Okay. I heard the words "It can't be done" one too many times lately. I think deciding something can't be done without exploring all the options is giving in to self defeat.
I prefer to take a different approach. I believe in possibilities and when the obstacles appear to be 20 feet high with no visible way to get over the hurdles I start believing a better day is on the way.
Therefore, I paused to reflect on the phrases which normally resonate within me when looking to improve and/or enhance a process, looking to do things differently. I counter the all too often utilized phrase "It can't be done" with other phrases which has worked for me.
1. Never say "can't"
2. If not, why not?
3. Any thing man-made can be mastered
4. You can do it if you put your mind to it.
5. It's worth a try
6. Start over
7. No matter what get it done
8. No pain no gain
9. Just believe
10.How do I fix this
It is really not complicated. No big word phrases, just keep it simple and don't over think any situation. I find that sometimes taking a deep breath and re-evaluating the situation and being open to a solution does wonders. Explore the alternatives. Innovative thought processes in lieu of self-destructing thought processes I'm sure have led to some of the greatest accomplishments we realize today.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
I have a Bed Jumper!
Recently my daughter and her two small children moved back in with me. I came home one day and my bed frame had fallen partially to the floor. No need to wonder what happened I know exactly what happened. My grandson loves coming in my room for one thing and one thing only, to jump up and down on my bed. Even when my daughter did not live with me my grandson favorite pastime at my home was jumping up and down on my bed.
My grandson loves to jump up and down on my bed. I wish I could find a gadget to catch him on one of his jumps as a prank. I spent the morning setting my bed back up. The last couple of days I've just let it be 3/4's the way up. The upside my bed hasn't appeared to be jumped on since. However, I couldn't stand it one more night so I sat it back up.
It makes me wonder what motivates children to want to jump up and down on the bed. I guess it was probably one of the reasons trampolines came about to take the bed jumping activity outside. He needs one.
I wish he was old enough to read detailed note. Because I would write him a note to say "Charles, please don't jump up and down on grandma's bed." We've already had the discussion he wants me to include the word "please" in my requests to him so he will comply. We seldom cross paths because his mom works nights and I work days and the little angels are with their dad on the weekends.
I'm going to leave him a note simplistic enough for him to read. I'll even include a picture to help give him a visual as to what the letter is in regards to. I'm thinking a bed with a red circle with an "X" drawn over the top of it. Thankfully from all his television and video watching of educational shows and games he is very good at recognizing symbols and knowing what they mean.
My grandson loves to jump up and down on my bed. I wish I could find a gadget to catch him on one of his jumps as a prank. I spent the morning setting my bed back up. The last couple of days I've just let it be 3/4's the way up. The upside my bed hasn't appeared to be jumped on since. However, I couldn't stand it one more night so I sat it back up.
It makes me wonder what motivates children to want to jump up and down on the bed. I guess it was probably one of the reasons trampolines came about to take the bed jumping activity outside. He needs one.
I wish he was old enough to read detailed note. Because I would write him a note to say "Charles, please don't jump up and down on grandma's bed." We've already had the discussion he wants me to include the word "please" in my requests to him so he will comply. We seldom cross paths because his mom works nights and I work days and the little angels are with their dad on the weekends.
I'm going to leave him a note simplistic enough for him to read. I'll even include a picture to help give him a visual as to what the letter is in regards to. I'm thinking a bed with a red circle with an "X" drawn over the top of it. Thankfully from all his television and video watching of educational shows and games he is very good at recognizing symbols and knowing what they mean.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
It's A Bad Wind that Never Changes Course
I'm thinking about a conversation I had recently with a friend of several years. After I finished the phone call with him a thought crossed my mind which was "It's a Bad Wind that Never Changes." He was on his way visiting his big brother. I'm just thankful he didn't call me with his brother's idioms after the visit. They are both two people who are really set in their ways. Now don't get me wrong, they are set as far as financial stability, sense of job security, and both are retired from at least one job. They do very well.
Even though our conversation did not go into the topic of relationships, family, or anything of substance. It was just a hello, what are you up to right now type call. I was at my mom's picking up my grandchildren to keep them for the what was left of the day. He was on his way visiting his older brother he had just had dinner at a local eatery and was telling me about the $4.99 specials they had. I sort of got the sense he didn't say to me what he really called for. Maybe because I told him I was at my mom's. Well anyways the phone call caused me to reflect. He normally asks me what am I doing in a way which commands are you on track to succeed. Are you purposing yourself for increase?
