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The state of New Jersey is requiring a world language program be provided for students in kindergarten through third grade, as explained recently to the public by administrators of the Marlboro, NJ K-8 School District.
Members of the Board of Education heard the administration's proposed plan for these grades during a Nov. 11 workshop meeting.

School administrators believe that some additional staff will be necessary to deliver the foreign language instruction.
An overview of the plan to introduce students in younger grades to a variety of languages was given by Victoria Andalucia, the district's supervisor for world language.
*First graders would learn Mandarin Chinese*
*Second graders would be taught Spanish*
*Third graders would be taught French*
A survey was recently offered to parents concerning the language program. 1,557 parents took the survey which asked what language they'd like their child exposed to. 13% of the respondents selected French, 22 % selected Mandarin Chinese and 59 % selected Spanish. Administrators may consider incorporating a language like Italian into the program in the future, to satisfy popular demand by a large # of parents.
Realtor-Associate / Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Weichert, Realtors (Marlboro/Manalapan office)
455 Route 9 South - Manalapan, NJ 07726
917-723-5645 - cell or 732-536-4400, ext 199 - office
"Thank you for the referrals of your family, friends and colleagues. It is the highest compliment you could ever pay me."
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FREE
A Very Merry Christmas Concert
Friday, December 19, 2008
7:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Marlboro Recreation Center
1996 Recreation Way
Marlboro, NJ 07746
Performances by: Marlboro High School Band, Monmouth Worship Center Choir and Center Stage Dance School
Special appearances by Santa & Frosty!


No pre-registration required...Just stop by and enjoy the holiday festivities!
Information courtesy of:
Realtor-Associate / Multi-Million Dollar Producer
Weichert, Realtors (Marlboro/Manalapan office)
455 Route 9 South - Manalapan, NJ 07726
917-723-5645 - cell or 732-536-4400, ext 199 - office
"Thank you for the referrals of your family, friends and colleagues. It is the highest compliment you could ever pay me."
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"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself" - Jim Rohn
Sometimes, you know what?

We can try to do everything to absolute perfection...be the best Realtor, Loan Officer, friend, neighbor, spouse, whatever and that still may not be enough.
Things may not always go the way we want, but that's just life.
There have been times when deals fell through and that commission check I was banking on became non-existent.
Has this happened to you before at least once?

Or remember that listing that you just knew would be yours? You refused to be dishonest about the true current market value of the home so the sellers gave it to the agent who inflated the real numbers?
Yep...Happened to me more than once.
We've all experienced disappointment at some point, and we constantly ask ourselves those two $64,000 questions..."Why me?" "Why now?"

Well I say, "Thank goodness it was me!" That sounds a little crazy and twisted, right? Not really.
With every problem or challenge I face, I grow an inch more.
If you've never experienced setbacks or defeat, can you really savor the sweet taste of triumph and victory?
So since we cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, let's take control of what we can change...ourselves and how we "play the hand we've been dealt!"

It's time we reclaim our power, our profession and take back what's rightfully ours!
Stay motivated,
Amber
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Today, Larry & Judy Vardon got the foreclosure financial relief they had so desperately been praying
for.
In 2004, the couple's Michigan home was refurbished by ABC Network's popular program, 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
The Vardon who are both deaf, were selected because the financial challenges of caring for their now 16 year old blind and autistic son, Lance, were more than they could handle.
Following the rehab of the home, the Vardons refinanced their home. After the refi mortgage was sold to a different company, their new rate ballooned to 11% and their monthly payment nearly doubled from $1200 to a whopping $2300. Combine that with the fact that the husband, Larry, works at a Chrysler car plant where he's been laid off on more than one occasion and there you have a grave situation.
In addition to the mortgage hike, the Vardon's medical insurance refuses to cover the treatment for Lance's autism treatments.
Their home which was on the verge of foreclosure due to 4 months of past due payments has been rescued by the kindness of strangers.
The Vardon's story is so similar to thousands of stories we've all collectively heard. In fact, many real estate practioners are dealing with this sort of scenario on a personal level themselves.
Truth is we may not be able to help every single person going through this type of crisis, but there is 'power' in the media and in our own keyboards. This story is proof it exists. Yet what good is the power if we don't use it to benefit the greater good?
We constantly get bombarded with mass chain emails for all sorts of get-rich schemes. Often you'll see those emails forwarded around the world millions of times over...Even though they're most likely hoaxes.

