Lou Ludwig New Home Sales Forum: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Press and Expand Your Limits

Press and Expand Your Limits

“In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by

pressing the limits do you ever find them.”

Dr. Joyce Brothers 1927 – 2013, American Psychologist,

Columnist, Radio and Television Personality

As I see it . . . . . . .

Press and expand your limits

Most people operate within their comfort zone . . . . They will go about their daily routines repeating them over and over without giving much thought in what their doing.

They will do it both in their business and personal lives . . . . and for some people if you disrupt something in their daily routine you can throw off their whole day.

Here’s the key . . . . to press and expand your limits . . . . you have to change your daily routine.

You also have to stretch yourself . . . . beyond the bounties of your comfort zone.

You will have to try . . . . new things.

You will have to be willing. . . . to go down a new path where you’ve not been.

Press and expand your limits . . . . will open up a gateway of new opportunities to release your full potential and to expand your horizons.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Value of Your Services

The Value of Your Services

“Give every man more in your value than you take from him

in cash value; then you are adding to the life of the

world by every business transaction.”

Wallace D. Wattles 1860 – 1911, Aerican Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

The value of your services

Your customers will judge the value of your services.

When you services exceed your customer’s expectations . . . in the mind of your customers the value of your services, exceed the cash value that they have paid your goods or services.

Customers are looking for value . . . . Value can be created in lowering your prices . . . . cutting back on the quality of your goods or services. All of which will lead to a downward spiral in the heath of your business and your businesses reputation.

Or you can take the high road by increasing the quality of your services and in building a solid business reputation.

The customers are value sensitive . . . . Value is not always based on the lowest price . . . . The business that builds their value in their services will outlast the business that is builds only on being the lowest price provider.

Your customers will remember their customer service experience . . . . When your services exceeds your customers expectations . . . . where in the long run everyone wins.

When the quality of your service exceeds your customers expectations . . . . you create raving fans.

The value of your services . . . . will be reflected in the quality of your long term business success.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

You Create the Right Time

You Create the Right Time

“Your biggest break can come from never quitting. Being at

the right place at the right time can only happen when

you keep moving towards the next opportunity.”

Arthur Pine, Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

You create the right time

You will hear people say that successful people where in the right place at the right time.

Could success be as simple as being in the right place at the right time . . . . and being struck with a thunder bolt of success?

If that was true there would certainly be far more successful people in the world.

You create the right time . . . . with your preparation and in your attitude.

When you prepare yourself to succeed . . . . You’re putting yourself into a position to recognize the opportunities. Once you see them your preparation will allow you to maximize the opportunities.

You create the right time . . . .

By staying on-purpose . . . . and not quitting on yourself.

By staying on-purpose . . . . your preparing yourself to maximize your opportunities.

By staying on-purpose you create the right time . . . . and the right place for your opportunities and to make those opportunities the stepping stones to greater success and achievement.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

When the Boat is Constantly Leaking

When the Boat is Constantly Leaking

“Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy

devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive

than energy devoted to patching leaks.”

Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway. CEO

As I see it . . . . . . .

When the boat is constantly leaking

When the boat is constantly leaking . . . . you have to make a choice. Do you continue to invest your time and energy in a boat that will be in the same state after all your effort?

Or is it time to get into a new boat and redirect your time and energy in doing what’s important to move you forward?

If you’re investing a massive amount of time and energy for minimal results you reached a point . . . . to where a change is needed.

Refocus your time and energy on doing the things that are most important for you to reach your goals . . . . and move the trivial activities aside.

When you refocus you will find yourself becoming more productive . . . . Where your making far better use of your time . . . . and you will find yourself being energized.

When the boat is constantly leaking . . . . make the decision to do what’s important for you and your future.

Monday, February 24, 2014

The Starting Point of Achievement is DESIRE

The Starting Point of Achievement is DESIRE

“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this

constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results,

just as a small fire has a small amount of heat.”

