Contrary to what some self-improvement gurus will tell you, you won't get what you want in life simply by asking for it.
Everybody is ultimately motivated by self-interest. Achieving your specific goal, therefore, is a matter of figuring out how you can satisfy the desires of others.
If, for example, your goal for that Home Seller Assist business meeting you've been invited to is to be nominated to head up an upcoming project, plan for it by making a mental list of how your nomination will help each person attending the meeting. Think about what each person wants. Figure out how, in leading the project, you can provide that.
Most important, think about how you can direct the Home Seller Assist project so that it will achieve growth and profitability for the company. Spend some time formulating the phrases you will use to drive that point home.
By putting the company first, you will enlist the respect and support of just about everyone. You will establish yourself as a natural leader. And then, when you explain how the project will benefit people individually, you will see how quickly they line up to support you.
Larry Potter
www.ATicketToWealth.com
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Create Your Own Fame
No one is going to stand up and applaud for you. You have to take action and start making a splash. So choose a niche market - a sub-group of folks who share a common interest - and "crown" yourself as their leader.
To choose your niche market, first identify your unique ability, passion, or area of expertise. Then prepare your message and deliver it to the people who will be interested in what you have to say.
At the same time, accept the fact that you can't please everyone. The sooner you understand that not everyone is going to love you, and that some folks will even criticize you, the better you will be at creating your own fame.
Larry Potter
www.ATicketToWealth.com
To choose your niche market, first identify your unique ability, passion, or area of expertise. Then prepare your message and deliver it to the people who will be interested in what you have to say.
At the same time, accept the fact that you can't please everyone. The sooner you understand that not everyone is going to love you, and that some folks will even criticize you, the better you will be at creating your own fame.
Larry Potter
www.ATicketToWealth.com
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Why Buy a Home Now
If you're renting and wondering if you should buy a home, consider what bestselling author, David Bach, says, "The average homeowner is worth 35 times more than the average renter."
He advises renters to take action immediately and start saving part of their paycheck every month to help accumulate a down payment. He also encourages renters to borrow 10-20 percent less than what the bank is willing to lend; that way they're only buying as much home as they can afford.
The longer you rent, the longer it may take you to eventually get into homeownership. If the market conditions have scared you, perhaps you're not looking at the other side of the coin. Owning a home becomes part of your investment portfolio, provides tax benefits, allows you to build equity (it still exists), and, if you buy now, you may get an excellent deal.
According to a MarketWatch news article, buying a home now can provide some real negotiating power to request improvements, price reductions, help with closing costs, and more. "People can get a lot of what they need and almost all of what they want today," said Jay Papasan, one of the authors of "Your First Home".
While poor market conditions have created a troubling situation for some homeowners, the downturn has made the buying market ripe for others, especially those in the Home Seller Assist program. The affordability of homes is better than ever. The National Association of Realtors' housing affordability index concluded that homes in December of 2008 were more affordable than at any other point since 1970 (the start of the index). And with numerous foreclosures on the market and prices dropping in many areas, now is a good time to buy. But in order to make your purchase profitable, here are some things you should consider.
How long will you be in the home? Some experts advise that if you are planning to move within a year, buying may not be the best option because of the expenses associated with moving. However, if you're searching for a place to live for, at least, several years, buying now could be a good choice for you.
How much you can afford. Don't let tighter lending regulations scare you off from making a purchase. Instead, understand what you truly can afford. Don't get caught up in buying too much home. In fact, these days, the trend is moving toward smaller homes -- simpler living.
Mortgage rates drop to historical low. How much home you can afford is affected by mortgage interest rates that, right now, are highly appealing. Good credit, documenting your income, and a substantial down payment will make you a better candidate for the better mortgage rates.
Freedom to choose. Now, unlike several years ago, the market has a large inventory in many areas. The market time to sell a home has increased which creates a large inventory of homes, everything including new, existing, and foreclosures. Buyers can peruse the market and have the freedom to select the home they really want. If you're interest is in a new home, know that many developers are getting more competitive with their pricing because they also have taken a hit by the ailing economy.
Quality of life. Buying a home can create a higher quality of life, giving you pride of homeownership, and something to enjoy improving and developing over the years.
Tax credit benefit. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for a $8,000 tax credit that would be available to first-time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. The credit does not require repayment. Most of the mechanics of the credit will be the same as under the 2008 rules: the credit will be claimed on a tax return to reduce the purchaser's income tax liability. If any credit amount remains unused, then the unused amount will be refunded as a check to the purchaser.
by Phoebe Chongchua
Larry Potter
847-872-4047
www.ATicketToWealth.com
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Knowledge plus action equals results.
