Don’t Over Think It

There are articles that appear all the time to motive you to “do something” about “something.”  It could be about health, exercise, sales, hobbies or a great career opportunity.  Where does the motivation to actually “do something” come from?  It comes from within, and you and only you can make the decision to move forward to do something about it.
 

You need to do the obvious … figure out what you want to do and begin the steps toward accomplishing it---whatever “it” is.  Let me give you a few steps to point you in the right way.  I cannot force you, obviously, but somehow you need to get started if you are every going to do anything about it.

Step One:  Think You Can

Keven Thompson, PhD, University of Canberra, Australia, who is the head of sports studies suggests, “Your brain sets the pace so your body does not run out of energy.”  So, you need to start with thinking about what it is that you want to do.  Perhaps listing a few items on a blank piece of paper is the best way to start.  Once you see the ideas written, you can then prioritize them and visually see them…and after you have the list started, you can add to it and re-arrange the lists, eliminate some and keep the best.  This process gets your mind to thinking it through.

Step Two:  Think Positively

Do not start this exercise with negative thoughts.  After all, you are getting ready to advance into something more rewarding for yourself.  Set aside any self doubt that you may have and focus on the future.  Again, this is all about you!  The “yes, I can” language is a great motivator and telling yourself that it is possible is a great way to begin.  And, truth be told, since you have pulled out the sheet of paper and stated is a great re-enforcer that you are quite capable of accomplishing this task…this new beginning.  Isn’t this about you?  And, isn’t it important.  Of course, it is…so, stay focused.

Step Three:  Cast Aside All Other Thoughts

You may need to stop and stretch.  Take a couple of deep breaths.  Maybe repeat it a time or two.  Go get a drink of water.  Circle your chair.  Do something that allows you to relax and begin the “single task” that is before you.  Namely, you are shifting your thinking to a new plateau; this is a new advancement for you.  And, it is clearly worth your time and your full attention.  So, set aside all those haunting side thought that typically creep in on you...and, tell yourself, “Not now, I’m busy on this one project.”  And focus.  Really focus.

Step Four:  Get In The “Zone”

Star athletes talk about this.  A lot.  Once the basketball star makes that first shot, he immediately asks for the next one.  Hitting the second one, he is ready for the next one, and the next.  His teammates realize that he is in the “Zone” and they start “feeding him the ball every time down the floor.  The same thing will happen with you.  Once you feel it…you will excel.  So, start and continue and keep-on-going … the goal is in sight and you will find that answer.  It is just in front of you.  Go get it.  It will be yours!  Don’t over think it, and as Nike says, “Just do it.”

C Dale Hillard

 

Filling The Pipeline

By: C. Dale Hillard

This term clarifies “oh, so many things” that are critical for success in real estate. 

·        It is used by Real Estate Brokers as they talk about their recruiting efforts to keep their offices full to the maximum number of agents they need or want in their respective companies. 

·        It is used by Real Estate Agents as they talk (or think) about their prospect list of potential buyers and/or sellers (or both).  They keep track of their follow up calls and mailings to these prospective clients in order to maintain a steady flow of income.

·        Other industries who must continue to expect a regular turn-over of clients and/or personnel must continue to focus on the number of names in their “pipe-line” or accept the fact that they are out-of-business if the ‘pipe-line” should suddenly be empty.

Not all jobs rely on repeat business.  Those who do rely on repeat business are not as concerned for this filling of a “pipe-line.”  However, the businesses that make their living with a sale of one item must continue to seek new people to make their next purchase.  Certainly, in real estate, not everyone is purchasing more than one home.  So, if you are selling only residential homes…once you sell the owner-occupant their house it is not likely they will re-appear for another purchase right away --- in fact, it may be many years before they will need your services again.  Thus, the ‘pipe-line” is crucial for this agent.

A couple of tips to keep the “pipe-line” full:

·        Identify your time each week to be in contact with prospective leads.  A wise agent will set aside a specified number of hours to prospect and guard this time from interruption.  No one can solely rely on clients just coming to you.  You must go seek them.

·        Lead generation is critical to keeping the “pipe-line” full.  This is done in various and sundry methods in today’s technological age.  Such things as:  social media, website, newsletter, neighborhood canvas (by mail or by knocking doors), organic search, paid search, networking groups, etc.

So, in closing, remember to remember!  This is a perpetual concept that is critical, so keep focused and don’t give up.  Keep that “pipe-line” full.

The Best In Real Estate is West USA Realty

West USA Realty has earned the 13th most productive real estate company in the nation in recent years. When it comes to real estate, West USA Realty is a trusted name. Epro, CRS, IREC, are a few of the designations that the many talented Realtors(R) at West USA Realty have acquired. Many of Arizona's residents were able to achieve the American dream through the hard work and diligence of West USA Realty.  Arizona homes, are taken very seriously as they will be an important part of someone's life.