It made me reflect on an old saying which has stuck in my head. "It's a Bad Wind that Never Changes It's Course." As storms sometimes brew it normally gets worse if it stands still in a certain spot because it is building up strength and normally does more damage when it stays on course. I feel business and personal relationships some how have the same impact. When you stay in a personal or business relationship and become complacent it just builds up strength and if the course of action doesn't change from time to time (hopefully for the better) it can do irrevocable damage. To take it one step further, how your business relationships pan out can sometimes (not always) be akin to how your personal relationships turn out. Often times there is some similarity between approach and delivery. It's sort of why I guess when companies do background checks of your references even after all these years is because they realize your personal relationships will give them an indication of what type of person they are looking to hire. The same strengths and weaknesses a person brings to the table in a business arena probably is very reflective of how they interact personally with their friends.
It brought me to the question: Are your business and personal relationships failing for the same reasons? Now for my friend I mentioned earlier in this post I would say maybe. He is very committed to what he does professionally and he is very good at it. On a personal level his expectations are just as high is why I think he's still single. A very handsome man, light in complexion, naturally wavy hair, lives alone, two nice cars, nice house, meticulously clean, money in the bank, retired from one job, making great money on another the brother has definitely got it going on. When I ask him why doesn't he have a woman his reply is "I'm trying to stay focused." I'm like to myself focused on what? Every time he gets in a relationship it seems it ends for the same reason the woman has "bad kids".
I'm wondering why even involve yourself in a relationship with a woman with children if you know goodness well you don't have the patience for it? I figure he was on his way to his brother's house to vent and share all their failed relationships with women with "bad kids."
I'm thinking to myself why suffer with the same generational pain? Do you have the latitude to learn from your prior mistakes and those of people around you? Are you afraid of going against the norm which hasn't worked for you because you are more afraid of the unknown? Do you actually seek the advice of others without having written in stone what others impression of you should be? Do you ever take time to reflect and really analyze your situation?
It truly is a bad wind that never changes course. I've been focusing hard over this last year to add more structured focus to my change for the better. I've been going back to some of the things which have worked for me in the past. My change of course is to hold out for someone I want to marry, someone I would love to spend the rest of my life with who will commit.
Unfortunately for me I migrate towards people who I know are not going to commit because I've been accustomed to spending a lot of time alone. Now I realize I need to change my course of action because I want to care again.
Even though our conversation did not go into the topic of relationships, family, or anything of substance. It was just a hello, what are you up to right now type call. I was at my mom's picking up my grandchildren to keep them for the what was left of the day. He was on his way visiting his older brother he had just had dinner at a local eatery and was telling me about the $4.99 specials they had. I sort of got the sense he didn't say to me what he really called for. Maybe because I told him I was at my mom's. Well anyways the phone call caused me to reflect. He normally asks me what am I doing in a way which commands are you on track to succeed. Are you purposing yourself for increase?
It made me reflect on an old saying which has stuck in my head. "It's a Bad Wind that Never Changes It's Course." As storms sometimes brew it normally gets worse if it stands still in a certain spot because it is building up strength and normally does more damage when it stays on course. I feel business and personal relationships some how have the same impact. When you stay in a personal or business relationship and become complacent it just builds up strength and if the course of action doesn't change from time to time (hopefully for the better) it can do irrevocable damage. To take it one step further, how your business relationships pan out can sometimes (not always) be akin to how your personal relationships turn out. Often times there is some similarity between approach and delivery. It's sort of why I guess when companies do background checks of your references even after all these years is because they realize your personal relationships will give them an indication of what type of person they are looking to hire. The same strengths and weaknesses a person brings to the table in a business arena probably is very reflective of how they interact personally with their friends.
It brought me to the question: Are your business and personal relationships failing for the same reasons? Now for my friend I mentioned earlier in this post I would say maybe. He is very committed to what he does professionally and he is very good at it. On a personal level his expectations are just as high is why I think he's still single. A very handsome man, light in complexion, naturally wavy hair, lives alone, two nice cars, nice house, meticulously clean, money in the bank, retired from one job, making great money on another the brother has definitely got it going on. When I ask him why doesn't he have a woman his reply is "I'm trying to stay focused." I'm like to myself focused on what? Every time he gets in a relationship it seems it ends for the same reason the woman has "bad kids".
