Fiddlenet is "In Focus"!

Who Programs your GPS?

Recently a good friend of mine was driving me to an Event. He plugged the address into his GPS and began answering the questions designed to help us reach our destination. We soon began our journey.

After a few minutes he was sure things were not right. He pulled over and began to reprogram the GPS. As it turned out the way he answered a question caused the GPS to use a different and longer route.

When he changed the answer the GPS changed his direction. He also mentioned that now the GPS indicated the trip would take much less time.

Had he not noticed the error would we have reached our destination? Sure, but it would have taken much more time.

Who's programming your real estate GPS?

How much time do you have to become a success in real estate?

The path to real estate success has already been paved. The real estate GPS has already been invented. However be careful who programs your GPS.

For more than 30 years Floyd Wickman has helped real estate agents become and stay successful in any market. The Floyd Wickman Team continues to help agents become "market proof".

There are many copycats out there. But there is only one Floyd Wickman. I am honored to be a part of the Floyd Wickman Team.

Should you need any help programming your GPS, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Yesterday one of my closest friends sent me the story printed below. You've likely already read it...but for some reason I saw it differently yesterday.

We are not likely to be the best person to judge how many lives we have touched. Of one thing I am certain. You will touch many lives in 2010.

My hope for you is that you recognize and act upon those opportunities to help those who need your help.

Happy New Year!

PS - Thanks Gale!



RED MARBLES

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.



I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.



'Hello Barry, how are you today?'



'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'



'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'



'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'



'Good. Anything I can help you with?'



'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'



'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.



'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'



'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'



'All I got's my prize marble here.'



'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..



'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'



'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.



'Not zackley but almost..'



'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.



'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'



Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'



I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.



Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr... Miller had died.



They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.



Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket..



Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.



Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.



'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size.....they came to pay their debt.'



'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'



With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.



The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.... Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.....



Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green stoplights on your way to work....The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.



Send this to the people you'll never forget.. I just Did....



IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

If nothing changes, well, nothing changes!

Winston Churchill was one of many who said "those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

However, what is history? Isn't it yesterday? Or last week? In other words our history is simply our own past.

I've been fortunate enough to speak to many agents this year who've had one of their best years financially. The one thing they all seem to share is they did not "hope" things would change. They made changes.

Some hired coaches. Some prospected areas they never worked before. Some took a training class to get back to basics. Some increased their mailings. Some increased their phone calls. Oh by the way, they all experienced challenges along the way.

Floyd says we can't control "the" economy but we can control "our" economy.

My congratulations go out to all those agents (and companies) that had a great year. I wish you continued success in 2010.

For those of you who would like 2010 to be your best year, maybe it's time to change something.

Remember that if nothing changes, well then nothing changes!

 

The Most productive two months of the year?

Have you noticed retailers seem to bring out holiday decorations earlier every year? They can't wait to get the holiday shopping in full swing.

Why don't realtors feel the same as retailers? No, really, why not?

Ok, so I don't have exact statistics to back this up, but let me ask you just a couple of questions.

Why would a buyer be looking for a home during the holiday season?

Why would a seller put their home on the market during the holiday season?

Is it possible that maybe they "have to" buy or sell.

Ok, one last question. Does it seem like some realtors (not you of course) start their holiday vacation earlier each year?

Hmmmmm....so you have less competition and are dealing with more motivated buyers and more motivated sellers in the next two months than at any other time this year.

Have a GREAT two months!

 

What, or who is your inspiration to achieve your dream?

Recently my daughter completed her first half-marathon. A half marathon is 13.1 miles and includes numerous hills. Now you should understand that Jennifer is not a runner. Let me explain.

When Jennifer first told me what she had planned, I was very skeptical. I questioned her about it but she seemed to be very committed. She told me she was working with a trainer and she was sure she could do it. All she asked was that I attend the marathon and of course I said yes.

