Goals are Tools

January 27th, 2011 by Christina Yeakel

By this time of the year, you start hearing from your friends and associates how they have fallen short of their New Year’s resolutions. The failed intentions, goals that were unrealistic and unobtainable are as common as the ritualistic declarations made only several weeks earlier. For some this may be perceived as a failure of life and establishes the tone for the year by fulfilling their lowered expectations of themselves.  For others their declared goals were nothing more than frivolous exhortations that sounded “good” at the time, but represented little commitment to their fruition. I believe most represent the latter.

Goals are a “funny thing”. They can be constructive by creating focus in life directions and responsibilities. They also may work in disconcert with our intentions by being counter productive to our creative processes. I have been a goal setter all my life; I find it invaluable in maintaining direction in my business where sometimes there is a lack of structure and support. I believe that is true for any self-employed individual who must rely on their own efforts for their livelihood. I try, however, to find balance between goal setting and realistic expectations. Structure, if created carefully, will not stifle your creativity; your creativity is the ingredient, which makes you unique and most successful in business and life. I also believe you must never be afraid to deviate from your goals; keeping in mind that there may be consequence in doing so. You will accept the risk and “press forward” with caution.

My personal and business goals may not be declared in writing like some, but they are ingrained in my conscience. They are enveloped with a strong sense of fairness and generosity. I believe that treating my clients, associates and friends with equality and honesty are essential to achieving success in business and life. As this year progresses, I am sure that I will fall short in some of my objectives and other’s expectations; but I will not let that deter me from how I treat my business and my relationships; always with the utmost concern and professionalism. Please give me an opportunity this year to provide my services for your real estate questions, concerns or intentions.

A Message For The Season

November 11th, 2010 by Christina Yeakel

My special Summer People may be in the doldrums by now with the shorter days and the clock changes. Maybe you are one of those that are severely affected and cannot overcome the mental anguish brought on by the change. Your daily lament about the lost daylight, cooler days and lack of spending time with your favorite outdoor activity (special note to my golfers). However, this time of year, some of you come alive and are aptly called my Winter People. You look forward to this inevitable seasonal change; it signals to you the beginning of the Holiday celebrations and the ensuing joy and spirit that follows with sharing the spirit with like-minded friends and family.

Move over Summer People, this month we celebrate the antitheses of all that you relish. It is time for you to relinquish the long spotlight of warm weather celebrations and activities. Let your brethren delight in what makes them your opposites. It is their time to bundle in the warmth of their favorite sweater or jacket that they have looked forward to donning all summer long. Let them long enjoy the lingering sights and smells of the first lighted log in the fireplace. Celebrate with them the Sounds of the Season that begin streaming on our radios earlier each year, even before Thanksgiving.

Whatever your penchant for the seasons of the year, we can all be reflective and thankful for the varied gifts and blessings received this year and look forward to capturing those moments of joy and celebration that are soon arriving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Staying Positive

November 9th, 2010 by Karlee Connelly

In the Las Vegas real estate market, there are ups and downs, smiles and frowns. One thing I’ve learned about real estate is that the ones who truly care about the business and their clients are the ones who stick through it. Fortunately, I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with a group of very level headed, dedicated and caring agents who make the everyday effort to make sure each of their client’s transactions go as smoothly as possible. It’s a good feeling knowing that people you work with and look up to care about helping families as much as I do.  It gives me hope that even though Las Vegas is going through some tough times, it seems as though the strong will get stronger and we will get through it. Hats off to the agents in Las Vegas who are in still in the business to help people and their families.

A Message From Harvey About Ethan’s Food & Toy Drive

November 5th, 2010 by Harvey Blankfeld

I just want to say that we have the best clients and colleagues at the Brown Blankfeld Group.  To those of you that have already stepped up to help Ethan in his charity drive and those of you that have promised to, please accept my sincerest THANK YOU!  If some of you have been thinking about it, just know that it’s not too late.  I have linked the flyer to this blog post and you can either drop items off at the office or we will come get them.
 
ONCE AGAIN THANKS SO MUCH!!

 

Section 10 Cares – Charity Drive For Three Square & Toys For Tots

October 28th, 2010 by Harvey Blankfeld

I’m Ethan Blankfeld and a resident of Section 10. I am doing a community service project for the National Junior Honor Society where I will be doing a Charity Drive to collect new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots and canned goods or non perishable items for Three Square. We will have a tent set up at the Prudential Americana office at 7475 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV  for many weekends throughout the remainder of the year. Please see the flyer for more information and ways you can help donate!

Kindness Is The Noblest Weapon To Conquer With

October 24th, 2010 by Shelley Brown

“Kindness is the noblest weapon to conquer with.” – An American Proverb
 
Las Vegas is the epicenter of the foreclosure hurricane and it is affecting our friends, our family, and our neighbors.  We have a reputation of being less neighborly in Las Vegas than other areas because we fence our yards with block walls. This crisis as well as the upcoming holiday season bring to mind the need to reach out and be kind to others.  A small act of kindness can change the day for someone else and uplift you mentally and spiritually.  Stop and pick up the garbage blown in someone else’s yard.  Knock on the door and let them know their sprinkler system has a leak.  Pull a weed in your neighbor’s yard as you walk by.  Pick up the newspaper  and put it by the front door. Wave when you drive by.  Roll down the car window and say “hi” as you pass them in their yard.  People matter- show a little kindness.  It costs nothing and the reward is huge.