I'm wondering why even involve yourself in a relationship with a woman with children if you know goodness well you don't have the patience for it? I figure he was on his way to his brother's house to vent and share all their failed relationships with women with "bad kids."
I'm thinking to myself why suffer with the same generational pain? Do you have the latitude to learn from your prior mistakes and those of people around you? Are you afraid of going against the norm which hasn't worked for you because you are more afraid of the unknown? Do you actually seek the advice of others without having written in stone what others impression of you should be? Do you ever take time to reflect and really analyze your situation?
It truly is a bad wind that never changes course. I've been focusing hard over this last year to add more structured focus to my change for the better. I've been going back to some of the things which have worked for me in the past. My change of course is to hold out for someone I want to marry, someone I would love to spend the rest of my life with who will commit.
Unfortunately for me I migrate towards people who I know are not going to commit because I've been accustomed to spending a lot of time alone. Now I realize I need to change my course of action because I want to care again.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Connect the Dots was One of My Favorite Childhood Games
Playing connect the dots was one of my favorite games as a child. I remember having a big book of Connect the Dot puzzles. I was so excited when I got the point when I was able to connect the dots with using two digits.
Now I thinking the game must have had a subliminal message to it. It life one of the first things we need to do is learn to connect the dots and see how everything interrelates.
As I work more and more from day to day I see so many dots not connecting. Admittedly I have to slow down sometimes and look to see if the dots are connecting why are they not connecting.
Going back to basics sometimes helps to reinforce our foundation. If I go back to the beginning and trace my way through to see why things ended up one way rather than differently I can attribute it most often to not connecting the dots as I should.
I remember as a child before I learned the higher numbers I would sometimes stumble at the end and incorrectly connect the dots. The drawing would let me know immediately I had gone off path.
It occurred to me today life is about connecting the dots. Starting off at point #1 and moving forward through life connecting the dots until the drawing looks like it is supposed to look. It often seems the choices we make or not connecting the right dots leads to a picture which just doesn't seem right. So we retrace our paths to were we erred and try and pick up from there.
What brought me tot that realization is the dots not connecting in a situation which should be very relational. However, instead of the dots connecting as they should everything is headed towards different paths.
It is amazing how some things we look at as trivial like a game can provide such a great message. At least for me I know I did. It is so important to connect the dots. And when things are looking as you know the picture should look trace back to the point you got off track and connect the dots from there until the picture looks the way it was designed to look.
Let me end this post before I start testifying.
Have a blessed day!
Lynne
Now I thinking the game must have had a subliminal message to it. It life one of the first things we need to do is learn to connect the dots and see how everything interrelates.
As I work more and more from day to day I see so many dots not connecting. Admittedly I have to slow down sometimes and look to see if the dots are connecting why are they not connecting.
Going back to basics sometimes helps to reinforce our foundation. If I go back to the beginning and trace my way through to see why things ended up one way rather than differently I can attribute it most often to not connecting the dots as I should.
I remember as a child before I learned the higher numbers I would sometimes stumble at the end and incorrectly connect the dots. The drawing would let me know immediately I had gone off path.
It occurred to me today life is about connecting the dots. Starting off at point #1 and moving forward through life connecting the dots until the drawing looks like it is supposed to look. It often seems the choices we make or not connecting the right dots leads to a picture which just doesn't seem right. So we retrace our paths to were we erred and try and pick up from there.
What brought me tot that realization is the dots not connecting in a situation which should be very relational. However, instead of the dots connecting as they should everything is headed towards different paths.
It is amazing how some things we look at as trivial like a game can provide such a great message. At least for me I know I did. It is so important to connect the dots. And when things are looking as you know the picture should look trace back to the point you got off track and connect the dots from there until the picture looks the way it was designed to look.
Let me end this post before I start testifying.
Have a blessed day!
Lynne
Saturday, July 17, 2010
HUD Homes Make Great Homes!
I spent my Saturday updating the listings of HUD Homes For Sale in the Hampton Roads area on my website. There are over 200 homes listed for sale on the list as of today for the Hampton Roads and surrounding areas. I think that is a huge number.
Purchasing a HUD home as a single mother led to my passion for wanting to sell real estate. I first started working with HUD owned homes back in the 90's when I was first licensed. They used to be printed every other Saturday on the back page of the local newspaper. I could not wait until the new list came out and quite a few of my prospective buyers checked often as well for a home they could afford.
