There are some famous books out there that state it requires 10,000 hours of work in a field or a discipline to become a master. How long did it take you to become a master of your current field? What would happen if you lost your job tomorrow and had to learn a new trade? How long would it take you to then master a new trade or profession?

I believe in immersion. I believe in the power of the mind. I believe in YOU. We are the ones that limit ourselves. We speak within our mind this self-doubt that can limit who we become and what we are… What will you become today and in the next 30 days?

How will you know if it requires more than 30 days until you try it. So many people will read this post and never try and therefore in their mind “win” the battle of the mind disproving the theory. “See I told him it was not possible to become a master in 30 days.” As they lean back in their recliner from a full meal and turn on the TV while turning off the potential that is within.

Believe that you were created for something greater… You have the opportunity to become a master and within the next year add 12 new elements to who you are… 1 new element or topic of mastery a month. What will you become a master of in the month of September?

Only you can choose… Only you can elect to change, to develop a new habit of mastery. For those of you that take the challenge of mastery, please post your accomplishments on this blog… See you on the other side of mastery.

James Nellis taking flight

In Chicago this week they all gathered along with CRS to enhance teaching skills, learn from each other and coordinate with the Council to bring a higher level of education to today’s Realtor.

On Day 1: I had the opportunity to talk about the CRS Instructors helping CRS to distinguish itself with Branding, Marketing & Partnership. Mark Given presented on creating culture and leadership. How the CRS Instructors can help along with the CRS local chapters to provide leadership for the upcoming years. Zan Monroe shared what today’s Realtor wants to learn today. Gee Dunsten discussed the APPS every one should know with Real Estate. Michael Selvaggio a “Mac Lover” demonstrated the nuances of living life as a presenter in the Mac World.

On Day 2: LeRoy Houser shared how to blog and influence today’s consumer. The different methods and people to utilize when crafting the best blogs. Frank Serio wrapped the day with marketing in a new world: Today with Marketing 2.0

Here is the list of the CRS Instructors:

Lee Barrett, CRS
Chris Bird
Chuck Bode, CRS
Dale Carlton, CRS
Tina Daniel , CRS
Gee Dunsten, CRS
Mark Given, CRS
Chandra Hall, CRS
Ed Hatch, CRS
LeRoy Houser, CRS
Frank Kowalski, CRS
Jackie Leavenworth, CRS
Zan Monroe, CRS
Robert Morris, CRS
James Nellis, CRS
Mike Parker, CRS
Mark Porter, CRS
Douglas Richards, CRS
Richard Sands, CRS
Michael Selvaggio, CRS
Frank Serio, CRS
Pat Zaby, CRS

To connect with CRS Instructors on Facebook today go to CRS Instructors on FB

Create a Facebook Business Page

Creating your Facebook Business Page

     Now that you have created your Facebook Business Page- what are the 5 Essentials to maximizing your new page?!!

1.  Establish your Vanity URL. You will need 25 “Likes” before you can do this but once you have 25 go to: www.facebook.com/username to create your own Vanity URL. This can be used in your marketing and is vital in order to push traffic to your new Business Page.

2. Photos. Utilize Photos with company outings/events/parties/clients. People respond to visuals and love seeing your company interact with the consumer.

3. Videos. Facebook allows you to upload your own Videos. Please DO NOT use this as a way to push out your product rather a way to humanize your brand and engage the consumer. Be the real YOU on camera as you learned through Social Fusion.

4. Comments. Leverage the Comment Status updates from our Company with polling, questions, events, etc. Create interaction between your company and the fans. Many companies use contests as a way to engage.

5. Tagging. This is overlooked by many as a way of spreading your Facebook Business Page to others. As you implement Photos & Video and even your comments you can “tag”/highlight people in the videos and photos. The advantage is that they will typically interact on your page AND it will show up on their personal profile now spreading your FB business page to all of their friends.

         Stay tuned for the next tutorial video with Spoken Word Seminars and how to go from 101 to true Social Fusion.

