One of the fun ideas I picked up at Sellabration was a dialogue tip from top producer Alexis Bolin out of Pensacola, Florida. If you have a low offer to present to your seller, make a couple of copies. When he/she tells you to reject the offer outright because the price is insulting, confirm he/she doesn't want to counter, and then tear it in half in front of his/her face. You'll likely receive a look of astonishment and a panicked, "Wait!" To this, you respond, "How does it feel to have NO offer on your property?" Then pull out another copy of the contract from your briefcase and say, "Listen, that wasn't the original. But now that you know you don't like having NO offer, let's discuss this one with the intention of finding a way to make it work."

While at Cyberstars, I had the pleasure of hearing Stefan Swanepoel first delve into the business lessons articulated in his book, Surviving the Serengeti (I'm an elephant, by his spectrum; take the test at www.whatanimalami.com to find out what you are) and later, share his Real Trends for 2012 and how they will impact real estate and our lives in the year to come. Looking forward is important to the health of any business, and certainly is true in real estate. Consider this: we are headed to complete mobile integration; people want everything to be connected and easy. Consider how easy you're making it for people to buy and sell real estate with and through you - can they access you easily via mobile tools?

So how do you decide which real estate workshops, seminars, conventions, and events you'll attend in a year? You could spend a small fortune trying to get to everything. Here are some considerations:

• Get clear on what you need help with, and then review the event's agenda to see if the content offers a potential fit.
• Consider format: if you want one-on-one time with top producers, seek out an event with a format that accommodates that.
• If you're looking to shop gadgets rather than sit in sessions, examine the vendor offerings.
• Does the event offer any follow-up opportunities for ongoing accountability or discussions post-event? That may be important to you.
• For many, being able to leave one's market makes a difference. So location may be a factor.

The next Mastery Workshop is in Jacksonville, FL, April 25-28, 2012 - it offers practical, actionable strategies from active practitioners who genuinely care about you improving, both in business and in life. You'll get one-on-one coaching while onsite, and follow-up accountability for six months after. Please consider adding the Mastery Workshop to your considerations this year!

We discussed four main areas on the webinar:

• Embracing the #1 business generator: your past clients and customers
• Becoming an effective lead generator for new business
• Developing time management discipline
• Creating a consistent customer experience

Here's the thing I notice: too many agents kind of skip over or through the basics without mastering them. They try to build a team without having solid systems in place for those team members to rely on. And then, they get frustrated when balls get dropped or new business trails off.

My challenge to you is to take just one of the four areas above, and set an intention to truly master it. Be the best agent in your area in that category. For example, if you're not getting in front of your past clients and customers at least on a monthly basis with some form of marketing or communication that reminds them you're still in the business, and shows them you care, then do just that. Sit down right now with a sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet open, and outline what you're going to put in front of them each month of the year in 2012. Here are some ideas used by fellow agents to get you started:

• January: "Year in Review" - market data from the prior calendar year, broken into neighborhoods or price ranges, with a side-by-side comparison to the two years prior
• February: postcard offering a free rose or carnation from a local florist (negotiate a deal with the florist in advance for a bulk price to be paid just on the cards brought in)
• March: time change reminder
• April: Q1 Market Summary and offer for a Property Valuation
• May: postcard promoting a Document Shredding Event at your office
• June: local summer activities schedule
• July: Q2 Market Summary and offer for a Lender Pre-Qualification
• August: magnetic fall football schedule for popular local teams
• September: postcard offering a free pumpkin from a local farm (negotiate a deal in advance for a bulk price to be paid)
• October: Q3 Market Summary and offer for a Property Valuation
• November: time change reminder and holiday greetings
• December: branded wall calendar for the coming year

Do you need a shot of strategic business energy this month? Please join Coach Amy Stoehr for two free, educational webinars next week, and get a jump-start on closing deals this December, and continue building your business in the new year.

Get back to basics with the “Level One Mastery” webinar hosted by Zillow  Academy on Tuesday, December 6^th, 2011, and learn how to “Leverage Your Strengths for Success webinar” hosted by Carrie Gable, President/CEO of RealSupport Inc., on Thursday December 8^th, 2011.

No matter where you are in your career, reviewing the levels of Real Estate Mastery can help you plan for success by incorporating a few important ingredients to be 100% effective.