To be a successful real estate investor, you need to be constantly adding to your knowledge base - especially when it comes to:
Current national real estate sales and price trends
Local trends that influence where people want to live
Local employment, industrial, and job creation activities
Neighborhood dynamics (whether the population is growing or declining)
Resources for everything from loans to renovation
Knowledge comes from many sources and directions.
Make sure you get your information from someone who is active in the current market - not someone stuck in the pre-bubble days. That's why those working the Home Seller Assist program, createdby John Alexander and also known as We Provide The Cash are doing so well in this market.
Current national real estate sales and price trends
Local trends that influence where people want to live
Local employment, industrial, and job creation activities
Neighborhood dynamics (whether the population is growing or declining)
Resources for everything from loans to renovation
Knowledge comes from many sources and directions.
Make sure you get your information from someone who is active in the current market - not someone stuck in the pre-bubble days. That's why those working the Home Seller Assist program, createdby John Alexander and also known as We Provide The Cash are doing so well in this market.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Real Estate Marketing - Keeping Your Blog Updated For Success!
By Rebekah Jones
Beginning a blog can sometimes seem overwhelming when you realize that you must continuously update your Home Seller Assist blog in order for it to be effective. So where are you going to get all your information? How are you going to keep your content fresh and interesting? Here are three simple ways to maintain your blog.
Article Writing
Do you have articles that you have written? If so, you can break them into meaningful 100-120 word parts and use each part as a blog entry or "post". For instance, if you wrote an article that gave three tips for first time home buyers, you could use each tip as a separate blog post and have three posts all ready to go! If you haven't written articles, you can still use this concept. Take a moment and write down three key thoughts that you want your blog readers to know. Write just a few sentences for each thought and you have your next three blog posts. Add an introduction and conclusion and you have your first article too!
Finding RSS Feeds
Sometimes just coming up with what to say can be a challenge. Need an idea or something to motivate you? Try looking online for news feeds. Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) you can access those news feeds through a feed reader such as Google Reader. Review the news sources that you find and see what resonates with you. Pick one you think your blog readers will like and write a short review of the article. Post the review along with a link to the actual article.
Building Relationships
In creating your blog posts, keep in mind the main reason you are actually working with a blog. You want to create relationships with people. A side benefit of that would be to actually work with those people as clients and customers. But first and foremost, you want to create connections. You do this through a blog by showing that you are a real person. Each item you post doesn't have to be solely business related. Share something that is interesting for you as well. Comment on local things happening in your area. Share links to websites that you have found useful. Brag on your kid or grand kid every once in a while. The key here is to come across to your blog readers as a real person, interested in the same things that they are.
You will find, as with anything, the more you post to your blog the easier it becomes. Make a habit of posting once or twice a week and see how quickly you are able to dash off posts here and there. Before you know it, you'll be helping others do the same thing! And now I would like to invite you to see a Real Estate blog in action at http://myrealtysuccess.com/. While there, if you are interested in Social Networking, claim your Free Instant Access to my e-course "Your First Social Network" to learn the beginning steps to Social Networking!
From Rebekah Jones, Real Estate Virtual Assistant and the MyRealtySuccess.com network.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebekah_Jones
Beginning a blog can sometimes seem overwhelming when you realize that you must continuously update your Home Seller Assist blog in order for it to be effective. So where are you going to get all your information? How are you going to keep your content fresh and interesting? Here are three simple ways to maintain your blog.
Article Writing
Do you have articles that you have written? If so, you can break them into meaningful 100-120 word parts and use each part as a blog entry or "post". For instance, if you wrote an article that gave three tips for first time home buyers, you could use each tip as a separate blog post and have three posts all ready to go! If you haven't written articles, you can still use this concept. Take a moment and write down three key thoughts that you want your blog readers to know. Write just a few sentences for each thought and you have your next three blog posts. Add an introduction and conclusion and you have your first article too!
Finding RSS Feeds
Sometimes just coming up with what to say can be a challenge. Need an idea or something to motivate you? Try looking online for news feeds. Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) you can access those news feeds through a feed reader such as Google Reader. Review the news sources that you find and see what resonates with you. Pick one you think your blog readers will like and write a short review of the article. Post the review along with a link to the actual article.
Building Relationships
In creating your blog posts, keep in mind the main reason you are actually working with a blog. You want to create relationships with people. A side benefit of that would be to actually work with those people as clients and customers. But first and foremost, you want to create connections. You do this through a blog by showing that you are a real person. Each item you post doesn't have to be solely business related. Share something that is interesting for you as well. Comment on local things happening in your area. Share links to websites that you have found useful. Brag on your kid or grand kid every once in a while. The key here is to come across to your blog readers as a real person, interested in the same things that they are.
