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Jen Dollar

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Don't Tell the Under 30 Crowd it Can't Be Done!!

01-19-09
Jen Dollar

By David Layne

RISMEDIA, January 16, 2009-Having been in real estate for 20+ years, I have been fortunate to be Director of Career Development & Director of Recruiting at two of America's "Top 100″ billion dollar residential firms. I was at a Top 10 Coldwell Banker and a Top 10 Century 21 broker. And since then I have been further privileged to work with owners, brokers, managers and salespeople scattered throughout the country.

Turning 50 myself this year, two of those I have been lucky enough to be affiliated with are under the age of 30. Jeff Glover's team closed 100 sales during 2008 in the Detroit market of all places in this economy. There is simply no such thing as "can't" in Glover's vocabulary.

Across the country is Jennifer Dollar leading the way north of Orlando with endless enthusiasm, and a tireless passion for bringing the best strategies and ideas in real estate today to the Realtors in her marketplace. Strategies that are working in challenged markets like Florida, Nevada, Arizona, California and Detroit.

Glover sold $5 million in real estate at the age of 19. By 21 he was managing an office, and then he was a trainer for one of the largest Michigan brokers soon thereafter. He's now a "seasoned professional" at 25 and has created one of Michigan's most productive & successful real estate teams.

Dollar is a second generation real estate success story. The first generation focused on development and senior housing. Dollar, on the other hand, is expanding her residential real estate operations when most are contracting, building new offices in Lake Mary where she is attracting everybody from Top Producers who wants independence and low costs, to those newer to real estate-desiring the modeling and mentoring of top producers.

Glover's team is known for schedule discipline, relentless telemarketing and a can-do attitude.

Dollar started her office by first attracting one of the premier producers in the market, then her own real estate mentor, now ready to mentor others for her, and add to the mix national coaching & recruiting guru Rich Rector's help.

You wouldn't know talking to either Glover or Dollar that in a real estate downturn and economic recession you can't expect the results of easier times. When you refuse to believe that, amazing results are still occurring.

Want to be successful in the 2009 real estate world? Affiliate with an under 30 superstar in your market. They never heard you couldn't succeed today. They don't keep repeating efforts on what isn't working. They find what is working and keep going full steam ahead. In some cases-way past the rest of us.

David Layne is like a "fitness coach" for Realtors contracting and assisting with their growth goals including training & recruiting. He has been a participant in AlignMark's "ask the expert" series two years running. To reach him, e-mail DavidLayne33@aol.com. For more information on the "ask the expert" series, e-mail mmull@alignmark.com.

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FINISH STRONG

12-17-08
Jen Dollar

It is so important to continue working HARD during the Holiday's. Most agents turn in the towel until mid January - I suggest keep going strong. How important is January to reaching your goals for 2009? I would imagine that it is VERY important.

I challenge everyone to make 10 calls a day to their sphere before 2009! Let's start of 2009 with a BANG!

Increase Your Business Through Networking, Part II
Communication Is Key

This is Part II in our series of networking tips based upon the wisdom of Dr. Ivan Misner, the founder and CEO of the world's largest referral organization, Business Network Int'l., and best-selling author and expert on the subject of networking.

Previously, we examined Dr. Misner's first two strategies, which were to Diversify Your Networks and Develop Your Contact Spheres. Here are three additional strategies which are sure to help you build your business:

3 - Acknowledge Those Who Refer Others Your Way
Dr. Misner has found that this step is the one that's overlooked most often when networking, and it may also be the one which does your business the most good.

He is very careful to point out that he is not recommending a payoff in any way. Actually, his research has shown that one of the best things you can do when someone refers an individual your way is to send them a hand-written thank you note. It costs almost nothing, takes very little time, and is so personal and genuine that it helps to keep the referrals coming.

Dr. Misner says for those who find it difficult to actually sit down and hand-write a card, there are many online services that will do it for you. He says the bottom-line is to find a follow-up system that you'll execute consistently.

4 - Learn the Techniques that are Appropriate to Your Networking Groups
Networking techniques and protocols differ from group to group. What may be appropriate at a local chamber meeting differs from what would be suitable when networking through an online organization. One humorous example Misner cites is that you would never randomly hand out business cards in the middle of a wedding. It's important to understand the boundaries specific to a group and most importantly, always honor events appropriately.

