Gary Carpenter

"Forgiveness"

Wow! What a great video to watch on the power of forgiveness!

Keller Williams in Omaha, NE just recently merged with Premier One Real Estate in Fremont, NE. Fremont's population is about 25,000 and has 3 competitive real estate firms, with Premier One being #1. In any small town, everyone knows everyone....good or bad.  As an outsider, I have had the opportunity to come in without preconceived opinions.  I am getting to know these people for who they are as a realtor and as a person, not for what may have happened in the past.  My advice to those who struggle with grudges and can't let go is to watch this video and think about what the Thomas' would do.  If the Thomas family can forgive, why can't we?

"Show me the money!"

If your spouse is saying "Show me the money"...KW University would love to invite you to come to our lead generation class on Thursday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm for some great training and a FREE breakfast and lunch! In Fremont Ne. call Laurie at 727-1111 for more details....We have 4 spots left!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Procrastination

This was a great Blog post written by Kris Kilber and I thought that is would be a great read for anyone who procrastinates (oh that's everyone!:0)! Please post your comments below.

No Stephen Covey didn’t write these. Kris W Kilber did. Here’s a few things procrastinators are good at

1. Procrastinators are great at blaming people. They have a “blame list”. Do you have a “blame list”? Most people do whether they realize it or not. A blame list contains all the reasons why they can’t do something. The blame list usually contains items completely out of your control such as blaming the government for your inability to save any money, or the food manufacturers for your size, shape and weight. Blaming others is easier than admitting it’s your fault for where you currently find yourself. Blaming others means you don’t have to take any responsibility for the results of your own actions.

2. Procrastinators are great at dreaming. They aren’t as good at goal setting. Goal setting is not difficult; goal achievement on the other hand takes us out of our comfort zones into the realms of true personal development. Most people are not willing to take the risks for fear of embarrassment or failure, preferring to live their lives in the dream world of if, buts, and maybes. Are you ready to kick the procrastination habit and set goals and not live your life in dream mode?

3. Procrastinators are great at being busy while really doing nothing. Most work their whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do. They check their email constantly during the day. They visit their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts and end up following a maze of links to other sites. By the time they realize it, they have succeeded in being busy at nothing. They are quick to rationalize that they spent 2 hours on the computer and got something done. Being busy going nowhere should be a crime. It’s robbing us of our time.

4. Procrastinators are scared. They fear many things that do not have a standing in reality yet they succumb to them. They rarely start anything new. They are especially afraid that there are people watching what they are doing, often from right under their own roof, and that they will fail. They are afraid of success. They are worried about how they will sustain it. Will it be too much work? They like predictability. They are hesitant to reach outside their comfort zone. Most procrastinators are afraid of all the things mentioned above. They are not truly living.

5. Procrastinators have habits, most of which are bad. They keep you stuck in the same place, doing the same thing. If we repeatedly do the same things in the same way, why then do we expect to get different results? To overcome the habit of procrastination – you do need to break the procrastination habit. Sounds obvious, but most of us don’t realize we have habits we need to break, until we try and stop doing something we’ve always done. Do you want to break the procrastination habit and get more out of life?

6. Procrastinators have “perfectionitis”. It’s used to as another excuse not to finish what they start. They say they want things to be “perfect” so they keep working till they are polished. However, there is another element to “perfectionism” that is beyond merely trying to get something to look perfect. Perfectionists can be afraid of the consequences of what will happen when they do finish? Fear can be a real and added element to this habit of procrastination.

7. Procrastinators are always finding things to fix and adjust. They are continually “Under Construction”. They don’t have a solid plan of action and jump from one thing to another quite easily. This easily dovetails into some of the other things they are good at. They can rationalize that they were busy, that “others” were at fault, that things weren’t perfect, and it was a part of their goals. It really is a symptom or manifestation of all the other things procrastinators are good at.

Well they say the first step to recovery is that you have to admit you may be following some of these effective habits. I know I certainly have to constantly work on them.

Enjoy! 

"Excuses are for Knuckleheads"

  
I could not have written this any better! Pattie Siebold is a good friend and mentor. She is the OP of one of the most successful Keller Williams market centers in the country.   When she talks, her associates in Vancouver, WA listen. July is a great time to re-evaluate your 2010 goals and if you are currently behind this article is a must read. You must not just read but implement as well because "Education without applications is worth less than worthless". Make it a great rest of the year! If you find yourself continually making excuses and need some accountability, please do not hesitate to give me a call. Gary Carpenter 402-680-7000 or [email protected]. 

What is your "Truth"?

This is absolutely AWESOME video about the truth of a real estate agent! It just all depends on your current mind set. If you like this blog post please pass it on.

Brian Tracy's "Eat That Frog" book study with Amy Hayes

 

 

 

Time is money!  People are busier than they have ever been and have tasks of all sizes.

 

Join us for a 2-part class over the book "Eat that Frog!" by Brian Tracy.  Classes are on Friday, May 7th & 14th from 11:30 - 12:30.

 

The books contains a series of practical, proven, effective techiniques that every person can use to focus on their most important tasks.  Stop Procrasintinating and get more things done faster than ever before!

 

Lunch and Book provided to each attendee.   Space is Limited!

 

Please RSVP by April 30th so that we can order you a book and get it to before the first class.

 

Don't procrastinate, sign up today (call Gary, 537-5851)

 

 

 

 

Accountability Creates Results!

