No Pain, No Gain

In Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People there is an overriding principle shared by successful people in all walks of life. They believe that “Everything happens for a reason… and it benefits me.” When your one big deal for the month falls out of escrow, your car breaks down, you are arguing with your spouse and your neighbor just mowed your prize rhododendrons, it can be difficult to take this principle to heart and see the benefit.

Generally speaking, we do not learn from winning. There is very little to gain as we drive down victory lane or celebrate a job well done. By definition we did what we set out to do and we did it well. Real learning takes place after a loss. We gain understanding when we have made a mistake. The larger the mistake, the greater the potential for learning and the more intensely will be the lesson. To paraphrase George Santayana: those who cannot learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. This concept is very important to understanding how everything that happens benefits us. After all, there are only a handful of mistakes that really set us back and exact a tremendous cost. Once you have made those mistakes and learned from them, you will not repeat them. That is not to say you will stop making mistakes! Quite the contrary; we are blessed with an unlimited number of opportunities to make mistakes and therefore unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. Successful people have made the big mistakes, learned from them and do not repeat them. It is not that they no longer make mistakes; they just do not make costly mistakes.

Our success, in the end, comes from the knowledge we gain upon making mistakes and failing. Ultimately and most importantly, what we learn from our mistakes is more than what we did wrong and how to avoid doing it again. The greatest gift of learning is a clearer understanding of our selves. This is the gift we must actively seek when times are difficult. Gain insight into your own strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to be true to yourself. In this way everything that happens does benefit you and the greater the difficulty, the deeper the knowledge and more profound the gift. Lance Armstrong, a man who understands tough times and severe pain, has created phenomenal success through his ability to harness the power of this principle. In his own words: “The true reward for pain is this: self knowledge.”

To Your Success

Sean Purcell

Filed under: LIFE THAT POPs , Success

A Bridge Over Troubled Waters

What is a Bridge Loan and when is it appropriate? In a nutshell, our Bridge Loan is a way to get past a current, but temporary problem. Right now we are seeing lots of homeowners who have put their home on the market and are not getting the response they expected. For most this is inconvenient, but not a problem. It just means it will take more time before they get their price. For some, however, there is a tremendous time pressure that will cause them to lower their price well below what the home is worth. This pressure often stems from another home purchase and the weight of two mortgage payments. It could just as easily come from the loss of a job, a family emergency or any other sudden and negative change in financial status. The bottom line is that the homeowner needs immediate financial relief or they are going to be forced to accept much less than they have earned in equity.

In this situation we would normally look at a second or a home equity line of credit. Sometimes that is still called for, but lately we are seeing clients in this situation who have gone 30 and even 60 days late on their mortgage. Combine that with the fact that the home is listed and you have knocked out 99% of their loan options. This is where our Bridge Loan can save a homeowner a lot of sleepless nights. The Bridge Loan will take them out of all their payments for the next six months, providing financial relief within a week of application.

How does it work and how is it different from a hard money loan? It works because we have investors who are willing to take short time profits over long term stability. They are aware of the homeowners’ situation and therefore do not turn loans down due to late payments. They understand and expect that the subject home is on the market. As a matter of fact, they count on it! Our investors are looking to be taken out of the loan in a reasonable time period so as to reinvest their money with the next client. Most importantly of all: because the loan is short term, the investors’ exposure to risk is smaller and their rates and fees are usually surprising low compared with hard money.

Does it all sound too good to be true? It often is. The homeowner must have equity and they must be priced right. The bottom line is this: if the home is going to sell, but price may still be the problem, then we are not doing the homeowner any favors with a Bridge Loan. They need to make sure they are with a qualified Realtor and price their home appropriately. If, on the other hand, the home is going to sell but only needs more time, a Bridge Loan may be just what is needed. Call me for more details.

To Your Success,

Sean Purcell

Filed under: BUYERS, INVESTORS, LENDERS, REALTORS, SELLERS , bridge loan

Drink the Poison

Sir Winston Churchill is one of history’s all time great sources for words of wit and wisdom. One particular quote, a favorite of mine, occurred during the course of a high society function (at which Sir Churchill had enjoyed a few drinks). Lady Astor approached him and said: “Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink.” To which Churchill replied: “Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it.”

