Obamacare Ruled Unconstitutional Today

A Florida federal judge, Roger Vinson, ruled this afternoon that the law known as Obamacare is unconstitutional. He found in favor of the 26 states - that's more than half - that have brought suit against the federal government for passage of Obamacare on several grounds.

This is a major victory for America, for individual rights, and for free enterprise. It should also help reign in Congress who had no authority to create the bill.

As of this ruling, the entire health care bill is void because there was no severability clause in it. This means that if one sentence is found unconstitutional that the whole bill has to be set aside.

He declined to grant the injunction barring implementation of the bill because most of it is not effective yet anyway, but this should help the Supreme Court go along with the ruling and find the matter unconstitutional as well.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Monday Spotlight - "Reality"

Monday Spotlight: "Reality." If someone were to capture a likeness of us in a portrait or sculpture, would it look real? In other words, is what we are projecting to the world a true representation of who and what we are? It should be - just like this life-like sculpture of the blue heron.

 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. © 2011, 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 any way.

Two People, Same Company, Different Results

How can one company have two employees - out of the many that they do have - that approach customer service so differently?

The first one is willing to go only so far, polite to a point, patient to a point. Then they want me to seek another remedy. They have done all they care to do and - without resolving my issue - want me to seek another solution.

The second, a couple of hours later, is polite, courteous, and willing to find a solution. They aren't concerned about how long it takes, and in fact reaches a successful conclusion in less time that the first conversation. This person was more interested in me than in getting to another caller.

If my impression of this company were based on the first person, I would not think highly of it. The second represents the company well.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Springtime's Coming

Springtime isn't here yet, but it's coming. That's good news.

I know that it’s still winter in many places - with even more snow forecast for this week - but springtime is quickly approaching.

We can begin thinking about int now – and planning for it. Groundhog Day on Wednesday is a right of passage from winter to spring.

Spring is getting close enough for us to begin really thinking about it, and we will have occasional warm days to help get us in the mood. Flowers will begin budding as well.

In my podcast message today "Springtime's Coming," I talk about groundhog Day and the approaching spring.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Listening Is Such A Lost Art

Today, I had an issue with my computer so I called technical support to resolve it. Didn't happen on the first call - or the second. I'll try number three a little later. They only want to tell me what they have been trained to say or what is on their script, They don't really listen or try very hard to understand the real issue.

The first one summarized my complaint by misstating the issue entirely. I knew she wasn't listening from the start. She asked a question to which I responded "no" but she kept right on going as if I had said "yes."

The second person didn't really grasp my issue either although he said he did - again actually listening would have helped. Then he wanted to charge me to have another department answer my question but admitted that he wasn't sure they could do it. This is supposed to be free technical support - except when they're stumped I guess.

Customer satisfaction is not a concept they have a grasp of. We can certainly learn from this episode.


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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

A New Chapter Begins

Four weeks ago today, we all were celbrating the arrival of 2011. Now we are saying goodbye to the first month - it doesn't take long. The older we get, the quicker it seems to go.

This is a different kind of week that we are starting. Technically we still have 2 days of January, but it really seems like we are already in February.

I hope January gave us all a good foundation to use for the balance of the year. Now it's on to the shortest month of the year - but the one with the most observances and special occasions.


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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

One Month Down

While not officially the end of January, today marks the end of the 4th full week of January - essentially a month.

We tend to think of a business month as consisting of 4 full weeks or 28 days even though 11 of them have more than 28 days.

Still, month number one is virtually gone, and it will be officially on Tuesday.

I hope it was a good month for everyone as we embarked on a great and optimistic 2011.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Determining Our Needs

To seek the help we need to attract customers and to run our businesses successfully, we need to have a clear idea of what we want from them - as well as our associations, strategic relationships, and our contacts - so that we can build upon that knowledge and have others help us grow our business.

Whether is employees, associates, strategic partners, or customers and clients, we need to know both what we need and want. Then we can focus on attaining it.

In my podcast message today "Determining Our Needs," I discuss what is involved in seeking help and identifying what we want.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday's Thoughts - "Repurposing"

Thursday's Thought: "Repurposing." At one time this room was filled with payphones and people lining up to use them. Now cell phones have replaced them. For now this room is empty. Wonder how it will be repurposed to be useful?

 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. © 2011, 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 any way.

Jimmie Prepares To Defend Title

As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Series prepares to launch its 2011 season on President's Day weekend with the Daytona 500, 5-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson will again be piloting the Lowe's 48 Impala.