Fanfare of our Republic

October 6th, 2010 by Christina Yeakel

I just finished watching the final matches of the most celebrated bi-annual golf event, the Ryder Cup. This event pits the best of American golfers against their counterparts in Europe. It is a strange happening in that golf is normally not looked at as a team sport. However, there are exceptions in the amateur arena with college teams competing where individuals are less important than the overall effort of the team. Whether amateur or professional most people will agree that viewing golf on television is subdued, sometimes lifeless, with an occasional burst of crowd approval over a sensational shot. But on the professional side, the Ryder Cup and the President’s Cup are unique. It is interesting to watch golf in this format. There is not a moment that is not filled with the tension of the individual match as it plays into the overall point accumulation, leading to the eventual capture of the cherished Cup. 

I found that even though I did not have the opportunity to watch all the matches in the various formats, I was not dissatisfied. What enthralled me most was what occurred after the last ball dropped on the last match. The crowd, and even more surprising the players, came alive with congratulatory praise for their team’s undertakings. In this single moment, these individuals, who throughout the year in competition have little to say to each other, became one in their joy, accomplishments and even disappointments. If I could listen to the stirring “Fanfare for the Common Man” and watch this exhilarating finale at the same time, I believe that I too would be jumping with joy and a common sense of unity and achievement.

I believe that I have learned another lesson of life. No matter how insular or reclusive we become, or how much we may believe that our individual actions have no importance, collective unity of principle and intent will overcome most obstacles. We are a Nation of individuals, but collectively, we are a country with purpose and great resolve. Join in the Fanfare of our Republic; make your vote count in November.

Ramblings on Labor Day

September 16th, 2010 by Christina Yeakel

I am writing this month’s newsletter on Labor Day.  On this day that recognizes those who “labor”, I am taking a few moments out of my busy schedule to be a little creative and focus on something reflective.

This holiday has always been the most confusing to me.  I believe it does not have the clear purpose for celebration that other major holidays have.  You may disagree, depending on your perspective.  When I was growing up, I remember that this was the holiday that I looked forward to the least.  To be honest, I did not look forward to it at all. It meant the end of summer vacation and back to school!

As a recently popular commercial on television made famous, “I digress”.  I started to support my premise that this holiday is somewhat lost.  It is intended to honor all those who labor in any walk of life; it should be a day off from laboring.

If you are a member of a labor union, this day celebrates the advent of unions and all that unions stand for and support to this day.  According to the Department of Labor Web site, it constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country.  The first Labor Day holiday was September 5, 1882.

If you are a business owner, you consider this day is for those that are under your employ.  You may even look at this holiday as any other day, as most small businesses, particularly those in the retail and food sector, are open today.

Too many people wish they were working today but find themselves unemployed, unable to find gainful employment in this difficult economy.  My heart goes out to them.

If you are like me in a service industry, particularly real estate, this day may be one of your busiest and you celebrate to yourself that you have many good clients that allow you to stay in business.  For that, I am thankful.

Whatever our circumstances, Labor Day is a day to picnic, BBQ that last wonderful hamburger or hotdog, share the day with family and friends, rest, relax, and celebrate all that we have on this last holiday of the waning days of summer………and, rejoice in the fact that football season kicks off next week.

The American Spirit

August 6th, 2010 by Christina Yeakel

I think I am still on high since last month’s celebration of our Country’s independence. This may seem a little juvenile to many, but since childhood I have looked forward to this day. It may be the anticipation and exhilaration of the fireworks spectacles that first caught my interest. I can remember vividly our empty lot adjacent to our house was prepared each year and used as the platform for the entire neighborhood’s 4th displays. What excitement! I was proud that our family’s celebration was the focus of our friends. In my early years I did not really understand what the excitement was all about and what really brought those families together. My attention was to the sounds and colors of that special night. It was only later that this special day took on new meaning.

This day and month of commemoration honors so much. Our freedoms that we take for granted throughout the rest of the year are remembered and placed on a pedestal. We wear these gifts of this great country like medals on the chest of the military uniform, proudly displaying to all who will listen that we are proud to be Americans. It is our time to remember, re-enforce and celebrate these freedoms and we do with gusto.

This spirit is still alive and well today; maybe a little tarnished and browned on the edges with the recurrent affronts that have become too common place. However, we still “hold these truths” and enjoy one of the greatest liberties a free nation can tolerate, our ability to decide through our vote who will lead us and be our protectors of the ideals that were founded 234 years ago. Be proud and celebrate that we have been blessed with this most important liberty; make your vote count in November.

Short Sale Alphabet Soup

July 23rd, 2010 by Harvey Blankfeld

As a Realtor that takes pride in personal development, I find it important to continually get educated.  I have recently taken a number of very comprehensive courses related to Short Sales and I find my head spinning with all of the various acronyms and other abbreviations.

Consumers are hearing about HAMP, HAFA, FNMA(fannie mae), FDMC(freddie mac), REO, Prom Note, etc.  As Realtors we are given designations for taking these classes.  I am now a CSP, CSAA and PSC.  Now I take pride in the fact that I have taken the additional course work to garner these designations, but I don’t believe any agent that works in our business and takes pride in their work worries about a designation.  I wish to add that each class added to my knowledge and each class will help me and my clients as we continue to work through this economic mess.

One of the most important things I learned was that I have to continue to monitor the changes that are coming our way in the area of Short Sales.  We have seen short sales handled in so many different ways the last several years and the process is ever evolving.  I don’t believe we will ever find any specific method that can be used universally and that is a challenge.  But, that is truly the challenge with any Real Estate deal.  No two are alike.  

We face many challenges as Realtors, but none greater than our current market.  Values have dropped so much that Short Sales will be a major part of Real Estate for the next decade.  I will continue to add to my personal alphabet soup as long as it continues to allow me to serve my clients better.