Melissa Grant Virtual Assistant

Tips For Achieving Your Goals, Whether Short or Long Term :

Do you have long-term projects with short-term expectations? If you do, that is a sure path to frustration and failure.

Lifestyle and business goals such as exercise, healthy diet and money, more clients, etc, have to become habits in order to be effective. Career changes, changes in your business because of the market and/or economy also takes time and planning, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

Your world has shifted. There’s voice mail, e-mail, twitter, facebook, and faxes that have made a “waiting” period unacceptable and almost obsolete. With information immediately available, we expect relationships and goal achievement to be done the same, whether in business or in life. As you read this you know that it is unreasonable to expect that and yet we still do ? We’ve been led by advertisers to believe that we deserve immediate gratification, and that it is readily and effortlessly available!

When you want to train a puppy, you know that it’s going to take time and consistent reinforcement. You’re ready for that, because you want your puppy to behave in an acceptable way. Why then, are you so patient with the puppy and so hard on yourself?

When you plant seeds in the garden, you tend them, water them, hope for sunlight and nurture them. Are you nurturing yourself?

The best way to move gently and effectively towards your goals is to take a reasonable approach. Break your long-term project goal into sub-goals. Break it into doable, short-term chunks. Today prepare the soil; tomorrow plant the seeds.

Each action you take and each step is satisfying because you know that it is contributing to the completion of your goal. You cannot rush Mother Nature with your garden, and the same is true for your goals.

This process is much more than “bloom where you’re planted”, because when you’re the gardener you choose what to plant and how to nurture it. Do the same for yourself, and grow yourself beautifully. Your goals will be accomplished in due time, and you won’t end up up-tight and frazzled, which usually leads to thinking your goals cannot be obtained.

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Success Secrets Still Valid Today

Author Michael Jeffreys personally interviewed 15 top motivational gurus in 1997 for his then upcoming book. After talking to gurus from Brian Tracy to Dr. Wayne Dyer, he distilled 8 Secrets to Success they all agreed upon. These secrets are still good today and are as follows:

1. Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life – In a society where people blame everything from their parents to the government for failure, those who don’t buy into this mentality or succumb to the “victim” thinking, succeed. To blame something or somebody outside yourself is saying that they have control over your life and not you. Someone else’s opinion of you doesn’t have to become your reality.

2. Live Your Life On Purpose – What separates motivational thinkers from the unsuccessful is that they believe they’re doing what they were put here to do. The difference between this and just living, is that the latter is just getting through the week with the least amount of problems. But when you live your life on purpose and with purpose, your main concern is doing the job right, consistently thinking of quality vs quantity. For the entrepreneur this means finding a cause you believe in and building your business around it.

3. Be Willing to Pay the Price - Be willing to pay the price for your dreams. Wanting a big house, a luxury car, and a million dollars in the bank is all very nice, and everyone wants these things – but are you willing to pay the price to get them? This is one of the major differences between the successful and unsuccessful. You have been given a job to do, whatever that may be, whatever profession that may be in, no one ever said it was going to be easy.

4. Stay Focused – Every day we’re bombarded with hundreds of tasks, phone calls, messages, and everyone competing for our time. Focusing requires giving up something in the present because you are investing your time in something that will pay off big-time down the road. Jack Canfield and Mark Hanson were turned down by 30 publishers when they submitted the first “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book. Instead of giving up, they stayed focused on their goal(s) and did four or five interviews per day for radio, TV, and newspapers, for five days a week for an entire year. Eventually, a small publisher decided to take a chance, and of course now it’s a best-seller that spawned an entire series that have sold more than 10 million copies.

5. Become An Expert in Your Field One striking factor all successful people have in common is how seriously they take their profession. They strive to be the best at what they do, and do almost anything to improve. If someone followed you around all day with a video camera at your business, would it be a tape you’d be proud of or embarrassed about? Make the decision today to work at being the best in your field. How? By finding out what the “best” in your field are doing, and do what they do while separating yourself from the rest.