West USA Realty has a Valleywide brokerage, and is extremely resourceful in locating the ideal fit for all their clients. There are offices located inside and outside of Arizona. When it comes to purchasing homes, the company is extremely knowledgeable, as well as informative. West USA Realty even offers free relocation information. Negotiation can be accomplished on behalf of the potential buyer. The best mortgage rates are constantly sought after, giving the buyer the best experience possible. The Real estate brokerage in Peoria AZ, offers great real estate opportunities as well as the Valleywide brokerage.



West USA Realty offers superior service, no matter which office is utilized. From Peoria to the Real estate brokerage in Scottsdale, quality is the number one priority. The Arizona based company is great, especially for those who are buying a home for the first time. Buying a home can be a stressful and emotional task. West USA Realty relieves anxiety amongst many first time home buyers. Their website www.westusa.com has some very useful tools that can give virtually anyone a jumpstart purchasing real estate. The market can be tricky at times as well as intimidating, especially if a person is not very knowledgeable about real estate. West USA Realty goes above and beyond to make the home searching and buying process easy for anyone.



Not only is the company well established and extremely experienced, they will negotiate on the client or potential buyer's behalf. Individuals, who are in the market for a home, get the same quality treatment as strong organizations looking for real estate. Since 1986 West USA Realty has been experiencing consistent and rapid growth. West USA Realty is high ranked and has always maintained a significant advantage over the competition. The advantage is the service that is given to the customers of West USA Realty. Each office is staffed with personnel that are driven to satisfy the customer on as many levels as possible. Each real estate agent is highly trained, and they are motivated to deliver the same customer service that put West USA Realty on top.



West USA Realty does business with real estate brokers whom are heavy hitters in the real estate industry. West USA Realty has 25 of the top 50 agents that ranked highest in sales volume in the past two years. The company pioneered the real estate business by being the first real estate company with a web site. West USA is also the first real estate company to have a big call center.

West USA Realty has been progressively franchising it's offices with our new Retail Store programs in select Walmart Stores.  The growth that West USA Realty is experiencing will benefit many home Buyers and Sellers in the future. The more progress the company has, the more brokers are going to want to come on board.  Brokers/Agents may inquire within at http://www.westusa.com/ or http://www.wwfranchise.com/. 

Interested Buyers can search properties online at www.westusa.com/property-search.html  View our many Resources online which provides quality information in your property sale or purchase. 

Valley of the Sun and Baby Boomers

It is stated that the “Baby Boomers” are becoming senior citizens at the rate of 10,000 per day. That converts to approximately 4 million per year. So, by the year 2020, 80 million people in the United States will be 65 years of age or older. Now folks, that’s a lot of people…and REALTORS that’s a lot of houses that can be sold. Since we live here in the “Sunbelt”…we need to gear up and be ready for this anticipated large influx of new residents.

We have a wonderful history of senior citizens living in Arizona. Clearly, the trend will continue as the “Rustbelt” will continue to give way to the “Sunbelt” for multitudes of this age class. Agents should realize that the capture of this age group makes for great communities…they commit fewer crimes, drive less, and while they require more medical facilities, they do not over burden our school systems. (Besides, they eat earlier in the evening…leaving more space for us to dine later at night.)

While I may joke a bit…they are a viable target for the wily and willing agent to focus on this age group for a larger portion of your marketing efforts. Welcome to the Valley of the Sun, Seniors!

---C Dale Hillard

Listing Syndication for Real Estate Brokerages and Agents

More people are moving across country to find employment in Arizona and Arizona homes. Arizona brokerage of real estate is turning to real state listing syndication as a more effective marketing tool. Arizona brokers can utilize listings to increase their sales and gain advantages over other agents by accessing the best buyers nationwide. Syndication gives them a chance to broaden on their real estate brokerage in Scottsdale, AZ or real estate brokerage in Peoria, AZ to a nationwide market. The Arizona broker has the capabilities to introduce property to more buyers than by local media.

To help real estate brokers make the transition to listing syndication, they can purchase the services of a syndication service or web-based software. Which they choose will depend on the amount of time they have to devote to the process and their number of listings.

Web-Based Listing Software

Agents can self-list with web-based software. It helps agents use the Internet to their advantage by offering them marketing and advertising tools so they can reproduce the services offered by syndication firms. The software takes the hassle out of submitting listings to the various sites such as Kijiji, Trulia and others at one time. Arizona brokers spend less time managing their listings by not manually submitting listings to multiple sites, and, they eliminate errors by not entering data repeatedly. They can send RSS feeds to sites and have access to business templates. The templates give agents the power to create professional looking branded advertisements. They can send advertisements with photographs and links they wouldn't have the capability with most standard listings. Agents are increasing their Internet exposure and expanding their geographical area with a national market. They are bringing more buyers to their web site and generating more leads from Internet inquiries. Listing software is better for agents with little money to spend on services and have few listings.