Besides the wit, there is wisdom in these words. For many men the idea of poison in their drink would be a problem. Lady Astor certainly expected it to be. Yet Churchill saw it as a solution (albeit a somewhat final solution). This is quite often true in life and is especially true in our careers. What many perceive to be a problem, some will view as the solution. I think about this quote a lot lately as I watch and read about the housing market. The newspapers are full of articles highlighting the negative, no matter how narrowly they must look in order to find it. We are surrounded by experts and even fellow Realtors lamenting the changes that have brought their business to a standstill.

Yet…there are some Realtors out there that do not see the current market as a problem. They see it as the solution. They know that marketing never stops and that Real Estate is a contact sport. The more people that you contact per day, the stronger your business will become. They see this market as a time to expand their presence and solidify their customer base while adding new prospects and future clients. The successful Realtors know that when others are having a difficult time, it is an opportunity for them to grow.
During these times of changing markets and negative press, Consistency is King. Market every day and look for the opportunities that abound in every challenge. Let others see the problem, spend your time seeing the solution. And when times are toughest of all; that is when it is most important to keep moving forward. That is when you most want to focus your energy on your vision. I am reminded again of Sir Winston Churchill, who so keenly saw the wisdom of never letting up and so succinctly summarized it when he said: “If you are going through hell, keep going.”

To Your Success

Sean Purcell

Filed under: LIFE THAT POPs, REALTORS , Success, Winston Churchill

You Can Slow Time

Did you know that time slows down as speeds increase? As a matter of fact, at the speed of light time comes to a complete stop. This was first made famous by Albert Einstein with his Theory of Relativity and it has since been tested by scientists. There is a measurable slowing of time for astronauts as they hurtle through space. That’s right, when astronauts return from space they are younger than they would have been had they stayed put on Earth. Knowing this and knowing how fast most of us move through our days, one might hope that we derive some of that same anti-aging benefit the astronauts see! Unfortunately that is not the case; quite the opposite in fact. Compared to the time-bending speeds of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, earthbound mortals move at a glacier’s pace and time does not slow for us. Worse yet, as we rush through the day we tend to neglect ourselves and we actually age more rapidly from the stress. So what is the answer? How do we manage our careers, raise responsible children, chase the American Dream, attend PTA meetings, coach soccer practice, put food on the table and enjoy the moment? How do we “fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run” without running ourselves over in the process?

The answer, quite simply, is that we do not. Unlike the grand scale of the space/time continuum that Einstein worked in, we live in a 24/7 world of constant information and tightening deadlines. We must literally slow down if we are to befriend time and enjoy life. What is the point, after all, of winning a rose garden competition when you never stop to smell the roses? Eastern philosophers often used the metaphor of time as a river flowing past us. As each ripple – each moment – goes by it is gone, never to be repeated. Therefore, one should slow down and notice the moments. As strong as this metaphor is, mixing Eastern Philosophy with Einstein’s theoretical physics gives me a cultural headache. Instead, let us imagine one lifetime as a complete day at Disneyland. It is, like life, a magical, wonderful place; filled with awe inspiring adventures and tremendous fun. Will you get to experience every ride? No, you will not be able to do that in the limited time you have available. BUT, if you plan well and prioritize the rides that are important to you, if you manage your time and do not rush about trying to do everything, you will enjoy all the highlights as well as some of your personal favorites. You will have many opportunities to see happiness in those joining you on the trip. You might even meet some interesting characters. Along the way you will no doubt get sidetracked as well. If you have children you may end up with more than a few unexpected stops. You will most likely get heartburn at least once. And there will be times that your feet will hurt and you will wonder if your plan isn’t overly ambitious. That’s alright. At the end of the day, when you have ridden the last ride and watched the fireworks and cried and laughed and experienced everything you are going to experience, will you look back and recount how much fun you had and how much joy you shared? Or will you wonder where the day went; realizing you were so busy rushing, you never stopped and just enjoyed the ride?