HUD and VA Owned homes were the bulk of my home sales when I first got started in the business. They were the homes my prospective buyers could afford. I know personally the earnest money deposit equated to less than what the 1st month's rent and security deposit would be on a rental. I would have a full 30 days after closing until my first mortgage payment was due. I closed around mid-August and my first mortgage payment was not due until October. It gave me time to spruce up my newly acquired home and then move in my things and then spruce up my home I was going to rent out before my first payment was due. Heck I was so excited about moving into my new home I got everything done in less than a week.
I'm truly thankful to the real estate agent who encouraged me and said "You Can Do It".
Lynne Ruffin
REALTOR
Phone: (757) 309-763
Foreclosure Line: (757) 542-5108
Long and Foster REALTORS Norfolk
Email: Lynne@LynneRuffin.com
Website: www.LynneRuffin.com
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Purchasing a HUD home as a single mother led to my passion for wanting to sell real estate. I first started working with HUD owned homes back in the 90's when I was first licensed. They used to be printed every other Saturday on the back page of the local newspaper. I could not wait until the new list came out and quite a few of my prospective buyers checked often as well for a home they could afford.
HUD and VA Owned homes were the bulk of my home sales when I first got started in the business. They were the homes my prospective buyers could afford. I know personally the earnest money deposit equated to less than what the 1st month's rent and security deposit would be on a rental. I would have a full 30 days after closing until my first mortgage payment was due. I closed around mid-August and my first mortgage payment was not due until October. It gave me time to spruce up my newly acquired home and then move in my things and then spruce up my home I was going to rent out before my first payment was due. Heck I was so excited about moving into my new home I got everything done in less than a week.
I'm truly thankful to the real estate agent who encouraged me and said "You Can Do It".
Lynne Ruffin
REALTOR
Phone: (757) 309-763
Foreclosure Line: (757) 542-5108
Long and Foster REALTORS Norfolk
Email: Lynne@LynneRuffin.com
Website: www.LynneRuffin.com
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Daily Rental Hot Lists - The Market Dictates I Do!
Before you build a mousetrap check to see if there are any mice. This saying holds very true. Sometimes we as sales people get caught up in what we want our portfolio to consist of. We envision people wanting what we feel is best for them based on our knowledge and experience. Well I've decided to take a step back and look at what is really happening in my part of the market and analyze where the majority of my inquiries are being generated from. It didn't take a whole lot of research to find out. Over recent months I would say 85% of my inquiries have been from rentals. Tenants looking to rent a home and Homeowners looking to rent out their home.
Lately I have been receiving quite a few rental leads. When I'm on duty the calls are normally from people looking to rent. Well, years past I used to refuse to do rentals. After having purchased two homes myself as a single mother I just did not understand why any one would ever want to rent and pay towards someone else future instead of securing their own. Over time housing has proved to be one of the most stable investments ever.
Now anyone like myself who has owned stock in the past 15 years has probably suffered insurmountable losses. After I loss a 100 shares in one company it was totally a wake up call. I had purchased the shares because it was a retail establishment which I frequented. Needless to say they filed bankruptcy, reorganized, and I didn't get one dime. I really felt bad for the people who owned more shares in the company than I probably could have owned in a lifetime at the price is was originally trading for. Once their stock got down to a penny it was fair game.
Well, I'm thinking if those top investors had invested the money in investment property probably the most catastrophic thing that could have happened is a natural disaster and their chances of losing everything would probably be slim to none. Most people who own property I would imagine has it insured. There is no insurance against the stock market which I'm aware of.
Undoubtedly this market has people still skeptical about buying. I was talking to an investor recently and he seemed to agree with me now is one of the best times ever to buy. My reply was "yes, I'm surprised my phone is not ringing off the hook for those persons looking to purchase."
Reality has set in. I really don't receive a lot of calls or referrals from people looking to buy. Most of the calls I receive when I am at the office for duty, on the phone, or via referrals are from people looking to rent. So yesterday evening I added a new page to my website: http://www.lynneruffin.com/VirginiaRentals/Rent.htm. Rentals are what most of the prospects I have been privy to are looking for. Why am I not featuring more information on rentals? Some people are just not ready to take the plunge into buying a home or have been there and done that and even though it is for a lot of folks it is just not for them.
