Charles McMillan says following  Sen. Barack Obama’s win in the presidential election and gains made by Democrats in U.S. House and Senate races.

“REALTORS® are excited by this historic election and stand ready to work with our new president and the new Congress on issues that are at the heart of the American dream of homeownership,” McMillan said this week.

NAR says the availability of affordable mortgage financing and affordable health insurance are at the top of REALTORS® priority lists. Those issues, NAR says, are also priorities for Democrats and Republicans.

The REALTORS® Political Action Committee helped more than 400 candidates, with a little more than of half of the money going to Democrats.

On its Web site this week, NAR highlights a few REALTOR® wins in Congress, including Rep. Jerry McNerney, a Democrat from California who “played a key role in Congress to increase conforming loan limits.”

“Rep. McNerney made his mark quickly as a strong advocate for FHA reform, the home buyer tax credit, and expanded homeownership opportunities for veterans,” says NAR Chief Lobbyist Jerry Giovaniello.

Click here for the full story.

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Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | November 2nd, 2008 0 Comments

Have I lost my mind? What have I done? What was I thinking? My God, I could lose everything…how am I ever gonna make this happen?”

Good Morning MOJO,

He’d done it…finally gone for his dreams and it was working!  Slowly, surely, the puzzle pieces of his new life were falling into place as he called the shots, did what he knew had to be done, and made his new life happen one step at a time…and that’s, of course, when it happened.  There, in the midst of his growing success…that’s when the old thinking that had held him back all his life came roaring back, determined to take control and slam him back into that life he’d escaped from not all that long ago.  I knew that’s what was happening because he kept asking himself the same questions we all ask ourselves after we’ve made a big change in our lives for the better…where we’ve got to choose, once again, whether we’ll stay committed to our dreams, or give up and crawl back in our hole…our comfort zone.

Been asking yourself…"Have I lost my mind? What have I done? What was I thinking? My God, I could lose everything…how am I ever gonna make this happen?"  Good…that’s a pretty sure sign you’re making progress!  Yes, you’ll be scared and confused, and yes, it’ll get hard because you are stepping out on the edge.  Out to a place you have never been before….and you’re taking very real risks and overcoming very real fears that keep most everyone else hiding in their old life forever…as you choose, instead, to do what it takes to make your life worth living!

Remember that the next time the old you struggles to make a comeback and turn your life into Sucksville. Tell it to take a flying leap!!!!  You’ve got better things to do…you’ve got a new life to live!

Make it a GREAT week!!!!!

"Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful" Warren Buffett

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder

Intero Real Estate Services
Direct: 408.863.3000
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

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