How REALTORS can save the US Economy . . .

I’ve been Thinking . . .

And WRITING . . .

A LOT . . .

And the more I think and write about Real Estate and the economy . . . and the more people I talk with who are each facing a collage of personal issues related to the National Drama and accompanying media “dark side” . . . I can’t help but think that we can each make a positive impact within the community simply by being VERY good at what we do as REALTORS.

If I have piqued your curiosity in the least, I invite you to explore the following to links . . . and then to consider joining us @ our on-line community of REALTORS where we can all share ideas and discuss solutions.

This first link is a Squidoo Lens I created this morning – around the premise that if we can get more first time home buyers in the market . . . it could very well positively impact the national economy . . . I may be crazy, but I’m a believer, and this lens is my first attempt to communicate the theory.

http://www.squidoo.com/Real-Estate-Market-CPR

The second link is the “seed” of that lens . . . a blog post I wrote this morning @

http://activerain.com/blogsview/840316/Nitrous-Oxide-The-fuel-for-speed

Let’s fuel this market for exponential results in 2009 and each do our part in saving the economy J

Finally . . . The Real Estate Town Center is a private and safe on-line community for REALTORS and Lenders who are interested in sharing ideas and finding solutions for the issues and opportunities we are each facing in today’s business environment.

If you are interested in joining this community, send me a short blurb about yourself, and I’ll usher you “IN”

I wish you a holiday filled with warmth and love . . . and can’t wait to get back to work in 2009 and turn this market around in a powerful way.

Best,
b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
Nashville, TN - Green Hills
615-568-2123
The Owen Group - http://www.theowengroup.net/
http://www.squidoo.com/Real-Estate-Market-CPR
http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization
http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter

Bloghttp://www.activerain.com/barryo
Bloghttp://www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com/
Video - Live Streaminghttp://www.stickam.com/barryowen

Also on Twitter, Facebook, Plaxo, Linkedin, Skype

We need to Talk!

These might be the 4 most feared words in the English language (when they are in this order with "!" at the end).

Upon hearing these words from a spouse, close friend, client, boss . . . the brain instantly fires off a couple million electrical impulses throughout the body to trigger a couple million synapses - The heart beat increases significantly in an effort to keep the blood flowing, the lungs start gasping for more air . . . and panic sets in.

What could it be?

What did I do (or forget to do) to warrant such a grave conversation?

Did I drop some balls?

Should I run and hide?

Maybe if I can avoid the speaker of those words, the issue will evaporate over time.

NOPE!

Best thing to do is to "Stand in the fire"

Don't delay!

Have the conversation . . . It's not going to go away til you do it.

So, Let's talk!

Now (more than EVER) we all need to keep talking ... no hiding allowed.

Wednesday, I wrote an Open Letter to my sphere of influence here in Middle Tennessee. I also posted it here and emailed it to everyone I know. This letter was a response to particularly bad news in our market . . . a dramatic decrease in real estate activity in November which precipitated a flurry of media stories.

Most everyone in our area was certain the sky was, in fact, FALLING!

My letter offered a more constructive tone.

We are leaders in our communities. Leaders don't freak out and run for the hills when the news isn't what people want to hear . . .

Leaders TALK amongst each other and respond in a way that instills a measure of confidence in the community.

I discovered a whole passle of leaders in my community when I published that open letter on
Wednesday . . . My telephone and email in-box were "on fire" ALL day yesterday with folks saying to me:

"We need to talk!"

I had many conversations . . . ALL of which began with a "Thank You!" for the constructive tone of the letter . . . followed by many heart-felt and deeply personal conversations. Many people took that opportunity to "air the laundry" by being transparent about how this has affected them personally.and then we shifted to the simple truth that we all need to keep talking . . .

Here's where I'm going with this . . .

INVITE anyone and EVERYONE to join you in conversations as these issues have no boundaries - Regular MASTERMINDS where folks can openly share their experiences and collectively build solutions for moving forward. Not only is this therapeutic for those who attend, it will go a long way with respect to community building and solution oriented thinking.

Panic does NOT solve problems.

In my office, we host masterminds every Friday @ 1:00.

In your personal business, I believe that now is the MOST important time to be calling your sphere of influence and tell each person "We need to talk!"

Your goal is to schedule 2 appointments every day to meet face-to-face with people. In these appointments, the goal of these appointments is multi-faceted.

- Secure leads for your business

- Build your relationships for more future business

- Communicate confidence

- Let them know that you are meeting regularly with other local professionals to organize a joint effort to navigate the issues and opportunities the community is facing.

KEEP PEOPLE TALKING . . . and as the LEADER, make it your personal mission to keep the tone CONSTRUCTIVE . . . No whining and finger pointing allowed.

If all you do for your business is secure 2 meetings every day and participate in one mastermind with other local professionals weekly, my guess is that you will survive and even thrive in this market . . .and even better, you will positively influence others in your market . . . You will emerge as a true LEADER in your community.

Lead on!