Now I will hopefully be updating my Rental Hot List daily. In the past when I have featured a page of rentals on my website my website hits were off the chain. I took it down because I was receiving so many inquiries and after things slowed down I never implemented my hot lists again.
Fortunately for me the company I am with not allows us to take the rental listings when a Homeowner is looking to rent which I love. When a homeowner wants to rent their property the rental can go into the MLS with me as the listing agent and I can run the marketing campaigns to get it rented. I love it!
Now I am going to concentration on rental properties. Rentals sometimes consist of prospective buyers who are skeptical about buying right now, however, they will buy in the future once they feel the market is right for them. Homeowners who rent their property now may one day decide to sell it when the market gets better. If I put the listing into property management I get the listing back once the homeowner wants to sell.
Thus, if you're looking to rent a property or looking to rent your property I hope you find the rental resources I've added and will be adding to my website over the next week helpful.
Have a great day!
Lynne
Lynne RuffinREALTOR®
757.309.2763
Long and Foster Norfolk Companies
2000-13 Colonial Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23517
Licensed in Virginia
"Equal Housing Opportunity"
Lately I have been receiving quite a few rental leads. When I'm on duty the calls are normally from people looking to rent. Well, years past I used to refuse to do rentals. After having purchased two homes myself as a single mother I just did not understand why any one would ever want to rent and pay towards someone else future instead of securing their own. Over time housing has proved to be one of the most stable investments ever.
Now anyone like myself who has owned stock in the past 15 years has probably suffered insurmountable losses. After I loss a 100 shares in one company it was totally a wake up call. I had purchased the shares because it was a retail establishment which I frequented. Needless to say they filed bankruptcy, reorganized, and I didn't get one dime. I really felt bad for the people who owned more shares in the company than I probably could have owned in a lifetime at the price is was originally trading for. Once their stock got down to a penny it was fair game.
Well, I'm thinking if those top investors had invested the money in investment property probably the most catastrophic thing that could have happened is a natural disaster and their chances of losing everything would probably be slim to none. Most people who own property I would imagine has it insured. There is no insurance against the stock market which I'm aware of.
Undoubtedly this market has people still skeptical about buying. I was talking to an investor recently and he seemed to agree with me now is one of the best times ever to buy. My reply was "yes, I'm surprised my phone is not ringing off the hook for those persons looking to purchase."
Reality has set in. I really don't receive a lot of calls or referrals from people looking to buy. Most of the calls I receive when I am at the office for duty, on the phone, or via referrals are from people looking to rent. So yesterday evening I added a new page to my website: http://www.lynneruffin.com/VirginiaRentals/Rent.htm. Rentals are what most of the prospects I have been privy to are looking for. Why am I not featuring more information on rentals? Some people are just not ready to take the plunge into buying a home or have been there and done that and even though it is for a lot of folks it is just not for them.
Now I will hopefully be updating my Rental Hot List daily. In the past when I have featured a page of rentals on my website my website hits were off the chain. I took it down because I was receiving so many inquiries and after things slowed down I never implemented my hot lists again.
Fortunately for me the company I am with not allows us to take the rental listings when a Homeowner is looking to rent which I love. When a homeowner wants to rent their property the rental can go into the MLS with me as the listing agent and I can run the marketing campaigns to get it rented. I love it!
Now I am going to concentration on rental properties. Rentals sometimes consist of prospective buyers who are skeptical about buying right now, however, they will buy in the future once they feel the market is right for them. Homeowners who rent their property now may one day decide to sell it when the market gets better. If I put the listing into property management I get the listing back once the homeowner wants to sell.
Thus, if you're looking to rent a property or looking to rent your property I hope you find the rental resources I've added and will be adding to my website over the next week helpful.
Have a great day!
Lynne
Lynne RuffinREALTOR®
757.309.2763
Long and Foster Norfolk Companies
2000-13 Colonial Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23517
Licensed in Virginia
"Equal Housing Opportunity"
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
What Don't Break You Will Make You Stronger!
Well I have heard the word "recession" more this week than I think I've heard in a lifetime. Undoubtedly some people are facing some really tough times. Admittedly, I am one of them. I think I made more money part-time working at Burger King when I was in high school than I've made this year. In fact I know I have. I put in the hours back then and my reward was my paycheck.
