Mel Peterson - The Naked Blogger

This Biz is For the Bears! Sometimes, it becomes beary essential to take some time off and re-energize your mind, body and soul. I did just that a week ago when I headed to SoCal to attend my grand-daughter's 3rd birthday party... and what a party it was!

My daughter (Rachael) is a very creative gal, who has a wonderful knack for planning social events. Every year, she comes up with a theme for her daughter's birthday, and this year the theme was... 'Ellie Locks and The Three Bears.'

Just to give you an idea of the kind of party I'm talking about, take a look at the pics below (before the bears arrived). Some of the backyard decorations included 3 beds (Mama, Papa & Baby Bear) made into tables with handsewn bed skirts.

This Biz is Definitely for the Bears! All of the decorations and food were made from scratch for 100+ friends and family who joined the celebration (this little girl is beary loved)! Every year my daughter asks each guest to donate to Ellie's charity in lieu of gifts for Ellie. This year, we collected tons of bears and blankets for a special charity called My Stuffed Bags, for needy children.

It takes a lot to plan these parties, but it's worth all the effort when you see the joy and excitement on little Ellie's face and her guests every year. She's 3-yrs old now and way smarter than the average bear. We're already planning next year's party and the theme is going to be... 'Ellie and Her 4-Legged Friends'!

My Ellie Bear's middle name is LOVE ;)

The 15 Second Nudge. You receive them all the time whether you notice them or not. They're the little nudges from marketers and advertisers vying for your attention. Some are more clever than others, offering the latest and greatest new thing. Nudges also come in the form of warm and fuzzy encouragement from friends & family who reel you in with glimmers of hope and promise when you need it most.

This morning, I received a nudge from Staples, encouraging me to go to their Staples Facebook Page and hit the 'Like' button. In return, I received an opportunity to win a 15 second spotlight video highlighting my business in one of their commercials. It's a clever marketing idea and of course, I'm game.

We could all use an encouraging nudge every now and then. It's difficult to stay focused and driven in a sea of apathy and despair. The riptides of real estate can knock the wind right out of you, while the waves of discontent continue to crash against you. While the sharks are circling around you, you're feverishly searching for a life preserver. You can see the lighthouse from a distance and it offers a bit of hope in guiding you to shore, but your doubts and fears sometimes prevail, begging the question... can you survive?

Real estate is a sink or swim business. It's cut-throat, dog eat dog, and all about survival of the fittest. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. To swim with the sharks, you must possess guts of gold and nerves of steel. You must rise above your misfortune and continually seek opportunity. At times, you feel like you are spinning your wheels with little to no recognition for your efforts. That's when a little nudge can be a helpful hint to stay on course. Don't give up... hope is on the horizon... just keep on swimming!

That's my 15 second nudge for the day, what's yours?

Yesterday, I had a listing appointment with a client I had worked with 6 years ago. Apparently, I had showed them some homes in Grants Pass but they ended up buying a home directly from the listing agent. When they called me last week to chat about selling their home, they said they enjoyed working with me in the past. Sadly, I didn't remember any of our previous encounters.

When I arrived at their home, I thought for sure I would at least remember their faces. But once again, my memory was remiss. Perhaps it was because 2006' was a very emotional and difficult year for me on a personal level. I wanted to put much of it behind me and move on. Apparently, I blocked out other things as well... making 2006' a total blur. I cringed when they asked me if I remembered them. For a quick second, I pondered how I might answer that question. And here's what I said... 'Well you know, it's been 6 years, and frankly, I have a few less brain cells since then.' They laughed, and my little diddy set the tone for a wonderful conversation.

I've found that honesty has always been the best policy. You don't have to be incredibly blunt or brutally honest in order to win friends and influence people. Truth combined with humor can go a long way. It let's down defenses and it breaks barriers. It allows you to face your fears and defy them with laughter... and who doesn't want to laugh about things?! Okay, maybe there are a few stick-in-the-mud folks who won't break a smile. Fortunately, I tend to attract the fun, exciting and interesting peeps as clients, which makes me very happy!

