Sheila Moran, SanAntonioSheila.com RE/MAX Access, Broker, At your service!

With Gustav on it's way and everyone unsure of where he will make his presence we jumped in the truck and headed south to Port Aransas, Texas to go fishing!

Every year about 200 people show up over Labor Day weekend for the annual Ray Sekula Saltwater Classic. This year was the 9th annual. Ray Sekula happened to be my husband's Uncle who passed away about 11 years ago. Ray was a "guy's guy" hunting, fishing and telling "tall tales" was what he was about. Most importantly he was VERY interested in sharing with his kids and any other kid that showed up how to fish, hunt and enjoy the outdoors.

His children started the Fishing tournament to honor their father and keep the families joined by having us fish, eat together and gathering to share in our lives at least once a year. The party starts Friday night with registration. Saturday morning all of the "fisherman" are up and about around 6 am and off they go. Weigh in starts at 3:30 with everyone needing to be in by 4p.m. This year not everyone showed up to weigh in as Gustav was in the Gulf and there was not much "fishing" going on. While others did pretty good. The best part of the weekend is Sunday afternoon. Everyone gathers on the beach, we line up the "huts" and plant ourselves for the day. There is too much to do. Washers is the biggest competition (this is where the fisherman from the day before try to redeem themselves), the kids throw sand balls at each other, the babies are eating the sand, and us Mom's we try to keep everything in control (well, somewhat).

We had a great time and everyone is safe and sound...until we meet again!

Photo of all the kids that fished!

Okay...seriously we are busy around here (sometimes it doesn't look like it!)

But it was one of the more "stressed" out mornings, you know we were all bogged down with paperwork, e-mails, phone calls, problems opportunities and something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. Look at what distracted us for about 10 minutes, completely changed my attitude and brought everyone in the office together for a moment!

These "shots" are straight out our back picture window from our office! It was a glorious "shot". Not bad for hunting @ work and so called "shooting" deer.

They were awesome to watch and are truly glorious and majestic.

p.s. our office is in Garden Ridge, Texas (4 miles outside of San Antonio!)

I ran across a quote today that I wanted to share with you.

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is? Frank Scully

Now, I don't know Mr. Scully (guess I should have googled him, now I think I'm breaking some AR rule here) but, I like what he says. It made me think about the things that we do for our family, children, co-workers and yes, CLIENTS.

How often do you go out on a limb? Maybe sometimes, here and there or maybe NEVER (yes, I've encountered you out there).

Let's take the grocery store for instance. I walk in there and spend 45 minutes loading up my cart (I have growing boys :)) I am dodging all kinds of old ladies "browsing" in the isles. I run into the people on the way to the Guadalupe River who are loading up on beer and ice chests (no food seems to be going into those carts) and then there is the Mom with 5 kids that are ALL OVER THE STORE. By the time I get to the check out counter there is a line out the door, down the street and into the next town.

The checker is worn out, frustrated from items that don't scan at the right price and has to listen to the customers that are upset with them for the mistake. She is busy talking with the stock boy about their plans for the weekend, how she didn't get her break at the correct time and how she has to show up on her day off for a company meeting. She mumbles a hello to me, tells me I owe her $173.56. Loads up my cart and then sends me out the door to fight the crowds in the parking lot, crazy river bound drivers (remember these are the beer drinkers?) with a cart LOADED with groceries so I can load them into my car and unload into my kitchen (I know, I know, you got the point by now, right?) So, how do I feel when I'm backing out of the lot? Like I want to mow down one of those river rats? (Er, do you we get points for that? okay, okay, I'm kidding).

The point I'm making is that I'm not too happy.

Let's take another instance. I try to do business with my local cleaners. I go in with a smile on my face and leave with a frown. Why? Well, the lady behind the counter is not really happy with her job or her life today. She wants $5.50 to clean a pair of pants and I have 12 pairs! AND she wants me to pay her upfront? Upfront? What every happened to pay when services are rendered? Now do you see why I'm frowning. (definitely more to this story, but I won't bore you with the details of why my zippers won't go up nor down in my pants)

Getting back on track here with Mr. Scully is that: did I receive service? happy service? or did anyone go out on a limb to help me? HECK NO. I was left to fend for my own out in the grocery store jungle.

What constitutes going out on a limb? Is this just being nice (for the dry cleaning lady THIS would be going out on a limb in her instance) to the customers or clients? Not normally. Going out on a limb is just doing that....going out of your way to help, inspire, do something special for someone. Is it easy to do? Sometimes it just might be carrying my groceries to the car. Smiling to your clients and making sure that you get to know who they are. Find out what THEIR needs and wants are and then doing whatever is in your power to make it happen. Knowing when someone is anxious, nervous or upset about making that big move that you take the time to calm their nerves, seek out the features of a community that they might enjoy or find a place in their new town (school, church, yoga studio, whatever floats their boat) that they might be able to call home.

Is it difficult at times? Yes, many times I have felt that I did indeed set out to do the right thing (or something extra for someone) and I thought I was really putting myself out or my family.

But did I reap the benefits of the fruit? You bet.