In part one of Amy’s Zillow Academy Mastery series, she’ll focus on embracing the #1 business generator: Past Clients and Customers, and cover the following:

·         Implementing a Mail Monthly/Call Quarterly Campaign

·         Setting a Year-Long Marketing Campaign

·         Becoming an Effective Lead Geneartor

·         Creating a Consistent Customer Experience

Click here to register for the “Level One Mastery” webinar hosted by Zillow Academy.

Are you tired of Spinning Plates?

Successful Realtors know what they’re good at, and how to delegate the rest. Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Do you know how to use what you’ve got, and hire help for what you need?

Be proactive, not reactive. Amy joins Carrie Gable, President/CEO of RealSupport Inc., for the “Leverage Your Strengths for Success” webinar on December 8^th, 2011 as they discuss how to close more deals, make more money, and enjoy the process more by using the resources available to you, including coaches, assistants and systems.

Let the experts at Real Estate Masters Guild help you figure out how to stop spinning and start leveraging your own core strengths.

Click here to register for the “Leverage your Strengths for Success” webinar, and learn how to stop spinning and start leveraging your skills to pay the bills. 

We hope to "see you" online next week!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our “Bring-A-Buddy” to Jacksonville video contest. The videos we received were fun, sincere, and heartfelt.

And now, drumroll please…we have a winner!  

Congratulations to Josh Hansen and Kerry O’Neal from Strategic Realty, LLC! Their hilarious rap video insisting that they both needed to attend the REMG Workshop was a big hit. We’re assuming they’ll bring each other. We sure hope so!

Here’s their video, in case you missed it:

Special thanks to all our participating contestants; we appreciate your efforts and enjoyed your creativity and stellar movie-star, quality talent.

Tammy Mitchell-Hines of Tammy Mitchell-Hines & Company

Linda Hall of Century-21 First Choice

Craig Smyser of RE/MAX Capital City

Rob Zwemmer of Rob Zwemmer and Associates, Inc.

Sanjeev Aneja of Ontrack Realty

KC Butler of RE/MAX Home Teams of Colorado

We hope to see all of you at REMG’s Mastery Workshop VI in Jacksonville, FL on April 26-28, 2012.

 Click here to register, and feel free to bring a buddy!

As always, our goal at Real Estate Masters Guild is to help you achieve your personal and professional goals in a collaborative environment.  We teach and mentor new and established agents to increase business profitability and personal fulfillment. 

So, watch these videos here, then go like your favorite on our Real Estate Masters Guild Facebook Page. And spread the love - share them with your friends! The video with the most likes wins. When you "Like" a video on Facebook, it translates to views on YouTube, so we'll keep tabs on those YouTube views, too.

Votes will be tallied through November 29th. We'll announce a winner on November 30th.

Thanks for playing, folks, and we hope to see you all in Jacksonville! And make sure to scroll down to see all the fun videos - they're all fabulous.

Josh and Kerry made a rap video for us! If they don't win this contest, they should try out for American Idol.

Craig's having a hard time finding a buddy. Help him out!

Tammy Mitchell Hines needs to warm up in Jacksonville!

KC wants to bring his team so they can get as much information as possible to share at the office later.

Rob Zwemmer wants to Bring Sam Miller for more good ideas!

Linda Hall wants to bring her best friend. They're buddies!

Sanjeev Aneja wants to bring his whole team to Jacksonville!

This day always presents the opportunity for me to reflect on two honorable men in my family, my two grandfathers - one who I have no memory of, and the other who I admired and loved to be around my entire life.

Perry Ellsworth Hertz, my paternal grandfather, served in the Pacific in World War II. I have no memory of him - he died two months after I was born, at the age of 60. I have heard that he was a quiet man, very hard-working, and provided for his family the best he could. While they were poor, they still created an environment for my father to grow up happy and well-humored. My father played every sport his tiny high school offered, and I'm sure his dad was proud of how hard his son worked in school, too.

I have some of his old medals, some Japanese paper money, an enormous box of antique tools, and some black-and-white photos to remember him by. My youngest son's middle name is Perry. I felt it was a way to honor his memory, and that my dad would be proud of the association. And today gives me the opportunity to share what I do know about his sacrifices, for his family and his country, with my son.

My maternal grandfather, Arthur Edward Waidmann, also grew up very poor, and lost both of his parents at a young age. Not one to make excuses, he worked hard and never complained. He served in World War II as well, as a paratrooper over Germany. I was blessed before he died to hear just a couple of stories from him about his time in the military. He actually turned down a promotion so that he could stay with "his men" and teach several of them to read and do math.