Napoleon Hill 1883 - 1970, Best Selling Motivational

Author and Speaker

As I see it . . . . . . .

The starting point of achievement is DESIRE

The depth of your desire will determine the depth of the commitment you have to successfully achieve your goal.

With a deep desire you will not give in to your obstacles . . . . and you will not be stopped by the barriers that you encounter. You will work through your obstacles . . . . and reminded focused on your long term objectives.

The starting point of achievement is DESIRE . . . .

When your desire is deeply rooted and strong . . . . you will find the inner strength to push forward. You will do it with the persistence’s to stay on purpose along with a high degree of positive expectations in creating successful results.

The starting point of achievement is desire . . . . the depth of your desire will determine the degree of your success and achievement.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

When You do the Right Thing

When You do the Right Thing

“Making a decision usually means taking one of two roads. One

is doing the right thing. To take the other road, you have to

sit back and spin a story around the decision or action you

are taking. If your find yourself thinking up an

elaborate justification for what your doing,

you are not doing the right thing.”

Wayne Sales, Business Executive

As I see it . . . . . . .

When you do the right thing

When you do the right thing . . . . amazing things happen.

You won’t . . . . have to make up a story about what you did . . . . because what you did will stand on its own.

You won’t . . . . have to spin your story . . . . what you did will stand the test of time.

You won’t . . . . have to try to remember what you said . . . . because what you said it what you did.

You won’t . . . . waste your time trying to make up a story.

When you do the right thing . . . . you will be known as a person of character and be someone to be respected.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Procrastinators Are Putting off The Future

Procrastinators are putting off the future . . . . and living in the past.

Procrastination is putting off what can be done today until tomorrow or sometime in the future.

The challenge becomes that tomorrow never comes . . . . and what is being put off multiples until the weight of the procrastination becomes a burden and paralyzes the persons thinking.

A procrastinator is continually living in the past of their yesterday’s being pressured by the things that were left undone, and must be done to move forward.

Do your best each day to complete the tasks that are important and must be done to contribute to your success.

Start each new day without carrying the baggage of yesterday.

Procrastinators are off the future . . . . doers are creating it.

A Lot of Hard Work

A Lot of Hard Work

“Talent is cheaper than white salt. What separates the

talented individual from the successful one is

a lot of hard work.”

Stephen King. Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

A lot of hard work

Successful people in every walk of life have common traits that has a massive affect on their success.

The level of a successful person’s talent varies . . . .

What successful people will do is to take their natural talent . . . . and work hard to develop and maximize their talent to drive their career forward and in the direction of achieving their goals.

They won’t rest on their laurels they work hard at expanding and supplementing their talents to stay on the leading edge of their profession.

SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE WORK HARD . . . . to keep their skill levels on the leading edge of their profession. They will work hard to use all of their talent and skills to create a strategic business advantage.

Successful people don’t back their way into success . . . .

When you ask a successful what’s the biggest factor in their . . . . they will tell you . . . . a lot of hard work.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Today is the Day to Create a New Ending

Today is the Day to Create a New Ending

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone

can start today and make a new ending.”

Maria Robinson, Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Today is the day to create a new ending

We may not be able go back in our life and have a do over.

You can grasp today . . . . and create a new direction for your life.

In making the choice to change the direction for your life, you have reached a fork in the road on your success journey. By taking a new path on your success journey . . . . you leave your past behind you.

There will be choices to be made on the new path . . . . choose the path of positive thinking . . . . and one of a positive attitude.

Look at your new path as one of renewed energy . . . . and greater opportunity.

Believe that your new path will move you in the direction of your goals . . . . and that today is the day to create a new ending.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Self-Image is the Key

Self-Image is the Key

“The ‘self-image’ is the key to human personality and human

behavior. Change the self image and you change the

personality and the behavior.”

Maxwell Maltz 1899 - 1975, American Cosmetic Surgeon

and Author of Psycho Cybernetics

As I see it . . . . . . .