This market has been tough. The words which resonate back which I use to hear all the time when I was growing up was "What Don't Break You Will Make You Stronger!" Most often it was applicable to my having to do something my Grandmother had commanded I didn't want to do. In retrospect it was nothing major it was the principle of her demanding not asking. It is similar to my saying to my grandson recently "stop spinning the top on the trash can." He was spinning the top around on the kitchen trash container as fast as he could non-stop in the kitchen. I was sitting at the kitchen table. I had to say "stop" three times. Then I said Charles I've asked you to stop doing that why won't you stop? He told me because his parents say "please stop" and I didn't say "please stop".
Well I think this economy has really caused some strife for folks financially, spiritually, and socially. I'm staying encouraged because I can feel my inner strength building. At times I feel like I just don't care anymore and I pray about it. I've prayed more lately than I ever have in my life.
As always I plan to keep moving full steam ahead even if it is not powering anything to move. I'm getting stronger from the exercise of keeping it moving.
This market has been tough. The words which resonate back which I use to hear all the time when I was growing up was "What Don't Break You Will Make You Stronger!" Most often it was applicable to my having to do something my Grandmother had commanded I didn't want to do. In retrospect it was nothing major it was the principle of her demanding not asking. It is similar to my saying to my grandson recently "stop spinning the top on the trash can." He was spinning the top around on the kitchen trash container as fast as he could non-stop in the kitchen. I was sitting at the kitchen table. I had to say "stop" three times. Then I said Charles I've asked you to stop doing that why won't you stop? He told me because his parents say "please stop" and I didn't say "please stop".
Well I think this economy has really caused some strife for folks financially, spiritually, and socially. I'm staying encouraged because I can feel my inner strength building. At times I feel like I just don't care anymore and I pray about it. I've prayed more lately than I ever have in my life.
As always I plan to keep moving full steam ahead even if it is not powering anything to move. I'm getting stronger from the exercise of keeping it moving.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Let's Play Pretend
What would happen if we gave a private business $100 million locally within the confounds of one city to operate for a year? Most local businesses will not see this much money in a lifetime.
The thought came to me when I was reading the news reports in regards to the budgets for the different localities. Since I have been self-employed for the most part for the last four years for some strange reason it made me wonder what would happen if a local business was endowed with that kind of financing just once. Do you think they would take the $100 million dollars and do a better job with the funds? Well, yes I do.
First off, the local business would have come into a windfall they probably never would have imagined happening. $100 million to run something and all they would have to do is collect money from people for the promise of services that will meet their needs. We'll call him Mr. Businessman. Hey Mr. Businessman I'm giving you a $100 million this year to run our schools and make our children the best and the brightest, make sure the streets are kept in good condition, keep our streets safe, make sure our city is presentable when people come to visit, ensure you have activities to keep our youth occupied, help our senior citizens they helped us, some of our citizens will fall on hard times make funds available to them, keep our water clean, pick up trash, oh and keep collecting money from the citizens so we can do this all over again next year.
Let's say Mr. Businessman was given $100 million to run his own business. Let's just pretend he didn't have to pay taxes on that money. Do you think the business would be run effectively? What about competitively? Can we tie his performance into whether or not he'll receive a $100 million the next year?
What do you think the impact would be on for-profit businesses if they receive funding for sitting around figuring out how much to ask for and approving it? What do you think would happen if a local city contracted out the management of the whole city for $100 million? Do you think we would see any difference in the way money was spent?
The thought came to me when I was reading the news reports in regards to the budgets for the different localities. Since I have been self-employed for the most part for the last four years for some strange reason it made me wonder what would happen if a local business was endowed with that kind of financing just once. Do you think they would take the $100 million dollars and do a better job with the funds? Well, yes I do.
First off, the local business would have come into a windfall they probably never would have imagined happening. $100 million to run something and all they would have to do is collect money from people for the promise of services that will meet their needs. We'll call him Mr. Businessman. Hey Mr. Businessman I'm giving you a $100 million this year to run our schools and make our children the best and the brightest, make sure the streets are kept in good condition, keep our streets safe, make sure our city is presentable when people come to visit, ensure you have activities to keep our youth occupied, help our senior citizens they helped us, some of our citizens will fall on hard times make funds available to them, keep our water clean, pick up trash, oh and keep collecting money from the citizens so we can do this all over again next year.
Let's say Mr. Businessman was given $100 million to run his own business. Let's just pretend he didn't have to pay taxes on that money. Do you think the business would be run effectively? What about competitively? Can we tie his performance into whether or not he'll receive a $100 million the next year?