6. Write Out a Plan for Achieving Your Goals – Write out an action plan/map, heck, make a dream board if you need to, for how you’re going to achieve your goals. Trying to reach your goals without a plan is like trying to drive from Los Angeles to Chicago without a map. A goal that isn’t written down is merely a wish or fantasy.


7. Never Give Up - Never, never, never give up, no matter what factors or circumstances head your way. When you’re fully committed to achieving your goal, giving up is not an option. You must be willing do whatever it takes to make it happen. The power of perseverance is an awesome force. As someone once said, “inch by inch it’s a cinch”. Think of the lowly inchworm – if it pondered the length of the trip from start to finish before it started, it probably would never move. To a worm’s point-of-view, the garden path must look like a trip to Mars. Keep on going like the EverReady battery bunny, we so often call ourselves and pretty soon you’re there.

8. Don’t Delay – Nobody knows how much time they have left to accomplish their dreams, and we must remember that we don’t have forever. The clock is ticking, and sooner or later your number comes up and you’re gone. Successful achievers know this too, but they don’t view it as a “negative”. Achievers use it to “spur them on”. They go after what they want as energetically and as passionately as possible, for as long as they have.

“Today is a check – cash it! Yesterday is an I.O.U. – forget it! Tomorrow is a promissory note, don’t bank on it!” I think that’s a pretty good summation of life, so go out there and cash in on that “today” check.

38 Random Acts of Kindness - Balloons to Heaven !

This year, so many people that I hold dear to my heart, have taught me more than they could ever imagine, through their strength and their loved ones. So many have had to endure what no person ever should. From parents, grandparents, brothers, sister, aunts and uncles, losing a loved one, to friends who have lost their courageous fight to cancer and other illnesses.  Having lost many loved ones in my life, I know the hole and void it can leave in your heart. Although, I cannot ever imagine what some of my friends have gone through this past year, I wanted them to know that there is not a moment in the day that I don't think of them. no matter how busy life can get. That there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of the struggles they have had to endure and that mightily I continue to pray. Praying for peace, understanding, comfort and joy to be brought to their lives. Although the miles and the waters may separate us - I would like to think a bridge has been built - from - heart to heart.

What can you say or really do in such moments of adversity ? There are never enough right words to say that can ease the pain. There is nothing you can say or do when someone you love fights the good fight and only seems to lose the battle anyway, although not the war. We love, we lose - no matter how unnatural the order of things may seem. Some people come into our lives only for a moment, while others can be with us for years. I'd like to think that no one is ever really gone.That we are all Angels and some of us are just called home sooner than others.

In this life we are and can be taught so much by others, if only we open our hearts and minds. No matter the age - there is something to learn from everyone. A baby, someone's son or daughter, can teach us innocence and purity. With every breath they take they can breath so much life into a person. The innocence of a child teaches us that we can do and be anything if only we believe. The purity of a child brings us unmatched, unconditional love that remains forever in our hearts no matter how long they get to share those milestones with us. Without expecting anything in return, they give us joy and hope for the future. While the mature one teaches us courage, strength and perseverance. No matter their life struggles, they become fighters until the very end, teaching us that life and love are worth fighting for. Courageously they climb the highest of mountains - with no fear of falling and they persevere to the top, waving, loving, smiling all the way there.

So many have taught me so many things about life. I watch the faith of others and stand in awe. That they could face the most difficult time in their lives and still know that the God they love and serve is not a mean God. That the God they serve through it all loves them and is and will continue to bring them peace and comfort. That no matter their struggles there is HOPE. Something that many of us forget and all to often take for granted.There is a lot to be learned and said of someone's great faith and I continue to learn from them.

Today, it's my turn to give back because so much has been given to me.

The Caulk Family - Have taught me so much about love, faith and family. Through all of their struggles they never forget who they are. I love them all.

The Baker - Sodero Family - Their beautiful son taught me about innocence and how big things do come in such small packages. Love You Al and Desiree.

Sharon Young - Taught the true meaning of living life to the fullest and no matter what hand you are dealt, you still just live and love. RIP Dear one.

