Complacency and how to CHANGE in the NEW DECADE

The good thing about complacency is that you are doing well enough to be there! You're "comfortable" which means you're not starving. That's a lot to be grateful for, right? Many people get to that point and then hang onto "good enough". Others however, begin getting "uncomfortable" with "comfortable". They KNOW there is MORE for them. And there always IS.

If you are feeling at that point - "comfortable", yet finding that you are uncomfortable there after all, congratulations! This is GOOD NEWS! It means you've noticed and are thinking in terms of THRIVING verses "surviving". It's a normal time to be thinking this. We are ending a crazy decade of excessive HIGH's and for many of us, excessive LOW's too. Aren't you ready for a NEW DECADE?

For so many of my clients our conversations about 2011 are pretty exciting. They are tired of just "dog paddling" and staying afloat in their businesses and are ready to take that next step forward!

What are a few things you can do to examine how you might move forward in 2011?
1. Have you done a new Dream Board with all the THINGS you can have if you break out of complacency and had a 20% increase this year?
2. Have you done a Business Sources Review of the last year and established what a 20% increase in each source would be? What source should also be ADDED this year/decade?
3. Are you Investing in your business with Education, Coaching, and Staffing?
4. Have you met with a Financial Planner to find out what you really need to be saving to retire HOW you want to retire, WHEN you want to retire?
5. How are you Giving Back to the World? Are you giving something of your TIME, TALENTS, and MONEY to a worthy cause?

Asking yourself these questions are part of breaking free of the chains of complacency. If you take an hour to write down your initial answers and then spend a good 3 hours on each of the 5 before the end of the year, I guarantee your complacency issues will be OVER for 2011 and you'll go into the next decade EXCITED!

Would love to hear back from you on this. What ELSE are YOU doing? Share the GOOD NEWS!

Foreclosure Foul-up: Tracking Down Those 'Lost' Mortgages

Foreclosure Foul-up: Tracking Down Those 'Lost' Mortgages
This is the first article I've read with clear evidence explaining EXACTLY why the Feds pulled the plug on some foreclosures and WHY it's going to be another 3-4 years just to clean up and get back to the "New Normal".

Looks like some Lenders may have been the worst in looking for a "quick buck" in the last real estate cycle and cut corners sharply actually LOSING promissory notes - the document they need to prove they own the mortgage. Full article can be accessed by clicking the title of the post. Yet there IS GOOD NEWS, keep reading...

Yes, it may be a while, because if banks can't sell off their "shadow inventory" (stuff they should be selling but can't) we'll continue to have a supply of low, low, low priced competition, keeping overall prices down. FHA recently predicted pricing increases by 2015. So the question begs to be asked... here it is... the GOOD NEWS: Do you want to stay put another 4 years.... or "trade" what you have now (at it's lower price) for something you REALLY want - at IT's lower price? -- How can you "lose" when you trade a low price for a low price? Think about it... When YOUR price recovers, so does the one you want to buy. At today's interest rates, the REAL opportunity is NOW.

Below you'll see buttons to share this on Facebook, Twitter, etc. if it's something you think worth sharing.

Donna

Visioning Exercise

Visioning Exercise
Create your Future with your FUTURE... Not your past.
This is adapted from the work of Werner Erhard via some Jack Canfield stuff.

Start by getting comfortable in a quiet location you won’t be disturbed. Have a NEW unused journal (permanent type) and pen close by. Relaxing music is OK, but not a guided meditation.

Close your eyes and ask your subconscious mind to begin letting go of limitations and let yourself wildly dream. I promise it won’t hurt. You are looking for images/pictures/sounds/smells about what your ideal life would be like. EXACTLY the way you think you’d want it now. It’s OK to change your mind later, this is just for THIS MOMENT.

