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Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | January 25th, 2009 0 Comments

Anything is possible…never stop dreaming…never stop trying…never stop going for it

Good Morning MOJO,

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4.  Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call.  As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful.  She was an older woman (maybe 26 and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name.  She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left.  He looked at her card, BRENDA.  He walked out only to see her start walking up the road.  Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home.  He looked harmless enough, and she accepted.  When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work.  She simply said it wasn’t possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn’t afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter.  Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday.  That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him.  The baby-sitter had called and canceled.  To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let’s take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed.  Finally Brenda brought him inside to meet her children.  She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, and then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don’t understand why the kids can’t come with us?" Brenda was amazed.  Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities – just like her first husband and father of her children had done.  Kurtis was not ordinary – - – he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies.  When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him.  When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back.  The kids loved Kurtis.  At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children.  Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr.  & Mrs.  Kurt Warner now lives in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the hunt for a possible appearance in the Super Bowl.  Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Hmmm…stock boy to Super Bowl.  Don’t doubt what you are capable of…make sure you are doing the things necessary to give yourself a shot when the opportunity presents itself…and make sure you are always being the kind of person great things like this happen too.  If someone can go from stock boy to the Super Bowl there is no reason our dreams can’t too…just never every give up and always do the right things!!!!!

Make it a powerful week!!!!!!


Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | January 18th, 2009 0 Comments

Don’t Let Fear Stop You

Good Morning MOJO,

“When I grow up, I am going to be the President of the United States”…“I am going to be a professional football player”…”I am going to be a professional golfer”…”I am going to be a movie star”…”I am going to run my own company”. 

Remember when we where kids and anything was possible and nobody told us “no you can’t”?  So, what happened to our dreams?  Somewhere along the way we stop dreaming and start doing…and that is when it all stops…that is when our lives start to lose purpose….that is when we stop growing.  Those dreams we had as kids where like a magnet which pulled us to what we wanted in life…they made us excited to go for it everyday.  When is the last time you truly thought about what you want to be “when you grow up”?  I am not talking about growing in height, weight and age, but growing in who you are going to become.  It does not have to stop…we can breakaway and get off the hamster wheel anytime…start moving forward again like when we where kids.  We just have to take time to dream, believe….breakaway from the pack and go for it…don’t blend in…be different.

It is uncomfortable at first when you step outside of your comfort zone and get off the hamster wheel where it is safe, but if you have the courage there is still a lot more you can accomplish in this life. 

If you need a little inspiration to break free from your hamster wheel and go for it, check out this video…don’t let fear stop you: Wing Suit Base Jumping

Go for it and make it a GREAT week!!!!


Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | January 11th, 2009 0 Comments

Water!!!!!


Good Morning MOJO,

Do you know what percent of our body is water?  We BEGIN life as a fetus at 99%…when we are born, it drops to about 90%…then the average human body settles in some where around 70%.  So, from a simple physical perspective, we are all made up for the most part of water!

Let me ask you a simple question…if you had a choice to drink from a body of water, which would you prefer….a river or a pond?  Why?
Water in a river remains pure because it is moving, and it is generally agreed that the quicker it is moving, the more pure it is.   When water is stagnating, trapped, or immobile, what happens? It collects a lot of crap and becomes polluted…right?

So, what is the message we all can learn from water?  That it is critical for us to be moving fast and forward if we are interested in improving and not becoming polluted and turn into crap.  It is interesting to note that as children, we are expected to grow and improve every year mentally, physically and emotionally.  That is why we have different grades in school and you must improve each year in order to move on.

Then we graduate and what happens?  Most people stop or slow down drastically that growth process…except around the middle.  And the unfortunate thing is when we stop growing, we don’t stay the same…we actually start to move backwards year by year.  What are you doing to improve every year mentally, physically and emotionally?  Are you reacting to life or are you attacking and taking from it?  It is a choice…just continue to be a kid…have fun, learn and improve everyday.

Let’s all make a commitment to keep in action, keep moving, changing, flowing; mentally…physically…emotionally.  It is going to help purify who we are.  Let’s not turn into crap…let’s continue to get more and more pure!!!!

On a side note, be sure and drink lots of water since 70% of our body is made up of it and we don’t want it just sitting in our bodies stagnant like a dirty pond…purge the old and replenish with new fresh clean water everyday.  Like most of you, one of my New Years resolutions is to eat healthier.  There is a group of about 20 people I am doing food logs with.  Everyday we send everyone in the group an e-mail with everything you eat/drink for the day…everything.  It is amazing how much of an impact this little exercise has on what you eat and what you drink.   One of the most important things we are all making sure we are doing is drinking a lot of water.  I have been drinking about 100 ounces a day.

