Queen of Bliss, Joeann Fossland

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Thankfulness for The Problems

Thankfulness is good all the time and I so love we have a holiday for it. Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday (Gotta confess I LOVE Christmas best!). However, it is so nice to have people's awareness of what they are thankful for be the theme of the week...Fun to receive greetings and blessings that give me pause to think.

This morning, in thinking about all of this, I discovered what I am most grateful for right now is for the things that don't look like good news. I know that it is said life is perfect and we are learning from every situation. Certainly, it seems, I often learn more when things are NOT like I want them to be. And, I read something the other day in Mike Dooley's book, Infinite Possibilities:The Art of Living Your Dreams that made me stop and think. He said the universe wants us to have fun and learn and we'd be bored if everything we wanted just manifested immediately. Hmmmmm.... I don't know, I think I could handle that. LOL ...

But I also know..... that a little more patience and recognition that the lessons that come with the waiting for my dreams to manifest are much of what my life lessons are about. The analogy of the importance being in the journey, not the destination seems to apply here for me.

So, while I am blessed with much: my family, my health, my work and the amazing people I get to play with...this week, I am taking some time to appreciate the perfection of the things I am struggling with: A close relationship marred by betrayal, the realization we probably will never move out to our 40 acres and build a home to retire in, the need for all new plumbing in this 47 year old home and a husband who wants to be the contractor but moves much more slowly than I'd like! Although my magic wand of intention is powerful...and cognitively, I understand the lessons in these problems are a gift, I am sure, my challenge is how to handle them with grace and even, perhaps, detachment. This life is so interesting!

Do you have some problems you can be thankful for this week? I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

6 comments • Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach • November 24 2009 01:55PM

Your 2010 Business Plan Started Days Ago: How To Market The Extended Homebuyer Tax Credit

Ted has some great information in this blog post!
How is YOUR business plan coming along?
I have my Awesome Year Plan for 2010 now available as well as

an upcoming webinar series to help you be ready to hit the ground running!

Via TED CANTO, - Loan Officer (Academy Mortgage):

Your 2010 Business Plan Started Days Ago: How To Market The Extended Homebuyer Tax Credit.

I posted a blog on Marketing Opportunities: Homebuyer Tax Credit in AR and also on my Facebook.  I had approximately 45 posts on the AR blog and about 26 personal replies and on Facebook I had no posts and about 30 personal replies. I hyperlinked the blogs with www.Bitly.com and had about 33 people opt to follow me on Twitter. If you are left wondering what were the personal replies about, the majority of them were from REALTORS asking me to share with them some marketing ideas.  Get this?  REALTORS asking ME for marketing tips!  Well, I confess!  This is my expertise and I am a marketing wiz of sorts.

                     

What is my point?  Well I started marketing the idea of marketing the Federal Housting Extended Tax Credit on my blogs that resulted a total of 1300 views, 134 replies and additions to my database of which I was able to generate 7 appointments with REALTORS and it also generated about 4 referral (buyers) clients to my team.  I would say that was a pretty big start.  Don't stop the press yet, I just got started!  To simplify what I have and continue to do, let me make it simple:

  1. Blog, blog, blog and then blog some more.
    1. Sign up on as many blog sites as you can and write material worthy of reading and educate the masses (learn more at Federal Housting Extended Tax Credit).
    2. Let people know that this is the last tax credit and it "WILL NOT" be extended after April 2010.
  2. Call, call, call and then call some more on your database.
    • This is the foremost important aspect to what we do as sales consultants.  WE TALK!! Do I need to say more
    • Do not call asking if your client wants to buy or sell.  They likely DO NOT!!  Use them to extend the word out to their sphere of influence.  Let them know that this is the best opportunity for them to help their friends and family take advantage of historic lows while earning the tax credit even if they currently own a home.
    • Ask your clients if they understand the tax credit.  They might be eligible and do not know enough about it.  In fact they can claim the tax now if they want to, they do not have to wait to tax return time
    • Conduct more calls!
  3. Get together with your Marketing Rep and/ or Loan Officer
    1. Strategize on a viable marketing plan (FYI: This takes speaking to a real Marketing Rep.  not someone who is going to just throw postcards at you) or even an LO who understands marketing (not many do) not just answering calls and sending preapproval letters.  I am an LO and I can tell you that many just don't get it too well.
    2. Obtain a list of homeowners that purchased in 1999-2004 and still live in their homes.  Believe me, there are more than you think.  Here in Arizona the count was in the 100's of thousands. 
    3. With the help of your Marketing Rep and/or LO, devise a letter worth reading and highly informative. 
    4. Don't try to be elegant on the letter. 
      • Think about this.. When you get a letter solicitation in the mail in 10-12 size font: How Many Seconds Does It Take You To Throw It Away?
      • Now think about this:  When you get a letter solicitation in the mail with big 18-42 size font: How Many "MINUTES" Does It Take You To Throw It Away?
      • BIG, LOUD, and GAUDY WORKS!!
    5. Take out your check book. This is going to be an investment well worth it. The best things are not free and take TIME, MONEY and DEDICATION.  Sorry! No Freebies here.
    6. Write a check to your preferred direct marketing company and get the postcards, door hangers, and letters out into the world.
  4. Repeat Step 1 through 3 all over again. 

