You are on a lifelong trip.  Are you simply going along for the ride? Or are you following your charted course where success will be your destination?  You will achieve that success only through goal achievement.   If you ever took a dream vacation you probably spent some time planning it. You probably figured out exactly where you wanted to go and what things you wanted to do and what you wanted to see.  You had to arrange reservations, schedule tours, and prepare a list of all of the appropriate things you would need to pack. This planning was probably very detailed, somewhat tedious, and time consuming. But, because you wanted your vacation to turn out the way you expected you planned down to the last detail.   When you think about your life, your daily journey, how well do you plan ... 06/22/2014

Realtors, builders, and contractors know about about sustainability through the LEED Certification.  But how broadly do you think about sustainability in general?  Sustainability means different things to different businesses as well as industries. Sustainability really started with the whole concept of being green, becoming more environmentally friendly, and paying more attention to conserving our planet’s resources. However, sustainability has become much more than that. Sustainability has become a viable business strategy which takes into account the economic considerations for business sustainability, governmental issues, and opinions from customers and stakeholders. Where did the term sustainability come from? The term sustainability actually emerged in the 1987 report by United Na... 06/15/2014

   Every June 14th we celebrate Flag Day.  This date commemorates the establishment of our flag in 1777 by the Continental Congress.  The original flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes.  When other states were added the stars and the stripes increased.  However, it was soon seen as impractical to increase the strips and so they went back to 13 but the stars have increased with the addition of every state to today’s 50 stars. I remember as a cub scout selling the new 49 star flag when Alaska became a state.  I remember the hesitation when I went door to door because people believed it would be soon outdated.  Sure enough the same year Hawaii was added and we had a 50 star flag.         This year’s Flag Day is noteworthy because 2014 is also the 200th anniversary year of The Star-Spangled Bann... 06/14/2014

Sometimes we take actions without thinking and this results in unintended consequences.  The Peter Principle is really about unintended consequences in promotion of people in any organization. In 1969, Lawrence Peter wrote the book The Peter Principle.  He said that whenever you have any type of organizational structure your people tend to get promoted into job they can't handle, or as he says it, they are promoted to the level of their incompetence. He noted that although this is not planned it is the unintended consequence. Isn't is true that in any sales organization people are recognized by being promoted?  There are very good reasons for promoting from within including, among others, motivation and engagement of the staff. However, isn't it also true that we make a flawed assumptio... 06/08/2014

In my last post I wrote about the Fol de Rol in Armonk NY which was held this weekend.  They featured the Disc Catching Dogs.  There is a great story about these dogs.  Many of you have rescue dogs.  I also enjoy reading Lisa Von Domek's updates on her “kids.”  The couple showing these dogs today introduced them as their family.  It was obvious to adults and children alike that this was not performing for the dogs.  It was play time. They did a number of acrobatic tricks.  My camera tried to catch some.       After this tricks the dogs came into the crowd to enjoy the approval. 06/08/2014

The Armonk Lions Club will be hosting the 40th Annual Fol De Rol starting Thursday, June 5th and running through Sunday, June 8th.  The Fol de Rol is a country fair located in Wampus Brook Park in the heart of Armonk.  It consists of games, carnival rides, food, craft vendors, live music, and pony rides.  Kids and adults for both find something of interest at this year’s Fol de Rol. Since this is the 40th year and the Lions want to outdo themelves.  So on Saturday and Sunday they  will have a special visit from the Jersey Disc Dogs Performing Dogs Team! Here they are in video       You can get more information at this web site http://www.armonklions.org/folderol.php Here is all the information: Dates:               Thursday, June 5 through June 8, 2014May 2, 2014   7:30am to 3pm Locatio... 06/04/2014

It is certainly true that today's real estate professionals need to be constantly learning new things.  Just the laws regarding the transactions alone are always changing.  But, as you know there is so much more.  If you are the team leader or part of the team you know that you can not produce at peak proficiency unless you follow all of the proper steps.  Maybe you have seen a cut in the time budgeted for training and development because other things seem more important.  Perhaps less time is devoted to training because people have not seen the relationship between the training and development and results. But is it the training or is it the way it is being delivered? I contend that it is the way it is being delivered. One of the problems I have noticed in many organizations is their l... 06/01/2014

