It's easy to get caught up in life's daily priorities and sometime miss the big picture. Air Force General Albert P Clark died yesterday at the age of 96. Living almost 100 years is a feat in itself, but "Bub" Clark was famous for other reasons. While a POW during World War II at Stalag Luft III, he was Big S, in charge of security, for "The Great Escape". If you enjoy classic war movies, no doubt you have watched "The Great Escape"...who could forget its all-star cast: Charles Bronson, James Coburn, James Garner, and, of course, Steve McQueen with his exciting motorcycle chase at the end of the movie. Gen Clark wasn't directly portrayed in the movie, but his contribution was front and center...the elaborate set of signals that warned of an approaching guard. He never took part in the escape because the guards had moved him to another hut.
Gen Clark was Superintendent at the Air Force Academy, the university president, if you will. As with most colleges were students don't daily interact with the school's president, so it was with the "Soup" for us as cadets, except that his influence was always present. This war hero had an indulible influence on several thousand future Air Force officers...not your average college president. He was a gentleman who never brought attention to himself or his "heroics". 
And so it was for me as a young 17-year-old and very impressionable cadet in 1971. What a great role model to learn from and emulate. I last saw him about 15 years ago at the 20th anniversary for the Class of 1975. He was with his wife touring the Academy library...for several minutes he graced "his boys" with his undivided attention. We stood with him, still in awe of his sacrifice, bravery, and humble fame.
Chances are you never heard of Bub Clark; he's gone now, part of the "Greatest Generation". But if you saw the movie, I'd bet you feel like you knew all about him.
I attended RainCamp Dallas 2010 yesterday and it was the best investment of $99 that you can make for marketing and getting an insight into how fast facebook, twitter, blogs, and viral marketing is changing the face of small business advertising. Although the presentation may be oriented to Realtors, Brokers, and Agents trying to sell more real estate...the philosophy, principles, practices, and techniques are applicable to any business trying to brand themselves and compete in today's e-market. For me, the challenge has been to figure out how all the internet and social media techniques used by a company like Pajamas.com, that serves a national audience, can be applied to a regional or even geographically restricted market, such as a small business providing lawn care, remodeling, plumbing, garage door maintenance, even, junk removal or trash hauling.
My wife and I own the 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise serving the Dallas and Collin County area and during the last three years we have enjoyed assisting hundreds of Realtors, Property Managers, Leasing Agents and Office Managers helping clients responsibly dispose of their unwanted junk and create more space. During that time, we did all the classic stuff for advertising and spent thousands of dollars on direct mail, newspaper ads, radio, yellow page ads, signs in restaurants, door hangers--all with questionable or marginal ROI. Online, we have a Junk Removal Dallas web site (built and maintained by corporate) with static or old content and did some Pay Per Click. After reviewing our numbers for the past two years, the amount of business we receive from Google searches and online bookings has steadily increased and now represents a substantial amount of the leads we receive. DUH...Clue Monster!!! So we decided to significantly ramp up our online presence and branding this year in all the venues: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more web sites.
So here's a plug for RainCamp. If you are in the Real Estate business and can identify with some of what I described, then attending RainCamp is a MUST for you. You will have fun, learn more than you can possibly ever use, and be way ahead of most of your competitors in understanding the power of these new tools. Plus, you'll get to meet all the ActiveRain experts (especially Active Brad), along with a room full of other like minded thinking business professionals. If you are not a realtor, broker, or agent, but own or operate a small business that provides professional services to homeowners or other businesses, you'll find this day equally exciting and beneficial because everything that is presented applies to you as well. Not only will you leave with an understanding of this new technology and lots of tools to use, but you will be inspired by how obvious and simple (and cheap) this may be for your business.
Sign up today and don't pass up the opportunity to attend RainCamp when it comes to your neighborhood. Bring a notebook and pen (computer not required unless you cannot be away from email or facebook--the wi-fi connection in Dallas was almost non existent).
It will be the best investment you can make all year!
THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake.. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
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1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the World's Largest Junk Removal Service. We do all of the loading and cleanup--so you point, we do the rest! We service the North Dallas metro area...we will solve your problem!
1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the World's Largest Junk Removal Service servicing North America, Canada, Australia and the UK. We help realtors, homeowners, residential and commercial property managers, contractors and business owners with their junk removal needs. Our service includes all of the loading, cleanup and disposal. All you do is call and we do the rest. We send out a clean, shiny truck (all 1000+ trucks are exactly the same!) with two friendly and trained employees that will remove items from anywhere on your property (store room, garage, attic, backyard, 8th floor, etc). 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is a professional service and we are the best at what we do.
