Paul Hockaday

Vitex rotundifolia, more commonly known as Beach Vitex is a woody, shrub-like plant that is native to the Pacific Rim. North Carolina State University introduced Beach Vitex to the Southeastern Coast of North Carolina in the 1980s as a preventative vegetation against dune erosion. Since the introduction of Beach Vitex, North Carolina has come to the conclusion that Beach Vitex is doing more harm than good and has officially banned this plant from the state.

Beach Vitex grows at such a high rate it has been nicknamed "kudzu of the coast". It was originally introduced to the coast because the plant grows deep roots which grow fast and prevent soil erosion due to wind. Beach Vitex grows so well that it quickly overtakes native coastal vegetation such as sea oats. Numerous studies have been performed on Beach Vitex which concluded that this introduced species of plant does not build the same type of dunes that native plants build. Beach Vitex is actually less effective at retaining blown sand and create lower dunes as compared to study areas consisting of sea oats. Also, Beach Vitex has had an effect on Sea Turtle nesting sites. Sea Turtles come on to the beach to lay their eggs mid-summer and Beach Vitex grows so fast that when it is time for the eggs to hatch, the baby turtles dig out of the sand to find a jungle of Beach Vitex. For baby sea turtles, their challenge of making it to the ocean is a difficult enough task without having to contend with Beach Vitex.

So as you find yourself on our beautiful beaches this summer, keep an eye out for Beach Vitex. Be careful not promote its growth. Don't try to eradicate it yourself. Make note of its location and notify a professional. Here is a link: www.beachvitex.org

How to Identify Beach Vitex

• Oval-shaped, semi-waxy, opposite (as opposed to alternate) leaves

• Underside of leaves is a lighter green (*not to be confused with the silvery underside of Silver-leaf Croton, Croton punctatus)

• Has a woody stem

• Purple flower in summer

• Deciduous (dies back in winter)

• Distinctive eucalyptus-like scent when leaves are crushed

Read the article in the Star News: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090122/ARTICLES/901220263/0/arts_style

Related Links:

• Wrightsville might stand against beach vitex
• State hopes to wipe out pretty but invasive plant
• Know plants' growing habits to avoid unwanted annual spreading
• Invasive plant crowds out dune stabilizers
• Kudzu of the coast

http://www.northinlet.sc.edu/resource/vitex_files/bv%20brochure%20sept%2007_v2.pdf

http://www.northinlet.sc.edu/resource/vitex_files/fact_sheet.pdf

Day 33: Buyers Seminar

The date, time and location have all been set. As part of my proactive activities, I will be including a buyers seminar thanks to some cutting edge masterminds leading our office.

When: March 11, 2009

Time: 5:30 pm

Where: Bluewater American Grill on the Intracoastal Waterway at Wrightsville Beach, NC just over the drawbrigde and to the right.

Who needs to attend: First time home buyers that are tired off wasting their money on renting and real estate investors looking to purchase foreclosures.

Prime Lending will be hosting this seminar along with EXIT Coastal Connection Realty. If you are interested in attending this FREE seminar email me paul@exitcoast.com

We are excited about sponsoring this seminar and expected a large turnout. Make your arrangements asap as space is limited and we do not want to turn anyone away. If you would like to receive a list of properties email me paul@exitcoast.com

Below is a googlemap for Bluewater Grill:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4+marina+28480&jsv=142c&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=31.013085,65.917969&ie=UTF8&latlng=34216659,-77812455,6773331302573657891&ei=ZKd2SYDHJIz-Nb2OtfsK&cd=1

Paul Hockaday

"100 Days to Change"

Changing one day at a time.

www.myNCbroker.com

Day 25: 1st Time Home Buyer Seminar

Today my office gathered and talked about putting on an event to generate some business. "Let's have a 1st Time Home Buyer Seminar". Nothing new right? Well actually, how many real estate companies are really hosting events to generate business these days? It doesn't seem like many to me. Why not? Perhaps everyone has been glued to the tube and are believing all of the gloom and doom that they are hearing.