When we arrived she was extremely excited. Again I questioned her a little. I asked her how long the run might last. She said well dad they told me they turn off the clock at 3 hours. Being kind of slow I asked how long she thought she would take. She said, well probably around 3 hours dad because I've never actually completed 13.1 miles. She said the most she had completed was 8 miles. The look on my face must have given away my thoughts because she immediately said; "don't worry dad, I'll do it". 

There were 1200 runners registered and at the two mile marker I don't think there were 10 people behind Jen.  I was concerned but my wife and I both smiled and encouraged her. Then we walked back toward the finish line and waited. We had no idea how long we might wait.

 

Officially Jennifer finished 853rd at 2 hours and 29 minutes. Yes, there were many runners who finished behind her but I didn't care about that. I asked her "how did you do it?" She replied "I just wasn't going to fail".  I was extremely proud of her. What a lesson she taught me.

Have you ever heard someone say they plan to start a diet?

Have you ever heard someone tell you they plan to quit smoking? 

Society provides so many reasons why we can't do something. I think maybe Nike said it best.

Stop thinking about why you can't do something and "Just Do It".

Have you ever said I want a "do-over"?

You do remember do-overs...don't you?  Come on, even as a youngster you must have said it at least once.."I want a do-over!"

Isn't it too bad that we don't get a chance for a "do-over"? Or maybe we do....let me explain.

Let's pretend you called a seller who's listing just expired. You might ask a few questions to find out if they still want to sell.

So what if you asked them "what is your next agent going to do different?" They might ask what you mean. You could share Einstein's definition of insanity which of course is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

So, here comes your chance for a do-over. The neat part is you didn't make the mistake in the first place. It was the first agent who didn't sell it, but you can have the do-over.

Once the seller says, "well, what are you going to do that's different?", you can ask them if the other agent did a Marketability Checklist on their home. "What's that?" is the most common reply you'll hear and you can then say "Ah, I think we may have found the problem". "You see the Marketability Checklist is a very unique tool that I use. It is a list of items that actually cause a home to sell. It will help pinpoint exactly why your home didn't sell so you don't make that mistake again, would that be of value to you? Once they agree you can set up your listing appointment.

Wow, the benefit of a do-over, without having to make the mistakes. Cool isn't it?

Now, don't make the same mistakes the last agent made. Be different, be unique, but above all Be Honest! Don't tell them something because it will help you get the listing. Be Honest so that when you get the listing it will be priced right and you can SELL it!

Good Luck!

PS- Wondering what a Marketability Checklist might be? Well, it is just one of many tools taught as part of the Floyd Wickman Program. If you'd like more information about a Floyd Wickman Program for your company, contact me direct at fiddler@floydiwickman.com and I'll be glad to help.

It's Time to Change your Thinking!

Hello Everyone,

Recently I came across this story and thought the timing could not be better. Hope you enjoy it.

It’s time to Change your Thinking

 

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

 

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

 

His bed was next to the room's only window.

 

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

 

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

 

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.  Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

 

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

 

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

 

Days, weeks and months passed.

 

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

 

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

 

It faced a blank wall.

 

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

 

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

 

How will you handle today? Who’s day can you brighten?

 

 

 

What makes you STAND OUT in your market?

After leaving church last Sunday I asked my wife if she knew someone I pointed out. She said she'll never forget him, but couldn't tell me his name. I laughed and said the same thing. I know him, yet I'm not sure of his name. Let me explain.

When my wife was pregnant with our first child we both attended Lamaze classes. There was one guy who always carried this HUGE stop watch. He timed everything with it. If you've been to Lamaze classes you know what I mean. They teach you how to time the contractions to determine when you better head to the hospital. So every week we laughed and kidded about the guy with the HUGE STOPWATCH.

I don't know much about this man, but I will never forget him.

How can you become unforgetable in your market? 

What makes you STAND OUT?

It can be as simple as a stopwatch.  Of course once you find something, you might want to make sure you attach your name to it so people know who to call.