Listing Syndication Services

A syndication services has qualified teams of professionals to help the broker control their properties. They will design a site and place the brokers site on the Internet. When customers view the properties , they are greeted with a custom designed site instead of a generic looking design. Services also provide daily or weekly support to the agent though reports that help them control their listings. And in addition to submitting properties to major search engines, services tell their clients the number of hits for listings and they direct customers to a site. The advantages of a service is more customers view your properties, and, this builds more interest and increases sales. The sale of one property usually pays for the cost of the service, which is a monthly fee. The services are good for brokers with many properties to manage and little time to devote to managing a site or the listing process. Brokers can find scoreboards for the various listing syndication services so they can compare and contract services and rankings.

As the number of listing sites continue to grow, Arizona brokerage firms will spend more time keeping their listings posted to the correct sites. Listing syndication services and listing software makes the job of managing Valley wide Brokerage listings easier for their brokers. Not only do these tools make managing listings easier, but, effective Internet marketing increases sales and expands territory.

The world's worst passwords

Security

The world’s worst passwords

by Steven E.F. Brown, San Francisco Business Times on Thursday, March 8, 2012, 11:04am PST

Comments | Permalink

Online | Security | Security Issues

What’s the dumbest password in the universe? Sure lots of people use their pets’ names, or favorite sports teams, or even variations of their company’s name. Those are easy to crack, but there are much dumber passwords out there.
To be fair, it is hard to dream up (and remember) the many passwords we need for various business systems and benefits portals and online shopping accounts and so on. A quick count tells me I have 10 different passwords I use to access different online and technical systems at work.
Worse still, we’re required to often change our password these days, and a kind of password fatigue sets in. You’re always warned never to write your password down, but how are you supposed to keep track of so many?
Now, if you’ve ever gotten one of those “your password is about to expire” messages, you know that there are certain requirements these days that are supposed to make your password harder to crack. Passwords have to contain a number, an uppercase letter, or an unusual character like @ or % or &.
Trustwave, an IT security company which analyzed passwords and their weaknesses in a recent report, found that “creativity was found to decrease with each successive password” a person had to come up with. Think “petname1” followed by “petname2” and so on.
Chicago-based Trustwave, which tried to hack the passwords of some 2.5 million of its customers as a test, was able to break an astonishing 200,000 of them. Many were set with default terms like “changename” and “welcome.”
“Service accounts … were discovered to also include poor default passwords, and IT administrators forgot to change them,” Trustwave said.
But even when people changed passwords, a whole lot of them changed the password to … wait for it … “password.”
Under the new rules, they used a capital letter and a number, giving “Password1” as the official dumbest password in the universe. Six months later, when forced to change it, they created “Password2.” If forced to use an unusual character, they chose “P@ssword” or “Pa$$word.”
As you can imagine, these sorts of things are pretty easy for hackers to figure out.
Trustwave spent less than $1,500 on its custom password cracking system built with off the shelf parts. In 10 hours they had cracked 200,000 of the 2.5 million passwords they tested.
Among the things they found:

• 27,191 passwords were English names of months like “January,” “February,” and so on.
• 72,368 were names of states, while 74,368 were seasons of the year and a whopping 170,013 were baby names on the “Top 100” list of male and female names.

The list of most vulnerable passwords, the ones they cracked fastest is pretty embarrassing, including:

• Password1 (also Password2, Password3 and so on)
• Welcome
• Welcome1
• 123456
• P@ssw0rd
• Passw0rd

Length matters

So, what can you do to create a tough to crack password?
Well, length matters here -- a password with 3 characters, even using all the 95 characters on a U.S.-English keyboard gives 857,375 possibilities. That may seem a lot to you, but to a “brute force attack” by a computer that is child’s play.
Upping the length to 7 characters gives 69,833,729,609,375 possibilities. So that’s “Password1” and 69,833,729,609,374 others.
When you hit 10 characters, you get 59,873,700,000,000,000,000.
So even a weird looking four letter password like R$*k that you think no one would ever guess (or remember) is easier to crack by brute force than a long one like “ThisIsMyPasswordNoReallyItIs,” which is somewhat easier to remember.
But security software systems don’t always recognize what type of password is harder to crack.

Bring back the Classics

Of course, one solution is to come up with passwords no one will ever guess but which are easy for you yourself to remember.
You may know of the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II who baffled any Japanese listeners by speaking in a code language outsiders couldn’t possibly understand, even if they heard it.
So all you need to do is learn some obscure language yourself and get your passwords from it.
My passwords these days are all in Ancient Greek, with a few letters changed into numbers. Who says an education in the classics isn’t useful in the modern world?