He was someone I dearly loved and admired my entire life. I watched him make sacrifices as well, in service to his family. From putting himself through college in night school, to later working as a contractor for NASA, there are plenty of stories to share with my sons about his service and dedication.

Today, as we reflect on all those who have served in our military, and died protecting the freedoms we often take for granted, I encourage you to take the time to share a few stories that lift the spirit, warm the heart, and remind us to be grateful for all we have.

From President Wilson, November 11, 1919:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

We want you to join us at the Real Estate Masters Guild Workshop VI in Jacksonville on April 26-28^th and we hope you’ll bring a friend! We’ve created a “Bring-A-Buddy” video contest to encourage you to tell us who you’d bring to Jacksonville and why. The winners will receive two free registrations to the workshop and we’ll all have a lot of fun.

Here’s what to do: Make a one minute YouTube video about your friend and why you'd bring them to Jacksonville.  Send us the link, and we’ll post it through our social media channels, and encourage others to share it too. The video with the most votes by November 30th will win.

If you haven’t started using video in your marketing yet, this is a perfect excuse to learn! [Did you read the part about FREE tickets?] You don’t need anything fancy or expensive to get started with video. If you don't have a video camera, try using the video function on your smart phone, or your digital camera.

Your "Bring-A-Buddy" video can be funny, sweet, serious or silly. Get creative, use props, or simply state why you think you and your buddy would benefit from attending this inspiring event, featuring some of the top real estate producers and mentors in the industry. Your buddy will thank you!

If you need help with your video, please let us know via comments on the REMG Facebook page or the REMG Group Members page.

And now, for the fine print: The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2011. A winner will be selected on November 30, 2011. Winners will receive two tickets to the REMG workshop (worth $797 each) but they are responsible for transportation to the event, and lodging.

Here’s a quick marketing tip: say your name and your company’s name in the video. These videos will last forever on YouTube, and we may use them in future marketing efforts. 

Also, keep it clean, people! We know you will, but we have to reserve the right to say “no thanks” to cross- promoting inappropriate content.

We're looking forward to seeing all the great videos, and we're excited about the Jacksonville workshop. Our goal at REMG is to help you achieve your personal and professional goals in a collaborative environment. Our mentors look forward to working with both new and established agents to increase business profitability, and personal fulfillment.

From one on one mentoring and executive coaching to the invaluable accountability of the Mastermind group, we’re here to support you. The small group setting of REMG encourages agents to share personal stories of success and failure in a safe, trusted setting.

So as I head through airports today on my way to Reno for Mastery Workshop V, I'll take the stairs instead of the escalator. Seems like a small choice; and, the cumulative effect can make a big difference. I'm not out to drop 40 pounds in 4 weeks. I'm after a consistent, long-term change in lifestyle. One choice at a time.

Kind of like the real estate business, isn't it? So many people are still after that one big breakthrough, that magic bullet that will, almost overnight, flood their business with scores of transactions. And yet, if they'd simply get on the phone each morning and call five past clients to check in and be of service, or reach out to two expired listings and get them hoping and dreaming of what life will be like when they do sell, those small efforts would result in over 100 past clients touched and over 40 expireds in just a month.

So maybe it's time for you to make one small choice to point you in the direction of the success you're yearning for.

There's a great book on the impact of small positive choices called The Kaizen Way, for those of you who want more research before you take the leap.

Maybe they're fellow real estate agents in your local market. They're blaming the economy, the lending restrictions, the weather, you name it for their lack of business. And if you're doing okay, they want nothing to do with you. They're resentful of your success.

And maybe they're family or friends. They don't understand what you're dealing with, and they resent the interruptions during "personal time" so they don't support you in your growth.

Do you know why you boil two crabs in a pot, and not one? Because they'll hold each other down and die together.

So what to do about the nay-sayers?

First, surround yourself with like-minded people who get what you're going through and want you to be successful. This might mean traveling to an industry-specific event like our Mastery Workshop to networking, brainstorm, and troubleshoot with other success-minded agents who want to get better. Second, seek support from people who are interested, even passionate, about supporting you. Consider hiring a coach - not only someone who cares about personal growth, but also who knows your business.

Whatever you do, stay out of the pot when the nay-sayers come griping.

I figured it best to shoot a quick video to share my enthusiasm.