Self-image is the key

Self-image is the key to your personality and your behavior.

Your self-image will be reflected in the way you treat people . . . . and will become a reflection of your relationships . . . . and how people treat you.

Your self-image is deeply rooted in your thinking and will result in being a positive thinker . . . . or mired in negative thinking mindset.

Self-image is the key . . . . to your attitude. With a positive self-image your attitude will be a positive and you will see the opportunities and the possibilities in your life.

With a positive self-image you will put yourself into the position to make the most of your resources and to maximize your talent and potential.

Self-image is the key . . . . and that key unlocks your future.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

There is ALWAYS a Way

There is ALWAYS a Way

“No matter how frustrated you may feel, there is ALWAYS a way

out. In every situation that arises, we choose to be powerful or

powerless. It may not always feel like a choice. And there

are consequences for these choices in terms of the results

we get, and the subsequent increase or decrease in our

power and influence. If we chose powerless, it is

often because we doubt there is

any other option.”

Blaine Lee 1946 – 2009, one of the original founders

Of Covey Leadership Center

As I see it . . . . . . .

There is ALWAYS a way

The first choice in any condition that you find yourself in . . . . is the choice to take control of the condition . . . . Or to allow the condition to take control of you.

When you make the choice to take control of the condition you release your personal power to make the best choices you can with the condition that you find yourself in.

You have the power to make good choices . . . . and to do your best in mitigating the condition successfully.

The key is . . . . there is ALWAYS a way . . . . and when you take control of the condition you put yourself into the position to find it.

Friday, February 14, 2014

The Chances You Take

The Chances You Take

“The sad truth is that opportunity doesn’t knock twice. You

can put things off until tomorrow but tomorrow may

never come. Where will you be a few years down the

line, will it be everything you dreamed of? We seal

our fate with the choices we makes, but don’t

give a thought to the chances we take.”

Gloria Estefan, Cuban –American Entertainer

As I see it . . . . . . .

The chances you take

All of life is a chance . . . . with all chances there is an element of risk and reward.

For the person that makes the choice not to take chances, lives a life of the status quo . . . .

The person that’s willing to take a chance . . . . lives in the world of opportunity and looks to expand their horizon and to stretch the limits of their potential.

If you want greater opportunity . . . . you have to take a chance.

If you want a promotion . . . . you have to take a take a chance.

If you want to grow your income . . . . you have to take a chance.

If you want to succeed . . . . you have to take a chance.

You future depends . . . . your attitude . . . . and on the chances you take.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Successful Time Management

Successful Time Management

“The key to successful time management is doing the most

important task first, and giving it your full concentration,

to exclusion of everything else.”

Alex Mackenzie 1822 – 1892, Canadian Statesman

As I see it . . . . . . .

Successful time management

Successful time management is rooted in the effective management of your daily activities.

Prioritize your activities by the order of their importance. Focus you activities on the most important and high value targets that will enable you to make forward progress to successfully achieve your goals.

Focused activity will allow you to prioritize your day . . . into doing the most important tasks first making. You will make far better use of your time and efforts. As a result your time and efforts will become more productive resulting in less wasted time and effort.

It also creates a sense of purpose in your daily activities . . . . that will create forward momentum in producing successful results.

Successful time management . . . . is the result of prioritizing your day into to doing the most important tasks first to successfully achieve your goals and objectives.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Walk With Your Customer

Walk With Your Customer

“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind

me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

Albert Camus 1913 – 1960, French Nobel Prize Winner

Author Journalist, Philosopher

As I see it . . . . . . .

Walk with your customer

You may ask you customers to follow your advice . . . . and they may not be ready too or they may resist.

At other times your customers may be aggressive . . . . and tell the way things are going to be . . . . and in your heart you know they will be moving down the wrong path.

Walk with your customer . . . . and build the bond of trust and rapport with them.

The strongest and most productive business relationships are the ones that are build on being of service to your customers . . . . Where you understand customers . . . . their needs . . . . and their motivations.