Except for the astronauts among us, we will never move fast enough to slow time. Instead, slow down and look around. I am not suggesting that we all stop striving and achieving. You should still plan your days… and follow a time management system to be sure. In the end, however, stop rushing long enough to realize: this is not a dress rehearsal. Once a month – or at the very least once per quarter – step away from work (the sky will not fall in) and take a look around at your personal Wonderful World of Disney. Remember: Life is that thing that keeps happening while you are busy making other plans.

To Your Success,

Sean Purcell

Filed under: LIFE THAT POPs , Success

Random Thoughts Before an Ironman

IM Wisconsin minus 3 days

• Today I start a three day nutrition plan developed specifically to carbo-load, thereby maximizing my glucose levels before the race (apparently my fat levels are A-OK). Old habits die hard, however, and I have had to make some prudent adjustments. For instance, the plan calls for me to completely give up my nightly frozen yogurt for 100% fruit juice. I rewrote the plan and where it says fruit juice I substituted non-fat frozen yogurt. There is nutritional dedication and then there is insanity. After one night I have to say that non-fat yogurt is alright, but not on a par with the real thing. If it were not for the fact that I graciously increased my yogurt serving from one cup to one pint per night (due to the lower calories), I would probably give the whole thing up and go back to ice cream.
• This taper is killing me. I am positive that I got it all wrong and everyone else here got it right. I can see it in their eyes: the look of confidence that comes from being completely ready. I am sure if I just get a quick 12 mile run in tonight all will be fine.
• I must be well hydrated. I have been chugging down water, my urine has lost all color and I cannot go more than 45 minutes without a visit to the bathroom. Is it normal to ignore the emergency exit maps in a building and instead memorize the public bathrooms on each floor?
• In the elevator of my hotel there is a cardboard advertisement for a soft, warm chocolate chip cookie. It is even life size. Chocolate chip cookies, hmmmmm (doing my best Homer Simpson imitation), another sacrifice to the gods of Ironman. This being Wisconsin – the Dairy State – maybe their cookies are actually nutritious. Maybe their cookies are a secret weapon. Maybe their cookies will kick in right at mile 20 and be the difference between hitting the wall and sprinting the last 10K. Something to think about.
• I just checked out the swim course. Wow, is it long when laid out in one big rectangle. I have swum the distance many, many times in practice, but generally only 25 yards at a time. I am one of those revolutionary swimmers that never swims farther than good technique will allow, so I do the customary gutter hug at each end of my 25 yard lane. When you lay 2.4 miles out end to end, however, it looks a lot longer and… WHAT?!?! I was just informed that this is a TWO lap swim. It is quite obvious to me that whomever they hired to measure this thing was thinking meters instead of feet. I am going to look into this.
• I wonder if anyone is going to notice the big bite taken out of that cardboard cookie in the elevator. I wonder if roughage is good for you this close to a race. I wonder what the hell I am doing here.
• Time for bed and the end of my first day in nutritional lock-down. I am seriously beginning to wonder if it is possible to get hyponatremia before a race.