Jimmie has won the Series the past 5-years - no one currently racing has ever won more than 2 years in a row. Actually Jimmie has won the 5 titles in his first 9 seasons.

This season there will be some rule changes that may impact his chase for a 6th title, but if performs consistently, the new rules should actually help him. For instances, there are coincidentally only a maximum of 48 points (a good omen?) available for a driver per race now instead of the 158 like past years. They get 43 points for winning, 42 for second, and so forth. For leading a lap one point instead of 5, for the most laps lead one point instead of 5, and 3 bonus points for the win.

The top 10 drivers in points after 26 races will still go to the 10 race chace, but the 11th and 12th spots will go to second tier of 10 drivers with the most total wins in the first 26 races. Don't know what will happen in the case of a tie.

Jimmie should be able to stay in the top 10, but it's a long season. Good luck #48.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Google Maps Pulls The Plug For Real Estate

Google has announced that beginning in just 2 weeks on Thursday, February 10th, they no longer will allow or support the Google Maps function to provide searches for real estate listings.

They cite many reasons for the change, including cost, low usage patterns, and available competitive sites that offer such a service.

This is good news for some of the other sites (such as Zillow, Trulia, Yahoo, Bigger Pockets, and Realtor.com) and probably good news for Google and its investors or they wouldn't have pulled back like this.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Free Enterprise Is Tops

Free enterprise is the economic backbone of this country. We have developed as a group of artisans, farmers, tradespeople, and manufacturers who have had ideas for products and services to offer to the masses and have been able to employ their fellow citizens along the way.

We need to embrace free enterprise and to promote it as the answer to our country’s economic condition. It has served us well over the years and will continue if we support it.

Last night, Sen. Paul Ryan, in his Republican response to the State of the Union address, called for a return to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.

Our country has been made great by the efforts of those businesspeople who used the free market to produce goods and services that made America strong.

In my podcast message today "Free Enterprise Is Tops," I want us to boldly stick up for our great economic system.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Free Enterprise Leads The Way

Paul Ryan, in his Republican response to tonight's State of the Union message, had the definitive statement when he said that "Limited government and free enterprise have helped make America the greatest nation on earth."

So why mess with a good thing?

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes Words Make A Differnce - Sometimes Not

In a sales presentation we want people to respond favorably and warmly to what we offer so we use words that create stronger images. For instance, we say homesite instead of lot. The customer knows that we are talking about their lot - it just sounds nicer We aren't trying to fool them into thinking that they are getting something that they aren't.

Contrast that with the President's change from promoting spending programs to now calling for investment - same thing, different names. Here, many (not all) of us know that he is still talking about spending. However, he is attempting to mislead us into accepting his spending proposals by thinking that we are only investing in programs. The idea of money being spent is minimized.

Be careful when words are changed - are they being used to enhance or misdirect?

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Ice-Phishing Becoming More Popular

Maybe it's just the cold weather, but there sure seems to be more and more phishing activity. Think of it as ice-phishing.

Each message is slightly different - although I do get several repeats - but there are several classic schemes, like the widow, the terminally ill, the orphan, the serviceman in the Middle East, the African connection, and the lonely single girl in Russia - to name a few.

Many times an official looking email that looks like it comes from AT&T, PayPal, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo is just a scam. Be very careful. This is a new wrinkle on phishing. Often they include real information and logos, but the real tell is the sender's email.

Also, don't trust anything from anyone who puts a Mr. or Ms. in front of their name.
Just because its winter, we can't ease up on watching out for these. Let's freeze them 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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Plan For The Encounter

Regardless of the type of contest we are facing - an athletic game, a discussion, a debate, an armed conflict, a sales presentation, a negotiation, or a purchase - we need to be totally aware of what our role is and what might happen. We have to be totally prepared.

We want to control the outcome as much as possible, but we need to be ready for any eventuality - just in case. Mental toughness is key. We need to anticipate. We need to think like our opponent and be ready to address their actions.

We need to be ready to face the challenges in front us before we get there. That comes from having a well-conceived plan and then executing it properly.

In my podcast message today "Plan For The Encounter," I talk about being ready to play at peak effectiveness and not just showing up.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday's Spotlight - "Change"

Sunday's Spotlight: "Change." These three flowers are all the same - known as the "yesterday, today, and tomorrow." The start white, transition to to a purplish tint, then all the way purple. Beautiful flowers that illustrate we have to change from day to day to stay current - not our values or principles, however.

 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. © 2011, 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 any way.

