Tara Jones- Atlanta, GA

THE EFFECTS OF TODAY'S MEDIA

In light of my last blog, I am sharing my positive thoughts of the day :-)

Today is the first day that I can officially call myself a 'former news reporter'. It is a decision one year in the making.

After having one foot in the world of news and one foot in the world of real estate, I painstakingly realized...that doesn't work. Why? Because the real estate industry is not as bad as the media is portraying. I could no longer be a part of the problem and have decided to be an active part of the solution. This is the most empowered I have felt in years!

Remember, words have power. I didn't realize that for more than a decade I was using my words for the lesser good. Not anymore. There will be no more instilling fear for the sake of ratings or for the approval of management. It is toxic and it is wrong.

What I want each and every person out there to know is that there is a very soft filter on the news you see everyday. From local to national, you are always at the mercy of the person who wrote the story. Whether it is intentional or not, opinion and biases will come into play. Please use your own filter when informing yourself of the day's events.

Here's a neat experiment I tried earlier this month. I decided not to watch the news AT ALL for one week. Crazy, yes...especially for a journalist. However, it proves the point I am about to make. I continued with my work with ReelDwellings.TV, the production company I own. The phone was ringing from real estate agents anxious to get on board the video band wagon. I kept thinking, the economy must be doing better because I am witnessing consumer confidence and progressive thinking from my clients (mainly ALL real estate professionals). Then, after a week, I turned the news back on. To my surprise, I heard about how horrible the economy was, how real estate agents are dropping like flies and how a recession is inevitable! I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone! What's worse was I started to worry about my business and if all of the contacts I had made were all for not. Isn't that nuts???! Just because someone fed me negative information I immediately applied it to my life and it had immediate effects on my mood and actions. Fortunately, I snapped out of it quickly.

The whole point of this post is to reiterate my last blog. It appears I struck a nerve with many Active Rainers thirsty for positive thought and talk. Make it happen...speak the positive, mute the negative. I am in no means suggesting that you stick your head in the sand. Knowledge is power. Take what you know and then use it to your benefit. Opportunity is among us. Rise above and make it happen!

With the holiday season upon us, I pose a challenge to each and every member of Active Rain.

All of us are bloggers and look to each other for inspiration and advice. With that in mind, I challenge you to post -at least- one positive blog a week. Once you've accomplished your weekly task see if you can take it daily. The point is to engage positive thoughts which create positive words which result in positive actions. We all know we can use that these days?! I am a firm believer in 'words have power'...use them wisely. Anyone who knows me knows that I say, "Speak it!" whenever they want something positive to develop in their lives. This is a small step in getting started.

I decided to post this entry after a routine visit to the gym. A place where I go daily to rejuvenate and energize my mind and body. But on this particular day, the instructor was uncharacteristically negative and started talking about the affairs of the world as if we were all doomed. Wouldn't you know it...her words were like poison through the air and the entire class deflated. Why? She just told us we were defeated so in turn, we responded. The class, which I take routinely, was much more difficult on this day because mentally, I had to overcompensate for the negatively she festered.

A simple example, yes...but still a valid one. Positive words invoke positive reactions just as negative ones invoke adverse reactions. Imagine the power we Active Rainers could have with spreading affirmation throughout the forum?

I start this challenge, now! :-)

DECEMBER:

Reel Tech TV is hitting the road! We've been inundated with requests to teach our video blogs in person so Monday, December 8th is our first, state certified seminar.

We'll be teaching agents:

-Why video is important

-How to use video to increase your business

-How to shoot, edit and upload video

-The best ways to use your video

-On camera tricks of the trade

-Much, much more!!

Monday, December 8th from 9AM to 12PM

6650 Sugarloaf Parkway

Duluth, GA

$60

*3 CE credits for GA realtors!*

Click here for more information and to register for the class

-Only 40 seats remaining-

If you're not able to make it to the class, no worries! Look out for more dates in 2009 and keep watching our blogs on Active Rain each week!!

JANUARY:

Reel Dwellings TV will be speaking at Inman Connect on Wednesday, January 7th! Join us for the Video Digital Summit...a new seminar at Inman to teach realtors the basics of video and how to make it work in their business.

I'll be speaking from 9:15AM to 10:15AM on the panel, "5 Killer Uses for Video".

We hope to see you in New York!!

The whole idea of creating a video is to get potential clients to use your services. So once you have the video, what do you do with it? How do you get the eyeballs on that video to increase your business? Click on this week's episode of Reel Tech TV for great ideas and tools to show you how!

Want to learn these Reel Tech TV tips in person? We're taking our class on the road! Join us Monday, December 8th in Duluth, GA for a 3 hour seminar. **Georgia realtors, this class offers 3 hour Continuing Education credits**

For more information check out ReelDwellings.TV

That's what real estate investors told me when I did this story on Channel 2 in Atlanta on Sunday. The story is a positive reflection of the real estate market and speaks to the opportunity that exists in the industry....a far cry from most of the media reports in recent weeks. Thought everyone could use some good news :-)

Check out the story here:

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/17736400/index.html

Put "Tara Jones" in the search section and then change the drop-down bar to "last 30 days"