What do you think the impact would be on for-profit businesses if they receive funding for sitting around figuring out how much to ask for and approving it? What do you think would happen if a local city contracted out the management of the whole city for $100 million? Do you think we would see any difference in the way money was spent?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Social Networking 24/7
Social networking has definitely become a big phenomena. It seems to be playing a major role in new gadgets. My latest phone has a social networking icon on it. I am wondering now why my previous phone software grade upgrade did not make it available. Oh well.
Personally I am hooked on the Social Networking craze. There are so many sites to friend and be a friend. It is interesting to see what eyes. My favorite posts are the motivational quotes. There are some very creative individuals who create their own and others who use some very profound quotes written by some of the greatest leaders of our time.
Well recently I got a new phone. It kept me up last night. My latest phone has Social Networking pre-loaded with icons to boot. I have a social networking icon which once I select it I get an option of three Social Networking sites: FACEBOOK, MySpace, and Flickr. How nice right. Well, I'm feeling the effects of numerous sleep interruptions right about now.
I commend the programmers for getting the icons to display so nicely on the phone. Next programming enhancement I hope they add an extra icon to the Social Networking selections to enable users to disable alerts from Social Networking only. I don't want to end my text alerts when I end my Social Networking alerts. Of course, I want it to be just as easy as it is to access the Social Networking icons. Technology has spoiled me there are endless possibilities.
I know some people Social Network 24/7, however, I'm more like a 12/7 Social Network type person, early mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights I otherwise can't sleep. I'm truly loving my new phone because the icons make it so easy to check Social Networking updates more frequently. I also want my other social networking sites available from icons as well pre-loaded like the more popular ones Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Peace!
Personally I am hooked on the Social Networking craze. There are so many sites to friend and be a friend. It is interesting to see what eyes. My favorite posts are the motivational quotes. There are some very creative individuals who create their own and others who use some very profound quotes written by some of the greatest leaders of our time.
Well recently I got a new phone. It kept me up last night. My latest phone has Social Networking pre-loaded with icons to boot. I have a social networking icon which once I select it I get an option of three Social Networking sites: FACEBOOK, MySpace, and Flickr. How nice right. Well, I'm feeling the effects of numerous sleep interruptions right about now.
I commend the programmers for getting the icons to display so nicely on the phone. Next programming enhancement I hope they add an extra icon to the Social Networking selections to enable users to disable alerts from Social Networking only. I don't want to end my text alerts when I end my Social Networking alerts. Of course, I want it to be just as easy as it is to access the Social Networking icons. Technology has spoiled me there are endless possibilities.
I know some people Social Network 24/7, however, I'm more like a 12/7 Social Network type person, early mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights I otherwise can't sleep. I'm truly loving my new phone because the icons make it so easy to check Social Networking updates more frequently. I also want my other social networking sites available from icons as well pre-loaded like the more popular ones Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Peace!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
If You Don't Stand for Something You Will Fall for Nothing
I always thought I would throw up if I heard my Grandmother say to me one more time "If You Don't Stand for Something You Will Fall for Nothing." Her no-nonsense approach to life would make me pause many times. Sometimes I got so sick and tired of hearing her sayings I would put my hands up and cover both ears. She always had a quote for everything.
When I would show outwardly that I didn't want to listen to nothing she had to say at that point and time she would chant you can hate me now but you will love me later. Hands down, feet to the pedal, without an inkling of a doubt I do. I realized it after her passing. We had some really good times and we also had some really not so good times together. My brothers used to laugh and joke me when she was still living even after I was an adult "what did you get a whipping for today I know you did something to piss Grandma off. You and Grandma are always fighting." (By the way she used to always say when she irritated me beyond human imagination "it is better to be pissed off than pissed on." LOL!)
I remember what I deemed to be our last fight. After this incident everything else was of no consequence. It was one of the saddest days of my life. My grandmother did my laundry for me until my oldest child was about 7 years old. Well this entailed doing the laundry for me and my three children. On this particular day I gathered my things and went for her to do my laundry. However she refused because I waited so long and let everything pile up. I'm telling you I could not have had a laundry service to do my laundry any better. I would take her my laundry for me and the kids and she would wash, dry, fold, hang, and stack my laundry so neatly I would never even need to iron. She could clean my suits and dresses and hang them so neatly they would look like I had them professionally done.