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
Nashville, TN - Green Hills
615-568-2123
The Owen Group - http://www.theowengroup.net/
http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization
http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter
Blog http://www.activerain.com/barryo
Blog http://www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com/
Video - Live Streaming http://www.stickam.com/barryowen
Also on Facebook, Plaxo, Linkedin, Skype
Quintessentially connected to the real estate industry to offer the ultimate experience for Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee . . . Inquire within!

The Real Estate Market in November 08

The Middle Tennesse Associations of REALTORS sent their news releases about November’s market, and the news media has taken their best shots at doom and gloom. . . .

I am passionately defending the viability of our market and feel a responsibility to keep chins UP and do whatever we REALTORS can do to push through all of this and keep things floating.

With that in mind . . . I offer the following 2 things:

Thing 1:

www.realestatetowncenter.ning.com is an on-line "safe" community for REALTORS to connect to network and share issues and opportunities - and is founded on the premise that we REALTORS hold the keys to unlocking a stable future for our communities. To join this growing community, simply email me a blurb about yourself.For more about the theory behind this network, please visit http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter

Thing 2:

An open letter from me to whoever . . . Feel free to share with anyone you feel might appreciate it. . . . Here goes . . . In November, Middle Tennessee felt the impact of the Real Estate Market shift more significantly than any other month to date. The number of sales dropped nearly 50% in most every category while values seemed to continue to hold relatively stable as compared to 2007. This news was released yesterday and seems to have provided the local media sources a fresh opportunity to sing “Doom and Gloom” . . . I believe the word used was “TANKED”.

My opinion is a bit more constructive . . .

We see some positive signs, yet we know the reality is that there will be (potentially) several more months of “less than stellar” housing activity. The truth is that this is a much over-due “market correction” and has been an inevitability for the past 3 years . . . We saw it coming as it pummeled other parts of the country, and we are grateful that we were spared significant impact until now.

We also know that this data shows us our inventory of available houses is gradually decreasing and values are holding relatively strong. As the inventory falls and affordability improves, our market will, once again, thrive.

Middle Tennessee values did not “hyper-inflate” as dramatically as they did in other markets (California and Florida) and therefore, we likely will not fall as “hard” . . . and our recovery will come more gracefully and quickly.

Sales ARE happening! Our Keller Williams Realty Green Hills Market Center continues to close deals. We are doing what it takes to educate ourselves daily so as to be able to advise our clients appropriately to navigate the environment. Much of this guidance comes from our Visionary Leadership at Keller Williams International. Gary Keller published a book entitle “Shift”. This book effectively arms our associates with the knowledge and strategies to continue to transact business regardless of the circumstances. We are committed to doing our part to help our community prevail through these uncertain times . . . and we believe that we Local Real Estate Agents are infinitely poised as leaders in our community to positively influence the sustainability of the community.

This is a SUPERB time to be in the market to BUY a house – Especially for 1st time Home Buyers who can benefit from the 2008 Federal Government’s $7500 tax benefit . . . and can be an equally superb time to sell a house.

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Broker
Keller Williams Realty
The Owen Group website - http://www.theowengroup.net http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter
Blog http://www.activerain.com/barryo
Blog http://www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com

Dear Uncle Sam

You're a big man with a big heart, and we all love you.

We know it absolutely breaks that big heart of yours to see all of this economic turmoil . . .
and that you are doing everything you can do to fix the mess we're in.

First, it was the banks - Then Wall Street - and the Real Estate Industry "down-turn" . . .
and now the auto industry.

I guess hindsight is 20/20, eh?

Everyone got too big . . . too fast!
and we all reached an unsustainable threshold . . .
and the brutal truths that "what goes up must come down" and "the bigger they are , the harder they'll fall" showed up and killed the party.

Boy, you jumped into action - That "Caretaker" within you scrambled to find a way to take the pressure off the banks because you saw that the money was frozen. You knew that for ANYTHING (good) to happen the money had to start to flowing again.

So you came up with what the media called a "Bail-out" for the Mortgage Backed Securities - Called it a fancy name that didn't stick "The Economic Stabilization Act" . . . The numbers were astonishing to all the "Joe the Plumbers" amongst us . . . unfathomable . . . but we trust you (sorta) and have been glad to see things move a bit.

As always is the case, there were an unsrupulous few who "gamed the system" and got caught in the spotlight putting a bad taste in everyone's mouth. It's those few jerks out there who took advantage of your big heart who have damaged your credibility in the eyes of many Americans.

Now we see your eye on the Auto industry which really is in deep tapioca. The leaders in that industry have seen the writing on the wall for a LONG time - Have witnessed your generosity with the Banks - and are now asking for a bit of a bail-out themselves.

They've got a pretty strong case. LOTS of jobs are at stake when we consider the manufacturing plants PLUS the myriad (smaller) part manufacturing companies PLUS the failing dealerships PLUS the auto service folks . . .

WOW!

They've painted a pretty gloomy picture if you don't step in . . . and QUICKLY!

You've got a lot to think about, and we are all hoping that you'll make choices that will lead us out of this morass. There are those among us who believe that your best choice with these Auto giants is to "Facilitate" a speedy Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Most us of us don't really know what that means, but we kinda like the idea that it will not be "Throwing money at the problem" and it looks more like "Disciplining" the leaders of those companies into restructuring their businesses to bail themselves out . . . even though it seems like a cop-out to many people who see it as abandonment of their obligations to their creditors . . . Who knows?

