Recently in Personal Category

Winter Running

By admin on November 14, 2011 4:16 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Tennis shoes.jpgI'm nervous.  I started running last spring.  When it was warm out.  I used the Couch to 5K program to get started.  I can't honestly say I love running.  I actually kind of hate it.  Well, to be really truthful, there's no "kind of" about it.  I hate the process of running.  I hate that my knees hurt and my back hurts and my shoe might be rubbing my baby-pinky-already-deformed-toe funny.  But what I love is the feeling after I complete a tough run.  Whoops.  I'm being truthful here.  What I love is the feeling after I complete any run at all.  In my book, if I ran for five minutes straight, I'm calling it a success.  And on those rare days when I do something fantastic like run for 90 minutes straight while watching the sunrise amongst the mountains while visiting my family in Reno, I'm going to tell every single person I know how awesome it was.

So as the icy winter is approaching us, I can't help but think about what is going to happen to my running schedule.  I detest the treadmill.  I've bought several cool weather running outfits to prepare myself.  I recently spoke to another runner who said he had considered running in a Halloween mask because it would keep his face warm and I'm taking it under serious consideration.  I wonder if there is an old Jem and the Holograms mask kicking around somewhere?

A committment to myself

By admin on November 4, 2011 4:26 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
photo.JPGBeing a mom is tough.  Being a mom who is also a Realtor?  It takes a special kind of someone to do that!  One who is passionate about family and about helping others.  Sometimes, when the moon is full and the planets all align, I get to do both at the same time.  Last week, our office hosted a safe trick or treat event that featured lots of candy and an awesome haunted house vibe.  I was Cleopatra.  How do you say "Ooooh La La" in Egyptian?

As much as I enjoyed the event and all of my clients kids who came through our office, when Ander showed up in his ninja costume all super excited, I was sad that I couldn't experience the whole thing with him because I was busy handing out treats in my office.  Especially when he decided he was too old to go Trick or Treating on actual Halloween.  Ouch.  But then the world was right again when instead of trick or treating we went to see Puss in Boots and he was so obviously enjoying it.

So for the upcoming months, I need to commit to enjoying every second of my child becoming a young man.  Because he's 11 now, you know?  And he's way too cool for so many things.  I'm sure though, that he will never be too cool for me.  Right?  Right?

Communication is the key

By Angela on February 16, 2009 9:10 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
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This is one of my absolute favorite funny pictures right now.  At first, I thought it was just silly and that's why I found it funny.  But then, as I thought a  little deeper I began to think that maybe, just maybe, this silly poster actually gets at one of my core values:  communication.  I think 90% of the problems I encounter in life could have either been prevented entirely or solved more easily had I just been a better communicator.  Sometimes knowing you need better communication is easy.  If I ASK my husband to take out the trash rather than TELL him the trash needs to be taken out, he's much more likely to take out the trash without complaining.  And using your pleases and thank yous is a great way to start and end requests.  However, when it comes to my business, I wonder if it's really this simple?  Or perhaps it's that because I've been practicing personal communication my whole life, communicating in my personal life just comes more naturally? 

Whatever the reason, I've been thinking a lot lately about my commitment to communicate more effectively with my clients.  This doesn't mean just staying in touch with them.  It means being able to talk with them about the tough issues.  Why they need to take down their personal photos when selling their homes and why they may need to repaint a few rooms.  Why looking at 36 homes is a waste of their time.

However, communication can be even more complex.  I need to be able to find out WHY they want to look at 36 homes or why they are so attached to that florescent orange bedroom before I decide how I am going to communicate with them.  See, while I have a lot of experience and knowledge that I can share, what really matters is if I can share it effectively.  I don't just want my clients to change their florescent orange rooms, I want them to feel GOOD about changing them.  To really understand that I'm not criticizing their choices, but that I am doing my very best to sell their homes for the most money in the least time.
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