YourStorys BlogSpot

2010-08-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

Wordless Sunday. San Marco Square in Venice Italy and Tellaro on the west coast of Italy.

August 8, 2010 by Larry Lawfer

I have recently been studying all the great real estate franchises. I am an EXIT agent and know a good bit about the way in which they are differentiated and what they offer the agent. I began to wonder what other agencies offered, and how they differentiate themselves. I thought that this might be interesting to blog about. Ver few agents stay in the same system throughout their careers and so each of us has to make this journey as if it is for the first time. Sure you can read Gary Keller's book, Steve Morris has a book, all the major brands have books, tapes, dvd's and websites there is information out there, but that is nothing like standing in a lobby about to have an appointment with the CEO, or Director of Education, of the Broker/Owner.

This is the next level of gathering information. It is understanding from your own experience what it is like in the lobby, how often the phone rings, what is the chit chat of people walking by, are they friendly, is there a lot of traffic, there is so much to learn when you walk inside someone's home. Although so many agents are choosing to home office, you benefit from being around activity. Good energy and closing transactions is a power that floats everyone's boat.

tas_f_italy_postcard

So I was thinking is that with the acknowlegment and the appreciation of those I have been speaking with I will share with you over the next several weeks what I am learning about various offices here in the DFW metroplex. what I mean to say is that I am going to go willingly drink the various flavors of real estate kool aid out there and report back the benefits and values.

Larry Lawfer

Realtor®

Director of Marketing

EXIT Realty Metro Dallas

larry@lawfer.com

972 322 7776

Julie Boyd-Elrod exposes the Scam.

2009-04-04T09:33:00.001-07:00

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Don't sign contracts that relinquish your rights as a homeowner. Julie Boyd-Elrod exposes several scams that you should be aware of. Not everyone is working in your best interest, you need to be careful.

Julie Boyd-Elrod shares some help for homeowners

2009-03-19T14:20:00.001-07:00

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At NoHomeLoss, we believe that the
homeowner is truly the backbone of our
economy and needs all the help we can
provide.

Julie Boyd-Elrod shares her thoughts on
how our small group of select profes-
sionals can help you keep your home.

We are committed to bringing home-
owners comprehensive and useful infor-
mation with no strings attached.

If you are experiencing difficulty making
your mortgage payments you will find
an action plan, forms, an examples on our
website. NoHomeLoss can help.

Three Options Available-Chris Taylor

2009-03-14T07:22:00.001-07:00

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Chris Taylor, loan modification officer servicing NoHomeLoss clients provides the three options available for the home owner to save their home. 30 second video

Polly Pearson, YourStorysPodcast15

2009-03-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

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Polly Pearson is the VP of Cool at EMC. Her Visual Talk Radio show highlights the best of the people and processes inside EMC. Listen to this 28 minute podcast to understand the best practices of building the culture inside a large corporation by sharing the individual stories.

The Changing Game

2007-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

Having owned my own business since 1982 I have seen a myriad of change in the way people do business with people. Well, not really how people do business, but how they interact with each other. The computer, email, voicemail, social media and now the ubiquitous nature of wireless and the "always on" consumer have drastically change our discourse.

Personally I think this is for the better. While it still takes a village to get anything done, our village is now digital and we can reach out and reach anyone and everyone we want through the grid. Right now I am working on a video about the two co-founders of the PodCamp movement. Chris Penn and Chris Brogan got together around technology a number of years ago and decided it would be both fun and important to bring the new world of social media to the New England area. PodCamp Boston was launched in September of 2006, over 300 of us joined together to share thoughts, ideas, technology and gear during this two day event. Since then over 14 new PodCamps have been produced all over the world. It is obvious there is a need and a desire to communicate with people around the globe. While this may take you away from a comfort zone, if you remember things like Ed Sullivan and the Beatles, it will broaden and deepen your world and your work if you embrace it.

Open your mind and share your thoughts. It really is ok, maybe someone will hear you and you can begin to create a dialog. Really that is what it is all about--communication and the sharing of good ideas.

Social Media for Everyone

2007-08-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Social Media for Everyone
When I grew up there was tv with only three stations. We didn’t have to surf because we knew what was on the other station and choose this one. It was simple. Now the choices seem infinite, the young constantly surf through stations, twitters, social media outlets like FaceBook and YouTube for what is going on. I have to be honest, all this media is somewhat daunting. In the polite world in which I was raised we listened before we spoke. We completed our tasks like homework without the radio on, let alone IM and mp3 devices. It seems less complicated, but also less connected to others. We were in our own world. Now is different.
If you are 30 or younger you grew up in a world fully connected and in the last 10 years more fully connected. While I will never understand why someone has to talk on their cell phone in the elevator, the bathroom, or at the dinner table, I do completely embrace the joy of being able to get to someone right now when I want them. That is cool.
I grew up in an era of no or low self esteem. If we didn’t win at some age group sport, we didn’t get a trophy. Our parents didn’t always come to our games or events. We weren’t always told we were special, or that we were loved. I know this because I was there not only for myself but with my friends. That was the way it was.
My own son grew up hearing he was special, he was the best, he was important. We listened to him babble like it had true significance. He and his age group went into day care early because both parents worked. At his day care he was cherished and made to feel important within his group. He parallel played with his day care friends. He and his friends believe what they have to say is vital and important–that is the way we have raised them.
It occurs to me that all these social media networks are like the parallel play of his early sandbox. Most social media posts to me seem like some kid saying “listen to me”, “look at me”, “I am special”, “what I have to say is important”, and maybe it is.
Communications and sharing is important to our society, it greases the wheels of evolution. While I sometimes get a headache when I receive my hundreth twitter in a day I do stay connected, I do listen because sometimes, NO all the time, each day I learn something from someone who I never met but was willing to share their story with me through some social media outlet. Let our evolution continue and let more of we old guys join in in the discussion. Playing in the sandbox was such fun, let’s do some more.

Out with the old...In with the useful.

2007-08-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

As I think of Social Media and connections I think in old, traditional terms, like people to people, interpersonal relationships, value added defined in terms of growth, trusted with trusted being first in importance. Technology is redefining what friend is and connection can be.

I live on the East Coast outside Boston, MA having grown up in Bucks County, PA. I already have lots of trusted friends who I have shared meaningful and value added relationships over a number of years. I wonder why I need more friends which is what all these new Social Media's allow...other than my own curiosity and interest in people and relationships. Keeping up with friends in any meaningful way is important. That means direct contact to me and my generation. Direct contact was where all our meaningful contacts had been, so that is how we define friends. Now let's embrace an updated definition of friend and connection. Start with thinking like minded individuals, where ever they are?

While I didn't grow up with technology, I always loved the cans and string telecommunication tool. It was effective, even around corners, where you couldn't be seen. That was the coolest, "to be heard and not seen," the direct opposite of what was masquerading as parenting in those days.

Now the world is digital and you can be connected around so many other means of telecommunication--all of the sudden your realm of friends becomes exponential. It is daunting and exciting and still person to person, but just around the corner.