IM Wisconsin minus 2 days

• This morning I went down to the “practice swim”. This is where I “practice” looking like I belong here. Everyone else has obviously done this race before. They are all so confident and fit. What the hell am I doing here? (That question sounds familiar.)
• After hearing more than once about the deceptive bike course with all its rollers, I decided to make use of my rental car, a 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, and drive the course. Two hours later, somewhere between a beautiful farm and a field of cows, I got out my trusty bike and went for a 30 minute ride. Let me just say that as Ironman bike courses go… this Mitsubishi is a great car. Due to the superior suspension I did not feel any of the bumps and ruts which, as it turns out, constitute most of the roads in Wisconsin. Plus, the car is so air tight I never noticed the wind, which blows constantly and from all directions. Possibly most important for a car and certainly for a triathlete: the sound system was great. I was so caught up singing along to my favorite tunes, I remained blissfully oblivious to the fact that there is not one level piece of road in or around all of Madison. If you are in the market for an SUV, definitely check out the Mitsubishi. If you are in the market for a nice 112 mile ride, do not go near Madison, Wisconsin.
• Went to the expo today and bought some nice new bike shorts. I know I am not supposed to do anything new before a big race, but they went so well with my nice new bike jersey. I purchased that jersey at the same time I was buying my brand new aerodynamic helmet (very shiny and still in its box). I also bought new bike socks, new running socks and ordered new inserts for my shoes. Still, one should not experiment right before a big race so I am sticking with the same chamois cream I have always used. I don’t want to make any rookie mistakes out there.
• This is my second day of the three day nutrition plan. Within this plan I am flying in the face of conventional wisdom and trying new things right before my race. For instance, the lack of chocolate, the change to non-fat yogurt and the absence of alcohol are all new to me. I am not worried though. I won a bet in college that required me to drink a gallon of milk in one hour. This was a popular bet back then due to the forceful and sometimes Technicolor ejection most people experienced. I have, however, always had a bit of a Billy goat stomach and finished off the hour and the milk with a pepper & cheese steak sandwich. Come to think of it… that was around the time people started to refer to me as a Clydesdale. I wonder if that is a coincidence. I guess we may never know what happens to make some people put on weight.
• Ended the evening with a dinner hosted by Ironman North America and a talk by the people putting on this fabulous race. Mike Reilly – “the voice of Ironman” – got up and pointed out that there were 1100 of us first time Ironman participants in the room. He then commented on how the course was a “bitch” and asked us all “what the hell we were thinking”. Oh great, even he thinks I am nuts. In all fairness, he probably went on to put everything into perspective but I will never know. I was caught up in a heated discussion over who had rights to the last dinner roll on the table. (Don’t let anyone kid you, carbo loading is a serious business.)
• One final thought: the Doctor in charge of medical aid for Ironman Wisconsin got up and introduced himself to us. He pointed out that he does not know what it takes to complete an Ironman as he has never done one. His exact words were “Unlike all of you, I am not insane!” Good God, I hope I do not get hurt Sunday. I envision him in the medical tent doing the old routine:

Me: “Doc, my xyz started to hurt around mile 120 of the Ironman.”  Doc: “Then stop doing Ironman.”

IM MOO minus 1 day

• Been thinking a lot about the dinner and meeting last night. Met many interesting people and had many nice conversations. Unfortunately, they were all the same nice conversation: will the rain and the wind stop. By my count, the official consensus for race day was “sunny and warm”. I suppose when you gather together over 2400 people that have, without benefit of gun to their head or other coercion, chosen to do an IM, you are going to find an abundance of optimism. I, myself, am expecting blue skies, calm water, temps in the low 70s and a rainbow over my head.
• Some stats from last night’s meeting:
• Over 2600 registered for the race – largest field ever and a testament to the quality of IM Wisconsin and its supporters. At least that is what the Race Director said. I have no idea why so many of us chose a race that has set the record for lowest completion percentage (IM MOO 2005 – 82%)
• All 50 states and 23 countries represented, including one from my ancestral homeland of Ireland. He continued to carbo-load right through dinner. I have no idea how many beers he drank, but I am going to send an email requesting his nutritional plan for next year. Hell, I am already making the bathroom trips. Might as well go for a good cause.
• My age group, 40-44, is the second largest age group after 35-39, with 373 participants. I was hoping for closer to ten participants, thereby increasing my odds of qualifying for Hawaii. Accordingly, I have reworked my numbers: instead of an 18 mph average on the bike, I need to goose that up a tad to around 21.5 mph. I also need to pick up the pace on my run; possibly dropping from a planned 10 minute pace down to around 7:30. I wonder if the adrenaline rush that comes on race day will get me to these numbers. I am leaving my expected swim time alone just to be safe.
• Dropped off my transition bags and bike today. Nothing quite makes this feel so real as racking my bike and knowing the next time I see it, I will be spitting up lake water and trying desperately to remember what my nutrition plan is for the next 6 hours. Speaking of nutrition; I wonder how my Irish brother-in-triathlon is doing this morning.
• At the expo I stopped by the Maui Waui booth and got a fruit smoothie. They gave me a commemorative cup and a lei. Thought about calling back home and telling my girlfriend that I got laid… or is it lei’d? Geez, what a pathetic joke. (Note to self: puns, by their very definition, do not work when you have to write them down).
• No joke could be as bad as the Doctor’s joke last night. He was speaking of hyponatremia and told us that we could “have all the water (we) could drink… during the swim”. Not even a pun and it looks bad written down. Maybe the problem is with my computer. I feel like tapping the screen and saying: “Hey, is this thing on?” (I wonder if I can load a sound graphic that will play a rim-shot whenever I want. Now that would come in handy.
• Walking back to the hotel tonight it occurred to me: so this is what it feels like. This is what it feels like to be healed, rested and recovered. Wow, is this nice. I spent so many months training I forgot what normal feels like, never mind what really good feels like. Best of all, I have an entire 20 minutes to enjoy it. Then I have got to get inside and get to bed. I am sure I will not toss and turn for more than 3 or 4 hours. Ironman, here I come!

