Bossier City, LA

What exactly IS "personality profiling"? It is really just plugging into what OTHERS want! We all know the Golden Rule, which states, "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you."

Dr. Tony Allesandra, a national public speaker, quotes The Platinum Rule™*, "Do unto others as they would want you to do unto them."

This is the first of a five part series on how to use DiSC® testing and personality profiling to perfect and improve your sales approach and build better relationships with your team members and referral partners.

Personality profiling reaches deep into the area of sales and understanding your clients better, as well as how you relate to the members of your team. There are many different types of personality profiling techniques available today. I have used and highly recommend DiSC® profiling. The four letters, D-I-S-C represent the four main personality types.

"High D" personality types are drivers. This is the "type A" individual who constantly strives for excellence, shows a significant degree of impatience, and is the dominant individual in the decision-making process.

"High I" personality types are influencers. They are social people, and are tremendous referrers. They are people you want to create alliances with, because they will bring you a significant amount of additional business in the future.

"High S" personality types are supporters. They make ideal team members, and are more concerned about the success of the group rather than their own individual success. In a sales situation, they are people who like to talk about their family. They tend to socialize well with their friends and family members and, in this respect, they too make good referrers.

"High C" personality types are conscientious thinkers. They think a process through from beginning to end before making a decision. Never make the mistake of trying to close a High C on the first telephone conversation, or in the first appointment. They need time to dot all the I's, cross all the Ts, and analyze things to a significant degree. They respond much better to an analytical approach and desire the straight scoop.

Everyone has their own special personality and that is a good thing! We succeed when we are better equipped to relate to our referral partners and the members of our team.

Question - Have you had YOUR personality profiled? And if so, what type are you? D-I-S-C ?

* The Platinum Rule™ is a registered trademark of Dr. Tony Alessandra. DiSC® is a trademark of Inscape Publishing, Inc.

"The greatest tragedy is being forgotten"tm.

Wounded Warrior Project

The Boot Campaign is asking everyone to "Remember 30" this month. August 25 is the day slated for the national memorial to the 30 lives lost on August 6th. A little background on the Boot Campaign- I became involved in the Boot Campaign several months ago as a way to give back to our wounded warriors when they come back. You may have read my blog last month "Honoring Our Troops".

The Boot Campaign is a grassroots initiative started by five women from Texas known as the Boot Girls. The Boot Campaign has been one way Americans can show their support for our active duty service members and veterans by purchasing a pair of combat boots - and getting their boots on.

This month Americans suffered an enormous loss of life in military operations. Not just the 30 lives on August 6th but the five days preceding and the day after claimed lives in several provinces of Afghanistan. While our most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, is dead, when these heartbreaking deaths and injuries occur, we know there are still many enemies of freedom working to destroy it, and this tragic loss of lives is a cruel reminder of this reality.

This month, I am joining with the Boot Campaign to issue a call to those who are willing - to consider doing something special this month to honor these fallen and show support for their families.

Team Thaxton has purchased 30 pairs of combat boots this month of August to honor these fallen heroes. A portion of those boots are being donated to a group of local fire fighters who are members of the non-profit organization, "Brothers Keepers", who will "get their boots" and ride their motorcyles next week-end to benefit the Fisher House.

Stop for a minute today and say a prayer of thanks for your freedom, and for the families who are suffering immeasurable loss on your behalf. And consider one thing you can do to demonstrate your gratitude for living in a country that values freedom and individual rights. Here are some suggestions:

1. Change your profile pic to Remember 30 (now through Aug 25th)

2. If you have boots - then wear YOUR Boots on Aug 25th (or get them at http://bit.ly/agybo*)

3. Consider contributing $30.00,
$300.00 or $3,000.00 (or more!) to a charity which supports our military and their families (Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House, or the Boot Campaign, are just a few).

4. Share this with other Americans on other Social Media outlets - Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Now - what can YOU do to honor the memory of those who have fallen ....this month?

*Proceeds from boot purchases (www.BootCampaign.com) during the month of August will be donated to UWSF (United Warrior Survivor Foundation). Funds donated to the United Warrior Survivor Foundation will be put to use in the immediate response to surviving spouses of Special Operations personnel. This response includes providing Comfort Bags to widows and travel for loved ones and UWSF mentors to be with grieving spouses.

