You’re invited:

• “Mobile Technology – Is it making your life easier?“
• Wednesday Feb 15, 2012
• 10-Noon
• Pinnacle Bank Green Hills 2307 Crestmoor
• FREE LUNCH provided by Will Mclemore of Mclemore Auction Co
• PLEASE RSVP – Limited seating

“They” say: “He with the most toys wins!”

Usually it’s tongue in cheek, bragging rights, he-man bravado in the never-ending game of being the envy of all others.

The man with this . . .

is a “JERK”

or . . .

Maybe he’s just got a better tool?

The Professional Plumber, Doctor, Auto Mechanic, Dentist, Painter, Carpenter . . . ALL have the right tools and know how (and when) to use them.

What are the best/right tools of YOUR trade?

Have you invested in them and taken the time to learn to use them to optimize your professional expediency . . . to serve your clients better?

so . . . simply HAVING the tools isn’t enough . . . Knowing how to USE those tools to appropriately leverage and deliver the service you promise is where the rubber hits the road.

. . . All in the name of continually sharpening your saw . . .

Get ready . . . It’s going to be a GREAT year!

Best,

b

If you’re reading this message, you have many people for whom to be thankful.

The planets have aligned, synchronicity has occurred, and EXACTLY the right people have come along at the right times . . . The right things have happened . . . and it all started at the right time (on the day of your birth) . . . Culminating into THIS moment – NOW – HERE!

So . . . Don’t wait any longer to “See your life pass in front of your eyes” (That oft heard saying when faced with a life threatening happening). Do this intentionally and be thankful.

Perhaps none of this happened accidentally. You’ve created your life thus far by making choices along the way . . . Don’t regret ANY of those choices because each one has contributed to who you are now.

Who are you with now?

Be Thankful!

I think these kinds of things often and especially during the Valentines Day Season (Which also happens to include Deb and my wedding anniversary – 13th – Today).

Each year, I think of my 49 years (now almost 1/2 a century) of “Playing in life’s sandbox,” and I marvel at all that WE have accomplished (I and all of the people who traveled with me and participated). 13 years ago, Deb and I married and between then and now we have accomplished some pretty amazing things . . . raising 3 remarkable Children who are already making an impact on the world. Debbie and I together are a powerful force to be reckoned with . . . I SO appreciate and love Debbie and love celebrating US

I think Valentines Day (and Anniversary) are days for being thankful for the PEOPLE who “brung us here” (“Here” being who we are).

So . . .

Happy Valentines Day!

I invite you to spend the day in the mode of gratitude for all of the people in your life.

Cupid is a smart fella who has maybe the best job on the planet . . . spreading the love bug.

With thanks!

Best,

b

PS – I’d be remiss if I didn’t tie this in some way to buying or selling a house

NOW is the quintessential time to TAKE ACTION if you have any inclination whatsoever to make a move here in Middle Tennessee. Our market environment has improved (and continues to improve) by leaps and bounds as more and more GOOD NEWS breaks of new companies moving to our area . . . and exciting new developments (Convention center) show up. New construction is popping up all over the place . . . and new construction creates NEW JOBS.

Contact me to learn more about how the process of Buying and Selling a house has improved.

Debbie asked me today: “What did we DO before computers?”

I started to answer: “A LOT less!”

and I had to think for a minute . . . logic would conclude that technology should make us MORE productive – We should be doing LESS stuff and getting more accomplished.

and if that were the case, surely we would be “leveraged” by the technology to the degree that the savvy Tech users would precipitously INCREASE income as they increase the gadgetry in their arsenals and hone their manual dexterity.

Somewhere along the line, logic succumbs to reality.

I realize that through the use of technology I correspond with WAY more people each day than I did in the slower, gentler days. I interact with folks simultaneously with the use of Cell Phone, Landline, text, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Blogsite, Direct Message, Skype . . . AND Face-to-face to the extent that I know there are days when I “touch” 20+ people inside of a single day of work.

There’s a LOT of distracting NOISE in this Raplex (Rapidly Complex) world that IMHO counteracts many of the benefits of the enhanced technological connections.

• Keeping up with new gadgets
• Learning how to use the gadgets
• finding the best apps for the gadgets
• Learning how to use the best apps for the gadgets
• reading Walls
• Reading blog feeds
• Passing on jokes and interesting pictures
• Listening to youtube videos
• etc etc etc

So . . . I wonder . . . Does your mobile technology make life EASIER?

REALLY?