You will find, as with anything, the more you post to your blog the easier it becomes. Make a habit of posting once or twice a week and see how quickly you are able to dash off posts here and there. Before you know it, you'll be helping others do the same thing! And now I would like to invite you to see a Real Estate blog in action at http://myrealtysuccess.com/. While there, if you are interested in Social Networking, claim your Free Instant Access to my e-course "Your First Social Network" to learn the beginning steps to Social Networking!
From Rebekah Jones, Real Estate Virtual Assistant and the MyRealtySuccess.com network.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebekah_Jones
Thursday, February 19, 2009
How long should my sales copy be to convince people to buy?
This is a very common question, and there's a very easy answer...
You copy should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer.
That's all there is to it.
Now, most of the time, longer copy gives you more space to make a solid case for your product. That can be particularly important for a product with a high price point (you have to overcome more potential price resistance).
But don't assume that longer copy will sell better. Sometimes shorter copy does a superior job, because you're not making people read a lot before they decide.
This is a place where testing is a must. Write copy that seems long enough to make your case, then test it to see if making it longer or shorter sells better.
That's the only way to know for sure.
You copy should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer.
That's all there is to it.
Now, most of the time, longer copy gives you more space to make a solid case for your product. That can be particularly important for a product with a high price point (you have to overcome more potential price resistance).
But don't assume that longer copy will sell better. Sometimes shorter copy does a superior job, because you're not making people read a lot before they decide.
This is a place where testing is a must. Write copy that seems long enough to make your case, then test it to see if making it longer or shorter sells better.
That's the only way to know for sure.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Getting Out of the Box
By Zig Ziglar
Many people set low ceilings on their expectations and capabilities. In the process, they place themselves in a "box." Alexander Whortley took that a step further and literally lived in a box. It was a mini-trailer, three feet wide, four feet long, and five feet high. He lived there until he died at the age of eighty. His box was made of wood, had a metal roof, and it housed him and all his meager belongings. Regardless of where he worked, Whortley chose to spend his life in that cramped space, even though larger, more comfortable quarters were always available.
Few of us live in a "box." However, too many of us have a tendency to "box" ourselves in and continue to do things one way because we've "always done it this way." In many cases, time and experience have proven that "this way" is the best way. However, I challenge you to periodically take a long walk or quietly sit and think about the way you do things. Ask yourself if there might not be a better way. Could your procedures be simplified? Are they necessary at all? Could they be done more cheaply or efficiently? Could your product be longer? Shorter? A different shape? Another fabric? Another color? Sometimes you can come up with simple ideas that make a big difference. Incidentally, one advantage of a continual personal-growth-and-education way of life is that the broader and deeper your knowledge base, the more creative your problem-solving approach to life.
(That's what we do at Home Seller Assist )
Simple example: For years men's coats had an inside pocket only on the right where pens and other items were kept. One day somebody had a thought: Since most men are right-handed, why not put a pocket on the inside left so that they could reach in, extract the pen with their right hand, and begin writing? Not monumental, but it saves a second or two and it's sold lots of suits. Think about it and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar is a motivator and teacher. He is the author of 27 books and loved by millions of people world wide for his practical wisdom and his gift of hope.
Many people set low ceilings on their expectations and capabilities. In the process, they place themselves in a "box." Alexander Whortley took that a step further and literally lived in a box. It was a mini-trailer, three feet wide, four feet long, and five feet high. He lived there until he died at the age of eighty. His box was made of wood, had a metal roof, and it housed him and all his meager belongings. Regardless of where he worked, Whortley chose to spend his life in that cramped space, even though larger, more comfortable quarters were always available.
Few of us live in a "box." However, too many of us have a tendency to "box" ourselves in and continue to do things one way because we've "always done it this way." In many cases, time and experience have proven that "this way" is the best way. However, I challenge you to periodically take a long walk or quietly sit and think about the way you do things. Ask yourself if there might not be a better way. Could your procedures be simplified? Are they necessary at all? Could they be done more cheaply or efficiently? Could your product be longer? Shorter? A different shape? Another fabric? Another color? Sometimes you can come up with simple ideas that make a big difference. Incidentally, one advantage of a continual personal-growth-and-education way of life is that the broader and deeper your knowledge base, the more creative your problem-solving approach to life.
(That's what we do at Home Seller Assist )
Simple example: For years men's coats had an inside pocket only on the right where pens and other items were kept. One day somebody had a thought: Since most men are right-handed, why not put a pocket on the inside left so that they could reach in, extract the pen with their right hand, and begin writing? Not monumental, but it saves a second or two and it's sold lots of suits. Think about it and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar is a motivator and teacher. He is the author of 27 books and loved by millions of people world wide for his practical wisdom and his gift of hope.
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