Will you take a look at Seth Godin's Blog post: "What about Detroit"

Anyhow - I'd like to get to the reason for this letter.

I'm a REALTOR . . .

Our industry has been affected in ways that only REALTORS really know or undersatnd.

We are all independent contractors. We are not part of a large, benevolent corporation. We make money when we close deals . . . PERIOD!

No salaries . . . No pension funds . . . No company sponsored IRAs . . . We are in an environment of "Catch it - Kill it - Drag it home!"

Yes, we chose to be in this business . . . We knew the hazards . . . and our industry got nice and fat just like the others. We were participants in the frenzy that led up to today's debacle (just as were the banks and mega-businesses).

A HUGE number of us are "dying on the vine" and having to seek other employment at a time when the job market is flooded with professionals who have lost their corporate jobs due to downsizing.

Many of our individual businesses are whithering - Our local firms are shrinking and nearing extinction - and all of our "suppliers" such as Lenders, Title Companies, Termite Companies, Fix-it companies, Insurance Companies, Appraisers etc are REALLY hurting . . .

So . . .

Uncle Sam! Can we have a confidential chat over a beer on the patio?

What can you do for US?

BAIL-OUT for REALTORS?

I know I know . . . This would be a hard sell to the American public, but we promise to use the money wisely. Yes, I know everyone thinks we're rich because lots of us drive big, fancy cars and have been hanging out with the rich and famous locals a lot . . . But we need your help . . . and how are WE any less worthy than the big banks and Auto-manufacturers?

What would this bail-out look like?

Where would the money come from?

How do we decide who gets the money - and how much?

Oh, I don't know . . . That's for you to figure out. We can't concern ourselves with the details, we just want the money.

Oh Uncle - We love you dearly and thank you for taking such good care of us in the past. You have let us play for YEARS and allowed us to do things our Parents would NEVER have allowed us to do.

You're the GREATEST!

Where can I get my check?

Love,

me
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK OK . . . The above is a bit "spoofy" . . . Here's my REAL point for EVERYONE out there.

We got ourselves into this mess, and we need to figure out how toget OURSELVES out of this mess. We're all smart folks, and I KNOW that we will all be OK.

Let's begin at home.

Roof over your head and food on the table and clothes on your body?

Great . . . Now, how 'bout your neighbor? Work associates? Community? Burb? Town? City?
Uncle Sam's a really busy guy . . . It's time for all of us to take a step back and re-evaluate our spending/living habits and trim the excesses . . . tighten the belts . . . whatever you want to call it. The problems we all face are very real . . . and they are also temporary . . .

Listen to me . . . Stop Struggling . . . Quit fighting . . . Play well together and share your toys . . . Treat each other with kindness and respect . . . and most importantly . . .

Be thankful for all you have - Spiritual, Social, Emotional, Mental, Physical - HEALTH, Family, Friends . . . and celebrate with gratitude.

And while you're at it . . . LEAD GENERATE YOUR BUTT OFF!

because THAT's the only "REALTOR BAIL-OUT Plan"that I believe will really happen. It's up to us individually to ressurrect our markets . . . and it will only happen with patient effort and consistent education of the "general public" as to the benefits of homeownership. In these times of uncertainty many very smart economists agree that owning REAL PROPERTY (Houses and land) makes good sense.

Hmmmm . . . Sorry . . . I had an idea to write Uncle Sam a letter and I think it turned into a book.

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU!
b

Barry Owen
Career Development Coach
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills

www.theowengroup.net - We're stimulating the economy in Middle Tennessee by connecting LOTS of home Buyers and Sellers

www.creatingspace.blogspot.com - Barry's other blog

http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization - Barry's "alternative website"

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Putting yourself "Out there" . . .

I'm working through my database looking for missing threads of information . . .

and I am discovering quite a cacophony of contact information.

Hmmmm . . . I'm starting to feel the need for a reliable SINGLE place for my database.

Between http://www.linkedin.com/ and http://www.plaxo.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/ and http://www.skype.com/ and my own personal address book in Outlook and my http://www.gmail.com/ contact folder etc etc etc.

There's gotta be a better way. I've found that it appears no 2 address books share information equally, so if one pulls in data from another, it'll arbitrarily NOT bring in the email address . . . or telephone numbers . . . or will "forget" the group/category . . .

HARUMPH!

Many folks would just tell me not to be a member of so many sites . . . but I know that there are people I am uniquely connected to on each of those portals.

The problem is that I'm nearing a volume of data which is going to power my system (My brain capacity) down.

Why?

Because I am really working hard to put myself out there. My goal is to make contact with as many people as possible - to reconnect with people from my past who might have synchronistic paths.

My recent discovery of http://www.squidoo.com/ has provided lots of recent excitement and distraction for me as I build what I consider to be 'The Mother Ship" of my thoughts these days

http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization

What a great place to assemble everything . . .

Without question - Squidoo offers a good collection and focusing point . . .

now if I could only straighten out the database . . .