This is a small glimpse of their day:

I struggled today
I started to speak
I wanted to
I could not

I became bitter
I sought vengeance
I offered an opinion
I could not remember it
I screamed within

I stood with an empty mind
They stood with empty faces
How frightful to lose it
How fearful to know it

Words were easy for me
Now they elude me
They pass me by
Damn words come back to me

**

If you know someone struggling with this…embrace them with love, visit them with kindness and allow your eyes to show compassion.

Real Estate has been dominated in recent years by the typical demographic. A sales person between the age of 48-54 with at least 10 years experience. At what point, should the Agents begin embracing the new wave of Realtors? YPN (Young Professional Network) has been doing its part for the Real Estate industry to invite these upstarts into its club. But we have yet to see mentoring truly take place. There are 3 essentials to great Real Estate mentoring that every one must seek…

I was fortunate in that I grew up in a family business. I still remember getting my Real Estate license at the age of 18. Between College semesters at Carson-Newman College I would sell homes in Northern Virginia. When I started out I knew enough to be dangerous but I learned and was mentored by my mother Vicki Nellis, one of the top Real Estate agents in Re/Max and Northern Virginia and my father, Jim Nellis a licensed Appraiser. I remember when I was young I wanted to do it all “on my own”. I actually did not want to be seen as “riding coattails”…

Mentoring in Real Estate

I now know that was foolish. I will embrace any coattail or mentoring I can find from those that are experienced and can offer a new perspective in Real Estate. I have had some incredible learning experiences at the National Association of Realtors Annual Meetings and through some international Real Estate Groups: CyberStars with Brad Korn & StarPower with Alex Charfen. It is essential for any Realtor whether 1 year in the business or 15 years to continually reinvent themselves and stay in tune with the market and competition. By seeking out the 3 essentials of mentoring this can take place:

Mentoring Essential 1: Seek out a Mentor.

This seems to be an easy step but is normally the one that paralyzes so many. Many Realtors believe they can simply learn it on their own or don’t need help. After 15 years in Real Estate, I understand the value of one-on-one mentoring with Realtors outside of my own area. There are at least 5 Realtors that I hold in high esteem that at the drop of a hat I could call them and get answers to questions. Do you have that as part of your counsel? It starts with the first Mentor that you seek out. Seek with these things in mind:

Seek out a Mentor that is successful and where you want to be in life…

Seek out a Mentor that has skills you want to develop…

Seek out a Mentor that works in a similar price point/sales price

Mentoring Essential 2: Define your Mentor Relationship

This is a huge part of the equation. So many friendships/relationships have been ruined with unmet expectations. Rules, time frames and work should be established by all parties involved. Some questions to think about before you begin the relationship:

How long will this process take? (I normally suggest 6 month maximum because you can always extend if needed)

Are you working on a specific project/goal?

How can this Mentor help you? What skills do you need to develop or enhance? (Have these written out ahead of time)

Mentoring Essential 3: Homework is a MUST

I know so many of us hate homework and every day are happy that we don’t have tests and projects that are due next week. But you must start embracing the idea of accomplishing both small and big tasks with your mentor.

Realistic Goal Setting is essential and is a way that you and your Mentor can enjoy the process and work together. As you check off tasks/accomplishments the relationship will deepen and so will the passion of seeing you succeed to even higher heights.

Every Mentor wants to feel that they are giving of themselves for the greater good… In Real Estate Mentoring it is to develop you as a better Realtor and increase the professionalism of their industry. Happy Seeking!!

Many small business owners are concerned that by their clients or consumers seeing that they are not “in town” they could lose business. You do have an option to keep it private from certain groups or friends when you comment on your profile page.

Here is a screen shot of what it will look like:

Facebook Comment Privacy Option

As you start to type in your new comment you will see a deadbolt or lock icon to the bottom right of the comment bar. Click on it and then select the option: Customize. You will then see the above screen appear. Type in the friends or lists that you want to “hide” it from.

Next time you are out of town or would like for only certain friends to see your comments use the privacy section located next to your new comment.

