Gary Woltal's Blog

I have always been a big fan of Abraham Lincoln and studied his biography and collected many of his quotations.

Abraham Lincoln Is Who You Need To Buy Your House.

A great reader. With Abe as your buyer nothing funny would slip by in your contract.

We are not enemies, but friends. At the closing table there would be no hiccups.

No slavery. There would be no such thing as accepting a subprime loan for your house.

Common looking people are the best. Your home would be bought by the masses of types of buyers.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. Harmonious with all parties.

Four score and seven. If you wanted to rent it out, only 87 yr old little ladies who paid on time.

Leave nothing for tomorrow. No fence sitters but decision makers only.

And finally a dreamer and a believer with

Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise.

A BIG BELIEVER he was, as we all should be, in the American Dream of home ownership.

In life, so much is about your perception of things. I for one have observed myself that I seem to be like one of those undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) kind of people. I have always had lots of energy and short attention spans. I've also had a million interests not one. I think of myself as a multipreneur, involved in many entrepreneurial activities.

As a REALTOR I prefer to delegate the details when they get too intense. Other REALTORS are specialists at details but can completely miss the big picture (a strength of mine) or are not as good at negotating a deal or have weaker communication skills. I thrive on those last two. The more chaotic, the more I dive in to solve the problem. But it got me to thinking that what we may think of our deficits are actually our strengths. We need to learn to

                TURN LEMONS INTO LEMONADE.

For example, even in focusing on something like ADD look at all the POSITIVE attributes of it:

1.  Sensitive
2.  Empathetic with the feelings of others
3.  Feels things deeply
4.  Creative in nature (including problem solving)
5.  Inventive
6.  Often sees things from a unique perspective
7.  Great at finding things that are lost
8.  Perceptually acute
9.  Stand-up comic
10. Spontaneous
11. Fun
12. Energetic
13. Open and unsecretive
14. Eager for acceptance and willing to work for it
15. Responsive to positive reinforcement
16. Doesn't harbor resentment
17. Quick to do what one likes to do
18. Difficult to fool
19. Looks past surface appearance to the core of people, situations
     & issues
20. Down to earth
21. Good networker
22. Sees unique relationships between people and things
23. Cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary
24. Less likely to get in a rut or go stale
25. Original, with a sense of humor
26. Observant
27. Loyal
28. Intense when interested in something
29. More likely to do things because they want to than because
     they should, thus often wholehearted in efforts

I'm now starting to feel pretty pumped about my "deficiency." Maybe this is actually my "gift" to the world.

I bring this up not to talk about me. But to talk about "YOU."

Are others in your life saying you are less than you should be? Are your deficiencies of talent or looks or experience or whatever eating at you inside?

You know what? The only voice that you need to listen to is "Yours." I'm constantly telling people to quit writing the endings ahead of time. You don't know how all this plays out. You being the shortest in the group might be the one that can squeeze out the window in the burning building for everyone else to run and get help.

So my point is this. Embrace yourself with all your frailties, weaknesses, and foibles. These seemingly "flaws" in who you are with just a little tweak to your perception to see the positive in them, just may make you the strongest of the bunch. Have confidence that you are exactly who you are supposed to be and the world needs to see that very special person every day.

With many REALTORS nowadays and I would venture to say some buyers too, there is griping about the future. Realtors may think, Why is my business not where it needs to be? Why am I not at the point in my development that I envisioned for myself? On the buyer side, I hear, I will never be able to qualify for that house. Maybe it just isn't the right time to buy for us. So much in life is sticking with a good attitude about the future no matter what is happening to you. Did you know in one of those Gold medal swimming races that Michael Phelps just won as he dove into the water his swim goggles filled up with water? He sucked it up, and just went with the adversity thrown his way. For those on a path to where they are going you just have to hang in there. You have to believe that

   YOUR BEST DAYS LIE AHEAD FOR YOU.

Belief in where you are trying to get to is very important. I've thought hard about this one. Maybe you are still in a "preparation" stage. Your time hasn't quite come yet. Kind of like all the pre-Olympic practice swims at 5 a.m. in the morning. Preparation needs to be done before you get your chance. What matters most is that you are ready when that opportunity comes. You dive in the pool. Your goggles fill with water. It doesn't matter. You are READY.