My challenge was always writing. In school, I was great with math and science but struggled with English and hated writing themes.  During my corporate career I would opt for face to face meetings rather than memos.  Anyway, that is the preferred method of communication for those of us who are Baby Boomers. I worked as head of human resources at one company that sold high end products.  I would dread writing memos because the Harvard educated president would usually find something he did not like about a clause in a sentence. There came a time that I needed to publish. Fast forward to when I started my business.  I had a friend in HR.  We had been board members and past directors for the New York State Society for Human Resource Management.  The State Society had a magazine published qu... 05/29/2014

Have you every been stuck on anything in your business?  I know for most of us that is a rhetorical question.  When you are stuck or you see something going in the wrong direction you want to do something about it.  Sometimes, however, you need to step back and look at the whole forest instead of one tree.  You may have had some issues similar to the following. Our sales are flat. We can’t get our employees motivated. We are getting more customer complaints. We have new competition. These are common issues but there is usually no one common solution. Be Proactive not Reactive The examples above are symptoms. They represent problems you would like solved. However, it is a mistake to put all your effort into treating these symptoms. Many reactive business leaders take this approach. For e... 05/27/2014

    There is some debate as to the beginnings of Memorial Day or Decoration Day as it was first named.  Most believe that it began with the honoring of the Civil War dead and the decoration of their graves.  A number of cities have claimed that they held the first Memorial Day.  In 1966 LBJ (President Lyndon B Johnson) declared that Waterloo New York was the birthplace of Memorial Day.  The day to celebrate Memorial Day was May 30th.  I remember having a day off from school in the middle of the week to celebrate this date.   Then, in 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May.  Most liked this but many felt that it was just making a long weekend would take away from the meaning of the day. The Town of North Castle, NY, Hamlet of Armon... 05/26/2014

Armonk is a hamlet located in the Town of North Castle NY.  Our hamlet has been known as the home of IBM. But it is much more.  It is a warm community with an ever improving downtown. You will find a variety of restaurants in Armonk.  Over the years some have gone and new ones have moved in.  One such restaurant, Amore Pizza and Italian Restaurant has been part of Armonk since 1993.  This Italian Restaurant has decided to re-invent itself with a move to a new location with a totally redesigned upscale restaurant. We ate there two nights ago.  The owners are the same but the restaurant menu and ambiance is a total make over.  Here is the new restaurant, a spectacular Tuscan Farmhouse. Visit Amore at their new location, 1 Kent Place Armonk, NY 10504 You can contact them online at: www.amo... 05/21/2014

Persistence pays off.  Successful people are persistent and consistent.  These are people who have a single minded purpose and stay laser focused on their goal.  They choose their goals carefully. They have written them down and they are specific.  Their choice of goals is very important.  The goals have been well thought out and are the goals they really want. If you really want it don't look at a goal like a New Year's resolution.  Very little thought and commitment go into most New Years resolutions.  In a few months, when the person is no longer working on that goal it is evidence that he or she did not really want it in the first place.  So these goals must be YOURS and your must really want them. When planning your goals, choose which categories you would like for your goals.  For... 05/18/2014

A LEADING indicator is something that will measure a future event.  Economists use these all the time to predict changes in the economy.  If economists find use of specific indicators important to determine economic health shouldn't you have a leading indicator or two to measure your business health?  As a business owner, broker, or agent you keep track of what you are doing and the effect it is having.  Your car has a dashboard of controls and if something is wrong the red light comes on.  Sometimes people don't see or look for the red light in their business or business career.If you are working ON your business you will have a set of red and green lights and other measurements to track important trends which can quickly warn of problem areas or encourage full speed ahead. You should ... 05/11/2014

