Are you a Wrecker or a Builder?

I saw this Poem Today and I thought...

Are you a builder or a Wrecker?

I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town…
With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a side-wall fell!
I asked the foreman: “Are these men skilled...?
...the men you would hire if you had to build?”
And he, with a laugh, said, “NO INDEED!”
“Just Common Labor is All I Need!”
“I can easily wreck in a day or two…
what builders have taken years to do.”
And I thought to myself as I went away,
“Which of these roles have I tried to play?”
“Am I a builder who works with care
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds to a well-made plan…
Patiently doing the best I can?
(OR) Am I a wrecker who walks the town…
Content with the labor of “Tearing Down?”

Author Unknown

Now, Do you Build Up or Tear Down? 

What does this poem say to you?

Listening is an attitude of the heart...

I have been thinking lately alot about communication...I am a Realtor and I have to listen and see between the lines of what a Buyer or a Seller is saying. I have set a verbal goal for a buyer by asking the question, lets imagine it is 90 days past the closing and you are sitting in your new home, please describe in much detail where you are living and what is your new home like. With a Seller, I ask the question, what is the biggest fear or concern when it comes to selling your home. I ask Open Ended questions to help them help me with their needs and mirror back to them what I heard...

One thing I have noticed lately, is a drift, of our society not to ask Open Ended questions. The type of questions, to see what is going on under the surface. Questions such as:

1. Tell me something about you I don't know...?
2. Tell something this week or this day that happened that you want to talk about?
3. How have I been as a friend, a family member, or lover?

I think this all has to do with the technology we are growing used to. We want things to be said quickly and shortly. We want straight to the point. We want our communication to be like text messages or twitter statuses. Now, with friendships, family, relationships, and anything that matters, we need to slow down and truly the questions that provoke a thoughtful insightful response..Truly listen...This helps to help both people to be heard and for the relationship to grow.  Also, when you do spend time with people that matter and you are communicating in a way to build a relationship, a friendship, or a family member...TURN OFF the PHONE! It can wait...If you cared enough for the person you are talking to, show them a little consideration to turn off the phone or at least turn it on silent..If it dings, ignore it till the other person says it ok to go respond to the phone. My biggest pet peeve over the last year, is that when I am communicating, and I am expressing myself, hearing the ding, and the other person going to check the Facebook status, text message, or anything else on the Smart Phone. yes, I have been guilty of this...but no more!

Garbage in...Garbage out...Put the good stuff in...Get the good stuff out...

Been thinking today...

I have been listening to Zig Ziglar today and thinking to his home spun wisdom with a southern drawl and I heard something...Garbage in ...Garbage out...put the good stuff in...and of course, you get the good stuff out. He says that Intake is extremely important in life.

I have heard this from many different speakers and authors...that what steps are you taking by reading, listening, and watching T.V. or movies for means of improving your life? What books are you reading to help you with your goals? What audio books are you listening to in the car or on your audio devise...What movies or TV watching are you doing? 

Now, I have been extremely guilty...I watch some of stuff that puts the bad stuff in...and wonder at times, where some of the stuff that comes out of mouth, or my actions come from...It's because of some of the stuff I watch or listen to. I will admit, through an trauma in 1992, I have a hard time with reading but I am going to commit to reading at least a half hour a day to reading...Did you understand that...Daily...I am going to put the good stuff in...

These are the books I am going to read before the end of the year...

1. Over the Top---Zig Ziglar
2. What to say when you talk to yourself--Shad Helmstetter
3. Smart Talk for achieving your potential--Lou Tice
4. The Richest Man in Babylon---George Clason
5. Think and grow rich---Napoleon Hill
6. The greatest salesman in the world---Og Mandino
7. Success Principals---Jack Canfield

A great quote that I know by Jim Rohn...

"Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." 

I believe success leaves a road map and that map can be found through reading...

What books do you recommend to read? What books will you commit to read by the end of the year to help you with your goals..? and would anyone like to be my accountability partner and check in with me at the end of the year to make sure I read these books :)

Jeffrey R. Carlson

 

National Suicide Day is This Tuesday...

In most cases, suicide is a solitary event and yet it has often far-reaching repercussions for many others. It is rather like throwing a stone into a pond; the ripples spread and spread.

ALISON WERTHEIMER

One thing that I have learned, is that sometimes our biggest scars, is where we can draw our biggest strength and help others by what we have gone through. I have it called the Wounded Warrior. Where our wounds, can help us to impact the lives of those who are going through what you have gone through.

Now, why am I talking about suicide? Tuesday is National Suicide Awareness Day across the world.  I have seen the affects in my family, my life and what it does to others. My Cousin, Charles Hundley went down into the basement in Chicago back in 1999, and shot himself in the head. I saw my best friend, lose his brother, by the same method back in 2012. I have seen the ripples across the pond by the people they left behind. Now, in the past, I have tried to kill myself...I have tried suicide..I did a overdose...I tried to slit my wrists, and for some reason I am still here. I have known 7 people who have left here by there own means.