As we all take a turn as REALTORS or buyers for the second half of the year, keep working your plan and above all

          FINISH STRONG !!!

As summer winds down poolside I am reminded from watching others clown around (ok, I clown around too) that in reality

YOU'RE AT YOUR BEST WHEN YOU ARE A SHOWOFF.

Not the draw attention type. But as REALTORS, STAGERS, and other PROFESSIONALS, when our actions speak for us rather than just what we say, we are most valuable to those we serve.

This extends to our families and friends too. So be a showoff.

Stop telling people that you love them, show them.

Stop telling them that you are faithful, show them.

Stop telling them that you believe you can make a difference, show them.

Stop telling them how important they are to you, show them.

It's becoming harder and harder to hear what you are telling them because your actions are making so much noise.

In working with many buyers of property I think REALTORS get embedded too often with the hard numbers of number of bedrooms and baths, amenities, size of backyard, what kind of loan can they be qualified for, etc. But if you work with buyers long enough, especially the woman of the household who seems to inevitably sign off on what gets bought, you have to know

           WHEN TOUCHY FEELY IS OK.

This refers to the soft skills a REALTOR needs with dealing with a family's home requirements. This would be like how is the neighborhood? What kind of schools are there around here? What recreational activities are their for the kids? With the larger backyard can we put in a trampoline? Inside the home, does it have the "feel" that we can enjoy our time here and socialize with our friends?

Think of the image of a Mom reading with a child. It isn't just about reading word after word. It is about nurturing, fostering imagination, and making an emotional connection with someone. The REALTOR takes their knowledge and fosters a bond with the client. They take all the needs of the client and help them come up with an experience that is truly what they need in their life at this point. Sure real estate is about a sale price, square footage, and the three car garage. But it also is about the touchy feely stuff that makes a house a home.

You may even get a hug from the homebuyer when the whole process is complete.

In real estate often is heard the phrase that buying a home is securing for yourself a piece of the "American Dream." I suppose that is true, especially for first time home buyers. Later as you get a bigger house or smaller houses or condos to meet your needs I don't know if you are thinking of it as a dream anymore but more your housing needs. The home part to me is more of the dream with whom and what you build around you in your life - the people, the places, your interests.

THERE IS A SECRET TO BEING A DREAM WEAVER.

Many paths in life talk about dreams. At bars and after hour dinners many relish the idea that "some day" this or that will happen in their lives. Unfortunately many of those dreams stay as ideas, parked on the shelf.

After knowing what your dreams are the secret to achieving your dreams is encompassed in one word:

"ACTION." With action all things are possible. Start today in fulfilling all your dreams by taking action.

Many REALTORS and Stagers alike in advising the preparation of a house for sale will emphasize the importance of curb appeal. There is just something about the outside of a house that indicates that it is well maintained. Suggestions include cleaning around the door and foyer, having fresh landscaping installed, cleaning grease off the sidewalk and driveway and if needed exterior painting. The curb appeal thought applies as a life lesson maxim as well to individuals in real estate you may be considering working with or other people you encounter in life and that rule is:

WHAT IS ON THE OUTSIDE REFLECTS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE.

Just as you may expect nice furniture on the inside and a clean house from what you see on the outside, people are very similar.

Let's look at four categories related to people's "outsides."

PRESENTATION - How well someone carries themself, their demeanor, their choice of words, their calmness and gentleness, their dress, their grooming, how clean their car is, are all important about what is going on the inside. Sloppy speech or foul language with clients usually represents dishelved or agitated thinking. Sloppy dress reflects disorganization.

ORGANIZATION - Does the Realtor or Stager seem to have their act together with the proper forms, contracts, and supplies? Check what is going on with their outside. If it looks like a mess, once again the mental organization on the "inside" is a mess.

