Rick Trowe - Go With Trowe

7 years have passed since the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, or just 9/11 as it is commonly referred.

I am not sure what I feel about the commonality of the reference. Please do not misinterpret what I am about to say but some times it sounds almost flippant. I did not say that when you, me, the media or anyone says 9/11 that we are being flippant or disrespectful. It's just that sometimes it flows to easily out of our mouth.

When we refer to that day, those events, the people who died, the heroes who acted, the leaders who stepped in . . . we should give all reverence and respect. We should not shorten it or diminish it in any way.

Perhaps those feelings are my personal hang up and should be kept to myself and that really was just a precursor to the main point.

In some ways, September 11, 2001 was a long time ago.

For several months after September 11, 2001 there was an increase in feelings of patriotism. People were much more patient with others. The fragility of life was in the forefront of our minds.

The privileges of being American and the freedoms we enjoy had been threatened. They were not being taken for granted. The cost to gain them had been stirred. Comparisons to December 7, 1941, February 26, 1993 and April 19, 1995, were frequent.

Attendance at churches around the country swelled. Public prayers and faith based statements were made with boldness.

Confessions of faith, family, and country were being made with conviction.

Every American has been affected by that day, even those who were not yet born. There are many after affects still in place but some have faded. Time has eroded some of the affects. Time has diminished some of the most important affects of that day.

Just yesterday I saw/experienced several angry people on the verge of road rage because of something another driver did or didn't do.

We say our family/loved ones are important and yet they are the ones we express our anger at most frequently or completely ignore them.

We say God is important and God bless you etc. but deny the truth and power of His word. We do not follow His teaching and we do not seek Him on a daily basis.

Time will prove our convictions. Did we really change the most important things in our lives because of September 11, 2001?

I am guilty of the time erosion. Are you? We are not perfect. But we can remember that day. We can honor those who died; and those who lived by choosing to live today by what we claim is most important. We can live today and tomorrow by the conviction of what we said we were going to do back on September 11, 2001.

It was not for nothing.

That day meant something.

That day MEANS something.

LIVE TODAY.

Rick Trowe and I'm Standing Up!

I enjoy playing golf. I started playing the local Par 3 course with my Dad when I was 12 or 13 years old. Neither of us were any good. We only played once or twice a month but it was time spent together. As I grew older we started playing a regular 18 hole public course. We still weren't any good, but it was always fun.

Then life happened. Work. Bills. Marriage. School. Children. Responsibility. 2nd job. More Bills.

Golf became a distant memory.

Even though I wanted to play golf, it never was enough of a priority to justify the cost:

golf clubs, golf balls, golf shoes, golf glove, golf tees, etc

time to practice, time to go to the course, time to play 18 holes, time to have a cooling beverage, etc

not being at work, not being at home, not being with my family, etc.

February 2006 came along. I was only working 1 job with more free time than I ever had before. I had come to a truce with the bills. The kids were almost independent and self sufficient . I received a bonus from work and decided the time was right for golf to make a dramatic return to my life.

I invested in a 4 week beginner package of lessons from a local driving range. I bought a new set of golf clubs. I spent time going to the practice range to improve my swing. I was going to play golf multiple times that spring & summer.

Then came the rain. It was too wet to play. Then came a job change. Then came life again. I only played about 4 times that year.

I played golf even less in 2007. What happened to the dramatic return of golf in my life?

This year I was determined to figure out a way to play. It is so difficult for me to justify taking the time to go play.

I found a solution. There are a couple of 9 hole courses available in my area. This is a perfect solution for me. I can play 9 holes in about 2 hours. I can walk the course & carry my clubs to give me some exercise. I can play before I go to work, or I can take an extended lunch, or I can play a quick 9 holes after work before going home. The green fee is much cheaper. There isn't a cart fee. I lose fewer golf ball. Bottom line is a much lower cost of time, money, & energy.

I'm not playing every week but clearly much more than I have in the past. I'm enjoying playing golf. I'm getting more exercise. A nice benefit is I'm getting better at golf.

I'm not bragging because I'm not that good. But my friends are making comments that I'm hitting the ball better than I was 3 months ago. They have also noticed that I am more consistent than I used to be. In other words, I have fewer holes that I completely blow it.

Here are somethings I have learned:

1. Learning proper technique from the beginning gives you an advantage.
2. Practicing proper technique makes you better.
3. Playing the game regularly makes you better.
4. Playing 9 holes twice a month is better than playing 18 holes twice a year.

Here are a few things that might help you in your business:

• Learn "best practices" and understand why they are "best practices"
• Practice your sales skills - your phone technique, your home presentation, your marketing strategy presentation, your "Open House" dialogue, (add in here other aspects of being a realtor)
• Practice these skills at least every week. Even if you are good, you still need to practice
• Review what you said or did after every interaction with a prospect or client or 3rd party.

One last thing for you workaholics like me - take a little time for something fun and enjoyable.

Rick Trowe and I'm Standing Up

I am an admitted workaholic. I am making progress on it, but there are too many nights when I am driving home from the office after 10:00 p.m.

Sunday night I left the office at 9:45 p.m. I thought I would reward myself and treat the family to some ice cream/frozen custard. I hurried out to the car, threw it in gear and roared down the highway to make it to the designated place before it closed at 10:00.

I was sitting at the stop light about a block away and I could see their big LIGHTED sign inviting me to pull into their establishment. I double checked the clock on the dashboard:

9:55

Are they going to shut down before I get there? Hurry up light!!! Change for pete's sake!!! The steering wheel bends under my tight grip.

Finally the light turns green. I quickly pull into the drive thru lane.

9:58

I made it. The sign on the street is still illuminated. The order board is still illuminated. The outside lights of the store are still on. Life is good! I will come home the hero.

I roll the window down & I'm eagerly leaning toward the speaker waiting to give my order. And I wait. And I wait. And I wait. After 3 minutes I pull around to the window. I catch an employees eye and motion for her to come to the window.

She unlocks the window (not a good sign). Are you open or closed? We're closed. Your lights are on; you really should turn your lights off if you are not open. Yeah, we are getting ready to turn them off. So what time do you close? We close here in a few minutes.

So you mean to tell me that you are really still open, you have your lights on inviting me to stop and buy, but you are not taking any more orders and you will officially close in a few minutes? Um, yes that's correct.

I was mad! I was disappointed! I felt betrayed!

I will eventually have a conversation with the manager of that store just to let him/her know what happened. But I don't think I will ever return as a paying customer.

How often do we pretend we are still open for business but really just don't want to do the necessary work? Maybe it's phrased like this: Call me if you have any questions. Then we are not available when they do call or we never return the call with the information they requested.

Perhaps we do take the call but give them a dry, pat, generic answer letting them know this really isn't that important and not worth my time.

I'm ok if you don't want to do the work. Just don't tell me you do. Don't leave your sign on out front inviting me to refresh myself with your fountain of nurishment/knowledge only to leave me disappointed. I would rather see the sign turned off and the building dark.

Rick Trowe and I'm Standing Up.