Bears Loss Points Out Poor Coaching

The Chicago Bears lost their bid today to represent the NFC in the 45th Super Bowl to be played 2 weeks from today. Their archrival Green Bay Packers won the game and outplayed them on every front.

The most telling weakness of the Bears - who I thought would win the game if they had come ready to play - was that they did not come to play.

Lovie Smith and his coaching staff clearly did not get the team up for this game and did not have a game plan that was anything special. Green Bay's Don Capers did.

Coaching is sales, business, or sports is important. It gets us ready for the challenges of what we do and prepares us to be ready. Too bad the Bears staff was not up to the task today.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Up To Speed

Now that we are squarely into 2011 and the holidays are past, we need to get on with our business. Not only are the holidays over, January nearly is, too. We need to begin serious progress on our goals. This is the week to do it.

All of that getting ready for the new year is past, and we should be at out maximum speed now - fully focused on business and engaged in the activities that will produce revenue for us. For the next month there are no official holidays either to interfere with our production.

In my podcast message today "Up To Speed," I suggest that we need to be in full pursuit of our goals and businesses.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Week Four Commences

Some of us are just getting used to writing "2011" and already we are preparing to complete the first month. It just doesn't seem possible.

Today begins week number four of 2011 - the last full week of January.

January has been a growing and stretching month - shaking off the cobwebs of all the year-end celebrations and work slowdown. It's been a time of getting back to work and allowing those that we want to work with to do the same. Now, everyone is back into their routines.

We're in good shape holiday-wise. We had Martin Luther King Day this past week, and in another month we have President's Day (and the Daytona 500). In the meantime, except for Groundhog Day (wasn't that a great movie?) and Valentine's Day, we have a solid month of work activity.

This is a week we should be at maximum speed and preparing to make some real progress.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Week Number Three Of 2011 Concludes

You're familiar with the expression TGIF? Fridays typically are the end of the traditional work week. Since many of us in sales and retail often work weekends, we don't celebrate Fridays as much as people who work a traditional Monday-Friday position.

Nevertheless, Friday makes a good scorecard for 2011 since January 1st was a Saturday. Therefore, every week in 2011 will end on a Friday - every new week will commence on Saturday.

This is a very convenient way of keeping score. We can simply look at the calls we made, the appointments or showing we had, the emails and postcards we sent, the new contacts we made, the sales we made, and all of the other activity through midnight Friday. That activity concludes the previous week, and we get to start a fresh one from that point forward.

So as we review week number 3 of 2011 - that ended at midnight Friday - we can look forward to creating some good momentum for week number 4 this weekend.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Need A Hug?

Did you realize that today is the 25th anniversary of National Hug Day, also known as National Hugging Day. Didn't know there was such a day? You do now.

Since it's now observed in 5 other countries, I think we can safely call it International Hugging Day as well.

Of course, we don't need a special day to observe a very personal way of creating dear friends and loved ones, but there is such a day in case you needed a nudge - or a reason.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Pulling The Plug

In life, in business, in other pursuits, there are times when we need to walk away from an issue or situation and begin anew with a different plan or direction. Sometimes, continued effort is not worth the time expended to try a resolution. Sometimes there will not be an acceptable solution.

Sometimes our best course of action is to totally stop what we are doing and change directions or start another project.

Whether it’s a customer or sales lead we are pursuing, an appointment we are trying to set, a sale we are attempting to make, or anything similar - or a stubborn, unresponsive computer - sometimes we just have to release it and move on.

In my podcast message "Pulling The Plug," I suggest this strategy for getting on with our lives.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Honoring Your Word

In sales we know how important it is to do what you promise - to honor your word. When we say we'll do something or that our product or company will do something, we have to deliver on that - if we want to be believable in the future.

On November 2nd we elected a significant number of Republicans to the House of Representatives. They said that the first order of business was to vote to repeal Obamacare.

They didn't get to the vote on that until tonight, but they made good on their promise - through roughly a party-line vote.

The American people spoke, and they did what they said they would do. We'll see where it goes from here, but at least they did what they promised.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Pass The Butter

Did you know that today is National Popcorn Day? Did you even know there was such a day?

Happy Popcorn Day all of you moviegoers, TV watchers, and snackers.

There is a National Popcorn Month (October), but no one really knows why January 19th is National Popcorn Day. Do we need a reason?

Pass the butter - and the salt - and enjoy.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Check Your Recipe

I use a cooking experience to illustrate sales readiness in today's podcast message.