Every company wants to attract the best employees.  Employees want to work for companies where they can make a difference, grow, and have fun.  After all, people spend most of their time at work.  Work can be fun and rewarding. Each year New York State Society for Human Resources and the Best Companies group recognize the Best Large (over 250 employees) and Small Companies (15 to 249 employees) to work for in New York.  The winners are listed at www.nysshrm.org/new-york-state-best-companies-initiative Congratulations to our two local Westchester County NY companies that made the list. Acorda Therapeutics, Ardsley, NY.  This biotech companies develops therapies to improve lives of people with neurological conditions.  Its employees receive mentoring, career development and tuition reimbu... 05/07/2014

What separates you from your competition and how do you know that it really separates you in the eyes of your customers?  If you have struggled with getting your message out you may want to think about this question. All to often we hear, “Our Service is what sets us apart. We give great customer service.” That in itself is the problem.  If everyone says it then why is it unique?  What exactly is unique about your service? How do measure the voice of your customers?  Do you ask for feedback from your customers after a transaction is completed to learn if their expectations have been met?  When you know the wants, needs, and expectations of your customers then you can work on exceeding those expectations. Do that by creating an experience that is innovative in your customers' eyes. What ... 05/04/2014

Entrepreneurs are are many things but in all cases they are risk takers.  I would not recommend that anyone launch an entrpreneurial startup if they are risk adverse.  You must be bold enough to understand that your startup may not survive.  On the other hand an entrepreneur should not be reckless as if he or she were going to throw a large amount of money on the tables in Las Vegas.  What type of risk is prudent?  Using an investor example, it would not be prudent to do day trading and option buying to make a killing if you want to build a retirement account.  No, you would develop a managed long term diversified investment plan. Both choices involve risk but the second choice of diversifying manages that risk and results in a successful outcome. Michael Gerber, in his book “The E Myth... 04/27/2014

How do you know if you are an effective manager or team leader?  If you have a team that is performing well, achieving goals, and doing so when you are not there then you are an effective team leader. I hear people say all the time, "He is a good manager because he gets down and does everything that needs to be done."  Or some say, "He is the hardest worker." While those are good habits they are not the most important.  If you own a small business and want to grow you need a team.  The team could be employees who are paid a salary or independent contractors.  Regardless, you are responsible for the performance of your team. You have a team because you can not do everything yourself and you want to grow your business and increase sales. That means that you must delegate with confidence. ... 04/20/2014

What do you want to accomplish when you go to an appointment with your next prospect?  Making the sale is the reason you are in business.  However, if that is your top of mind goal you might come across as pushy.  There are a large number of people who feel that salespeople are primarily trying to convince someone to buy something he or she does not need. Imagine the stress you feel when, for example, you enter a car showroom.  If you have been a buyer you know the stress involved in going into a car showroom to buy your next car. Even though you want a car you are preparing for a stressful time.  In most cases the same is true with the salesperson who has a qouta to make. On your next appointment set a goal to indentify a need or issue.  Approach your prospect as a doctor.  If you visi... 04/13/2014

  Definition of Serendipity: an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident Like everyone in business my primary goal is to market and find more clients.  A great way for me to do that is through speaking engagements and I have a number of informational topics related to the business space that I am in.  I know some people that are so promotional that they want to make sure that they get business every time.  I believe that will create a negative impression and appearance of being pushy. I was asked to speak at local chamber last night.  I would be one of two speakers.  I was asked if that would be a problem because it was a problem for someone else.  Not at all was my response.   “But we would also like you to talk about the benefits of the regional chamber since you are an a... 04/10/2014

“What we have here is a failure to communicate.”   This line from the movie Cool Hand Luke highlights one of our greatest frustrations.  Are you communicating effectively? Miscommunication costs us business, relationships, and many missed opportunities. Now think about some of the most important people today and many leaders in histroy.  Aside from everything else that defines them they are almost always great communicators. The first rule to remember in communciation is that there is a sender but there is also a receiver. We communicate with others to elicit some type of response. Some examples of a response could be more knowledge, a specific action, or some type of emotion. Depending on our communications media, the words we use might not have as powerful an impact our non verbal com... 04/06/2014