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Career Development Coach
Principal Real Estate Broker
http://www.theowengroup.net/ - Real Estate Web-site
www.activerain.com/barryo - Other Blog

http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization - "Solving all the world's problems in this one simple site"

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Leaders and Followers

I posted this blog (below) yesterday on an off-line Network and have been giving it a lot of thought since. This morning I awakened to 2 comments on that post . . .
Adding a level of clarity that I "Needed"

An interesting thing happened this morning . . .

I read a comment yesterday . . . about followers . . . and it made me realize that in all of the years I have considered myself to be a "Leader" I had never given thought that those people I was leading were "followers".

What did I think they were/are?

I'm not certain . . . but not "Followers" . . .

My first thought is that "I am not worthy to be a leader of followers"

I've always thought of the whole bunch of us being on a level playing field and that we each "take the lead" at different points along the trail. One of My responsibilities as a leader is to honor and acknowledge the leadership abilities of others . . . and to hold true to my own passions and responsibilities.

I'm internally conflicted on this and certainly would love to hear some feed-back.

When I was in the military, I was an officer. My "job" was to lead.

but . . .Guess what?

All of the folks I led (Enlisted and Officers Junior to me), were as much my leaders as I was theirs. Many of them were crusty old veterans (Some were twice my age - or more) who KNEW the ins and outs of the workings of the Platoon or company or Battalion. The difference was that my responsibility was "concept of the operation" or "VISION" . . . The only "Follower" requirement was that all of those folks were believers in my ability to Lead effectively . . . Their lives depended on my good judgement, and my life depended on their skills and ability to lead each other to Mission Accomplishment.

So . . . My reasoning brings me to the notion that "THE" Leader (perhaps) defines the mission/vision . . . the "followers" execute . . .

In this way, I find no shame in followership . . . It's plenty honorable as these followers lead each other :-)

and therein lies one important component (I believe) of defining and assembling a tribe . . .

Humbly claiming the "Leader" role around a particular passion . . . and simply DOING whatever it takes to invite the right people along for the experiment.

I'm attempting to do this with the Lens I just posted . . . I am full aware that I will need to add some definition/clarity of vision . . . but I am also a firm believer in the premise that the right people will show and co-create this adventure with me. Check out this lens here:

http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization

Here's the distinction - Leaders operate from "mindset" and are willing to step into their fears (of making "bad" decisions - or "failing") while the followers operate from "Skillset" and do, in fact, execute the Leader's plan.

Leaders are the ones who assume the risk and "take the lead" thereby moving things forward.

Guess what?

I don't think there are ANY other requirements to being a great leader, then having the willingness to take the personal responsibility to take the lead . . . and this is easier to do when you have great PASSION driving you.

Every moment of every day, we ALL have amazing opportunities to lead.

As Seth Godin says: "We need YOU to lead us!"

Best,
b
My other blog www.activerain.com/barryo
http://www.theowengroup.net/

Coming from Contribution

This is more than simple lip service.

It is TOTALLY true that when you come from contribution great things start happening.

The right people begin showing up in your life . . .

It really DOES ring true that what you put IN, you get back exponentially.

I cannot think of one single reason NOT to test this theory, can you?

Would you rather stumble through life being miserable or dance through life with joy?

I know - I know . . . Life ain't just a big ole bowl of maraschino cherries, and I'm singing an existence of bliss and harmony that (perhaps) denies "reality" . . . or does it?

Sure, we've all got our "unfair share" of issues in our lives.

Sometimes life just SUCKS!

I "get" that . . . Same for me sometimes . . .

but just think . . . If you had a place to go any time life sucks for you . . . a place where you could something new and up-lifting and refreshing every time you went there . . . would that help?

Today, I picked up on the "Lens" - Link below (Thanks to Seth Godin's "Lens of the day") . . .

This is a place of beauty . . . a place that I am fairly confident will ALWAYS give me a good reason to smile regardless of what kind of "noise" I am dealing with. I recommend you visit this place and bookmark it for those times you really need it.

http://www.squidoo.com/say-something-nice

And then . . . PRACTICE it!

Can you go through every day with this level of positiveness?

Just imagine the possibilities . . .

Speaking of possibilities . . . I launched a new lens of my own today - It's here:

http://www.squidoo.com/transformation-self-organization

I'm not sure where I am going with this one, but I know for sure that I am very passionate about making a solid difference in this world while I am here . . . and I know that I have a lot left to do . . . and I am feeling some internal pressure to move this thing forward . . . whatever "this thing" is.

I also know that publishing on the web will give me the kick in the seat that I need to get moving . . . I am certain this will lead to other Lenses . . . and for sure, I intend to continue to build on this lens over time.

My hope is that you will join me on this journey and contribute as you wish :-)

and please please please have a great day and make it your personal mission for the day to "MAKE" the day for 10 people today and every day.

Best,

b
Barry Owen
http://www.theowengroup.net/ - Real estate website
www.activerain.com/barryo - Barry's other blog
Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

No news is not good news - It's just stupid!

OK!

Time to hit the pet peeve on the head.

When you're dealing with an "expert" and the issue at hand is very personal and sensitive . . .

or even if it's NOT very personal and sensitive . . .