When your customers know that you care about them as a person and you put their needs in the forefront of the business relationship. Your customers will walk with you through a successful business transaction.

Walk with your customer . . . .and your business relationship with be on a solid path.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A Magnet of Attraction

A Magnet of Attraction

“Everyone is like a magnet. You attract to yourself reflections

of that which you are. if you’re friendly, then everybody

else seems to be friendly too.”

Dr. David Hawkins, Physician and Lecturer

As I see it . . . . . . .

A magnet of attraction

How you see the world around you is a reflection . . . . of your thinking.

How other people treat you . . . . is a mirror image of how you treat them.

What you attract into your life . . . . is a direct reflection of your actions.

If you want people to respect you . . . . respect them.

If you want people to like you . . . . like them.

If you want people to do business with . . . . give them a reason.

Send out a positive message . . . . and people will respond accordingly.

Send out a negative message . . . . expect the same being returned to you.

You are a magnet of attraction . . . . that bring back to you a reflection of the message that you send out.

Monday, February 10, 2014

The Resource of Time

The Resource of Time

“Everything requires time, it is the only truly universal condition.

All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people

take for granted this unique, irreplaceable, and necessary

resource. Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective

executive as much as their tender loving care of time.”

Peter F. Drucker, Austrian Born American

Management Consultant, Educator,

and Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

The resource of time

You move through the moments of your day as the moment just tick away.

Some will pass and being value into your life . . . . while other just seem to just slip away almost without notice.

We have all be blessed with the miracle of the same 24 hours . . . . but what one does with those 24 hours makes a difference in their life.

For those who invest their time in productive activities will see value return to their life with dividend.

For those who have wasted their day in unproductive activities will see their moments slip away life grains of sand in their hand.

The resource of time . . . . is one of your greatest of resources and what you do with that resource . . . is yours to choose.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Be Thankful for YOUR Blessing

Be Thankful for YOUR Blessing

“No Matter how bad someone has it there are others who have it

worse. Remember that makes life a lot easier and allows you

to take pleasure in the blessings you have been given.”

Lou Holtz, Football Coach

As I see it . . . . . . .

Be thankful for YOUR blessing

When you look around you will see people who are blessed with more then you have . . . . You will also see people who have far less then what you have.

Be thankful for your blessing . . . . and if you want more of something in your life . . . . What is your goal to attract it into your life . . . . and are you committed to invest your time and efforts that required to achieve it.

Be thankful for you blessing is the key . . . . It creates a positive focus in your life and it will center you on what you want to attract. Both are positive and productive attributes that points you’re thinking forward.

Also being thankful for your blessing . . . . is focusing inward . . . . and not focusing what someone else has. Because what they have is not relevant to your life . . . . or your happiness .

Be thankful for YOUR blessing . . . . is the stepping stone into your future and what you attract into your life.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Expectation of Greatness

Expectation of Greatness

“It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is

expected of him.”

John Steinbeck, Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Expectation of greatness

A person seems to live up to the expectations that they have for themselves.

The only limitation a person has is in their thinking . . . .

A young boy grows up in a poor intercity neighborhood in Trenton NJ. His father worked in a factory, and like most mothers in at that time she was home to raise the 3 children.

Fred lived in a poor working class neighborhood where the expectations for their kids were to work at a factory or get a job with the state. With that expectation engrained in the kids in most cases that exactly what happen with the kids.

From as far back as I can remember his dream and expectation was he would graduate from the US Naval Academy.

After Fred graduated from the Naval Academy he when on to have a very successful career as a Naval Officer.

Expectation of greatness . . . . you will become what your inspired to become. What you become will be as big as the greatness you expect of yourself.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Stretch Your Mind

Stretch Your Mind

“What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want

to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.”

Dr. Wayne Dyer, American Self-Help Author and

Motivational Speaker

As I see it . . . . . . .

Stretch your mind

What you think becomes the fuel to propel into your future.

