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ADVANTAGE CONTENTS

The FAST Advantage

Joeann’s Monthly Message:  10 Things Every Realtor Needs

The SIMPLE LIVING Advantage:  Synchronicity

The TECH Advantage:  Tips and Resources

The DISTINCTION OF THE MONTH: Dreams vs Goals  

The HEALTH Advantage: Favorite Sites

The SKILLS Advantage:   Fossland's Free Forums

THE REAL ESTATE GAMES!

ADVANTAGE THINKING:  

The INSPIRATION Advantage:  

The FAST Advantage 

 What are your 10 most important tools?

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Joeann's Message
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Go The Distance

Participating in the American Liver Foundation “Go The Distance” Triathlon last weekend was an event that will live as one of my life’s peak experiences. Four months ago, I had never run a mile. Last weekend, I ran/walked 6 miles, then hiked 3 miles and then biked another 5 miles. 

The training for it taught me how much more I have available physically than I believed. There were many, many times when I thought I could run no more and, yet, I found by continuing to press forward, I had much more capability than I thought. My trainer, Darla, kept telling me my limitations were “in my head” and I got evidence of this being true.(some good coaching!). When I wanted to stop, I would scan my body and see where it hurt (and it usually didn’t) and then notice my breathing and take a couple intentional, deeper breaths, perhaps slow down the pace a bit, but continue. I recall vividly one day when from ˝ mile into the run, I felt the need to stop and walk but kept running. I REALLY wanted to stop and walk the entire rest of the run (3.5 more miles) but kept telling myself I could make it just another block. There were two very LOUD conversations going on in my mind arguing about stopping or pressing on.  I found out I could keep going. It just wasn’t going to be comfortable. It wasn’t fun, but it was possible. Is anything that stretches us beyond our comfort zone easy and comfortable- I think not!

I suffered with a couple of injuries that would have given me a good reason to stop, but choose to still train in other ways to get my body  ready. I wasn’t willing to push my body stupidly and do permanent damage, but I was willing to use the elliptical machine and the bike as alternatives to running to build my strength and stamina. I am now interested in seeing where else I can use these insights with my growth in other areas where I have limited myself and how I can use it in supporting my clients and audiences. The questions I am asking are: Where am I not using all I have available to me and stopping for the sake of comfort? Where is there an alternative action available if the original gameplan encounters roadblocks? 

The experience of the Triathlon itself, with the trip to Panama, was something I was unprepared for. The contrast of our culture and the Central American cultures was a reminder of the prosperity we have in the United States. It is easy to take for granted hot, running water or having a car. There were only 18 cars on the Island of Bocas del Toro and we had no hot water or washcloths in our “hotel”. The homes of the Cuna Indians that lived along the hiking trail we navigated were without electricity or running water, yet the children were all joyfully engaged in playing happily, without needing all the toys and gadgets we’ve become accustomed to.

The story of my experience of the triathlon itself is long, so I posted it on my website at www.joeann.com/triathlon.htm if you’d like to read more. 

Taking on this challenge impacted my life in many unexpected ways. The generosity, support and stories people shared with me were inspiring and touching. It serves as evidence my belief that we can do things by ourselves, but the most satisfying and powerful accomplishments require a team of supporters to tap into the joint energy that is available to each of us, but many times not activated.

Thank you for helping make this possible for me. Thank you if you sent money, thank you if you sent energy and thank you if you just read this newsletter because you gave me a forum in which to play! 

10 Things Every Realtor Needs

Perhaps you been forwarded the email about what every woman needs….it got me to thinking about what every REALTOR needs…so here goes  my The Top 10 List of WHAT EVERY REALTOR NEEDS:
10.    A Tech Troubleshooter: A techie who can help when a program doesn’t work or when you have a new computer and you want to transfer data
9. An Office Administrivia Whiz: Someone to delegate and/or outsource  the $15 an hour and under stuff that isn’t the highest and best use of your time. Tip: this could be several people/services.
8. Database Software: Whether it is real estate specific, such as Top Producer or basic, such as ACT or Outlook, building your databases and being able to sort groups is critical. These databases are the gold you’ll be mining for the coming years . Build multiple databases including other local agents who specialize in areas, types of buyers and types of clients that don’t fit your skills, agents to refer to, people that fit in your niches, by demographics, and by interests, etc.
7. Referral Networks:  Build a national network of referral agents whose standards are as high as yours. CRS, WCR and fellow ePRO’s are all groups to consider. But don’t forget to list yourself in many non-real estate rosters-your Chamber of Commerce, Alumni Assn, Trade Groups and Hobbies.
6. Digital Camera! New ones allow you record videos and sound and give you several ways to save.
5. Software and the equipment need for Virtual Tours. You should have the capability to create your own tours online immediately, burn CD’s and the discs to hand out. Learn to incorporate sound as well as video 
4. A Great Newsletter or automated follow-up system to stay in contact with contacts who are not ready yet, with past clients and with your sphere of influence. One wonderful resource for this is the Realty Times Newsletter. 
3. A PDA: Check out the new Handspring TREO which combines the functions of a PDA with a cell phone and the ability to surf the web for $399! Learn to beam your virtual tour to your client!
2. Cheerleaders and Coaches: Don’t be the Lone Ranger….Build a huge network of people who you can collaborate with, learn from, share leads with and who expect the very best from you! 
1. The good sense to apply this Serenity Prayer:
      “God, grant me the ABILITY to prioritize what I can’t delegate, the COURAGE to say NO when I need to and the WISDOM to know when I should go home.”