We’re going to explore some ideas around optimizing time, energy, work flow, productivity with appropriate use of mobile technology Wednesday Feb 15, 2012 @ 10 AM.

I invite you to bring ALL of your gadgets, and we’ll talk strategy about getting the most out of them.

Let’s hold these mobile technology solutions accountable for SIMPLIFYING our lives.

and when we’re done playing with our toys, Will Mclemore with Mclemore Auction Company is going to bring us lunch (FREE) and will tell us about his unique Auction concept. Will can/will auction just about anything from a house to collectibles – Check out his website His company is great way to help folks de-clutter or downsize . . . Just sell the STUFF! http://www.mclemoreauction.com/

Will your electronic calendar remind you to be there?

Hope so!

Best,

b

Found on a post-it note (Mysteriously appearing in my pocket) this morning:

“How can life change from perfect to awkward in 3 seconds?”

I don’t know for sure, but I think the note was written by Perfect Daughter Jessica who had a “Perfect to Awkward” moment in last night’s basketball game.

Jessica single-handedly changed the game in a very significant way in the period of about 6 minutes without scoring ANY points.

Her coaches deserve some credit for the strategy, but it was Jessica’s PURE LASER FOCUS on doing what they directed her to do that made the impact.

In the first 1/4 of the game, the opposing team scored three 3 point goals . . . and 6 free throw shots . . . while our team (The good girls) exhibiting superior ball handling and passing skills and meticulously executing elaborate plays along with a distinct height advantage were just barely hanging on . . . The scoring was dead even . . . even though we (the good girls) were totally out-playing the other team.

At some point along the way in that quarter, the realization hit that almost ALL of the points scored by the other were team were scored by ONE girl. She was crafty as a fox . . . Brought the ball down court and passed it off to a team member upon crossing the center line . . . then she would disappear into the fray under the goal . . . and then sneak out to side without being noticed – Holler the word “BALL” . . . Her team-mates would lob her the ball, and she would swish 3 points.

This girl was a GREAT shot from anywhere on the court.

This is where Jessica and her coaches’ brilliance comes into play. They simply asked Jessica to stick to “3 point girl” like GLUE . . . to follow here everywhere she went on the court (even to the sidelines with her when the opposing coach called her over for sideline coaching).

Meanwhile, the remaining 4 girls on the team would continue to masterfully execute plays.

Jessica performed flawlessly and effectively created the scenario of completely slicing “3 point girl” out of the game throughout the 6 minute 2nd 1/4.

This killed the momentum of the other team and completely threw “3 point girl” off balance such that she scored VERY few goals for the remainder of the game . . . She was traumatized.

It also provided some great, humorous entertainment for the crowd.

Nothing that Jessica or coaches did was against the rules . . . but it sure defied conventional wisdom and “standard practices” . . .

THAT would be MY definition of “Game changer,” and all it required was recognition of a gap, a creative strategic solution, and ONE SINGLE PLAYER with LASER FOCUS.

What gaps do you face that could be filled with this level of game changing thinking?

hmmmm . . .

Just sayin’

Best,

b

PS: the good girls won the game

Conventional wisdom says: “You can’t fit a square peg in a round hole!”

The implication is that you’ve gotta find a square hole for your square peg, otherwise you’re wasting your time and energy.

Then, there are those gurus who suggest that before you start climbing the ladder to success, you should first check to be sure it’s leaning against the right wall.

My Father Harrison Owen says: “Nothing of real significance ever happened according to the plan!”

Yogi Berra said: ”You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

and

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

I think they’re all brilliantly correct!

These days. the odds of anyone finding the perfect square hole for their square peg are minuscule.

We are not in a cookie cutter world, and heck . . . do ANY of the “rules” still apply when it comes to achieving success?

What are those insanely successful people doing that is so different?

They are not in a world of pegs and holes . . . They are in a world of gaps and relationships.

Instead of attaching to peg and seeking the perfect hole, they’re looking for (at) the gaps in what’s out there . . . Information, technology, Service, Pricing, Marketing . . . Where are the voids?

Once identified . . . These very smart people seek relationships to leverage themselves such that they can fill these gaps in whatever form the gap requires.

This is multi-dimensional thinking . . . sometimes known as “Creativity”

and it only works when the right PEOPLE who share passion for filling the gap come together and form aTEAM.

So . . . Wanna find success?

Quit looking for another “job” . . . Start identifying gaps . . . and spend 2/3 of every working day being present with PEOPLE.

Just sayin’

Best,

b