Fellow associates... this is not rocket science but it does involve some hard work and dedication.  Keep in mind that Real Estate & Mortgage sales and is a lot like holiday shopping where now everyone begins as early as September to buy gifts.  For us, we go selling!  October, November and December is our 2010 New Year.  Our 2010 is already in the works.  If you are not devising and/or implementing a plan of attack, you leave the playing field open to the REALTOR & LO next door.  We must earn our keep and get our hands dirty and consult our clients to the best of our ability.  As you already know, the cream of the crops is rising in the industry and there will be more collateral damage.

As always, the 90/10 Rule Applies here.. What side will you be on?

                                             Direct lender and licensed in most states across the U.S.

                             Real Estate Information You Can Trust 

www.tedcanto.com, mortgages, home loans, www.thecantoteam.com

Ted Canto

Sr. Mortgage Consultant

Direct: 480.650.8602

                               Visit www.tedcanto.com

                          Ted's Blog:  www.thecantoteam.com

  Home of the 10 Day Close!  www.tendayclose.com

                                          Company site:  www.academymortgage.com/tedcanto

2 comments • Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach • November 14 2009 11:52AM

Getting The Most from the NAR Convention

I am SOOOO excited.

And, of course, if you know me, you know I get enthused pretty easily! My reason today is that I am getting ready to fly to San Diego to spend a week with old and new friends, to network, learn, laugh and look at all the new tech stuff at the meetings and the EXPO. I have been to every Convention since 1988 and it is one of the highlights of my year. It is my way of really understanding the BIG picture and hearing from people what IS working. There are a few things I have found make my experience even more valuable.

This won't surprise you, coming from me....

Here's my advice: Have a plan!

Include:

•·       Knowing specific people you want to connect with. Make a list. Contact some of these people ahead of time and decide when and where you can connect.

•·       Making a list of specific items or resources you need to be more focused in the EXPO.

•·       Create a budget for the EXPO

•·       Make a "wish list" of new techniques or ideas you want to find out more about in the educational sessions or breakouts! Would your business thrive next year if you knew more about Going Green? Or working Short Sales? Or 2nd Homes?

•·       Keep a little journal with ideas you get and come back afterward and pick the next 3 (Joeann's Rule of 3) items to implement into your business. Prioritize the other ideas and time frame them or move to your "Maybe, Someday" list

•·       Pick the education sessions that are most relevant and then order the MP3 recordings of the others you can't go to. (If you aren't going to be there-you can still order these!)

If you aren't already going...it's not too late! Hop in the car or on a plane and come!

A few places we could meet and hug...

  • As Vice chair, I'll be at WCR's Business Development Steering Committee presentation with 4 Amazing Women sharing what IS working and a motivational segment with Deb Battersby on Thursday morning at 8:30
  • Vicky Cox Golder's Installation! I am so lucky to know this woman! She inspires me.
  • I am presenting an ePRO Presentation on the EXPO stage on Sunday morning at 11 and a full presentation with tech tips on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 PM
  • I am signing my books, Conversations on Success and Profit from Technology at 3:15 on Sunday at the Bookstore

Several of my coaching clients are having their best year ever and these are also the stories I always hear from people at the National Convention. Lots of reasons to be enthused! 2010 is going to be an amazing year. Are you ready? It IS your choice how it is going to look! Give yourself the advantage.

4 comments • Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach • November 10 2009 10:23AM

Are you Inspired????

A couple of questions today...

Who inspires you? First, I think of people like Mother Theresa, and Ghandi and Zainab Salbi, Greg Mortenson and Coco Fossland. This morning on Twitter and Facebook, my good friend Karin Hanna posted a tweet with a link to a blog article and a YouTube video. Catherine Bolt and her family have identified something they are passionate about and they are making a difference! What a gift she has given to her children to involve them in seeing they matter and they can make an impact on the world.
Take a minute right now and write down Who inspires you??????

What inspires you? What are YOU passionate about? For me, empowering others to ignite their love, creativity and passions is the BEST activity I am involved with. It gives me joy. A bit selfish....but I believe when we are tapped into our passions, we can not help but impact those around us positively. Think for a moment, what do you LOVE to do? If money were no object, what would you do more of? Ask yourself...What Inspires me? Stop reading for a couple of moments and write this down.

For your planning of 2010....if you start with the very unique soul of who you are and bring that forth more with inspired actions....it will be a very, very good year!

 

7 comments • Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach • November 04 2009 08:34AM