Oh when she told me she was not going to do my laundry and I realized she was serious I was livid. Her words were "I don't care if you get mad." She told me one of her famous quotes "it's better to be pissed off than pissed on." After she said what she had to say all I can remember was mumbling something which I thought was under my breath but apparently not because she said "What did you say?" I told her I wasn't talking to her. She picked up a broom and went across my face with it and I had to grab the broom and hold on to it to keep from getting a serious beat down.
Today I finished my daughter's laundry for her. She had to go to work early and I had three little ones when I was going solo and she has two little ones and she has recently separated from her husband. I got a text message saying "thank you mommy". She should really be thanking my Grandmother because she taught me to stand for something.
When I would show outwardly that I didn't want to listen to nothing she had to say at that point and time she would chant you can hate me now but you will love me later. Hands down, feet to the pedal, without an inkling of a doubt I do. I realized it after her passing. We had some really good times and we also had some really not so good times together. My brothers used to laugh and joke me when she was still living even after I was an adult "what did you get a whipping for today I know you did something to piss Grandma off. You and Grandma are always fighting." (By the way she used to always say when she irritated me beyond human imagination "it is better to be pissed off than pissed on." LOL!)
I remember what I deemed to be our last fight. After this incident everything else was of no consequence. It was one of the saddest days of my life. My grandmother did my laundry for me until my oldest child was about 7 years old. Well this entailed doing the laundry for me and my three children. On this particular day I gathered my things and went for her to do my laundry. However she refused because I waited so long and let everything pile up. I'm telling you I could not have had a laundry service to do my laundry any better. I would take her my laundry for me and the kids and she would wash, dry, fold, hang, and stack my laundry so neatly I would never even need to iron. She could clean my suits and dresses and hang them so neatly they would look like I had them professionally done.
Oh when she told me she was not going to do my laundry and I realized she was serious I was livid. Her words were "I don't care if you get mad." She told me one of her famous quotes "it's better to be pissed off than pissed on." After she said what she had to say all I can remember was mumbling something which I thought was under my breath but apparently not because she said "What did you say?" I told her I wasn't talking to her. She picked up a broom and went across my face with it and I had to grab the broom and hold on to it to keep from getting a serious beat down.
Today I finished my daughter's laundry for her. She had to go to work early and I had three little ones when I was going solo and she has two little ones and she has recently separated from her husband. I got a text message saying "thank you mommy". She should really be thanking my Grandmother because she taught me to stand for something.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Dynamic Map Searches Are Awesome!
Looking for a home? Well I think one of the greatest new tools for online shopping is the Dynamic Map Searches. I was checking out the increased functionality and was truly impressed. You can go to my website at www.LynneRuffin.LNF.com and search the vacinity you are interested in via a Dynamic Map Search. For purposes of this illustration I will begin by searching for the Corporate Owned home I am currently holding open on Sundays. I begin by going to my website http://www.lynneruffin.lnf.com/ and clicking on the link in the top middle of the page which states "Click here for Free MLS Dynamic Map Home Search". Next, after the page pops up I input Zip Code 23321 as my search criteria. Then I select price: "375,000" to "400,000" then click on the SEARCH button. It landed me on the screen below.
It shows me all the properties available in the 23321 zip code between the price range from $375,000 to $400,000. I get to look at the competition. It can assist buyers with evaluating what other properties are selling for in the immediate area. How sweet!
Okay, excuse my love for technology but now I'm excited here goes the GREAT part. I don't have to sit and figure out for myself with a lot of different clicks and analysis how my property of interest compares with other homes. I can select between 2 to 4 properties from the list which now displays and hit the compare button. For this example I chose the subject property by clicking in the box next to where it is listed (of course, smile!), I then checked the next highest priced property to the subject property, and after that I chose the two properties in the list that are priced lower than the subject. Then the magic happens when I hit the compare button. It shows me a visual comparison with data for all four properties. Now if this doesn't save on gas and automate the home search process what will? How nice.
I remember when I first started in real estate they were printing thick books which were delivered to the individual real estate offices like each Friday and you had to flip through the pages to see what properties were available with originally no pictures. No maps. I had to carry around a road map - GPS was unheard of in the industry at least here locally at the time.
Excuse my joy with seeing how far we've come in this industry to help save on gas and another very precious commodity, "time". Well after I hit the compare button my face lit up. We have arrived!
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