KNOWLEDGE - Is the Stager/Realtor or Inspector appear to know what they are doing or on the outside they look like they are winging it? Professionals in real estate that take this seriously take time to continually educate themselves.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS - How effective on the outside are people you've hired or others in life at speaking clearly, making sense with their thoughts, writing, reading, computer skills, empathy, listening? Some people on the outside are TERRIBLE at a handful of these and are not polished. It reflects an inside that is not disciplined.

Find yourself "integrated" people to work with and associate with. They are the true eagles to soar with in your life.

I like this quote about finding the beautiful people for you: "People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."

In watching in the Olympic games swimmer Michael Phelps win his seventh Gold Medal by a fingernail length compared to his opponent it reminded me that

BEING CREAM OF THE CROP REQUIRES LONG FINGERNAILS.

We all should know in all our hearts that we are cream of the crop. If we don't believe that about ourselves no one else will. So first off it is about confidence and BELIEF.

Secondly and most importantly in life it is about the little things. The little differences that make you the best. A little extra effort. A little more caring than the other guy or gal. The little more education. The little more hard work. The little more paying attention. The bigger smile. A tad more of a generous heart. Staying in contact better than the rest. Loving much more. In the race they don't beat you by much. Just a fingernail sometimes.

I think I am going to work on growing longer fingernails. After all I already know I am the cream of the crop. I am the best of the best.

Are you growing longer fingernails?

Now what did I do with my nail polish?

It highly frustrates me in life where people whether they be real estate clients, Associates, or just people I meet that think they have everything figured out. They know all the answers. One thing I observed about the very young AND the very old is they know how to live in the moment. This is a life lesson highly lost by those of us in between. The sad reality of life that eludes those of us in between is that TODAY is really all you have to work with.

It is nothing short of a spirtual practice to learn to embrace living in the moment.

YOU ARE FUMBLING YOUR WAY TO ECSTASY.

You engage yourself completely with the future not existing and nothing in the past holding you back. You immerse yourself in your surroundings and become keenly aware of your breath, the texture of the world, the conversations, the nuances and unspoken mannerisms of people you are dealing with. Notice the colors, smell the rain, see the gum on the sidewalk. There's nothing you can do about the moment other than to just enjoy it.

We all need to live this way. It is the part of the world we can shape. The best part of living this way is you are allowing life to unfold. You are not fighting it. That's why I think the children and the elderly are more happy. They've learned the life lesson of acceptance. By living in the moment you will be calmer, more productive and at peace with life.

Our best days for all of us lie ahead if we live each day to the fullest in

                          ONE MOMENT IN TIME

In today's rush rush lifestyle of the real estate professional we can do more to optimize our lives, to

       RUN ON ALL CYLINDERS.

Not getting enough out of your day, or dropping too many balls? Try a few of these tips:

1) Systematize - put in place systems to automate the tasks you repeatedly do.

2) De-clutter and organize - in every area of your life. Even if you are not a neat nick or file folder kind of person, delegate this to someone who can. Less clutter equals more energy in your life.

3) Work with priorities - get out that to do list and make sure you are going down it with what you want to accomplish for the day. It is so easy to fritter time away with the stupid stuff.

4) Stay educated - make time for education a lot. It is like sharpening your axe while cutting trees. A trick or another tip you learn somewhere can prove invaluable to you to keep humming along at top speed.

5) Be physical - Shake that body. A healthy and fit body which is fueled by good food purrs like a smooth engine for you throughout your day. Try to get the sleep you need,

6) Be incredibly social - Talk to everyone. Check with your friends and your social network daily and on an ongoing basis. This is a good way to spend your emotional energy and it creates a vast support system for the days when you will really need it.

7) Finally REFLECT - there are times in your life you need to be quiet and reflect and ask yourself how is all this working? Are you happy? Is it time for a change? Don't be judgmental with your answers to yourself. Just be honest. Bounce your thoughts off those great friends you created in your social network.

With a few tips here and there your eight cylinder Corvette will be roaring down the highway with the top down and your hair blowing in the wind. Keep it fine tuned and ready to attack each day with all the gusto you surely deserve. And wear a Yellow shirt or blouse to match your car. It will let everyone know that you are taking on the day in style.