If the roots can't grow, the tree will not flourish

Recently I learned something about you....ok, well maybe not you directly. Let me explain.

When my son was very young he gave my wife a lemon tree. She kept it in the house for many years. However this year she transplanted it to a larger pot and put it on our deck. She loves to sit on the deck and read.

When I asked her why she put the tree into a larger pot, she explained to me that the roots would not grow in the smaller pot and that allowed her to keep it in the house. Now in the much larger pot the lemon tree would grow and she could enjoy it more while reading on the deck.

Actually I thought that was kind of silly so I did some research and sure enough she is right.

You see what I learned was that my wife knew all along that she could keep the lemon tree in the house as long as she kept it in a smaller pot. She was restricting it's growth.

Who is restricting your growth? Maybe it's you! Is it possible you are so set in your ways that you are unwilling to learn something new? Maybe you don't need to learn something new, just something new to you!

The Broker/owners and agents who are thriving in today's market have very deep roots. They have learned they must be willing to change as the market changes. Many of them know that a high percentage of their business comes from repeat and referred clients. So they are finding training methods to help them to increase their repeat and referred business. The Floyd Wickman Program is one such method.

Have you ever seen a giant redwood tree? They grow to over 300 feet tall and are truly magnificent.

Imagine if someone restricted their growth by keeping them in a small pot?

How to generate 20% more business, without trying!

A few weeks ago a client said "Mike, I will do anything to help get you more business". I said thanks and really didn't think more about it until someone said it again today. That made me think about it. Why would they say that to me? I think the answer is this; service.

Have you ever stayed at the same hotel more than once? What makes you feel better; the person who asks "have you ever stayed with us before?" Or the one who says "would you like the same room you had when you stayed with us last year Mr/Mrs Wickman"?

Have you ever been someplace for dinner and the waiter remembers you? How about when the owner remembers you....by name? Would you go back?

I'm sure you have many of your own examples that would demonstrate how giving the best "service" resulted in more business. 

So how can we use this to generate more business now?

Let's start by finding out what our clients really want. Call them and ask for their help. Listen to their compliments (it's what you are doing right). Find out their complaints. You might try this. "Mr/Mrs Seller/Buyer, if there was one thing that we could have done to make your buying/selling experience better, what would it have been?" (By the way if they mention something that you can still correct, you might consider correcting it. The unwritten rule is this; fix the customer, then fix the problem.)

Once you have talked to your clients you should have a clear picture of what they consider "first class customer service". So where do you start?

How about first learning more about them. As you learn make sure you record this information where any one of your staff can retrieve it. Imagine the feeling they'll have when one of your staff contacts your client and says something like "oh and wish Bobby (their son) a Happy Birthday from us, would you?"

You might also consider some type of loyalty program. Create some "no strings attached" gifts for their loyalty to you and your staff. Remember that "discounts" are marketing but "gifts" are a personal "thank you".

Finally, you might consider a three point, or five point "Service Plan". Here might be some suggestions.

    1. Make Customer Service the top priority of your team. Reward customers for their loyalty. Reward your team for solving customer service problems quickly and efficiently.

    2. Have company standards and live by them. If you say you'll call your clients at least once a week, make sure you do it. Make sure you tell your clients what they can expect and then deliver at LEAST that!

    3. Provide some type of service that no one in your market provides. What could that be? The answer may come from your client. What would they want?

As I am writing this it dawned on me that we have the answer. Oh, I don't know who has it, but I know that together we have it. So, what if I hosted a FREE conference call to discuss Customer Service ideas? Would that have any value to you? Ok, I'll do it if you respond.

Finally, there is someone out there wondering about the 20% business increase mentioned in the title of this blog. Ok, so I made it up. I have no idea if it will really increase your business by 20%. What do you think?

Do you think it's possible that if you increased your client service they will reward you with at least 20% more business?