Dan Stewart has challenged us to think of 5 things that we have been thankful for which has affected our business on a daily basis.  1.I am thankful to have my own business.I worked in the corporate world for over 30 years and started my business in March 2009.  I am grateful that I have been rewarded for my hard work.  This is truly a business where I can do what I am best at every day. 2. I am thankful for my affiliate support organization.I have learned from the other people in my affiliate organization.  Each quarter I get to attend development sessions in Reading, PA.  These are given by my peers and colleagues and I have had the same opportunity to share, learn, and grow. 3. I am thankful for the education from Active Rain.Four years ago I started to learn about blogging when Debb... 11/23/2015

Being your own boss comes with many responsibilities.  You don't have a boss to give you deadlines and hold you accountable.  That means that you must be accountable to yourself.  You are responsible making and keeping deadlines.  Do you manage your deadlines or do they manage you?I speak to many entrepreneurs in Westchester County who tell me that their biggest challenge is managing their time. In fact some report feeling overwhelmed. When that happens things seem to spin out of control, leaving everyone feeling overworked, overloaded, and overwhelmed.   Having a system in place will not alone solve the problem because time management is really not a time management issue. No you first need to know your purpose. So here are some tips on surviving being overwhelmed. 1. Know Your Purpose... 11/22/2015

Did you know that the biggest source of new job creation in the United States is small business.  By helping small business were our helping ourselves by boosting our economy.This is why in Westchester and Putnam County NY our Workforce Investment Board is funding the Just Add One program to help local entrepreneurs grow and hire people.  You can read about that in my recent post.On Saturday November 28th please remember to support your local small businesses by #SHOPSMALL.I plan on supporting the stores at Armonk Square.  These include Tazza Cafe coffee shop, Bowls Handcrafted Salads & Soups, Lilies and Lace lingerie and swimwear store. Also, Fortina, the trendy Italian restaurant specializing in pizzas, and DeCicco’s family supermarkets.  Information and pictures provided by Grant Sch... 11/18/2015

39 Photos Status: FOR SALE Price: $699,500 Move In Ready Address: 1 Gressel Place Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Suite: Yes Living Area: 2,369 square feet Year Built: 1955 More Details Virtual Tour View Rooms Request More Info | Email Listing Description Do you need a separate office, exercise room, quarters for your nanny, or have extended family, then this house is for you! Totally renovated home in Armonk with separate studio and private entrance on over 3 acres overlooking pond.The main house itself offers 3 bedrooms with 1.5 baths plus a new eat in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances leading to an over sized living room / dining room combo with fireplace. Door from kitchen out to large blue stone terrace in the courtyard. Fu... 11/17/2015

You are free to choose whatever path you wish to take. You can choose a safe and easy path which will yield average success and that may be fine. Or you can choose to enter the unknown which will yield risk but also more reward. Although this path is filled with risks and uncertainty you also have the greatest opportunity to break out and insure your success along this path. Along this less traveled path you will grow and become stronger. What will it take for you to choose the less traveled path?I was recently coaching a Westchester County NY business executive. She wants to advance in her career. She has been working hard but playing it safe and wondering when she is going to get her “turn.” She said she was waiting for the right time. Do we know the right time in advance?The most peo... 11/15/2015

Let's all say thank you to our veterans today.  The men and women who have shouldered the burden so that the rest of us can live in freedom deserve our thanks. I want to thank my great great grandfather George Rentschler who served in the Civil War and my father George Schneider who served in World War II.   My sister shared this picture on her Facebook page today. Happy Veterans Day! 11/11/2015

Comments from my Throwback Thursday blog inspired me to write this.  This is a teachable lesson about change.  The story is about a corporate Icon that lost its way.   The picture here is of the World Trade Center Towers under construction in May 1970. It was taken with a good 35mm camera. However, the picture deteriorated over time because it was not Kodak film.Anyone who has done photography for years knows that Kodak was the gold standard of pictures. And if your Kodak film was also processed by Kodak you had the best quality picture. You really could tell the difference. Yes, Kodak was branded as a superior image because of its high quality film, chemicals and processing quality control. In the 1980’s someone at Kodak invented a prototype of a digital camera but Kodak did not want t... 11/08/2015