Are you interested in growing and becoming a GREAT leader? I wanted to share a link to the first ever EntreLeadership Podcast by Dave Ramsey - hosted by Chris LoCurto. The live EntreLeadership program teaches the in's and out's of growing your business - you can check it out on-line to possibly attend one of the live programs near you.

Chris LoCurto has been one of Dave Ramsey’s key leaders over the past 10 years, serving as Vice President of Live Events and overseeeing The Total Money Makeover LIVE!, a concert-like show on personal finances. He helped this event grow from 1,600 to 11,000 attendees. His blog, Chris LoCurto has incredible insights in leadership principles - and I highly recommend you put it on your daily reading list.

Together, Chris and Dave developed and built EntreLeadership from their shared experiences. Through their close relationship and Dave’s personal council, Chris has not only become an expert in teaching the EntreLeadership principles, but has lived and implemented them daily.

Now you can sample some of the leadership principles taught in this program with a free podcast.....Just click Dave's picture below and get ready to ENJOY!

Now - tell me what spoke to YOU in this podcast?

The Absorption Rate is the ability of the real estate market to absorb or sell all of the houses for sale in a given amount of time. For example, if 100 homes are sold every month and there are 1200 homes for sale, it will take 12 months to sell all of the homes currently for sale. If there are 2400 homes for sale, the absorption rate will be 24 months or 2 years for all of the homes to sell. It is important to remember that this does not take into account the number of houses will be listed, and there are new listings daily!

July 2011 Absorption Rates for the Shreveport/Bossier City Area:

Currently, there are 1832 homes for sale in Shreveport/Bossier City.

Last month 338 homes actually sold.

That’s a 5.4 month supply of homes if no more homes come on the market!

Last month 571 homes came on the market!

If you are thinking of selling, you should keep in mind that if you are priced on the high end, that you will be one of those properties that “sit” on the market. Ideally, to sell quickly, you want to be in the lower range close or below the 50% of the comparable homes for sale in your range or neighborhood. Don’t look at it as selling your home for less, because the 3 or 4 months it takes you to sell you will be losing money in your mortgage payment. Not to mention the stress of keeping your home “show” ready for that time. Price it right to begin with and you will sell it fast, make the most money and be able to move on!

Homes under $150,000 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier City area:

Currently, there are 801 homes under $150,000 for sale in Shreveport – Bossier City area.

Last month 158 homes actually sold in this range.

That’s a 5.1 month supply of homes if no more homes come on the market!

Last month 247 homes came on the market in this range!

Homes Between $150,001 and $250,000 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier area:

Currently, there are 578 homes between $150,001 and $250,000 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier City area.

Last month 103 homes actually sold in this range.

That’s a 5.6 month supply of home if no more homes come on the market!

Last month 196 homes came on the market in this range!

Homes Between $250,001 and $400,000 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier City area:

Currently, there are 322 homes between $250,001 and $400,000 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier City area.

Last month 59 homes actually sold in this range.

That’s a 5.5 month supply of home if no more homes come on the market!

Last month 95 homes came on the market in this range!

Homes above $400,001 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier City area:

Currently, there are 131 homes above $400,001 for sale in the Shreveport – Bossier City area.

Last month 18 homes actually sold in this range.

That’s a 7.3 month supply of home if no more homes come on the market!

Last month 33 homes came on the market in this range!

Please note the data provided herein is from the NWLAR Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and was compiled by Brad Gosslee of Coldwell Banker J.Wesley Dowling [6/13/2011]. It is deemed to be reliable, but not guaranteed

Do you ever feel like Josey Beth? Just peeking over the edge?

If you are a sales professional, are you hiding out in a basket (or your office) when you should be networking? Reaching out to potential clients? Making those sales calls? Setting up a database? OR - are you just sitting......peeking over the edge? Waiting.....Hoping......?

As a sales professional myself, there have been times when I have FELT like doing just this! But to succeed, we can't operate on our "feelings" - we must get out of our "basket"!

Enjoy this picture taken by my photographer daughter, Beth Lee, of my youngest granddaughter, Josey Beth Lee!!