What makes us different? It's simple
We screen all employees to ensure we hire the best. If you recommend a company to your client, you want to know who you are sending into their homes or corporate office spaces. That is why we have become the best in the industry. We train our employees to ensure the service level you and your clients receive is the best, every time. Our four trucks service North Dallas and provide same day results.
In addition, we are engaged in the Dallas business and local community. Everything that we collect that can be recycled stays out of the McCommas Bluff Landfill. We support several charities, including Jonathan's Place, an emergency shelter for at risk children, along with thrift stores that receive gently worn or used household items and clothing.
Realtors face situations where their clients need junk removal at different stages of the moving process. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? can help during:
Preparation for sale: We can assist the sellers with making their property more inviting to potential buyers. If we can clean up the basement, attic, backyard and garage to make the home seem larger and cleaner, there will be more interest in the property.
Days leading up to the move: Moving is a stressful time and we can help by taking care of items like old sheds, hot tubs, etc when time is running out and options for removing items becomes limited. We can be on site in less than one hour helping your client with any of these issues.
Settlement table: There are always arguments about the old refrigerator in the basement or pile of wood left on the far corner of the property. Well 1-800-GOT-JUNK? can take care of these situations without breaking a sweat. All you do is pick up the phone and call.
After settlement: Junk still all over the house after settlement? We have seen this and have helped many realtors out of this situation. Or, your client moves into a home that the previous client decided to leave some items behind. We often come in to remove old hot tubs and other items. Hundreds of moving boxes? Consider them gone!
Residential Property Managers have similar challenges. Again, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? understands your situation and can solve your problems quickly:
Old tenants moving out: We can help you serve your outgoing tenants by removing those unneeded household items before they move out. These items could end up in a dumpster, outside the property, or left behind for you to deal with thereby delaying the time the property becomes available for a new tenant.
After move in: The new tenants will have furniture or household items that do not fit or work in their home. You become the hero in helping them solve this problem. They will also have plenty of moving boxes to dispose of just like the new homeowner.
Evictions: This can be some of the ugliest, most disguisting work. Your tenant leaves in the middle of the night and you are stuck with a filthy cleanup. We can definitely help you mitigate a bad situation and hopefully help erase a terrible experience for you and the landlord.
Commercial Property Managers have a unique set of challenges:
Retail facilities: Store fixtures, remodeling debris, parking lot or dumpster cleanouts...we'll make it ready for business again to meet your schedule.
Office building or tower: The company whose corporate offices are located on the 8th floor of the building you manage has decided to move to be closer to their customers. How will they get rid of their unwanted desks, book cases, conference tables, papers, old computer systems, and other move out trash? Who will you allow into your building to do the work or to keep from disrupting your business environment? 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Dallas specializes in this situation. We have completed many office cleanouts in numerous premier Dallas office parks or towers...professional, discrete, and effective. Both you and the client will say "WOW!"
This is a second career for me and my wife. In 2006, I completed almost 35 years of service in the Air Force. That experience resulted in numerous moves for our family (17 actually) and great jobs that provided excellent training, leadership experience, and many management challenges. I graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Following pilot training in Lubbock, Texas, I flew B-52s in Bossier City, Louisiana for 5 years. Later, I had the good fortune of being selected to attend the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. I was part of the team that conducted initial flight tests on the USAF B-1 and B-2 bombers. It was also my honor to command several organizations to include the Flight Test Wing at Edwards. Just prior to completing my USAF career, I was commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. My Air Force career revolved around managing, developing, and testing high tech aircraft and weapon development programs. So it is interesting and quite ironic that I today find myself a Texan, not far from where I began my USAF career doing a job that could be considered anything but high tech--operating and growing the World's Largest Junk Removal Service! Both my wife and I find great reward in providing quality service to everyone we contact.
Here are some of my testimonials:
Carrisa Preslar, Human Resources Coordinator, New Media Gateway (regarding corporate office move out and cleanup, 6th floor, Mockingbird Station): "You are an absolute saint! Your guys are amazing and did a wonderful job in half the time I thought it would take. Thank you so much!...Thanks again, and tell your crew they are the best!"
Janet Bobechko, Certified Specialist Environmental Law, Blaney McMurtry (following residential move out): "Thank you so much for your email and your team's assistance with out last minute clean up on Saturday. We were so impressed with your services. We called just before midnight and you had a crew at my mom's house around 8:30 am the next morning. The job was a lot bigger than any of us imagined--your crew did it with a smile and such helpfulness that in my view is unparalleled! You made what could have been a stressful situation an excellent experience. Knowing that so much of the last minute things that could not make the trip...with us would be donated to those that need it most was the added bonus that we did not expect. My father was an orthopaedic surgeon who dedicated his life to helping children around the world. Your team helped out to fulfill my parent's desire to help others. For that we are so grateful...Thanks again to you and your wife and your wonderful team. YOU ARE THE BEST!"
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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