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Almost every day, I need to remind myself "Kill 'Em With Kindness" .  This is a practice that can help me get through a difficult day, hour or moment. 

It could be any of the following scenarios which happens almost daily to me:

• Dealing with a difficult agent (or co-worker)
• Dealing with a difficut seller or buyer (or client)
• Dealing with a difficult deal (or project)
• Dealing with a title company that is not pulling their weight
• Dealing with an abrasive mortgage person who says "trust me, this will settle"
• Dealing with buyers calling who "have an agent"
• This list goes on and on and on ... 

Or perhaps it could just be everyday life things:

• Standing in line with a loud person
• At the supermarket when the person in front of you has a million coupons
• On the highway with aggressive drivers

If you "kill em with kindness" you have a much better chance of getting through the situation and perhaps making it better.  The alternative is to dig a deeper hole and to make the situation worse.  I think for the most part it is better to listen to the other person, acknowledge and move foward.  In many cases, in being responsive, less is more.  I think the person who practices this discipline comes out on top in many ways and is not drained from their energy.

I first learned "Kill 'Em With Kindness"  through one of my first mentors in the real estate industry.  His attitude every day is amazing being constantly positive and energetic.  I think by having that attitude perpetuates positve energy and people can respond to that.  The flip side is that have you ever noticed a negative person constantly experiencing negative outcomes ?  Perhaps they bring it upon themselves ? 

On some days, I simply forget this discipline and can be torn or drained in working through a difficult deal or dealing with very difficult people.  I asked a question on Twitter recently and Amber Salmon, Realtor in IA responded with the suggestion "Kill 'Em With Kindness" which made me smile.... and remember !

I had a situation just yesterday where I was so close to blasting a loan officer and breaking down his passive aggressive attack per se in reference to a deal.  I decided not to respond to it all and just let the deal settle this Friday.

Life is good !  Life is short !  In the face of stress and anxiety, SMILE : )

How is your attitude today ? 

How will you react when the next difficult situation comes your way ?

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The Somers - Philadelphia Real Estate

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I have seen other Active Rain bloggers say that their blog had been picked up by a local newspaper or their company.  I always thought that that would be so cool and would wonder how would that happen ?

Well, the same just happened to us !!!  Our blog post:

Plan Now To Jumpstart Your 2009 Business !  What can you do today ?

Was just featured in RE/MAX Times Online !  The article is the 2nd one down - view article .

It is pretty amazing that RE/MAX looks at our blogs for their publication.  It is an honor to us that they chose our blog post.  It also shows the power of Active Rain - its resources, name band and so forth to have larger companies and publications looking at our blogs !

The post also was a featured post on Active Rain.  Our hope is that our content can be taken to heart and help other agents.  I will re-read my post as well as we are setting our goals for 2009 !

UPDATE (12/31/2008)- as an add-on to this post, we just had another article be featured in RE/MAX Times Online this week - see updated blog post "Highlighted in RE/MAX Times Online ! "

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Philadelphia Real Estate - Chris and Stephanie Somers

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Become a Top Producer in 2009 - Jumpstart Your Production today !

I have been hearing in our market and other blog entries on Active Rain that things are starting to slow down a little.  I see it in our listings that showings are slow and I see it in our internet marketing that there are not as many buyers and sellers on our web sites.  Sometimes I get worried when things slow down.  But not any more - I look at it as opportunity.  I remember when I first started in the business and speaking with a very wise Wells Fargo mortgage officer who advised me to take advantage of the down time by focusing on marketing, strategizing and planning your business.

So, if things are a little slow in your market do not wait for the phone to ring, but begin to take action !  Be proactive and plan for tomorrow's business today !  Below is a brief checklist of what we all can do.

1.  Internet Marketing - how is your exposure on the internet ? Plan for starting and growing your own site - see The Somers Team . 

2. Your Listings - are your listings getting enough exposure ?  if not, get more acclaimated, with Craigslist, Backpage and Kijiji .

3.  Blog, Blog, Blog - By blogging you will increase your exposure on the net and learn a lot about internet marketing and social media.

4. Social Media - take the time to look at Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo, and so forth.  This is a good time to establish your presence and network at the same time.

5. Analyze Your Numbers - where did your settlements come from ?  Floor ?  SOI ?  Referrals ?  This is important to know so you know what to focus on.

6. Get Organized - clean out your desk and throw all the crap away.  While you do it you may find some good leads to call !  (I need to follow my own advice on this one ! )

7.  Client Database / SOI - update your database and set up a mailing system or a contact system to stay in touch with your clients !

8.  Prospecting - Try the blocks of time strategy where at certain points of the day you will contact and call new leads, old leads or target a group (such as FSBOS, expireds and withdrawn listings).  Yes, even the top producers prospect weekly !

9.  Advertise - Do not be cheap, but be smart !  Get your name out there and promote yourself and your listings.  There are countless ways (internet, print <yes a little print, the sellers still like it ! > , billboard, farming)

10.  Target an Area - become an expert in specific neighborhoods.  Blog about it.  Utiliize localism.   Mail out Just Listed, Just Sold cards for that area, mail letters.  With this strategy, over the years Stephanie and I have dominated some neighborhoods.

11.  Continuing Education - in slower times this is the best time to get classes out of the way so they do not interfere with production during busy times.  Also, a nice way to expand one's knowledge or be able to market a certain designation for your area.

12.  Rexamine and Readjust - Every quarter study what is working and what is not working and make adjustments. 

With taking the time to implement even some of the above will be the first step to HAVING A BANNER YEAR no matter what the market does.  We forget sometimes that no matter what is going on with the economy, people always have to sell homes for a variety of reasons and always want to purchase homes for a variety of reaons.  This is the time to position yourself to be the industry leader.  The agents that do this now will be the mega agents in the years to come !

What are you doing now to jumpstart your business tomorrow ?

Chris Somers is an award winning agent with RE/MAX Affiliates in Philadelphia.  Every month in 2008, Chris has been recognized as a top producer in his region (all of Pennsylvania and Delaware).

The Somers Team - Philadelphia Real Estate

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