This person has the unique "positional power" to potentially gain COMPLETE control of your life albeit for a short time (if you let them).

It could be the doctor who ran a whole battery of tests to diagnose the source of your discomfort . . . and doesn't call you for 3 weeks to report the findings . . .

or

The waiter in the restaurant who takes your order and then dodges your table for 30 minutes without letting you know that there was a kitchen fire and that your food will be delayed for just a few more minutes.

This is nothing short of STUPID!

In the business of real estate sales, lack of communication is the number ONE reason for client dissatisfaction . . . yet it continues in epidemic proportions.

There is NOTHING worse than "no news" . . .

in ANY industry . . . It's inexcusable!

At least honor your customer/client's worth by communicating candidly and frequently . . .

and REALLY crank it up when things are not going as planned.

The problem will not go away if you don't talk about it . . . but the customer WILL . . .

and the customer will simply become a proud member of the silent tribe of folks who will walk out the door and never report their unrest . . .

Instead, they will casually tell everyone they know about your ineptitude when it comes to meeting their expectations.

We're ALL in the "service" business . . .

and we ALL "need" to leave a trail satisfied customers in our wake in order to stay in business . . .

and I believe it begins with solid communication whether the news is good or bad.

b
Barry Owen
www.theowengroup.net
www.activerain.com/barryo
Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Hindsight and Tunnel Vision

My brain is moving at warp speed these days.

Part of the reason is (putting it mildly) due to the mind-numbing experience I am having on Seth Godin's Triiibes community site . . . Fabulous stuff!

Is hind-sight "all that"?

Some say that it's 20/20 - Perfect vision - and therefore has little real value becuase it's too late.

It doesn't do a lot for one's psyche/ego to look back on things and say: "AW SH_T! I coulda . . . or if only I had . . . "

Yet, we all know (as I learned early in career as a "leader" in the Army) that there are lessons to be learned through an intentional look back in the form of an AAR - After Action Review . . . so that we can move forward with confidence and know what to do in the future.

Yes - and folks say that "History repeats itself" and that we can study historical trends and be able to be more RESPONSIVE and less reactionary going forward.

I believe that there are those folks out there who get hung up on the hindsight thing . . . Don't hash and rehash ad nausium . . . Do as we did in the Army . . . Review - Assess - Adjust - Move FORWARD!

IN my days in the army, we talked in terms of "range walking". . . This is a VERY focused and Intentional way of walking with 100% FOCUS on everything within perception . . . moving with quickness while adjusting for terrain obstacles and maintaining an almost hyper-focus on the surroundings so as to be able to respond to lurking issues. Once I 'Got" this technique, I could literally range walk faster than I could run for long distances.

In steps "Tunnel-vision" . . .

Do you ever find yourself cruising along "doing" . . . perhaps in a "flow moment" . . . and next thing you know, the day is over and you forgot to eat, sleep etc . . . and others around you comment that you had pure tunnel vision as if nothing else existed?

Is this a good thing?

With that level of focus, do we miss opportunities?

I coach a lot of people into FOCUS because I know that focus on a goal/vision yields results . . . and most of the folks I coach have very random and unfocused habits when they come to me.

I'm wondering if I might better serve these "coachees" by teaching them to "range walk" . . .and stop at appropriate "way-points" to review and refresh and realign before moving forward.

Seth Godin Blogged a post a couple of weeks ago in his amazingly pithy way . . . The message was clear:

- Those who REACT have great difficulty moving forward
- The RESPONDERS do better

and many gurus talk a lot about Responding and not reacting

- Those who INITIATE constantly are the ones moving forward ALWAYS

In the terms in this blog post, the initiators are range walking :-)

Best,

b
Barry Owen
Squidoo site coming soon . . . Til then, it's the Real Estate Web-Site:

www.theowengroup.net

Simply and BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Never Underestimate the power of a newbie . . .

While the crusty old curmudgeons hang out at the coffee pot and grumble about the weather . . . and the boss's last memo . . .
and: "who's getting canned next?"
And: "What're we going to do if things (economy) doesn't improve?
They fail to notice the FNG (Freakin' New Girl Sally) moving into her desk on the other side of Cubicle City.

She knows where the coffee pot is because she saw it (and the group of "seasoned Veterans) as she did her orientation tour of the office yesterday . . . but Sally knew then and now that the coffee pot would be off-limits for her because she was on a MISSION!

That's right!

A MISSION!

Sally was fresh out of school and had selected her job carefully - Studied the veritable smorgasbord of possibilities - took note of the subtle truth that she would need to WOW the recruiters to even have a shot at a job in ANY of these companies because most were exploring "down-sizing strategies" . . .

and so she developed a "Plan of Attack" . . .

She would actually enter every interview with a tough set of questions SHE would ask . . .
and at the conclusion of each interview, Sally would ask permission to interview 5 current members of the unit she would potentially be joining.

After 8 interviews, she had whittled her pile of choices down to 3. She then called each of those 3 for one additional interview . . . with the boss of her prospective boss-to-be.