IM MOO plus 1 day

• WOW!!! Greatest thing I have ever done. No, not completing the Ironman (although that ranks as one of the greatest); no, the greatest thing I have ever done is making it out of my hotel bed this morning. I have pains on top of pains on top of areas that I have never felt pain in before. I would love to bask in the glory of this moment but even my basking muscles hurt. Hey everyone, look at the face of a winner. (It is grimacing).
• My brother and his family drove all the way down from Minnesota to watch me in the race. My brother is a bit of a smartass. During the second loop of the run he waited for me to go by so that he could cheer. It was difficult for me to hear him, however, what with his mouth full and that delicious smelling burger and fries next to him. As I started my shuffle up the hill (shuffle is how a polite athlete describes walking very slowly) I could see him wondering whether eating in front of me was wrong. If he only knew that the bag his burger came in would have tasted better than Goo and Gatorade at that point.
• Went to the expo with my brother to gather my belongings and check on my Hawaii slot possibilities (…pause for the laughter to stop…). He looked at the rather funny, loping, stiff legged limp so many of us exhibited and coined the phrase “The Ironman roll”. Like I said, a real smartass.
• Signed up for next year’s race. Hard to fathom, really. Just sort of happened. I do know this: if they had held the registration last night, right after the race, it would be a heck of a lot easier for people at home to sign up. Somehow though, today, it seemed like a good idea. I guess that, knowing what I know, I want to go after this race and this course again. Confidence must rebound faster than the body because I think I can do better. As a matter of fact, I am fairly sure that next year I can nail it! DAMMIT, I AM GOING OVER TO THE HAWAII REGISTRATION DESK RIGHT NOW AND SEE WHAT THE QUALIFYING TIME WAS IN MY AGE GROUP! NEXT YEAR I WILL CONQUER ALL!!! - Another IM junkie is born.

Filed under: TAO OF SPORT

Winning One Hour in the Wind Tunnel

originally written 21 April 2006

THE CONTEST:

GREAT news!

In honor of the media day around the re-naming of The San Diego Air & Space Technology Center Low Speed Wind Tunnel on Friday April 28th, Competitor Magazine, The San Diego Air & Space Wind Tunnel and B&L Bikes are putting up a FREE hour of time in the tunnel plus a personal bike fit from the legendary Dan Rock of B&L Bikes. A one hour session in the wind tunnel normally goes for $1,000……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lance Armstrong, Normann Stadler, Faris Al Sultan, Michellie Jones and Heather Fuhr are just a few of the athletes who have had their position refined in the wind tunnel.

There is the possibility that the San Diego Union Tribune as well as some of the local television stations might be at the facility this day. Therefore the entrant must be willing to have his/her session filmed and photographed if needed.

Good luck!