For some reason, I am still here...I do not know why God has spared me when I see others die. Last month, I almost got to the point of doing it again. There has been 4 points in my life where I have either got to the point or tried it. Why am I opening up about this...?? Because Suicide is something that I feel is not a topic that is discussed. I know that we all get depressed and get to the end of rope, but for some it goes why beyond that...I feel that we as a society, we need to listen. I heard it said that "Listening is a Attitude of the Heart" We need to listen more and look for the warning signs. Suicide is not where a person says at this current moment, I want to die..it is like a slow car crash...

I saw this on Web MD as the warning signs...

Warning signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide include:

Warning signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide include:

• Always talking or thinking about death
• Clinical depression -- deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating -- that gets worse
• Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death, such as driving fast or running red lights
• Losing interest in things one used to care about
• Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
• Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will
• Saying things like "it would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"
• Sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy
• Talking about suicide or killing one's self
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye

Please, if you see any of these warning signs, sit down and listen, ask open ended questions...get help for them...Suicide is preventable...I do not want to see another death due to this.

On Tueday, wear yellow or write Love across you wrists for those who are going through this or those who have lost there lives... Visit http://www.iasp.info/wspd/ for more information reagrding Tuesday and Suicide prevention. 

Thank you for reading this.

Jeffrey Carlson

Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself.

Oprah Winfrey

In the past few weeks, I have had to either follow my instincts or counter intuitively manage my instincts, which has caused me at times to doubt myself. In business, people ask me all the time, whether I think it is a good idea to buy or sell a home. I use the data that I can find to help them make an intelligent decision, but at the end of the day, I use my instincts to help a buyer or seller. Through 12 years of Real Estate experience, this helps me to follow my instincts.

But in matters of the heart, home, family and the other circles, it is much harder because, It is me that can be affected. Right now, I have to counter intuitively manage my life goal of trying to impact the lives of others, because I have to realize that at times I come first. Trusting your gut and instincts can be hard at times and I have heard it said that following your instincts should be done rapidly but changing that decision should be done slowly. 

I am at a crossroads...Do I follow my gut or do I do I see where the road takes me? 

Jeffrey R. Carlson

   

It's always too early to quit.

Norman Vincent Peale

I was thinking the other day, when driving down Southern Blvd, about when I got into the Business of Real Estate. My old office was at the corner of Southern and State Road 7 and it brought back alot of memories. At that time period, you could stick a sign in the ground and get offers in a couple of days. That was back in 2001, and through 2006, it was that way. But in 2006 thru now, I learned what a short sale was, a bank owned property, and everything that came with the market downturn. I saw my business, go through an adjust just like the rest of industry. But during that time period, after 2006, alot of people asked me how I could go on in the environment, where the Real Estate market was in a free fall. I said, my number one purpose is to impact the lives of others.  It was that way in 2001 and still is today.

I heard it said that "Real Estate is something that you don't try out, Real Estate tries you out."- Joe Niego.

In the good times, and the not so good times, my resolve is to impact people's lives for the better. There is no Plan B for me. I have plans and goals for the future that include helping people with their Real Estate needs. In the good times, and the not so good time, people need a trusted advisor when it comes to Real Estate. So, I am here for the long haul. It is good at times, to look back to see how far you have come, but my sights are set on the future and I am never giving up on my dreams or yours...

So if you run across someone who wants to buy or sell a home, feel free to call or email me and I will be happy to help them with their Real Estate needs...


Jeffrey Carlson
RE/MAX Masters
561-284-6946

Climb The Mountain

I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt out of breath and had to turn back.

I tried to climb the mountain today. But, It was so hot outside, I thought I had better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow's attempt.

I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.

I was ready to climb the mountain today. But I had so may other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of the much more important tasks; I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game. Today the mountain will have to wait.

I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in all it's majestic beauty, I knew I had no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even begin trying.

I had forgotten about climbing the mountain today, until an old friend came by and asked what I was up to lately. I told him about all my plans to climb that mountain someday. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish the task.

He stopped me and said, "I just got back from climbing that mountain. for the longest time I told myself I was going to try to climb it but never made any progress."

"I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could. One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn't make an attempt at this dream all my dreams would eventually die."

" The next morning, I started my climb. It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace. When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed, stop! I focused on my goal, never letting it out of sight. I kept moving forward. I could not quit because I knew I had come too far to stop now. Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled mightily to make it to the top, but I CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN." "I have to be going," my friend said. "Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. By the way what are you going to do tomorrow?"

I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes, and said, "I HAVE A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB."

Author unknown

Are you going to try to climb the mountain today?