Make it a powerful week!!!!!


Monday Monring MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | January 4th, 2009 0 Comments

New Year Resolutions realized!!!

Good Morning MOJO,

Do you know the definition of insanity?  Doing the same activity over and over again, but expecting a different outcome.

As we start another new year, I know we all have these exciting, life changing, sexy goals for 2009.  Unfortunately, as I have mentioned before, for most of us they are the same goals we had last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and…  Today is only the 5th day of the New Year and I know many of us have already given up on some of those New Years resolutions/goals to have a better life, which we just committed to Friday of last week.  It all sounded great and exciting on New Years Eve, but then we had to wake up on January 1st and implement that incredibly nasty, terrifying, and ugly 6 letter word…we had to “change”.  So what happens to most of us and the reason we continue to have the same goals/resolutions year after year, is we want things to change in our life, but we are not willing or are unable to change or behavior.  For some amazing reason, so many of us actually think we are going to finally get what we want while continuing to do what we have always done.  Think about it…is that insane or what?!?!?! 

Here is an idea on how to change our habits, which will change our outcome, which will change our life.  Have you ever run in a marathon?  About 5 years ago I was training to do the San Diego Marathon when I had some foot issues on a 13 mile run building up to it, so I had to stop training.  However, when I was getting prepared for the marathon, I was doing it with Team in Training, like I am sure many of you have in the past.  You know what?  They don’t start you out with running 26.5 miles on the first day.  They start small…very small.  I can’t remember exactly what it was, but for many it was something like walking 1 to 3 miles a few times a week.  And after many months of training and adding a little bit every week, those same people who could only walk a few miles where able to run a 26.5 mile marathon.  

The key is to start small, with something that pushes you, but does not crush you.  The other key is don’t try and do it by yourself.  The reason Team in Training is so successful at getting people to run marathons and doing triathlons is they get people to start small, building confidence along the way…and they understand people are pack animals.  So they get thousands of people to do it together.  

So, if you are like me and have some exciting, life changing, sexy goals for 2009, lets commit to start small with something we know we can stick with and build up to it…and lets do it together.  Start small and find some friends, family, and/or associates we can share our goals with and do it together.  With some small consistent steps that we build on a little at time, we will be amazed at how fast we will accomplish our goals.  Just think how fast 2008 went by.  It seems like just yesterday it was January 2008.  Imagine if we had taken these small steps a year ago where we would be today. 

Happy New Year!!!!!  


Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | December 28th, 2008 0 Comments

My New Years Resolutions…will this year really be any different?

Happy New Year MOJO,

As we start a New Year this week lets all make a commitment to turn up the heat at least one more degree in 2009 and see what happens. So many times in life the gap between what we have and what we want seems so far apart…but most of the time it is not nearly as far apart as we think. Click this link, watch the video and then turn up YOUR heat at least one degree to make 2009 your best year yet!!!!

http://www.walkthetalk.com/the212movie.php?refsource=vm212prairie

Here are 5 Simple Tricks to Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

1. Get specific

A vague goal is as useful as no goal at all…general ideas about what you want give you nothing to work with and nowhere to go. It’s only when you get specific about what you want that the path to success is revealed. Take time to narrow down your resolutions into specific ideas and turn your vague goals into crystal-clear goals.

2. Spread the word

Don’t keep your goals all to yourself. The more you share your goals with others, the more life you give to those goals. It gives them the chance to grow and gain momentum. So, tell at least two other people about your goals, and be sure not to make the mistake of giving without receiving; spend just as much time listening to ideas as you did in sharing your own.

3. Buddy up

When it comes to living a better life, few things are as powerful or persuasive as a living, breathing human being. Books, tapes, etc. can help you along, but nothing can compare to one-on-one interaction. The buddy system is one of the most effective goal-achievement tools you can use. By partnering with a goal-seeker, you’ll have all the support you need to achieve anything you set your mind to.

4. Burn the bridge

While preparing his next book, a famous writer listed his weight at fifty pounds lighter than reality. Not only that, but he did so knowing full well that only months after publication he would be paraded in front of thousands of his biggest fans. Why? To burn the bridge of easy escape. He knew he needed to lose the weight, but he also knew he would give up on the goal without any pressure to follow through. By promising his public a fifty-pound weight loss, he had no choice but to achieve the goal. What steps can you take today to burn the bridge of an easy escape and commit yourself to living a better life?