Is your turnover too high?  Many businesses do not understand and some don't even care.  That is sad because high turnover is a sign of disorganization and the business can't be doing well if that is the case.  Please don't assume that it is all about money. There is much more going on than just money.You cannot treat employees or members of your team as commodities assuming that they will come to work just because they are getting paid or that there is a placeholder for their license.  Some vendors of perks may even tell you that if you offer special perks then your retention will be better. You would need a very large amount of those perks to try to buy loyalty. And what would you gain in loyalty or performance? You might even entice poor performers to stay when you would be better of... 11/01/2015

We have so many awesome halloween decorations that it is difficult to choose.  In response to Active Rain's call to post our best decorations in the neighborhood on its Facebook Page,  I am proud to show decorations from one street in our Armonk neighborhood. Here is my number one pickHere is a runner up in support of the Mets.  Let's Go MetsThis street in Armonk, NY, Glendale Ave is always an attraction.  The home owners are all competing with each other to have the best decor.I took these pictures at 2:30pm on Halloween and the owners were out there prepping their houses for the onslaught of visitors.And visitors there are.  Around 4pm the Armonk Police Department will put baricades up so that cars can not come in.  Then the police will be riding through the streets on bicycles.We wil... 10/31/2015

39 Photos Status: FOR SALE Price: $699,500 Move In Ready Address: 1 Gressel Place Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Suite: Yes Living Area: 2,369 square feet Year Built: 1955 More Details Virtual Tour View Rooms Request More Info | Email Listing Description Do you need a separate office, exercise room, quarters for your nanny, or have extended family, then this house is for you! Totally renovated home in Armonk with separate studio and private entrance on over 3 acres overlooking pond.The main house itself offers 3 bedrooms with 1.5 baths plus a new eat in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances leading to an over sized living room / dining room combo with fireplace. Door from kitchen out to large blue stone terrace in the courtyard. Fu... 10/27/2015

What do you think of this statement? If all of the students fail the exam might the fault be with the teaching? Like students in a classroom your team may be under performing because you and your team are on different pages.  I have found that the reason a team is not achieving can usually be traced back to the leadership.  Now before you get upset with that statement I have some good news.  You can change this.  You can become a focused leader who empowers engaged team members who in turn create loyal customers leading to growth and success. Let’s start with the focused leader. You may have the title of manager but that does not mean you are seen as the leader. As managers we can influence the process through which people recognize our leadership by creating an environment where people... 10/11/2015

What do you think is most important for a new person in Real Estate?  Is it skill or will?  You can have all the knowledge in the world.  But knowledge is not power.  The application of knowledge is power.  Don't be fooled by knowledge and experience.  I work largely with privately held and family held businesses. But in that arena I have worked with many industries ranging from real estate, construction, retail, service and hospitality, nonprofit, and manufacturing. I have made the same observation in all of these industries. Those running the business believe that their industry is different from others, so unique that the primary requirement is experience. Because of that mindset I have seen many bad candidates hired and many qualified candidates screened out. The hiring manager is u... 10/04/2015

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.  Or can you?  According to Zig Ziglar you can get him to drink by salting his oats.  That made the horse thirsty.  Think about that example and apply it to your own life and your own leadership.What about you? Do you have something burning inside you? Frankly, if you do not have the WHY the HOW will not matter. Motivation and goal achievement are interrelated. Knowing what motivates you is a key to achievement and knowing how to find motivation in others is a key to leadership. Dwight Eisenhower said that leadership is getting others to do what you want because THEY want to do it. Reach down and find that motivation and bring it to the surface. What is your passion? If you are not sure why not start by doing a dream inventory. ... 09/27/2015

39 Photos Status: FOR SALE Price: $699,500 Move In Ready Address: 1 Gressel Place Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Suite: Yes Living Area: 2,369 square feet Year Built: 1955 More Details Virtual Tour View Rooms Request More Info | Email Listing Description Do you need a separate office, exercise room, quarters for your nanny, or have extended family, then this house is for you! Totally renovated home in Armonk with separate studio and private entrance on over 3 acres overlooking pond.The main house itself offers 3 bedrooms with 1.5 baths plus a new eat in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances leading to an over sized living room / dining room combo with fireplace. Door from kitchen out to large blue stone terrace in the courtyard. Fu... 09/25/2015