Focus first on the Financial part of your life.
What is your ideal annual income/
What does your cash FLOW look like – what comes in AND what goes out. It’s a FLOW!
How much $$ do you have in Savings?
How much $$ in investments? What type are they?
What is your TOTAL net worth at this particular point in the future you’re imagining right now?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Focus next on your ideal Home at this future point of your life.
What does it look like outside? Is there a view?
What is nearby? Where is it located?
What is around it, landscaping, outbuildings, pool, barn, tennis courts, lake?
What is the color outside?
Now, go inside... In your mind go in the front door and look around. Go to each room.
What rooms are there? What décor is it – what furniture? Colors? Smells?
What is the kitchen like? Any great tastes waiting for you there?
What is your favorite room in the house?
Is there some special beautiful art and paintings? What do they look like? Feel like?
Walk through the entire house filing in all the detail you can.
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

NOTE: DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT “HOW WILL I GET THIS?” - Give your mind the picture and your mind will solve the “not enough money” challenge. It IS solvable. This exercise is about getting it clear in your mind! That’s it for now.

Third, focus on your Car or other possessions you might want. The “things” the “toys/stuff”. This is not a test... You can add or subtract from this list anytime!
What do they look like? Feel like? Smell like?
How much do they cost?
How often do you get to enjoy them and how?
Who else uses them with you?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Fourth, focus on your Ideal Real Estate Career.
Where are you working? Is it at a Company office? A private office? A home office?
What do you do each day to run your perfect business?
What is your schedule like each day and week?
What staff do you have, if any?
Do you work for yourself or have a Company you work for?
What kind of Customer/Clients do you have?
What does the PERFECT Buyer look like and how do they behave?
What does the PERFECT Seller look like and how do they behave?
What is your average commission? Do you have other compensation that comes to you?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Fifth, focus on your Free time that this wonderful career has brought you.
What do you do with this time?
How often are you off work to enjoy your other wonderful things financial freedom has brought you?
Who do you spend your free time with? What friends? What family?
What are your hobbies at this point in your future?
What vacations have you been on and have coming up soon?
What philanthropic activities are you involved in? Does that bring you joy to help others?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Sixth, focus on your Body and Physical Health.
What do you look like?
Have you kicked any bad habits?
How old are you and how old will you life with great health like this?
Are you relaxed and enjoying life?
What exercise do you enjoy and how often do you do it?
Are you full of energy and enthusiasm?
Are you flexible as well as strong? How did you get that way?
What foods are you eating? Getting more water in your diet than ever?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Seventh, focus on the Ideal Vision of your Relationships with others.
Think about your family – each member- and how you now interact with them in this perfect ideal life.What does that feel like? Comforting, comfortable, relaxed?
Who are your friends in this life?
What difference in the qualify of relationships with your friends and family do you notice?
What time do you spend with those important to you?
What do you do together?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Eighth... Focus on the “Personal Arena” of your Ideal Life
Do you see yourself having gone back to school?
Are you getting regular education and training? Attending workshops that are interesting and exciting regardless of cost and time?
What healing things have happened to you to get to this point? Therapy even if you feel it was needed?
Do you meditate daily or often?
How is the spiritual side of your life? Are you involved with a place of worship?
Have you learned to play an instrument? Are you writing a book? Maybe an autobiography?
Do you paint, or run marathons, or do triathlons?
What do you do for YOU? How do you continue to improve the Quality of your life?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

And finally Ninth. Focus on the community you are thriving in... The community you have CHOSEN.
What does it look like when it’s operating perfectly?
How is it decorated for the holidays?
What community activities take place there?
Are you doing charitable work in your community?
What do you do to help others and make a difference in the lives of others?
How often do you participate in these activities? Who exactly are you helping?
Write it all down in the journal. Use a whole page for each item you need.

Whew! OK... You did it all. You opened your mind and IMAGINED for perhaps the first time in a long time. If you’re like me, you may have even cried at some of the incredible images you created in your mind! Now take your notes and create a beautiful final image of that perfect life. It can be in writing. It can be in pictures, or a combination. Get creative and spend the time on this part. See what it was you wrote! You may want to do this a day or two AFTER the initial exercise.