5. Do something – NOW

As they say, there’s no better time than the present, and when it comes to living a better life, they couldn’t be more right. The true power of taking one small step comes not in the small step of progress you’ll make, but in the act of doing something about the things you want. As you know, getting started is often the most difficult part of the process. Millions of people dream, but few actually ever take action…and that is why it is critical that you do something today. Think of one small step you can take right now that will bring you closer to accomplishing your goal and once you have it in mind, DO IT!!!!!! Don’t think about it…don’t consider it…JUST DO IT NOW!!!!!!

Happy New Year,


Monday Morning MOJO

By Intero Real Estate | December 14th, 2008 0 Comments

The 2 minute drill

Good Morning MOJO,

I was watching a little football yesterday and it’s interesting how 2 teams can play for 58 minutes, but in the end, most the time the game is decided by which team is best in the final 2 minutes. It is the team that can suck it up when they are beaten up and tired that end up being the winners. 

Just like football, it’s the final 2 minutes that determine the winners and the losers at almost everything in life.  Everything we do up until that last 2 minutes just keeps us in the game and gives us a chance to win.  Well…we are in the final 2 minutes of 2008, and the winners of 2008 will be determined by what we do between now and the end of the year.  I know everyone is tired and everyone needs a break…me too, but it’s those few who can dig deep, remain discipline and push through the pain that will finish up 2008 the winners.  Now don’t’ get me wrong, I am all for spending time over the holidays with friends and family…I am all for having some fun, but I just see so many people take their foot off the gas at Thanksgiving and coast into the end of the year.  And then once January 1st hits, they are at a dead stop.  Then it’s really not until the middle or end of January before they are back into “game shape”. 

As I said, I am for taking a couple of days off over Thanksgiving…taking a couple of days off over Christmas and taking a couple of days off over New Years, but I am not for taking off the entire 4th quarter of the game…I am up for finishing the game of 2008 strong.  This applies to everything in life…from our jobs, to our health, to our spirituality, to our relationships…everything!!!!!  The beautiful part is if you are one of the few who chose to finish the game of 2008 strong there will be a lot less competition…everyone else will be sleeping…everyone else will be taking the final 2 minutes off.   And because there are a lot less people in the game in the final 2 minutes of the year, it makes it a lot easier to score.

Have a powerful week and finish 2008 STRONG!!!!!!!


Monday Morning MOJO

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

What are the Big Rocks in my life…put those in the jar first

Good Morning MOJO,

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of successful business people.  To drive home a point, he used an illustration they will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered over achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the audience yelled, "Yes."

The time management expert replied, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time this successful group of business people where on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the audience shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One person raised her hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is if you do not put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all. What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life, time with your loved ones, your health, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you will never get them in at all. So, today when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the big rocks in my life? Then, put those in your jar first."

Make it a powerful week!!!


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,


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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Monday Morning MOJO

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

We have to remember…success always involves risk.

Good Morning MOJO,

Most people spend their entire life waiting…waiting for the perfect time before they make their move.  Buying and selling real estate is the perfect example of that.  I have been in the real estate business for over 20 years and have seen it first hand.  Sellers are always waiting for the perfect time…trying to time the peak.  Buyers are always waiting for the perfect time…trying to time the bottom.  Unfortunately we never know when the “perfect” time is at anything in life until after the “perfect” time has passed us by.  And those who are always waiting…trying to time the perfect moment, do just that.  They wait, sitting on the sidelines watching and never get in the game.  Because when you go for it and get in the game there is always risk no matter what it is.  To be successful we have to be “Gamers”…not spectators.  We cannot be paralyzed by fear.

We have to remember…success always involves risk. We must take a chance by investing our time, money, and effort. It pays to be thoughtful and deliberate in our analyses of opportunities, but we cannot let fear hold us back. Because we have worked hard to develop those things we must risk, it is natural for us to place a high value on them. But what use are they if we do not put them to use? We will recognize opportunity only to the extent that we are willing to consider risking our time, money, and effort. Being confident gives us the courage to face risk and act when opportunity arises. No one on earth is going to force success upon us; we will find it only to the degree that we actively seek it out.

Remember…when everyone you know is doing, saying and feeling one thing, the right answer is probably to do exactly the opposite.

Have a Powerful week and don’t be paralyzed by fear…that is what the masses are doing.  Step out and go for it!!!!!


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