Another piece of advice Misner offers is that when you're participating in groups known for being strong contact networks, it's important to use what he calls the LCD, or lowest common denominator technique. In other words, talk about your business in terms of one specific idea or facet per meeting. He states that the more specific you are, the more likely it is that someone will remember the details of your conversation, giving you the best chance of obtaining a referral.

5 - Networking is about "Farming" not "Hunting"
Cultivating relationships takes time and consistent nurturing. It used to be that professionals would attend networking events with the idea that whoever collected the most business cards by the end of the night "won". In order to succeed in business today, it's important to develop quality relationships where you're constantly bringing value to those around you. Not only will this create good will and repeat business, it will also encourage referral partners and clients alike to share their good experiences with others and refer them your way.

I hope you enjoyed Dr. Ivan Misner's 5 strategies for increasing your business through networking. Please call me if you'd like to explore these ideas further. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss them with you!

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Increase your Business Through Networking!

12-09-08
Jen Dollar

Increase Your Business Through Networking, Part II
Communication Is Key

This is Part II in our series of networking tips based upon the wisdom of Dr. Ivan Misner, the founder and CEO of the world's largest referral organization, Business Network Int'l., and best-selling author and expert on the subject of networking.

Previously, we examined Dr. Misner's first two strategies, which were to Diversify Your Networks and Develop Your Contact Spheres. Here are three additional strategies which are sure to help you build your business:

3 - Acknowledge Those Who Refer Others Your Way
Dr. Misner has found that this step is the one that's overlooked most often when networking, and it may also be the one which does your business the most good.

He is very careful to point out that he is not recommending a payoff in any way. Actually, his research has shown that one of the best things you can do when someone refers an individual your way is to send them a hand-written thank you note. It costs almost nothing, takes very little time, and is so personal and genuine that it helps to keep the referrals coming.

Dr. Misner says for those who find it difficult to actually sit down and hand-write a card, there are many online services that will do it for you. He says the bottom-line is to find a follow-up system that you'll execute consistently.

4 - Learn the Techniques that are Appropriate to Your Networking Groups
Networking techniques and protocols differ from group to group. What may be appropriate at a local chamber meeting differs from what would be suitable when networking through an online organization. One humorous example Misner cites is that you would never randomly hand out business cards in the middle of a wedding. It's important to understand the boundaries specific to a group and most importantly, always honor events appropriately.

Another piece of advice Misner offers is that when you're participating in groups known for being strong contact networks, it's important to use what he calls the LCD, or lowest common denominator technique. In other words, talk about your business in terms of one specific idea or facet per meeting. He states that the more specific you are, the more likely it is that someone will remember the details of your conversation, giving you the best chance of obtaining a referral.

5 - Networking is about "Farming" not "Hunting"
Cultivating relationships takes time and consistent nurturing. It used to be that professionals would attend networking events with the idea that whoever collected the most business cards by the end of the night "won". In order to succeed in business today, it's important to develop quality relationships where you're constantly bringing value to those around you. Not only will this create good will and repeat business, it will also encourage referral partners and clients alike to share their good experiences with others and refer them your way.

I hope you enjoyed Dr. Ivan Misner's 5 strategies for increasing your business through networking. Please call me if you'd like to explore these ideas further. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss them with you!

7 Comments
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Disturbing New Real Estate Trend - Wikipedia-type Sites Can Distort the Truth

12-09-08
Jen Dollar

A disturbing new trend I've seen emerging is the electronic mutation of what I call the "cocktail party CMA." We have all experienced the real estate conversations that happen at the neighborhood cocktail parties...People exaggerating sales prices or not explaining the real reasons for selling. The internet is really good at distributing information, but not all that information is valid or correct. The Internet can actually accelerate the distribution of false information.

Some real estate websites have now created blogs and "wiki" where consumers can add their personal "facts" regarding sales prices, listing prices, mortgage and appraisals and reasons for such. As many in the industry know, not all information told by buyers, sellers, their neighbors and friends is correct. This will eventually lead to many real estate websites spreading false information. Smart consumers will begin discounting much of the real estate information on many sites, and again start to relying on better sources like real estate professionals and documented records of transactions.

We have already seen this happen in education, where many teachers and schools do not allow their students to use Wikipedia as research source, due to its questionable factual information.

9 Comments