The Summer Selling Season Begins

Beginning today (tomorrow if you had the day off), we are embarking on a long, uninterrupted stretch of potential business days. This only happens a couple of times a year.

From now until Labor Day - exactly 2 months away - there are no other holidays or major observances. The start of the NFL training camp, the beginning of the regular NFL season, and back to school don't count.

My point is that we and our customers have no excuses for not acting. There might be a vacation planned sometime within these 8 weeks, but there is no major event scheduled to interrupt this selling season.

We need to completely focus on these next two months and take advantage of them.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC.

The Numbers Are About The Same

In 1776, 56 brave, farsighted men crafted and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Today, we need a little over 50 courageous men and women in the U.S. Senate to defeat the Cap and Trade bill.

While years apart, both documents are similar in that the direction of America is at stake.

Since this is the 4th of July, let's pay tribute to the original 56 and say thank you: George Read, Thomas McKean, Caesar Rodney, George Clymer, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, James Smith, George Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, James Wilson, George Ross, John Adams, John Hancock, Elbridge Gerry, Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton, William Whipple, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery, Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, William Floyd, Button Gwinnett, George Walton, Lyman Hall, Richard Henry Lee, Cater Braxton, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Benjamin Harrison, George Wythe, William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Abraham Clark, Francis Hopkinson, John Witherspoon, John Hart, Richard Stockton, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, Charles Carroll, Thomas Stone, Samuel Chase, and William Paca.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC.

Keep After Your Brand

Earlier today, I went to my local branch of Bank of America. As I walked up to the entrance, I noticed the very substantial flagpole that is mounted to the building - I don't always go to this branch but I do remember the flagpole.

I glanced to the top of the pole to observe how large the American flag was and the condition of it. Funny thing - no flag.

Here it is - middle of the afternoon, relatively clear skies, not much wind, and their effective observance of the 4th of July since they are closed tomorrow. No flag.

Mind you, this is the Bank of America.

I inquired about the missing flag and got some lame response about someone had to leave early or they were concerned about it getting damaged in the wind.

If you're going to be the Bank of America, if you're going to go to the trouble and expense of creating a beautiful and substantial flagpole, and it's your last chance before the 4th of July to show your patriotism, wouldn't you think the flag would be flying?

They probably never thought about this as part of their brand - even though a stylist version is part of their logo.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC.

© 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday's Thought: Stand Tall

Thursday's Thought: Just as these palm trees are standing straight and tall and overseeing the surrounding trees and landscape, we should endeaver to maintain our integrity and stand out in the marketplace.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC.

© 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Photography displayed is original composition and artistic expression of Steve Hoffacker, and as such is copyrighted. Photos are in their original digital image state and have not been cropped, edited, or enhanced in anyway.

CAPS Certification Courses Being Offered Soon

Monday, July13 and Tuesday, July 14, at the GCBA in Boynton Beach, I will be offering the first two certification courses for the CAPS designation.

The courses discuss marketing, sales, home modifications, planning, and design for issues facing older Americans as they want to age-in-place and remain in their homes for as long as practical as well as those who are chronically ill or injured that require home adaptation.

These are very informative, interactive classes with a lot of useful information.

Anyone in physical or occupational therapy, remodelers, home builders, space planners, gerontologists, interior designers, social workers, case workers, or health care providers can benefit from the classes and the designation.

Send me an email if you are interested in attending or want more information.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Halftime

In just a few hours, the first half of 2009 will be over - I know, where has it gone?

This means that we have a fresh slate of 6 months to accomplish everything we would like to get done this year.

We've been getting ready, adjusting, adapting, trying new ideas. Now we're ready to go for the second half.

In my podcast message today, "HALFTIME," I give us a motivational pep talk for having a great second half.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

America's Most Wanted

In the historic and perilous vote last Friday, the House narrowly approved passage of HR 2454 - the so-called "cap and trade bill" by the slimmest of margins - 219-212.

Meaning the difference in passage were 8 Republicans who voted for the measure.

This is a horrible piece of legislation for so many reasons - regardless of where you stand on wanting to increase energy efficiency or reduce air pollution. It contains the largest tax increase in history, will destroy - not create - thousands of jobs, and impair our ability to compete economically on the world market.

As if that wasn't bad enough, it will create a national building code (explicitly in violation of States' rights) and mandate an energy inspection of every home in this country before it's allowed to be sold or have the title transferred.

It will take the steam out of selling real estate and could even deny people the right to market their property.

These are the 8 who can still change their recorded vote through tomorrow. They need to vote "NO."

Contact their local office as they are not in DC at this time. They are home on vacation - let's make it a working vacation for them.

Mary Bono Mack R (CA)
Mike Castle R (DE)
Mark Steven Kirk R (IL)
Leonard Lance R (NJ)
Frank LoBiondo R (NJ)
John McHugh R (NY)
Dave Reichert R (WA)
Chris Smith R (NJ)

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Cap And Trade Is More Like Cap All Trade

HR 2454 - the so-called "cap and trade bill" is bad for business and bad for America. Supposedly passed for its environmental foresight, it is based on a faulty premise of climate change and has very harmful business implications.

Actually the climate is changing - but that is a natural phenomena. Today, the EPA released a 98 page report that found that the world's temperature was actually in a cooling cycle - oops!

Anyone in real estate should vehemently oppose this bill.

Any Representative who voted for this needs to have the favor returned and voted out of office. The Senate has yet to consider it, so it needs to be stopped there!

A couple of things the bill does that would ruin new home sales and general real estate: (1) it creates a national building code for energy efficiency and specifically mandates that it takes precedence over State codes, and (2) it creates a federal inspection of all homes before they are sold or recorded to label the energy aspects of the home and make them a matter of public record.

There are so many implications here for reduced property values, further manipulation of appraisals, refusal to lend on certain properties, inability of people to even market their properties, increased construction costs, usurpation of State's and local government's rights - and even worse.

Stand up entrepreneurs. Stand up America. We can't afford to sit this one out.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

How We Can Improve Our Businesses

Many people are hoping for or longing for the day when business returns to normal. That is a false hope.

I think they are talking about business the way it was 5-7 years ago when it was pretty robust but not crazy.

However, if we stop and think about what it means to have a typical, usual, average, or normal business, business plan, or business operation, we'll find that we can easily change it.

Typical, normal, average, or routine means that things have been better and things have been not so good. That's how we get an average.

Therefore, to have a business performing better than we are right now, all we have to do is raise the line. Change the average from "a" to "aa."

Obviously, it's not that easy, but we just need to shift our focus to create a little higher output, production, and revenue while holding the line on unproductive expenses.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Two-Minute Warning

Today is June 27. It is almost the end of the first half of 2009. In the couple of days that remain in the first half, I liken it to the two-minute warning in football - or if you prefer, the 7th inning stretch in baseball.

I think the two-minute warning analogy is perfect for us, because our focus is keener, our sensibilities are enhanced, our interest in making something happen by the end of the month is our main goal.

We have to do everything we can to end the first half on a strong note and to take the field next Thursday (July 1st) with a renewed commitment and intensity.

In my podcast message today, "TWO MINUTE WARNING," I discuss all of this and a little more.

For more information about my consulting, teaching, and coaching services visit my website at stevehoffacker.com. I also maintain a blog (Sales Quips) on the real estate network Active Rain, and you can begin participating in this great forum by visiting here. I also write and maintain blogs for Gold Coast SMC and Florida SMC. © 2009, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.