Joe Ferrara - Taught me what it means to be a great teacher - in life and in business. Thank You Joe, forever in our hearts.

Clint Miller and Family - This family has taught me courage. Courage to face things head on. To know that it's okay to be tired but never to be scared. Our thought and prayers are with you always.

So many, have taught me such beautiful things. I thank God for all of them and I thank God that I have had the chance to know them and love them.

So, I, we, sent balloons to Heaven. In honor of our friends and their loved ones who passed away because they are ALL special to me.

38 Random Acts of Kindness, it's my birthday present to myself : http://www.aserendipityworld.com/2011/11/38-random-acts-of-kindness.html

Special thanks for Midori Miller, Jeanette Neerpat, Vicky Wyman for joinging me in 38 Random Acts of Kindness. To my neighbor for helping me shoot my video, lending me the beer and allowing me to spew it all over her porch. You all ROCK !

See Jeannette here : http://browardcountyreview.com/2011/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-our-family-to-yours/

See Vickie here :  http://blog.allaccessre.com/2011/11/23/random-acts-of-kindness-pay-it-forward-day-two/

When I was 16 years old my parents decided it would be best to move us from the only place I had ever known, New York to Florida. As a teenager you can venture a guess I was pretty mad. I did everything but cooperate. It was my life and who were they to take me from my family and my friends ?For months they showed me all the wonderful things about Florida in hopes that it would grow on me. The only real thing I thought about was boys and the beach... boy did that seem to fit. From one day to the next I couldn't make up my mind...Whether I would give it an honest chance or continue to wreak havoc on my parents lives for what seemed back then " ruining my life " . This is when I learned to start sitting on the fence.

Shortly after moving to Florida, still kicking and screaming I might ad, I met my best friend. Her name was Holly. She had grew up in Indiana and her parents moved her to Florida some 5 years before. She could empathize with what I was going through. She became the " wind beneath my wings " in so many ways. She had a boyfriend named Everitte, he was a trip and became like a big brother to me, one I never had. He had a friend named Corey who liked me but in my eyes I was still going back to New York, even if I had to swim all the way there. I must admit he was rather "cute" and for 16 a real gentlemen. I still sat on the fence because I feared the unknown and wanted back what I was comfortable with.

One night Holly wanted to sneak out after curfew during a sleep over at her home. The " boys " were to meet us at the end of the block. It was a race to stay awake for a little while after her Mom went to bed so we could sneak out the window, climb the 6 foot wood privacy fence and run for our lives and for Holly into the arms of a boy she swore she would marry one day. Being scared of heights that fence looked rather larger than it really was. Thinking back I can say now,  " I didn't climb fences but rather I sat on them ". Instead of giving things an honest chance I chose to sit in hopes everything I needed and wanted came to me.It's amazing at how at 16 you think the world revolves around you ! Climbing out the window went off without a hitch. Getting stuck on the pointy end of the fence up my shorts literally became a huge problem. As I tried to cross over the fence the tip stuck in my shorts and their I sat on the fence I had always been sitting on in my mind now stuck. It wasn't long before I realized I wasn't going anywhere and the fear of the unknown started to take me over not to mention my fear of heights. In hindsight at 16 it was a funny adventure, the most embarrassing moment when 2 boys and your best friend have to free you from the fence, all while being quiet so you don't wake Mom or the neighbors. Today, looking back I can see how by creating images in my mind and living for " sitting on the fence " because the unknown was to uncomfortable, I got back exactly what my mind had already been creating. The fear of change, changing times, the unknown, what was not comfortable, what I didn't know bound me to a fence both in my mind and then in real life.

That night not only did I realize I could over come my fears but I also realized I had friends who would ease me from that wretched old fence and safely place me on my feet again. That I had resources that had been staring me in the face the whole time to help me through the changes in my life but I missed them, I missed it all because I wanted back what I was comfortable with. How dare I go against everything and everyone I ever knew. The things that made me laugh, smile and cry all at the same time. The things that made me whole.....