Sally is potentially the best friend or worst enemy of those coffee pot lurkers. She already has the attention of the leadership of the organization because when they gathered to discuss the applicants they all agreed that they had felt as if she had interviewed THEM not the other way around . . .

AND Sally seemed to KNOW their company. She had obviously done her homework.

And when they had asked her what her goal is, she had very confidently stated that she intended to build a cohesive TEAM within the office . . . and TEAM which would consistently out-perform any team in this international Firm.

Yet Sally was coming into this firm literally on the first rung of the ladder . . . 1/2 a step "above" the janitorial staff.

Sally is a 24 year "Tribal Elder" with a mission. Her focus is clear and purposeful . . .
and there are many "Sallys" out there emerging from college infiltrating very structured organizations with staid customs and ways of doing business and lots of "tenured" employees.

These newbies are INTENTIONAL . . .

Ready to take ACTION!

FEARLESS!

Technologically formidable . . .

VERY smart . . .

TOTALLY in tune with "social Networking" as a way of doing business.

Completely uninterested in having a job to "pay the bills"

Already thinking about "Balance of Life"

and the curmudgeons think of them as "selfish up-starts"

OK . . . One final thought . . . The newbies do not necessarily have to be youngsters . . . I saw in the rule book that even old curmudgeons can discover their "newbie within" and make great things happen.

I believe this is possible only when a person is following what has heart and meaning (passion) and is taking responsibility for that passion by taking action . . . and for me, the taking action part includes assembling a cohesive tribe of compatriots.

Oh yeah . . . and keeping things SIMPLE -

Knowing that following passion will attract the right people - understanding the importance of patience, that things (creativity and Spirit) will start when the time is right - Getting the truth that personal agendas do not dictate outcomes, whatever happens is the only that could - and acknowledging when it is over . . . and moving on to other useful pursuits.

You, too, can be a "Sally" . . . and you won't even have to quit your job (unless it is not in alignment with your passion) . . . simply BE!

Best,
b

Barry Owen
Career Development Coach
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills
www.theowengroup.net
www.activerain.com/barryo other blog

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!
Living in Open Space is my ticket to Tribal development :-)

Last Friday, we had Mastermind in our office @ Keller Williams Realty Green Hills . . .

The topic was simply: “Thriving in this shifted market – Exploring issues and opportunities we are facing”

The discussion was so rich and useful for everyone who attended that we have decided to do these masterminds EVERY Friday @ 1:00 CST . . .

and we have invited the whole world to join us for future ones . . . we'll stream the session on -line @ www.stickam.com/barryowen We feel that the more perspectives in the room - the better . . .

I don't usually re-blog stuff . . . but this one is worthy enough (and the author gives clear permission) . . . . This comes from My favorite Seth Godin and rings especially true for LOTS of people in today's business environment.
I have some comments of my own (of course) at the end, so I hope you will read the whole thang!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Too good to be true (the overnight millionaire scam)
You probably don't need to read this, but I bet you know people who do. Please feel free to repost or forward:
Times are tough, and many say they are going to be tougher. That makes some people more focused, it turns others desperate.
You may be tempted at some point to try to make a million dollars. To do it without a lot of effort or skill or risk. Using a system, some shortcut perhaps, or mortgaging something you already own.
There are countless infomercials and programs and systems that promise to help you do this. There are financial instruments and investments and documents you can sign that promise similar relief from financial stress.
Resist.
There are four ways to make a million dollars. Luck. Patient effort. Skill. Risk.
(Five if you count inheritance, and six if you count starting with two million dollars).
Conspicuously missing from this list are effortless 1-2-3 systems that involve buying an expensive book or series of tapes. Also missing are complicated tax shelters or other 'proven' systems. The harder someone tries to sell you this solution, the more certain you should be that it is a scam. If no skill or effort is required, then why doesn't the promoter just hire a bunch of people at minimum wage and keep the profits?
There are literally a million ways to make a good living online, ten million ways to start and thrive with your own business offline. But all of these require effort, and none of them are likely to make you a million dollars.
Short version of my opinion: If someone offers to sell you the secret system, don't buy it. If you need to invest in a system before you use it, walk away. If you are promised big returns with no risk and little effort, you know the person is lying to you. Every time.
end of post
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK!
"There are four ways to make a million dollars. Luck. Patient effort. Skill. Risk."
Let's think about this with relevance to our business and the environment we are all in.
"LUCK" is NOT a good strategy . . . so that one's out . . .
"RISK" - Isn't there already enough built-in risk with the uncertainties we face daily? You'd be crazy to do anything risky unless your pockets are DEEP and FULL.
That leaves:
Patient Effort - Continue to Lead Generate PATIENTLY and diligently, and you'll make it through this morass!
and
Skill - Work on your scripts . . . Track your efforts . . . determine your strengths and weaknesses . . . FOCUS on honing your skills EVERY day . . . It'll pay off in a large way eventually.
and don't lose faith . . . The next 4 months will be frightening for many REALTORS . . . Those who are able to remain standing will emerge stronger than ever before . . . so . . . unless you're uniquely qualified and motivated to do something else to bring home the bacon . . .
I think the wisdom here is to head on down the path of "Patient Effort" and "Skill" improvement.
Best,
b
Barry Owen
Career Development Coach
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP!
www.theowengroup.net

www.activerain.com/barryo - Blog
www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com - Barry's other blog-site
Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Accidental Leadership

Who's in charge?