One of the things I love most about the Floyd Wickman program is the accountability that is built into each program. Agents that go through the program have a core set of activities they must complete each week: 

1. Actively prospect for 4 hours a week by phone in their office
2. Attend 2 For Sale By Owner appointments
3. Attend 2 listing presentations
4. Work thorough their week in an organized fashion - Floyd calls that a SMART Week
5. Show up on time, and don't leave early

If one of these things is not completed the student gets a strike (Accountability) and if they get 3 strikes they are asked to leave the program with no reimbursement! I know that sounds tough and I also know it's one of the main reasons our students produce like crazy.  Floyd has had a long-held opinion that many don't cut it in real estate because once you get that license, everything is optional.  EVERYTHING.  So when we work with our students, we not only teach, we hold them highly accountable and remove their option to fail.  And in so doing, this is what happens:

Keller Williams of Omaha just completed a Floyd Wickman Program with the following results:  

• 30 Agents generated 
• 130 listings
• 118 Sales
• 248 total transactions or 
• 1.37 transactions per agent per week
• 613 referral leads or an average of 3.40 per agent

Take a look at this video to get a peak inside the classroom!

Motivation Monday 3-29-2010

I had a student come up to me the other day and ask how I was doing.  I said "I AM FANTASTIC" and with irritation he looked at me and asked, "Why are you always fantastic?".  I said  "Because I just am!"   You could tell that was not the answer he wanted to hear and as I thought about it I wondered why I was always FANTASTIC.   Then I remembered the time I was at a trainer meeting with Floyd and he asked me how I was doing.  I thought he really wanted to know the truth so I said "I'm okay".  With a stern look in his eye he said "Gary you are one of God's creatures and being one of God's creatures you are never just okay you are FANTASTIC!"  He suggested that I read As A Man Thinketh by James Allen  (click the link and download the book FREE) everyday for 30 days (the whole book everyday).   I did and ever since then I created a habit of reading, watching, or listening to something motivational daily.  I think that since developing that habit I have a hightened awareness and now spot positive material all over the place.  It's kind of like never noticing a certain car until you get a new one.  Then suddenly you notice the car you bought everywhere!

Now, when anyone asks me how I am doing I always reply with the same answer "I AM FANTASTIC"!  That tends to irritate a certain type of person I'll call the "Monday Moaner" but that's their problem not mine! I feel that when you wake up in the morning you have a choice to either be a Monday moaner (Tuesday, Wednesday, etc... doesn't matter the day) or you can be FANTASTIC! I choose FANTASTIC! Everyone knows the term "fake if till you make it" and thanks to Floyd I don't have to fake a positive attitude anymore - I always choose to look at the positive!

That leads me to something I'll call Motivational Monday and it's aimed squarely at the "Monday Moaners" and anyone else looking for resources to stay in a positive state of mind.  Each Monday I'll share something from my library of motivational material and give you my spin on it and maybe some insight into how I used it personally.   This week, it's obviously the book Floyd recommended to me, "As a Man Thinketh".  What do you do to stay positive?  Please leave your comments in the comments section and share this link with anyone around you who may need a pick-me-up!

Sam I Am

For the past few days my youngest son, Ben, has been watching the modern day Dr. Seuss classic Cat In The Hat with Mike Myers.   The way that he has been able to get his mom and dad to let him watch it night after night reminded me of the other Dr. Seuss classic, Green Eggs and Ham which teaches us a huge lesson about asking.  As kids, we intrinsically ask and ask and ask. Most kids like my Ben do eventually get more than they would if it was up to us parents. As adults, we tend to forget that the best sales people ask for the business, and follow up many times.

In the book, Sam asks for the “sale” at least 14 times! The sale, in this case, is getting him to eat green eggs and ham.  Unlike our clients who actually WANT to buy a house, this client HATES the product so its the toughest of sales.  But Sam believes in his product, and just knows that if he will try it,  he will like it.  How often do we get a call from a client, call back once, maybe twice, leaving messages and then forget about the client because we did not get immediate gratification?  Follow up is key to success.  The funniest part of the book to me is that after asking 11 times, and being told emphatically “NO” 11 times, Sam asks quizzically, “You do not like green eggs and ham?” as if this is news to him.  It is as if he does not even hear the objections but keeps on with the sale.  In the end, the individual tries it just to get Sam off his back, and discovers that he likes it and will eat them anywhere.

Now I am not suggesting we harass people to the point of annoyance.  But if you do not get the occasional “Leave me alone” then you are missing out on a lot of business.  80% of people need to hear something 5 times before they buy.  10% will never buy, and 10% will get annoyed at you by the 5th time.  So if you do not hear the occasional person complain, you miss out on 80% of your business because you did not take it out to 5 times.  This may be uncomfortable for you, but you need to break through this comfort zone or delegate the task of following up to someone that will do it for you.  I can help you in the pursuit of being able to break through the mindset of thinking you are bothering someone. Remember that you are a "Sales Person" and if your intent is to offer them something that you know in your heart will benefit them then you owe it to them to be persistent Sam I am!   And when people start wondering why you are closing twice as many deals as last year, just wink at them and tell them you learned the secret of Green Eggs and Ham…..

-To all 4 of our precious children

 

The best selling children's book written by Dr. Suess was published in 1960. We have heard and read the story, many, many times...

I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not eat them in a house.
I will not eat them with a mouse.
I will not eat them here or there.
I will not eat them anywhere.
I do not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.