That’s my list AND I’d love for you to send your ideas as well! I’ll include you input in the next newsletter

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       The SIMPLE LIVING  Advantage:

       Synchronicity

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  This Month's Book Pick:

Celestine Prophesy

This is one of my all time favorite books for many reasons and the thoughts on synchronicity were particularly exciting to me. As a child, curiosity was important to me and I think it was encouraged. As I read this book, I found a renewed sense of wondering who the people were who were in my life, who showed up, seemingly by accident or without purpose and what would happen if I believe each person has something to “give” me and I have something to “give” them. It awakened in me the curiosity of finding all those gifts within myself and others. If you haven’t read the book, read it. This is just a small part of the “prophesies.”

Action  Exercises for Synchronicity   

          ~~~~~With each person you encounter today, find the gift they have to give you by speaking to them and thinking what you can learn from or ask of them. They are in your life today for a purpose.

            ~~~~~ For the next week, each time a situation occurs that looks negative, give thought to what it is there to teach you. What will you do differently next time? What standard will you raise so this situation doesn’t occur again? OR, how can the situation be perceived as good rather than bad?

            ~~~~~Meditate for 15 minutes (or sit quietly with your eyes closed for that amount of time) every day for 5 days straight. Notice if your awareness and mindfulness of being more present in your day is enhanced. As your awareness grows, you’ll pick up on the synchronistic situations more often and it will seem more of them are happening. (We often call things like this luck and discount that we had anything to do with it! I invite you to own your power and trust these occurrences)

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                           The TECH AdvantageLinks
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PLEASE CONTRIBUTE: Share YOUR favorite sites, tips or resources and you’ll get a certificate for 50% off any Real Estate Game!™

**** Advantage TECH TIP: 

Every time you send an email you have an opportunity to market yourself using Your Signature File!
Think about marketing your listing:
Include a link in your signature file to you “Listing of the Week” and tell your potential clients when you go on the listing appointment that you’ll feature their house there, beginning tomorrow! (or tonight!)

****TECH Info:

Steven Canale shared this tip in his newsletter this month The Big Fix
Download and then it will alert you to problems BEFORE they happen!
If you don’t get Steven’s newsletter-it’s great. Sign up at canale.com 

Click on products for some good resources

 ****TECH Shortcut:

: Do searches from the address bar.
Type in the address bar what you want to search for and you will get an MSN search.

****TECH Resources:

A free virus scan:  housecall.antivirus

Phone Books, reverse lookups:  flips-search-resources  

Dell’s refurbished site: dell.com  

Domain Names & Email Services: internetcrusade  

Register for ePro: This NAR certification is delivered entirely ONLINE and is getting RAVE Reviews!

You can register at internet crusade 

 
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THE DISTINCTION OF THE MONTH:

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Dreams vs Goals

 DEFINITIONS:

DREAMS:  Passion filled visions
GOALS:     Specific limited results

 EXAMPLES :  Erika wanted to focus her business on seniors and expand her services and become known as the GURU of senior real estate. She knew that she was very good at helping seniors feel comfortable and at ease. She brought together many other business people she trusted who had standards as high as hers and referrals
Susie set a goal to exceed her last year’s production by 10%

KEY POINT:  A dream pulls you forward and expands your actions. A goal may or may not excite you or pull you into action.

BENEFIT:   A dream will lead to a wide set of options. It will be a fit with the values and passions you have and a natural expression of them-you being the best you can be and giving the gifts you are blessed with to the world. A dream will inspire you and you’ll have lots of enthusiasm about it.

COACHING ACTIONS: 

1. Review the goals you have set for this year. Are they compelling and exciting? If not, consider how to adjust them to fit with your dream of who you could be or what your business could be.
2. Play a VERY BIG GAME-consider what your dream would be, if you had no limitations?
3. Identify at least one other person who would be a help if you were to make your dream come true.  Ask them for what you need/want. This may just be brainstorming, but sharing your dreams is the first way to start the manifestation of them.

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The HEALTH Advantage

Sites for Health 

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Yahoo’s SEVEN MOST TRUSTED HEALTH SITES
Medscape Health for consumers www.medscapehealth.com
WebMD Health www.my.webmd.com
National institutes of Health www.nih.gov
Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.com
American Medical Association www.ama-assn.org
Medlineplus Health Information www.medlineplus.gov
Merck-Medco www.merck-medco.com 

OTHER POPULAR HEALTH SITES:
www.drkoop.com
www.Ediets.com
www.drugstore.com
www.thebreastcancersite.com
www.foot.com
www.nof.com
www.obgyn.net
www.arthritiscentral.com
www.reflexology-research.com
www.mentalhealth.com

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The SKILLS Advantage:

Fossland's Free Forum's

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This is your direct link to ideas & resources
(Conference Calls on Steroids!)      All you need is your telephone! 

FREE    Mastermind Session: Pre-Listing Package That WOW’s Them!
Wednesday March 20       9 AM PST,   Noon EST 

Join me and bring your best ideas about what the best agents are using in their pre-listing packages.  Give yourself the advantage!
Update your presentation with tools and ideas to WOW the sellers and make getting the listing easy! 

There are also free and for-fee seminars on a great variety of topics being offered by myseminars.com . Visit the site for more details and the sign up.
I’ll be presenting a segment from one of my most popular seminars:  Know Your Niche, Double Your Net on April 17 at 10 AM Pacific Time
FREE……..Sign up at their site.
Check out the schedule, you may see something that fits your needs!

my seminars    then click on SEE SCHEDULE

Take action NOW to get your 2002 off to a FAST START!

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THE REAL ESTATE GAMES (tm)

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For Complete Information visit TheRealEstateGame 

Playing the GAME keeps you focused and  in action for four weeks 

***THE NEXT Real Estate Games (tm)      

April 29                          10:45 AM EDT    7:45 AM PDT

All four weeks for only $99 (less than $5 a day) 

To register: joeann.com  

Or send an email to joeann@joeann.com 

"The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes."

Benjamin Disraeli