If you know of someone who is in dire need of help (and doesn't mind being helped) please use the power of your keyboard and the reach of the "Rain" by telling as many people as you know!
Stay motivated,
Amber
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This is the 2nd installment of a three part recap of the seminars I attended along with my colleague(Monica Walters) during the recent the NJ-NY-PA "Triple Play" real estate confab in Atlantic City.
The 1st part of this series was the based on the featured post "The Top 5 Things I Took Away From The Millionaire Maker Potato Chip Marketing" Seminar.
Many of you may know about Darryl Davis, while others may not be as familiar with him. Darryl is a popular motivational speaker/real estate trainer/coach/author, who infuses humor with his authentic New York persona to create his unique, high-energy presentation. The two books he's written are "How To Become A Power Agent in Real Estate" and "How To Make $100,000 Your First Year As A Real Estate Agent."
At first I was kind of shocked to discover that Darryl is also a former actor and current stand-up comedian, who continues perform at NYC's legendary Caroline's Comedy Club. However, after watching him give his rapid-fire, animated seminar, it all made sense.
Darryl shared very personal stories during the 3 hrs we spent with him. He reflected on everything from reconnecting with his mother before she died of an incurable illness, to having an emergency medical moment that had him feeling like he was experiencing a heart attack, to running the the 26 mile ING Marathon in an effort to raise money for sick children (despite not being in the best of shape...his words, not mine...lolol). To hear him speak was inspiring, heart-breaking, invigorating and inspirational all at the same time.
Did I mention that Darryl Davis also is an ActiveRain member? Click here to read his profile.

Below are the 7 benefits from the seminar "Attitudes of a Top Producer."
Again, these are geared toward real estate practitioners like myself, but they can be used in other professions as well. The over-arching theme of this session was essentially how to take your career to the "Next Level" (a popular phrase that Darryl actually owns the trademark to). Are you surprised?
#1 - Change your mindset, and you'll change your life.I touched on a similar topic in a recent featured post, "You Are A Living Magnet...So What Are You Attracting Into Your Life." What you think (good or bad) is what you attract into your life. Commit to a positive goal or something that is bigger than you. Remain enthusiastic, enlist the support of people who really care about you, and you'll become empowered to accomplish anything!
#2 - Stay focused on your goals in a very disciplined fashion. This is VERY important, because it's one of the top reasons people "fall off the wagon." We say we're going to "get in shape," New Year's comes around, we develop a fitness routine, do it for a couple of months weeks and then things go right back to normal. Yet, we see that small number of people who set out to accomplish the very same goal, but some how they actually achieve it. Sound like the ole' 80/20 rule, eh? Is it because those who are successful at achieving the fitness target are smarter than us? NO! Are they're luckier than us? NO! The difference is that small group of people was far more focused and disciplined than the rest of us...period!
#3 - Direct your attention on helping other people, and you will help yourself in the process. This concept isn't necessarily about generating leads by focusing on other people. I perceived it as being more about developing an attitude of humility, as well as learning to enjoy serving others people's needs, which will in turn heighten your sensitivity to serving the needs of your clients. Great client service will help your business soar!
#4 - Manage your business "like it's a business"....not a hobby or a job but like you are the CEO of your own company. In other words, place more emphasis on increasing your market-share (aka the number of listings you have) and increase your dollar volume & profit (aka getting more of your listings SOLD for the best price).
#5 - Make it clear and obvious that you believe in yourself when you attend listing appointments. That doesn't mean get all cocky, but rather aim to exude confidence. How are you going to convince sellers that you can do a phenomenal job for them, when you haven't even convinced yourself? Trust me, sellers can smell "fear." Using Darryl's R.E.A.L. approach below may help:
#6 - Become a "master rainmaker." The more leads you generate and follow-up on, the greater the likelihood you will turn those leads into appointments, then turn those appointments into writing contracts, those contracts turn into closings and those closings turn into CASH! Rainmakers get PAID despite the stormy real estate climate.
#7 - Be sure to hang around positive people. We are often a reflection of our environment. When we hang around positive people, their positive attitude, optimistic outlook and good habits will rub off on us. Choose the company you keep carefully!
NOTE: BY MONDAY I WILL CONCLUDE THIS 3-PART "TRIPLE PLAY RECAP SERIES" WITH A RUNDOWN OF THE 3RD INFORMATIVE SEMINAR I ATTENDED (LEAD BY UPSTATE NEW YORK BROKER/AGENT, JIM PUGILESE).
Stay motivated,
Amber
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