Take a minute this week to do one thing EXTRA SPECIAL for someone around you. Spend some time, money, fix what might be broken, add something special to the transaction or to their lives.

There is nothing wrong for reaching for the fruit.

Well, it's back to school time. You know what that means, lunchboxes, getting up and OUT the door on time AND the dreaded homework!

My boys started a brand new school today in a brand new city. We moved to New Braunfels, Texas about 3 months ago.

So, let's just say that my little one (well, he's 9yrs old...but still my baby!) didn't get much sleep last night and was VERY nervous when we showed up. It started in the car as I was driving him. I asked if he wanted to go in by himself. The answer was "yes, I'm fine Mom". The closer we got to the school it turned into "can you come in with me?" (This is the question that I was secretly wishing for...I hear from other parents that in a couple of years I will no longer be invited:))

We parked the car and walked up (let me set the scene: parents everywhere, cars illegally parked, cameras flashing, video cameras also, everyone is wearing brand new clothes..I thought I was in Hollywood for a second). As we walked up I reminded him that the best way to meet someone is to walk up to them and introduce yourself. I mentioned to him that should he not have a lunch mate that if someone was already sitting down to ask if he could join them (he was unaware that I had put in his lunchbox a bag that had 3 cookies that said "2 for you, 1 to share with a new friend"). So, this little scenario that I was trying to set up in advance would work! I lingered on and on about how he had always made friends before and this would be the same. How he needed to be BOLD and reach out to someone if he wanted success! (I'm sure all he heard from me was: blah, blah, blah).

Then I watched my "baby" walk into his classroom.

I left and went to the office and was thinking about all of my words of "wisdom" that I had bestowed upon this young mind that I'm helping to shape. And I realized that I was asking him to be BOLD and step out of his comfort zone. To be the first to reach out. To intentionally engage someone for the purpose of what he perceived to be his success for this first day of school.

It dawned on me that I was asking my son to DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DO. I thought "okay, miss smarty pants" when was the last time that I had done something BOLD? When did I step out of my comfort zone? What have I done lately that has rattled my cage? (so, to speak. They let me out every so often.)

I prospect all the time that's a no brain-er. I'm talking about few other ideas (floating around this head of mine) that I have that "might" come my way and then they "might" not if I don't make them happen. There are a few contacts that I have been wanting to make. A few contracts that I have been wanting to write. Yet, I haven't put my cookies in order to have the opportune time to have it happen. Why? I never have made the point of stepping up and asking someone to help me with it. Nor to negotiate an opportune time when I might have a chance to be a part of something.

I planned TODAY to make a plan, yes a plan, and make 2 phone calls by the end of this week. These 2 phone calls might not lead me right down the path that I'm looking for, but who knows where it will lead? It might lead me closer to my PLAN or it might lead me to a better one! The point is that I need to remind myself to also DO AS I SAY and step out of my circle and possibly into someone else's.

So, I ask you my compadres...When was the last time that you stood up to the plate and took a swing? When did you intentionally make something happen in your world? Are you waiting for it to happen to you.... or are you going to go out and get it? !

My Son came home today and I asked about the cookies. He said that he had lunch with 3 new friends and didn't know which one to give the cookie to (and didn't want to hurt the rest of the tables feelings)....so, he ATE the 3rd cookie! Wow, he got everything he wanted today AND the last cookie. Way to go!

p.s. one phone call down, 1 to go this week.

I would love it if you would share some of your BOLD moves with me.

In all of my years of selling real estate my biggest challenges weren't:

• finding buyer or sellers (well, maybe sometimes)
• getting super hard deals to closing in record time (just one more miracle, please)
• handling overstressed and emotional people to stick with the facts

It seemed to be MY TIME.

For years I ran around with no schedule nor boundaries.

I truly know that some observed me as a red-headed, crazed, focus challenged (it's not easy when you have to show one last house, grocery shop, pick up the kids, get homework done and have dinner at a decent hour) woman trying to be everything to everyone ALL AT ONCE!

The bigger that I spun my web the least efficient I was. It was very apparent.

Until the day that I joined Success Partners which is a RE/MAX group here in Texas. I thought attending these meetings was going to teach me HOW to do more business. Was I ever wrong. What I learned was how I was the one deterring my ultimate success (blessings here, not number of sales) by not being the keeper of my TIME.

Through trial and error and learning that I can't be at the boys' basketball game and showing a house at the same time. (yes, I tried) I mastered (okay, a work in progress) THE ART OF MY TIME.

I know now that time for myself, my husband and my children is important to my happiness (as well as theirs) and ultimately will lead me to success. Success being equated as relaxing time, vacations (yes, where the mobile doesn't ring) building relationships and quality time. I found out that the more relaxed and replenished I was I was making more sales and enjoying myself along the way!

It sounds so simple yet so hard to implement. The more that I worked on it, the easier it came. What do they say? Practice makes perfect.

I ask my fellow REALTORS what is your best time saving tip? or what have you implemented into your life that let's you take a well deserved day off?

After all, every day it's still a work in progress. Right?

• If I can every help in any way with real estate in San Antonio, Texas, call me.