Bob Babbitt
Competitor Magazine

——————————————————————-

MY WINNING RESPONSE:

Dear Bob,

I think there is no question that I should be chosen for the free hour of wind tunnel testing and I will list the reasons why:

1. First and foremost – the new name: The San Diego Air & Space Technology Center LOW SPEED Wind Tunnel. I doubt there is anyone who more aptly fits the description of LOW SPEED than I do. You no doubt would like to maintain a certain level of integrity in this contest and matching the winner to the new name will go a long way toward that end.
2. Also, take a moment and think about the equipment. Day in and day out extremely fit athletes (and by that I mean negative 2% body fat) go in to be tested. Their small profile requires no work by the machinery at all. When was the last time those turbines even saw 100 RPMs? With me in the tunnel you can turn that baby up and make some wind. I am quite confident that the various moving parts will thank you.
3. Even if you don’t think about the equipment, think about the men and women that endeavor every day to improve our lives through more aerodynamic positioning. They must be sick and tired of trying to save an extra .0000001 of drag coefficient on someone who is already more slippery than a greased seal on ice. Imagine their glee when I step into the tunnel. They will actually get to MOVE their slide rules up and down. The sense of accomplishment when they create a difference in drag and an increase in speed that is measured on the left side of the decimal point will warm your heart.
4. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, I am training for my very first IronMan (Wisconsin). This is a race wherein a small change in aerodynamics can make a big difference in my comfort and finishing time. Having sent all of my triathlon allowance to Fly-by-Night Industries for faster goggles and low-calorie race nutrition, I cannot pay for my own wind tunnel testing. I can, however, offer this: You pick a time for my bike split (kind of a “we would be embarrassed beyond this time split” maximum) and I will wear a reversible jersey throughout the bike portion of the race. On one side it will list Competitor Magazine, B& L Bikes and The San Diego Air & Space Technology Center Low Speed Wind Tunnel as proud sponsors. If it looks like I am not going to make the time cut-off you chose, I will reverse my jersey and on the other side it will list Nytro and Jiffy Peanut Butter. You cannot ask for a more specific and dialed-in advertising campaign than that!

One final thought: you are probably receiving lots of letters from people who are very deserving of this opportunity. Many of these people are on the verge of a break through and/or have the chance to actually excel in our sport. I politely ask that you completely ignore those requests and think instead about the little guy (I am using the word little here rather loosely). If there absolutely must be a competitive component then allow me to add this: I look very good to win the Clydesdale National Championship in the 40-44 year old, 220-225lb, former shot-putter division… male (yes, we tend to go overboard in our divisions, but everyone should go home with a medal don’t you think?)

Thank you so much for the opportunity and thanks for sponsoring such a great contest. I hope you had at least half as much fun reading this as I did writing it. I am always envious of the great things you get to do. I try to live vicariously through you (I thought about living vicariously IN you but the whole size difference thing comes into play again). You are truly a dude.

Sincerely (and I mean that),

Sean P Purcell – Clydesdale par excellance
sean@cqfinancial.com
619 460-1300
619 460-1301 fax

Filed under: TAO OF SPORT

Changing Markets are Not the Problem

In a lot of my discussions with Realtors lately the same theme comes up over and over: “the market has really changed”, “the market is changing”, and “it is difficult to make a living with this market change”. It seems that each person I talk with has a different theory on why the market has changed, how long the changes will last and what it means for the future of the industry. The more I heard though, the more convinced I became that we need better accuracy. As a matter of fact, what we need is truth-in-advertising. Subtle changes in a statement, even one word, can make a big difference in how we define a problem and ultimately in how we solve it. So in my recent seminars and at last week’s Brokers’ Caravan I began introducing many Realtors to a shift in perception. When we say the market is changing we are not saying anything! I do not mean to imply that the market is not changing. Quite the contrary, the market is ALWAYS changing. This is a dynamic business that is forever seeing new innovations, fluid interest rates and varying confidence levels in the customer base. As a matter of fact, think back a year or two ago to when rates were rock bottom and homes were flying off the shelf. That market was rapidly changing as well, but we never heard anyone complain about it. These days, when we say that “the market is changing” what we actually mean is: “this market is getting a lot harder”. Now that is truth in advertising and, more importantly, it leads us to a solution. By acknowledging that the new market requires better strategies, more diligent follow-up and just plain longer hours, we create the solution to the very problem we are defining.