In our lives there is change. We grow up, we move, we start a business. We get married, we have a family. Friends come and go. The one thing that always remains the same is change. This we cannot control. As Realtors(r) our business changes. As a Buyer or Seller their business changes. The one thing I know for certain is that I would have never gotten off of that fence if three people I barely knew didn't provide a push, a pull, a tug and hope. I had to trust they would do exactly what they said they would. I had to open my heart and mind that they would show me the way. That with every hand placed upon me they would get me down from sitting on the fence. Because I embraced the unknown and learned to trust what I was not comfortable with I was freed, free to live and enjoy my life in a place in a new era of time. At that moment I learned keeping two feet on the ground was more comfortable than your feet dangling from a fence.

Have you been sitting on the fence ?  If you are sitting on the fence it's no wonder our buyers and sellers are sitting there too. How many of us are holding out our hands, opening the mind and instilling trust to a buyer and seller that although the markets have changed they are getting no where by dangling from the fence. Like my friends took over in my time of need it is our time to take over the market, change with the market and educate our buyers and sellers. If we fear, they fear. If we sit on the fence, they sit on the fence. There are both buyers and sellers out there waiting for someone to give them hope. Waiting for someone to show them that they do not have to fear the unknown. That the world still spins and no it will NOT fall off it's axle. If we don't dare to show and tell the knew things they won't dare to understand them.

There are new questions arising every day in our changing economy and market. The fact still remains the same that buyers will need to purchase and sellers will need to sell. We already know that most buyers these days are going to the internet to start there home searches. If we write for buyers the sellers come. Today's most important question that a seller asks is :

What are you doing or what will you do to bring buyers to my home ?  If your answer is post cards, mail outs and media advertising than you are no different than the other three agents they will soon be interviewing. NOW is the time to stand out from the rest. How am I doing it. Easy, I stopped sitting and the fence, I am embracing the unknown and there is no fear factor when I walk into a home. I call upon Growth Leader every time ! Why, it's simple.....

Growth Leader : Growth Leader is a proven strategy to bring in buyers. What better piece to incorporate in your listing package. Seriously, everyone has a web site these days. In fact, if you go looking around many look the same only the area's , territories are different. Right now we need our sellers and buyers to say " I have never seen that before ".That is how we will gain there trust, develop a relationship and offer hope. By showing them something knew we are showing them we are not sitting on the fence waiting for someone else to show us.Not everyone can walk into a home and say " This is how I find buyers for your home " and pull up Growth Leader. It is not everyday or every agent that can walk in a home with their laptop google a search term and show your Growth Leader on the top of page 1 in the sponsored links. We all know a seller leads to a buyer, a buyer back to a seller and the referral stage begins. From what I have gathered on recent comments there are so many of you sitting on the fence waiting for everyone else using Growth Leader to tell you what to do or not instead of seizing the opportunity. What may work for me may not work for you or your market. The only way you will ever know is to get off the fence and try it yourself.

I don't care how pretty your fence is, it's still a fence.

I have been using Growth Leader for 10 weeks. In that 10 weeks I have passed referrals for listings in other states, gained both short term and long term buyers, written contracts, closed and my listings are flourishing because I have a system that has proved itself to work. Not only in my eyes but in the eyes of the consumer who is looking at me to show them exactly how I have changed in our market. Nothing Will work in a week or a month. It takes time, effort and diligence. When you first started blogging did the prospects start coming over night ? It took time. It took time to learn how to blog, learn about tags, SEO and what to write about. For some of us it took months to complete a task of 1 prospect. Nothing happens over night but the more time you waste sitting on the fence not only are your buyers and sellers sitting there with you but you are wasting valuable time and resources to get you exactly where you need to be.

Today, I am passing along a favor. A favor that was given to me 19 years ago. I am helping you get off the fence. Why are you still sitting there ?

Melissa Grant, Realtor(r) Century 21 Fountain Realty. 931-210-8277 Direct Melissa@C21Fountain.com or visit my website at www.crossvilletnrealestateforsale.com. I am never to busy for your referrals.

Here in Crossville TN the stage is set for you. We are the place you have been looking for. Just off of I- 40, Crossville TN is conveniently located to Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. Why is Crossville TN the place ?