YOU?

If not YOU, WHO?

WHY?

WHO put HER in charge?

SHE did?

What gave HER the right to decide who's in charge?

This could be a dialogue that happens when children are left on their own to complete a project

or

when adults are left on their own to complete a project.

Is it necessary to "appoint" a leader?

I would venture to say that if a leader does not emerge from any given gaggle of people the idea for the gathering might not be such a great idea . . . or these might not be the right people . . . or it IS a great idea with the right people at the "wrong time" . . .

Given an "appropriately safe" environment with a reasonably "charged" issue at hand I know that the leaders in the room WILL emerge - accidentally.

Even the most timid and apparently lazy, irresponsible, untalented, and boring people have as good a chance at become the leader in a group when they have true passion flowing.

They accidentally take charge . . . Next thing you know, they've forgotten their innate ineptness :-) and dived in with reckless abandon.

It's a wonderful thing to witness.

How do we nurture this phenomenon?

Create a safe space, and it happens all by itself.

Creating safe space is easier than you might think.

It begins with the theme . . .

Is there a REAL issue at hand?

Something folks have passion for?

Diversity of People?

Potential (or presence of) conflict?

a REAL Need for resolution . . . YESTERDAY?

If you Invite EVERYONE who might have a stake in the decision, the leaders will "accidentally" show up.

Be careful not to make this gathering compulsory . . . doing that will spoil the brew . . . because leader wannabees will show up.

Offer some people a forum, and they'll take control . . . and the "Real leaders" will leave the room

Life for everyone gets infinitely easier when true leadership has the space and permission to emerge ... accidentally!

Best,

b
Barry Owen
http://www.theowengroup.net/
www.activerain.com/barryo
Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

It ain't easy for some folks . . .

You know: "When it rains, it pours!"

It seems that I have been running into more and more people

who are experiencing increasingly difficult circumstances.

It all seems to begin with financial woes - Loss of job - over

extension from dreams that never materialized - Dissipation

of net worth through uncontrollable, unforeseeable events

such as the volatile stock market and inflationary surprises

like gas/energy prices . . . We've got plenty of reasons to worry!

It's just HARD for some folks these days.

What makes matters worse is when the stress and fatigue

of the drama seizes control of a person's very being and sucks

the very life energy dry . . . Then what?

I've been there - Several times - and it ain't easy - or fun!

But I know what it ALWAYS took to "get to the other side"

You gotta get out of the funk enough to be able to take care

of your SELF FIRST.

Get your mind and body moving and take the time you need

to find yourself.

Never lose FAITH that it'll be OK in the end (because it will).

Decide to conquer the demons that you have allowed to control you.

And move towards the people in your life you know will support you unconditionally.

Don't hold on to relationships with people who take more than they give.

Quit "hearing" negativity - It'll cloud your thinking and put you to sleep.

Don't worry about people (other than your children) for whom you feel responsible . . .

they can survive without you while you pick yourself back up.

For God's sake, don't count on someone else swooping in to save the day.

As my father told in one of my darkest times: "You got yourself into this mess . . . Only YOU can get yourself out of it!"

I was angry when I heard that. I knew that he more than had the resources to bail me out.

What I know now is that he did that because he believed in me. He KNEW that I could do it. His lack of support turned being the most loving and respectful form of support imaginable because I DID make it through WITHOUT the help of a knight in shining armor.

and when I did get to the "I'm OK" realization, my whole self was intact . . . I MADE it through MYSELF!

This was quite a victory!

I have concerns for the emotional stability of lots of folks these days. All these pressures combine with the tension surrounding the looming and promised CHANGE that is sure to emerge as President Elect Obama makes his way towards the Oval office.

For some folks, these changes will be cause for great celebration . . .

For others, they will be painful and will elicit strong emotional reactions.

My hope is that we as a nation can weather this storm (time of change) gracefully . . .

My fear is that the reality will be less than graceful as evidenced by the apparent building of tension not more than 60 hours past the conclusion of the election.

Folks . . . Let's not forget that we are all AMERICANS! We are stewards of our ancestors legacies . . . and we have just this one chance to create a legacy for our children and their children etc etc . . . a legacy for which we can all be proud.

I know that only a handful of people will read this blog post . . . My hope is that by the sheer nature of the fact that I have sent it out to the Universe in a clear form . . . That it'll have some positive influence.

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Career Development Coach
Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP!
http://www.theowengroup.net/
www.activerain.com/barryowen my other blogsite

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Do you color inside the lines?

Winding down this day with many thoughts and not much time to write . . .

There's been quite a buzz in my world - fall-out from the election results.

Some folks are ecstatic about the results . . . to the point of gloating.

Others are very passionately vehement, downright disgusted and angry . . .

and then there's the "normal" silent majority . . .

The news this morning was filled with interesting stories of finger-pointing

and blame-gaming on the Republican side of things.

All the Democrats are smiling and busily forming the next administration.