THE POWER OF DARKNESS FLEES
FROM THE LIGHT OF AWARENESS

By defining the difficulties you face in today’s current market, new solutions and programs can be implemented. You might even conclude that this is the ideal time to be in the Real Estate field. This is when all those who got in for the easy ride and do not have the knowledge, integrity and hustle it takes to be good are getting out. They are moving on to the next get-rich-quick scheme. In the mortgage field we are seeing the same thing with all of the quick-buck brokers that steered their clients into ill advised Neg-Ams, striving for greater commissions rather than their client’s best interest. This is the time to be increasing your market share and laying strong foundations. What you sow now you will reap during the next cycle. And there is always a next cycle because this is a market that is always changing. See the market for what it is, practice truth-in-advertising, and realize that no matter what is going on out there, business will always grow for those that practice strong systems and “do the right things right”. There is always a way to get to your destination. Be flexible and remember: If the wind stops blowing, start rowing.

To Your Success,

Sean Purcell

Filed under: INVESTORS, LENDERS, LIFE THAT POPs, REALTORS , Change, Economy, Success

The Secret to Success that Every Child Knows

A couple of evenings ago I was saying goodnight to my two boys. I asked my six year old son if he was ready for a good night’s sleep and he replied: “No daddy, I wish I was staying up. I like to do my work at night and sleep all morning.” I asked him why and he told me: “Because I am nocturnal.” More than a little surprised and grinning from ear to ear, I asked him “how did you learn that word?” I was, of course, curious as to where he had learned the meaning of nocturnal: at school, while watching a nature program on TV, or maybe he had read it in a book. He answered me, however, using drawn out syllables and a tone of voice reserved only for the slowest learners on the planet: “it’s easy for me daddy, NOC—TUR—NAL.”

My point in relating this story is not to brag about my son (well, maybe a little). As any parent out there will acknowledge, we each think we have the market cornered when it comes to the smartest, cutest and funniest child. No, the reason I am writing about this is to point out the absolute presence of children. My son did not answer what I meant, as most adults would have. He answered the actual question that I had asked. The reason for this is quite simple: children are unbelievably present. They are almost always “in the moment”. This is a trait that we adults have usually lost along the way and aspire to regain. We have forgotten what it was like to live in the now rather than worry about the past and fear the future. Living in the moment has some wonderful benefits. In the present there is almost never any fear, guilt, worry or sadness. When we are “in the moment” we are completely at peace and if we are engaged in conversation we are attuned to what the other person is actually saying rather than what we think they are saying. It is hard to be anything but joyous when you are completely present in the moment.

What, you may ask, does any of this have to do with becoming better realtors? One of the best tools to become better at something is to watch (even copy) someone who is already doing it well. If you want to be better in your chosen field of sales (as opposed to becoming a better salesman – which has to do with methods of manipulation), then watch children. They have all three traits we need for success and because they are so present, it comes naturally to them. Think about this:
Children have no fear talking to perfect strangers or speaking to a large group
Children have never known a question that is too personal
Children do not, as any parent will attest, have the slightest idea what “No” means and certainly never take “No” personally or recognize it as a final answer

Next time you are hesitant to pick up that phone or knock on that door, put yourself completely in the present the way children do and you will realize: not only is there nothing to fear, but fear itself is an illusion. The next time a client or prospect says “No”, think of a child asking for ice cream and remember that “No” only means I have not yet done a sufficient job of explaining myself.

To Your Success,

Sean Purcell

Filed under: LIFE THAT POPs, REALTORS

Welcome to A Life That POPs, the public face and personality of CQ Financial Group.  We invest our time, our effort and our marketing expertise into every aspect of San Diego Real Estate.  From the buyers and sellers we represent to the agents we coach and the loan solutions we create: our passion is your success.

We strive to be a Renaissance Firm and our area of greatest contribution continues to be the INVESTOR.  We are writing the book on intelligent, useful strategies for wealth accumulation through real estate.  There has never been a better place to invest than San Diego and now there couldn’t be a better time.

It our sincere desire to help you achieve success.  Whether you are buying your first home or selling your tenth, looking for a transparent mortgage or investing in San Diego real estate, we appreciate the opportunity to earn your trust.  Your comments are welcome.  Your success is our passion.

Filed under: LIFE THAT POPs