For starters, the area is home to Tennessee's famous vacation resort, Fairfield Glade, where five beautiful golf courses will test any skill. But there's more, so much more. Crossville TN - Cumberland County has a total of 11 championship golf courses.

Here upon the Cumberland Plateau you can also visit the highest elevated golf course at the Renegade Mountain Resort. Golf in Crossville - Cumberland County is one of our area's major attractions. Each course is unique and offers a different golfing experience.

From breath taking mountain views, mountain streams, rolling hills and rock formations not only are our golf courses challenging they are enjoyable for all skill levels.

As many of our visitors and residents here in Crossville will attest, that's not all that we have to offer you and your family. From our Golf Courses to our award winning Cumberland County Playhouse to the Crossville Outlet Center, Crossville has something for everyone. High upon the Cumberland Plateau we offer upscale cuisine to down home cooking and the sights and sounds you will savor year after year.

If you are looking for more than Golf, Crossville is packed with recreation, entertainment, history, dining and shopping.

With an elevation of 2000 feet and an average summer temperature of 74 degrees, Cumberland County residents and visitors can also enjoy hiking, boating, fishing, camping, canoeing, whitewater rafting, even hunting. Auto and drag racing events are held on a regular basis.

For all of these reasons, our area has been voted one of the nation's most desirable places to live and retire to.

When you relocate or visit be sure to put these attractions on your check list :

RECREATION :

• Ozone Falls State Natural Area - a pristine setting that has attracted Hollywood Filmmakers.
• Catoosa Wildlife Management Area - a hunting wilderness of almost 80,000 acres
• Crossville Recreational Park, 75 acres of championship ball fields, tennis and volleyball courts. Equipped with playgrounds and walking/hiking trails.
• Cumberland Mountain State Park, more than 1700 acres of rustic parkland, cabins, playgrounds, campsites, hiking trails, Olympic-size swimming pool and The Bear Trace.
• Cumberland Trail State Park, Tennessee's first linear state park with over 230 miles of spectacular views.

ENTERTAINMENT :

The Cumberland County Playhouse is renowned throughout the South as a premier cultural attraction. With live performances, Broadway musicals in addition to special films and concerts. Offered year round.

Festivals are also a huge part of our life here in Crossville. Some prominent festivals include :

• Pioneer Day
• Oktoberfest
• Depot Days Main Street Festival
• StreetScape Boo Bash
• Homestead Apple Festival
• Crossville Christmas Parade
• Our exciting Blue Ribbon Cumberland County Fair

HISTORY :

Our area, Crossville - Cumberland County is a favorite among history buffs. The past comes alive throughout our area. See for yourself by visiting :

• The Homesteads - a community and depression era of 1930 which was designed as a National Historic district and featuring Homesteads Tower and Museum and the Crabtree House.
• GrassyCove - a National Natural Landmark featuring geological wonders and farmland.
• Crab Orchard - is the country's oldest community and home of the world-famous Crab Orchard Stone
• Downtown Crossville - with it's 95 year old courthouse it also features the 1920's train depot from where famed Sgt. Alvin C. York made his good-byes en route to his World War I exploits
• Pleasant Hill - settled since 1819, is the site of the Pioneer Hall Museum

From Cuisine to hard-to-find collectibles, your shopping and dining desires will be delighted here along the Cumberland Plateau. You can follow any road and be greeted by friendly people, boutiques, specialty and antique shops, unique wineries, a busting downtown, factory outlet stores and so much more. To satisfy your cravings you can pull up any chair amongst our 50 restaurants.

To find out more about Crossville TN or Real Estate for sale in Crossville TN, contact :

• Melissa Grant, Realtor(r)
• Pointe Realty-proudly serving Crossville TN, The Cumberland Plateau, Fairfield Glade, Lake Tansi, Cumberland Cove, Morgan and Fentress Counties.
• 931-210-8277 Direct or Email lissalgrant@yahoo.com
  

Photos copyright 2009, Melissa Grant

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