Yesterday, I wrote about Seth Godin's blog post about Marketing Lessons from the Election

Check it out @ http://www.sethgodin.com/ (Click on his head)

I've now had a couple of days to digest that post and have affirmed my position that it's a brilliant piece . . .

Plain and Simple . . .

The Obama campaign simply out-performed the McCain Campaign . . . from a marketing perspective

I honestly believe that this demonstrated the "Perfect Storm" in terms of marketing.

It's obvious to me that the Republicans were more compliant and less creative . . .

and they didn't have to be . . . They "Played by the rules" . . . and lost the election.

So that gives me pause . . . Does this mean it's OK not to play by the rules?

Wait a minute . . .

Whose rules ARE these?

Who made these "Rules"?

Are they "official" - "Written" - "Universally accepted"?

I guess not because the Obama campaign cruised along swimmingly through the whining and complaining and proceeded to victory.

One particularly frustrated Republican asked me today what we (The Republican Party) can do to regain status (control) . . .

My answer was simple . . . Follow Seth Godin's advice and Barack Obama's example and . . .

"Create a Tribe"

And quit being so up tight about the rules . . .

Best,

b

PS - I have a family member who is facing a complicated illness - Please send us an extra dose of energy in the coming weeks.

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Career Development Coach
Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green Hills - The FLAGSHIP
http://www.theowengroup.net/
www.activerain.com/barryo - Real Estate Blogsite
www.stickam.com/barryowen - Streaming live training daily

Simply & BOLDLY Living the fourFold Way in Open Space!

We have identified a President for the USA

I am very thankful to have this opportunity to be able to say that the election is OVER!

For God's sake, I was just a few "talking points" away from insanity. It seems the past week was a month and a half. Those 2 candidates sliced and diced each other every way possible . . . and the media was like a matador . . . Prodding and disturbing the peace as much as possible.

Honestly, I was not a big fan of either candidate. I did vote because I am very passionate about the truth that voting is a responsibility that I should not shun. Besides without having voted, I will not have any ground to stand on if I want to complain about the politicians in the future.

I was especially pleased at what did not happen last. The Republican Party and John McCain conceded very gracefully and there was not the day-ending bloodshed and car burnings that sometimes happen in particularly contentious elections.

Today, virtually everyone I have talked with is ecstatic that we can all get back to business and put that whole thing behind us. I know that all eyes will be on Barack Obama in the coming months and years to see if his promises are real or rhetoric . . . That's not a personal comment . . . it's a subtle truth that most everyone in the world has become somewhat suspicious of political promises . . . It seems they are easily broken and 'splained away . . .

So here's something I need to say. For the past 8 years, I have heard people speak horrendously about our current President George Bush. It is true that he has faults (we ALL do) . . . and that not all of his choices were necessarily the best (hindsight is 20/20) . . . and that his somewhat arrogant nature often stirred the pot as much as his choices . . .

BUT . . .

When I was in the army, I "got" the fact that the President of the United States is our Commander in Chief and deserves the ultimate respect of all Americans whether you like or agree with his decisions. John McCain alluded to this in his concession speech last night - He said that he and Barack Obama still have differences of opinion but that he John McCain will honor Barack Obama as his Commander in Chief.

This is right and proper . . . What is NOT right and proper is the way many Americans have spoken about George Bush - their Commander in Chief for the past 8 years. Honestly, who among those naysayers could handle the level of pressure and complexity of issues that man faced during that incredibly difficult hand of cards he was dealt? Did folks think that George Bush was sitting around thinking of new and different ways to intentionally screw up the nation?

How do you think that man feels being called virtually every name in the book for 8 years straight? . . . The American public has treated him like a dog - I think that is misbehavior to the nth degree . . . My children know better. Do some people "feel good" when they belittle and criticize others? Is that what this is all about?

What person in their right mind would even WANT that job?

I'm not defending George Bush . . . I'm defending EVERY great leader who attains the position of Commander in Chief. I expect Barack Obama to have due respect as long as he is the President (which is really for the rest of his life - Once "Mr President" ALWAYS Mr. President) . . . He deserves this because he has been bestowed that position by the American people.

anyhow . . . my hope and belief is that Barack Obama will do his best to surround himself with the right people to do what he says he's here to do . . . To take our great nation in a new direction. Some folks are afraid that the Democrats will pick up the ball and RUN with it like a steam-roller . . . My hope is that this will not happen because it will not reach the destination of going in a new direction of stability.

My hope is that the next 4 years will be chock full of respect and dignity . . . and while change can sometimes be very untasty, my hope is that it will be tastefully enacted.

Please visit my other blog post today http://activerain.com/blogsview/774963/Moving-forward

I believe that now that the election is behind us, we can all get back to business . . . and that all can begin by reinvigorating the local real estate markets. My commitment is to do my part by positioning myself best to have appropriate knowledge to effectively advise Home Buyers and Sellers and Real Estate Agents to successfully navigate these murky waters.

Treat each other with kindness and respect :-)

any comment or feed-back are always welcome

best,
b
Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Career Development Coach
Keller Williams Realty
Nashville, TN - Green Hills
http://www.theowengroup.net/
Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in open Space!