The Armonk Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Fall Festival on Sunday, September 30, 2015.   The festival will begin with a 5 K run at 9:30am at Wampus Brook Park.This year will feature Jamie's 5K Run Fo Love.  The Event is being sponsored by the Armonk Chamber of Commerce.But that is not all.  After the 5K Run for Love the Fall Festival will follow with things like a pie eating contest and donut fishing.Here are the details: Location: Wampus Park   Date: Sunday, September 20, 2015   Time:  9:30am to 2:00pm Armonk has two weekends coming up with activities beginning this Sunday with this event and next weekend with the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.   Information and pictures provided by Grant Schneider, Performance Development Strategies.    Would you like to know how to make your loca... 09/15/2015

The 54th Annual Armonk Art Show will take place on September 26 and 27th at Community Park, Armonk, NY.  Mark your calendars for a weekend of fine art and fine crafts.  There will be art and crafts to fit every taste and every budget.This is a big event for residents and visitors alike.  Take home a painting or art object for your home created by one of our local artists.  The show will take place rain or shine.  Refreshments will be available in a food court.  There will be children's activities including an artists scavenger hunt for children ages 5 to 12.The proceeds from the show will benefit The North Castle Public Library.Here are the details:Dates: September 26th and 27thTime:  10:00AM to 5:00PMCost: $10 for Adults  18 and under free Information and pictures provided by Grant Sch... 09/09/2015

Every decision we make leads to an outcome good or bad.  We make the best decisions when rely on our strengths rather than try to shore up our weaknesses.Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead, guided by our parents and others from the time we were growing up, we end up living lives that have been influenced by them. This results in working on our weaknesses while neglecting our strengths and our dreams.Have you ever given any thought to the fact that 88% of the decisions you make on a daily basis rely on your natural talents and tendencies and that these are part of your subconscious. Your subconscious is an important, powerful, and much needed tool. The unconscious handles all of your basi... 08/30/2015

There is a brand new snack and dessert concept in Armonk , NY in Armonk Square.  Peachwave Self Serve Frozen Yogurt has arrive at 402 Armonk Square.According to their website Peachwave offers a quality alternative to frozen desserts containing high amounts of fat and sugar.Peachwave is certainly a popular place on a warm summer night.  That was the case last night when I went to see what was being given away.You make your own fozen yogurt from all of the flavor selections.  Next you put toppings on and take it to the cashier to have it weighed.I tried some today and I am hooked.  I hope this really is healthy because there were many delicious flavors.  I made a cup with four flavors.Here is the address:Peachwave of ArmonkArmonk Square402 Main StreetArmonk, NY  10504 914-730-1051 Hours 1... 08/19/2015

If you are a high achiever you are accountable for results.  You say what you will do and ask others to hold you to it.  In an organization the person who holds you accountable would be your manager.  But if you are in  business for yourself you must hold yourself accountable.  One way to do that is to have an accountability partner.   Creating a culture of accountability requires collaboration, communication of goals, and understanding the nature of motivation.   Having conversations about accountability with your partner requires several things. First, you need to communicate the goals and the desired outcomes. Second, you must be truthful and be totally transparent regarding challenges and obstacles. Third, you must be open about your mistakes and what you have learned from them. Hon... 08/02/2015

Doing the right thing or doing the right things is the hallmark of leadership.  Dave Thomas, founder of Wendys, had a number of statements that he instilled in all of his managers.  One of them was, "Do the right thing".  But other things have to happen in a successful business.  Things must be done right.   Both of these behaviors are required to lead a team or manage a business. In Doing Things Right you establish detailed steps and timetables for achieving needed results, establish structure, monitor results, and execute specific plans. On the other hand, Doing the Right Things includes establishing direction, aligning people, and motivating and inspiring people. In short, management (Doing Things Right) is important but will not succeed without leadership (Doing the Right Things). I... 07/12/2015