BNGIowa

Good Judgment

I heard on a TV news report that some doctors and scientists believe children (under age 20) increase the chance of getting brain cancer if they use cell phones. Since the skull is still thickening, the energy from the phone can penetrate the skull futher than in an adult. Still, other scientists don’t agree.

As I was watching the report, I thought about cigarettes. Warnings of the cancer risk from cigarette use was once promoted as false. The season premiere of Boston Legal was on TV last night. The main story line was about “big tobacco” and the debate about cigarettes and whether or not smoking causes cancer. In that story, big tobacco was found guilty. So how come kids still start smoking and get hooked? There is certainly enough credible information available that proves smoking is harmful. Are they really falling for the cigarette ads?

I wonder if this cell phone debate will be similar. Most people won’t be willing to give up their phones. But do children really need cell phones?

Individual good judgment can’t be replaced by science.

What about this real estate market?

As a real estate professional, almost everyday I get asked “about this market,” which houses are selling and how they are being sold. It’s not the easiest question to answer but…in a marketplace where days on market are elevated and inventory levels are high, I recommend the following when considering selling a home:

• PRICE your home at the price at which you need to sell, eliminating “negotiating room” and increasing your likelihood of showings and offers. You’d rather turn down multiple offers than never receive any.
• PRICE your home to be the #1 or #2 most attractive option amongst its competition in the market, rather than at the market average for homes in your neighborhood.
• ENSURE that your property is immaculately presented. When the market affords buyers too many options you have to make sure that the showings you do receive are effective.
• EXPECT a good 6 month period to wrap up the sale of your home.
• INTERVIEW more than one REALTOR® for the job of selling your home. You must partner with an agent with MLS exposure, extensive online marketing coverage, aggressive and proactive marketing tactics, solid negotiating experience and training, and a clear and strategic marketing plan. The days of signs in yards selling homes are over!
• BE PREPARED for low offers and don’t be offended by them. Buyers are trying their luck in a marketplace where some homes ARE overpriced. If you price your home correctly this should not be an issue.

Collaborate

When I read the article in the newspaper this morning about the "atom smashing scientists," the thing that caught my attention was the cost. I searched for blogs that might give me some insight into why ten billion dollars should be spent on an experiment that might give insight into black holes.

I found a   that suggested collaborative experiments can be valuable. It mentions that the world wide web was the result of a similar collaborative effort.

Personally, I have been collaborating more and more. I like to discuss ideas with others. It is a lot of fun. When I remember to keep my goal in the mix, fun and productivity are a great combination. When the fun and productivity collide, the explosion is valuable. Maybe not worth ten billion dollars, but hey, everything is relative.

Service with a Smile

Over the labor day holiday I spent a whole Saturday tearing down flood damaged homes in the Cedar Rapids area.  As with other service opportunities, I sometimes agree to help as I inwardly would much rather sit on my bum and do nothing or do what I want to do.  Despite my inclinations, I got my name on the list and showed up with some others of my church group to work a full work day.  Not really knowing exactly what I would be doing, I was mostly hoping that I wouldn't have to come in contact with too much fecal material as I heard stories of some of the less sanitary conditions that may exist in these homes.  My aunt who just moved here from Houston, TX to the Cedar Rapids area joined me and we followed our 10 other team members in a caravan to the project we'd work on.  As we took the exit just south of the river on the I380 bridge, I saw disturbing images of blocks upon blocks of deserted homes and small businesses.  Many of them had yellow signs signifying there was very limited entrance to the properties due to flood damages.
As we went into the home armed with masks, goggles, gloves, and crowbars I still wasn't quite sure how this project was going to start or end.  We recieved the go ahead to start removing the plaster and walls down to the framing of the home.  After ripping up the first portion of the floor, we found the second layer damaged and needing removal so we removed that flooring.  By the time our team was done with the house we had stripped back the interior of the home and it was ready for the contractor to come and start doing more of the skilled labor.
At the end of the day, I had participated in two different projects doing similar work.  Both homeowners were very thankful as we worked and when we left for the hard work we'd brought to pass.  I had talked to some of the volunteers from Cedar Rapids and learned that some of them had been voluteering in a similar fashion for the last few months spending evenings dur ing the week and long days on Saturdays helping the families of those effected by the floods.
I am proud of myself for suppressing the natural tendancy that I would normally follow to take the easier road.  But I feel that as a result of my decision the next time I am faced with a similar decision I will recall the "grateful that I helped" feelings and provide meaningful service to those around.  You love and appreciate those that you serve.

I'm On LinkedIn--Now What?

I remember when I first found out about LinkedIn.  It was a couple years ago.  I thought "WOW!  I can upload all of my contacts, see if they're on here, invite the ones that aren't, and I'll be on easy street for the rest of my career doing business based 100% on referrals.  I quickly got to 20 connections, got no business after a week, so I quit working it.  Over a year later, I got a request to connect from someone.  I searched through old emails and finally found my login.  I connected to them and then spent an afternoon searching for other people I knew.  I built my network to about 50 people and then left it alone again.  I just couldn't figure out how to make this work for me.  I was connected to 50+ people, the majority of whom had 3-5 connections with one being me.

Then I stumbled across this book called "I'm on LinkedIn--Now What???"  I finally read it a couple weeks ago.  Now, I've not buried my head in the sand when it comes to social media.  I have a blog.  I'm on Twitter, MyBlogLog, MySpace and a few others since I've signed up on just about every networking site that I've been invited to join figuring I'd be able to pick my favorite and then get everyone I was connected to on the other sites to join me.  Wrong!  That's like going to a networking function, meeting someone you like, and then telling them you'll exchange business cards only if they attend this other function you really like that's happening later in the week.  Doesn't make much sense, does it?

So, back to LinkedIn.  Social media is  all about conversations that are happening all around us.  Just like an in-person conversation, you either have something to add or you don't.  On LinkedIn, the conversation is taking place in the 'answers' section.  You can read through questions on a particular topic and, if you can provide a relevant answer or contribute something, then you spend a few minutes taking part in that conversation.  If you have a question, post it and you will get plenty of answers.  The person who asked the question (you or someone else) chooses the best answer.  The more best answers that are credited to you, the greater your online credibility.  The greater your credibility, the more likely it is that people will want to do business with you.  That's it.  No requesting to connect or begging for introductions.  The winner's in social media are those that know how to be a resource to others without worrying about what's in it for them.

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Do They Have a Better Sense of Humor?

I was on vacation for a good part of a week. I like to read a book on vacation. I like to read on the airplane or in the airport. There is a lot of time spent waiting in airports these days. A good book is the perfect way to pass the time.

The book for this trip was In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson. Bryson comments often in the book about the uniqueness of Australians.

Here is a link to an ad that is running down under. Since my son lives near Melbourne, he shared this with me. You gotta see it. https://secure.promoplace.com.au/SaladPlate/