Yesterday's client fit that category perfectly. Our conversation was captivating and jovial to say the least, and I barely noticed when two hours had passed. If it weren't for my growling stomach and an impending dinner date, I would have stayed for a glass of wine and exchanged a few more laughs. As I got up to leave, I went to shake their hands and instead, I received a hug. Anyone who knows me well... knows that I love hugs! What a cool way to end a listing appointment (I barely remembered that it was a listing appointment), it felt more like a gathering of friends ;)))

Stirring the Provincial Pot. I had to grin when I read Alan May's recent title to a post, That's me in the Corner... That's me in the Spotlight! For a moment, the title sounded like an all too familiar story. I live in a small community where everyone knows everyone's business. My neighbors know my comings and goings better than I do (they even take out my garbage when I'm not around). So it's pretty obvious when the poop hits the fan, inquiring minds want to know.

Last month, three of my agents left my brokerage, which caused quite a stir in my little neck of the woods. For the past several weeks, Real Estate Cafe has become a household name in Josephine County... right up there with Cheerios and Bounty. At first, I cringed. My initial reaction was Ugh, what are people going to think. It's not uncommon for agents to jump ship... but three in one month (from the same brokerage) is pretty big news here. I admit, I'm a curious George too. So, it's only natural to wonder 'what and who' stirred the provincial pot.

Well, here it is plain and simple... One agent left because she partnered with a friend who happens to work at another office. One agent left because she works part-time for another agent who feeds her. The 3rd agent left because she didn't want to adhere to some newly implemented office policies. That's it... no big news. Although from the sound of things, Ma Bell is getting her money's worth from all the local chatter ;)

I'm amused by this stuff... one, because it's about big fish in small ponds (and I love small ponds :) Two, because I live a relatively quiet life and I don't aspire the limelight. I'm a simple gal, who loves good coffee, good people and good conversation. The things that annoy me the most are egotistical peeps, drama queens and kings, Prima Donnas, backstabbers, manipulators and liars. That pretty much covers it. I don't start fights, but I'm certainly capable of defending myself when it becomes necessary... which is right about now.

So here's the latest news flash... I'm not dead, I'm not closing my doors and I'm not leaving town on the next bus. Any ridiculous half truths being used by my competitors to recruit my remaining agents is simply lame. I will have more respect for you if you compete on your laurels and not on what some perceive as my misfortune. Any self-serving exploitation of the truth will only expose you for 'what and who' you really are... a weak competitor. Here's some naked advice.... Take the high road and walk the path of respect. Then, and only then... will we dance ;)

Beautiful Brains & Funky Finesse. It's Friday and I'm stunned how quickly this week went by. I'm sipping my cup of Joe, about ready to attend my last meeting of the week before I hop on a plane to LA for a big birthday bash. My thoughts are bouncing around like TIGGER to several great conversations I've had with some brilliant colleagues these past few days. I'm blessed to be surrounded by people who challenge me to be better.

I've always loved the phrase, 'Iron sharpens Iron.' It's what drives me to hang out with people who are smarter than me. I'm easily reeled in by those who possess beautiful brains and funky finesse. And when they're equipped with a sense of humor that can make me laugh so hard I want to pee my pants, all the better.

There's an ease and flow to relationships like that, where wonderful thoughts are exchanged and creative ideas rise from collective minds like a sweet smelling loaf of bread. I have several people in my life that do that for me, most of whom I've met in the last couple of years.

It's funny how life circumstances can bring people together, who otherwise may never have known each other. I've met some of the brightest and most beautiful minds this past year, who have become kindred spirits indeed. And many of them I feel a bond with that is closer than some friends that I've known my entire life. It's amazing! I love the way the Universe allows us to collide with those people who inspire us, cheer us, encourage us and challenge us to continually dip our toes in the water and be alive. A special thank you to those of you who do that for me... you know who you are!

Happy Friday Everyone!