What's in it for you? You're getting the independent, trusted source for real estate coaching, education, networking and support, backed by the highest quality customer service in the industry.

In addition, you're getting a group of folks who are genuinely dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others collaborating and providing top-notch solutions to help you grow in your business and in your life.

Come to Reno on October 6-8, 2011, and experience the magic for yourself. Between the fabulous content, the huge-hearted presenters, and the intimate environment, you'll know you've come home!

How could I not be the happiest girl in the world?

Recently, my friends at Real Pro Systems and I reached an agreement that is sure to accelerate our growth!  I decided to fold my Changing Lanes Consulting practice into the Guild, which means that Real Estate Masters Guild now offers coaching services.  And effective July 11, 2011, Real Pro Systems is selling our coaching services!  They are such great people, with such a heart to serve the real estate community and an amazing reputation for service.  I couldn't think of a better firm to partner with.

On Wednesday, July 20, 2011, REMG and RPS are doing our first webcast together.  RPS general manager, Caine O'Brien, will host as I describe the different kinds of coaching services offered in the industry, along with the approach taken by Real Estate Masters Guild.  If you can join us, please do!  Here's the link.

I'm really excited to be working with RPS.  So many of their clients are old friends.  And they'll be a Platinum sponsor of our upcoming Mastery Workshop in Reno.  So while I wouldn't have envisioned that this kind of partnership is what would lead to this next phase of growth, here we are.  And I couldn't be happier!  Welcome to the Guild, Real Pro Systems!

I had the pleasure of spending three days with Teresa Hamilton & Team in Lafayette, Louisiana. This group of ladies is one of the most professional, caring, and committed teams I've had the pleasure of working with. They are regularly generating $30-$35 million in sales annually. They embody their tagline: "Tough. Smart. From the Heart."

So why on earth did they bring in a real estate consultant? Simply put, Teresa knows there's so much she can be doing, and she wanted an "impartial third party" to evaluate and make recommendations.

A few things became clear - first, I applaud them for exceptional customer service. Their clients are treated like family. Second, as is so often the case on these consults, we discovered several opportunities for growth simply by improving on the basics - implementing and enhancing systems, consistently prospecting, and identifying ways to leverage each talent on the team.

The third thing that happened is I'm no longer impartial. I feel very invested in the outcome of this team. They're wonderful people and they deserve to be successful. And, I believe after cruising the bayou yesterday afternoon and eating plenty of delicious crab, shrimp, and crawfish, I am now an honorary Cajun.

At the recent Mastery Workshop in Savannah, Georgia, one of our members, Jeff Rubenstein, shared that the primary shift he made to grow his business in the past six months was a shift of focus. It wasn't about increasing number of calls, installing technology, or mailing postcards. It was about changing his thought process, how he was viewing people.

He took it one step further and sent me a YouTube video that says so much in less than two minutes. It's worth the watch. And think about this - if you're not getting the results you want, whether it's with an agent interaction, a prospect moving forward, your staff's effectiveness, or a personal relationship, maybe a change in words would help.

Founder and CEO Amy Stoehr gets committed (and goes transparent with the world) as she discusses her first workout with Master Hung Tran, creator of the TRANScend LIFEstyle and successful entrepreneur and fitness role model. Would you be this open?

This Part One of a three-part series is focused on developing a morning ritual so that you start each day in the right mindset. Real estate coach and Founder & CEO of Real Estate Masters Guild, Amy Stoehr, shares the value of affirmations and even provides some examples of her own to get you thinking!

Vision boards are powerful tools to help us focus on what we're working for. Over 90% of the population are visual learners! Real estate coach and Founder & CEO of Real Estate Masters Guild, Amy Stoehr, shares her vision board as an example.

Amy Stoehr chats with Dave Jenks, co-author of Millionaire Real Estate Agent and Shift, about three levels of mastery in business, and in particular real estate. Dave will be joining the Mentors at Mastery Workshop IV in Savannah, Georgia, as a keynote speaker and visionary leader of Day Two's format and content. Real Estate Masters Guild is honored to have his support and involvement!

I've discovered the value of having my body balanced - most of us embrace the value of having balance between how much we work and how much we rest and play. It's also important to achieve balance in your physical self - energetically, chemically, and nutritionally. Naturopath Colleen Murphy, LMT shares with us a health scan that she uses to determine where the body is out of balance.