What you think . . . . and how you think will determine if you stretch your mind forward with positive thinking. Or mire your mind in the mud of negative thinking.

When your stretching your mind with positive thinking . . . . your thinking becomes the basis to creating a full and productive life.

When your mind is in a state of negative thinking . . . . your thinking process will have tunnel vision. That negative thinking will block out positive thinking and become focused on the negatives in your life creating a downward spiral in your thinking and in your life.

You condition your mind to think . . . . stretch your mind to think in the positive and you will be able to push the negative thinking out of your life. It will take determination and hard work to do it . . . .with focused effort you will do it.

Stretch your mind . . . . and build the bridge to a productive future.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Best Time to Solve a Problem

The Best Time to Solve a Problem

“Problem should be solved on the spot, as soon as they arise.

No frontline employee should have to wait for a

supervisor’s permission.”

Jan Carlzon, Swedish Businessman, Airline Executive

As I see it . . . . . . .

The best time to solve a problem

Problems won’t stay static . . . . When you wait to see what will happen with the problem or they are pushed aside they grow like weeds . . . . and soon become unruly and unmanageable.

The best time to solve a problem . . . . is on the spot and as soon as it happens.

A problem can grow out of hand very quickly when they’re not addressed. They can cause serious damage to a business or a reputation if they’re not properly addressed and solved.

As an unattended problem grows . . . . it will take far more time and effort to successfully resolve the problem then it would have taken to solve the problem on the spot.

Customers don’t want to wait for a problem to be resolved . . . . they want to know your on top of it . . . . what your going to do . . . . and when it will be resolved.

The best time to solve a problem . . . . is on the spot before it grows out of hand. By solving the problem on the spot you’ll find that you will make far use of your time and resources to solve the problem then you would in chasing it.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

The Truth Remains the Truth

The Truth Remains the Truth

“Fact’s have a cruel way of substituting, themselves for fancies.

There is nothing more remorseless, just as there is nothing

more helpful, than truth.”

William C. Redfield 1858 – 1932, Democratic Politician

from New York

As I see it . . . . . . .

The truth remains the truth

We have just gone through a very long and painful listening experience with a potential home seller.

Let me explain . . . .

With one of the companies that I’m providing consulting services for. I recently went on the listing appointment with a new and emerging real estate professional with the company.

The sales professional was well prepared for the listing appointment and prepared an outstanding CMA for the home sellers.

The listing presentation was going smoothly has the real estate sales professional did an outstanding job in her presentation. She explained the benefits of listing with her and company and her marketing strategies to sell the home.

She was building a bond of rapport and trust with the home sellers and it showed in the commutations between the sales professional and the home sellers.

That all changed in a split second . . . . when it came around to pricing.

When the CMA was presented the veins in the neck of one of the sellers was so big they looked like they would explode and both sellers unloaded on the professional.

The home sellers told the sales professional the selling price was far too low. That she was pricing the home to sell fast to get a commission and had no interest in their needs.

The sales professional stayed very composed in very challenges conditions and listen to the home sellers . . . . and made notes on what the sellers where saying.

Once the sellers began to settle down . . . . she ask them if she could ask them a question? They replayed yes.

The sales professional asked . . . . what they felt the price should be? And they told her the price they had in mind. Then she asked them where they got the information about the price and they told off the internet and a couple of neighbors who have recently sold their home.

The profession then asked . . . . are there be questions other then the pricing that prevent them from listing the home her today? They said no.

She told out her i-pad and invested the next hour and half reviewing the MLS and the prices of the homes sold and the homes on the market.

After a long three hour listing appointment sales professional left with a saleable listing that sold in three weeks.

Here’s the key . . . . she was prepared . . . . she stayed professional . . . . she controlled her emotions . . . . she was patient . . . . she listened . . . . she asked questions . . . . and did not overreact.

The truth remains the truth about price . . . . but it’s the professional that can explain it properly that makes the difference.