Here are the KEYS to making this successfully MOVE YOU FORWARD toward this life:

Key #1 – EVERY DAY review your final version. That’s right... Every single day.
Key #2 – Share this with people you know love and support you! You may have some fear about this but if they do love and support you, they will do just that. And think about this: MOST people want the same things you do... They just don’t know it. You may INSPIRE them to do a similar exercise and change their lives too! Deep down, we all want that ideal life.

Everyone wants financial abundance, a comfortable home to be proud of, meaningful work you enjoy, good health, time to enjoy it all, nurturing relationships and an opportunity to make a difference in their worlds. But too few of us admit it.

You will find if you share your vision several things will happen.

1. You’ll inspire others to create a vision of their own!
2. You’ll find they want to support you in your vision and may give you bigger and better referrals than they ever did! (I had a coaching client that shared this with their children and EACH child gave them a referral that turned into a sale in the next few months!)
3. You’ll find your friends introducing you to others that can support your goals too.
4. Every time you share your vision, it will become more CLEAR in your mind!
5. And lastly... Every time you share your vision... You STRENGTHEN your own subconcious belief that you CAN achieve it....
   

It’s magic. Real magic.

In closing, my favorite quote by Marianne Williamson:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you NOT to be? ~ You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not in just some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates others.

Why List in the Fall and Winter

If you'd like to sell but wonder if Listing now is better, or waiting until Spring is better, consider this Question first:

“If you DID get an acceptable offer during Nov-Feb, would you want to sell the property?”

If the answer is YES, then we can go into some of the great reasons why LISTING NOW may be better than waiting!

1. Inventory of competing homes is lower, so your home stands out better with serious buyers, who have less to choose from. Your odds of selling may actually go UP during this time of year! A LOT of people feel just like you... and don’t understand that there will be FLOOD of new listings on the market after the holidays... And that increased supply without an equal increase in demand, can cause prices to take a dip again. If you want to sell for the most money possible, now may be the best the time!
2. Only serious buyers are out in the fall/winter, so fewer people are running through your house... Yet, you may be likely to get a contract from those that do come through! And think about how fantastic it will be to have this all finished when others are just getting started.
3. Taking photos in the fall can be a big asset - they look great on the internet, MLS, and flyers before the winter sets in. A photo taken in Jan/Feb/March may not be as attractive as one in Nov/Dec.
4. Your home may show better while decorated for Thanksgiving and Christmas or Hanukkah. Your home may look nicer this time of year than any other! Why not have potential buyers see it while it looks it’s best? Fireplaces, evergreens, scented candles, warmth on a cold day... All can add to the beauty inside when it’s not so pretty outside. That contrast can equal a sale!
5. It’s OK to specify for “no showings” during certain times over the holidays. The lockbox can even be removed. Because you’re planning a few holiday events is no reason to not be for sale the rest of the time!
6. Houses feel more like “homes” when you come in from the cold weather. This cozy feeling causes emotions in a Buyer you can’t get other times of the year.
7. People stay home more in colder weather and online searches go way up. With today’s technology and my expertise in marketing your home online, the chances you get sold before the 1st of the year rise in November/December.
8. Buyers who buy closer to the end of the year often pay closer to full price than other times of the year, as they are often buying under a deadline, so have less time to negotiate and less inventory to choose from, getting you the BEST price.
9. Buyers have more day-times off during mid-November through January, increasing serious buyer traffic during normal business hours verses showings during your evenings and weekends.
10. Buyers at this time often have an “urgency factor”. Many employers want new hires to start in January, so they can’t wait to buy your home. If you don’t list until after January 1, you might miss out on those buyers. They can’t buy yours if it’s not for sale!
11. Many buyers that need to buy by end of the year don’t have to occupy the home right away. Late occupancies are common during this time, allowing you a real win-win. They win with possible lower interest rates now, and you may be able to negotiate your move for later.
12. Decreased demand on lenders, appraisers, home inspectors, movers and other vendors during this time can cause your escrow processing to be smoother and easier than during busy times of the year.
13. The bottom line is that if your home isn’t available, you may miss YOUR perfect buyer! If you know you want to sell, don’t wait. “You can’t win if you don’t play” as they say... The Question really is – why delay? What’s the downside to listing now?