For more tips on Facebook and how to use Social Fusion purchase the e-Book today at SOCIAL FUSION

Skinning is the process of overlaying a branded image, logo or advertisement over a social sphere or website. The majority of social spheres: Facebook, Twitter & YouTube allow you to skin their spheres. Posterous, WordPress Websites & the majority of template websites also allow for you to skin the home pages. When you skin a social sphere or website you now create a “landing page” or “portal page”.

A landing page is meant to be a modern day billboard. Rather than sending all the traffic to the free site like twitpic and advertising their website you show off your connection points and have these new consumers land on your other profiles and/or website. A landing page is limited in that it is a billboard style so that the consumer can not go directly to your other pages or spheres without opening a new window.

A portal page however, gives you that advantage. The portal page is simply defined as a skin that sends consumers to the different links and pages you want them to go- with one-click they land on a company’s product page, purchase page or even ancillary products and information. We are starting to see the BIG companies invest 6-7 figures into their social media marketing and skinning approach. Facebook business pages are a great example of skinning the sphere with a portal page. Below is a screen shot of Harley Davidson’s portal page. It can also be found at Harley-Davidson:

Harley Davidson Portal Skin

Each of these icons direct you to a new website or page on Harley Davidson’s site or an affiliate. Imagine the amount of traffic you can begin attracting to your site through a social sphere skin. Your skin must engage the consumer and one of the best ways is through icons/images that are on a portal page. Not all social spheres allow for skinning nor a portal page. GetSkinned is a company that can help you with branding your image online and creating your own landing & portal pages so that you do not lose the necessary web traffic when consumers find you online.

If you watch any TV- especially commercials 2 out of 5 will reference their Facebook Business page which is of course already skinned. I was watching TV the other day and saw a Honda Ad- at the end they referenced NOT Honda.com rather www.Facebook.com/Honda – They get it – they understand where the consumers are already communicating, shopping and dreaming. They along with hundreds of other companies are starting to embrace the modern era of advertising… Don’t be left behind. GetSkinned today…

Honda Facebook Skin

Skinning is the process of overlaying a branded image, logo or advertisement over a social sphere or website. The majority of social spheres: Facebook, Twitter & YouTube allow you to skin their spheres. Posterous, WordPress Websites & the majority of template websites also allow for you to skin the home pages. When you skin a social sphere or website you now create a “landing page” or “portal page”.

A landing page is meant to be a modern day billboard. Rather than sending all the traffic to the free site like twitpic and advertising their website you show off your connection points and have these new consumers land on your other profiles and/or website. A landing page is limited in that it is a billboard style so that the consumer can not go directly to your other pages or spheres without opening a new window.

A portal page however, gives you that advantage. The portal page is simply defined as a skin that sends consumers to the different links and pages you want them to go- with one-click they land on a company’s product page, purchase page or even ancillary products and information. We are starting to see the BIG companies invest 6-7 figures into their social media marketing and skinning approach. Facebook business pages are a great example of skinning the sphere with a portal page. Below is a screen shot of Harley Davidson’s portal page. It can also be found at Harley-Davidson:

Harley Davidson Portal Skin

Each of these icons direct you to a new website or page on Harley Davidson’s site or an affiliate. Imagine the amount of traffic you can begin attracting to your site through a social sphere skin. Your skin must engage the consumer and one of the best ways is through icons/images that are on a portal page. Not all social spheres allow for skinning nor a portal page. GetSkinned is a company that can help you with branding your image online and creating your own landing & portal pages so that you do not lose the necessary web traffic when consumers find you online.

If you watch any TV- especially commercials 2 out of 5 will reference their Facebook Business page which is of course already skinned. I was watching TV the other day and saw a Honda Ad- at the end they referenced NOT Honda.com rather www.Facebook.com/Honda – They get it – they understand where the consumers are already communicating, shopping and dreaming. They along with hundreds of other companies are starting to embrace the modern era of advertising… Don’t be left behind. GetSkinned today…

Honda Facebook Skin

This brochure was 2 pages. 1 photo of the front of the home with the Agent contact. The other the basic text MLS printout.

Perhaps it was because it was a vacant home. Either way it had nothing appealing nor exciting for the buyer to remember the home.