What about the $7,500 rebate the government is offering for 1st Time Home Buyers? Sounds like a good incentive to buy a house to me.

What about interest rates being remarkably low? Sounds like a great time to get a 30 year fixed loan.

What about building equity rather than wasting money on renting? Sounds like a no brainer to me.

Would you like to attend? Give me a call at 910-262-0772 or email me at paul@exitcoast.com and I will keep you informed of the details. www.myNCbroker.com

Event will be hosted by EXIT Coastal Connection Realty and PrimeLending, http://wilmington.primelending.com/

When: mid-late February 2009(TBA)

Where: Bluewater Grill, Wrightsville Beach, NC http://www.atlanticquest.net/blue_water.htm

Why: Greet opportunity to meet real estate professionals and a very professional team of mortgage brokers who will all update you on the current housing market and will be able to answer any questions.

How Much?: FREE

See you there,

Paul

"100 Days to Change"

WWAY News Channel 3 ran a feature yesterday evening on me, Paul Hockaday, on how I am using Active Rain and "100 Days to Change" to market myself, promote my community, create a network and to ultimately create a change in my real estate business. Here is a link:

http://www.wwaytv3.com/video/real_estate_agent_blogs_increase_presence_web/12

Key Yessaad, Real Estate Web Trainer, has had an enormous impact on my real estate business plan. Key has been instrumental in "opening my eyes" to the world of marketing on the internet and I thank him for introducing me to Active Rain.

"Blogging regularly about relevant material is one of the best ways to increase your web presence" says Key.

When I met Key some 4 months ago, I realized that he was going to help me in an area that I was very interested in; creating a web presence. What Key does is that he teaches you to "fish". And of course, by saying that I mean he actually teaches you how to structure your business so that you are in control. You do the work and you keep the knowledge you gain.

I started "100 Days to Change" because a few years ago I enrolled in Brian Buffini's "100 Days to Greatness." I loved Brian's proactive activities and wanted to grow my business based on referrals. Not just referrals from agent to agent but referrals from your sphere of influence. That's how you do business. It takes time to grow your business this way. Time is a limited resource. We don't have an unlimited supply.

What I'm trying to do is utilize some of the proactive activities from Brian's program with some of my own which includes blogging on Active Rain. My 2008 was by no means stellar so what I'm doing is "ramping up" for 2009. I'm creating a buzz. Check out my group "100 Days to Change".

Paul

Day 9: I've been reading Gary Keller's book "Shift" and reached page 75 last night. If you don't have a clue what Time Blocking is then you need to check this page out. "Why do I need to do Time Blocking?", you may ask. Well, here is why. You MUST generate LEADS.

If you aren't doing any kind of lead generation then you are in big trouble. Not generating leads on a day to day basis in a hot market may suffice but will put you out of business in a cold one. We are in a cold market and you have to "RAMP IT UP" says Gary Keller.

Here are two excerts from pages 72-73:

"You're going to need a lot of leads and that means you're going to have to do a lot of lead generating. You must do it everyday. You must do it several hours everyday. You must do it every work day for the rest of your career. You must ramp it up and keep it up. No negotiations. Got it?" -Gary Keller

"To ensure your lead generation is always your number one priority and that it gets done daily, you must acquire the discipline of "time blocking." Time blocking is setting aside daily blocks of time to execute your most important business priorities." -Gary Keller

How do I Time Block?

3 Easy Steps

Step 1: Family, friends, and personal time come first.

Step 2: Lead generation.

Step 3: Plan your week.

Here's what you do. You print out a blank calendar for the month. Write down all vacations, family events and personal time off that you need as these are the most important. Then write down for Monday-Friday from 9 am to 12 noon LEAD GENERATION. And finally, write down PLAN WEEK every Monday from 8-9 am. When you write your time blocking down make sure you do it in pencil. In the event that you have to change something, remember this rule; You can not erase without doing a replace. Another words, if you erase a lead generation time you have to place it somewhere else on the calendar.

I hope this information has been helpful. Remember to stay positive and keep moving forward.

Paul

www.myNCbroker.com