In "Check Your Recipe," I suggest that we would never think of preparing a great dessert or our favorite meal for family or friends without making sure ahead of time that we had everything we needed, the same goes for sales.

The same goes for sales. We should never approach a phone call or sales interview without adequate and thorough preparation and mental readiness. We also need to have all of the required paperwork and other elements that we might need.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Good Old Fashioned Football

The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers will be meeting for the 183rd time this Sunday. This is the oldest rivalry in professional football.

Leading up to Sunday's game between Chicago and Green Bay, here is a video summary of the only other time the two teams met in the playoffs. The Bears won 33-14. A similar score on Sunday would be great.

This game was played 69 years ago on December 14, 1941 - exactly one week after the Pearl Harbor attack.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King had many quotes for which he is well known. Probably his "I have a dream" quote is most associated with him, but I like this one:

“If a man hasn’t discovered

something he will die for,

he isn’t fit to live.”

To me, this means that we must have passion. We must live outside ourselves and with a purpose larger than ourselves - God, country, family, mission, service.

This quotation may be found on page 124 in my new motivational quote book "You Don't Say?" It contains 208 quotes from some notable individuals, including Dr. King, and some from lesser known personages. A few are mine. The book is $14.95 and may be ordered at "You Don't Say?"  

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Definitely, You Should Be Blogging

If you are thinking about getting started with blogging - or you're thinking about blogging more often - and you're asking yourself if you should do it, then consider this from two of the marketing experts.

Seth Godin and Tom Peters say just get started and begin expressing yourself. Don't worry about readership or who is noticing what you write - just get started.

Don't worry about the search engines or anything else other than creating an adequate expression of your ideas. The rest will come from that.

Here, watch this:

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Come To Play

Football provides some great lessons and analogies for business and life.

In today's playoff games, each team wanted to win, but only one in each game came to play more than its opponent. This is what we need to do - to be prepared and determined. We have to approach sales ready to prevail - even if we don't get the order the first time.

In sports, the physical difference and skill level between two teams is often very little - particularly in the playoffs. The difference is the mental edge and the fight, determination, dedication, and will to win.

The team with the greater spirit usually prevails. Then we take that say observation and we apply it to sales where our same level of determination and will to win comes through in an air of confidence and knowledge.

In my podcast message "Come To Play," I stress wanting to win by coming ready top play.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Week Number 3 Commences

2011 just began - full of promise, hope, and opportunity. However, do you realize that we have already moved through the first 2 weeks of the year?

That's right. Time moves so quickly.

There are still so many days and weeks ahead of us, but the year is moving on. We literally were just saying "Happy New Year" a few days ago. Now we are squarely into the middle of the month of January and starting the third week of the year.

This should be a great week. We have transitioned from holiday mode to working mode, so we should now be about the accomplishment of our goals.

Let's make 2011 a fantastic year.


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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Wikipedia Turns 10

Are you old enough to remember going to the library to look up something in the World Book, Funk & Wagnall's, or the Britanica for a school project or a speech?

Then there came Prodigy and Encarta and other online services.

Now, we rely heavily on Wikipedia, and today is the 10th anniversary of Wikipedia.

Congratulations, Wikipedia. I really like this resource.

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia that not heavy, does not need to be housed on a bookshelf, does not encompass 20 or more physical volumes, and is not outdated as soon as (or even before) it is published.

It also is an international effort with only about 20% of the entries written in English. Most of the editors and content providers are men so Wikipedia is making a concertted effort to recruit women as editors.
Congratulation, Wikipedia, with many more anniversaries to come.


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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Two Weeks Down

Here we are, already two weeks into 2011. We started with a lot of great ideas and intentions. Hopefully we have had a chance to begin implementing some of those. Regardless, we are halfway through January already.

It's now time to be fully engaged in the new year and to be working our plan - setting appointments, making sales calls, meeting new people, and closing sales.

Those of us who have been at the IBS this week will be back in our offices by Monday at the latest so next week can be a very productive one. Let's make week number 3 of 2011 a very good one.

In my podcast message "Two Weeks Down," I talk about how quickly the year can get away from us. Let's get on with 2011.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

"Meet The Experts" Kicks Off

The "Meet The Experts" at IBS has become a well-attended, much anticipated event at the International Builders' Show (IBS), and today it kicks off with 12 sessions, followed by another 12 (different) sessions tomorrow.

The topics are hosted by a an expert in that field, and questions are fielded from the attendees in small-group, breakout-type sessions. Groups typically range about 30-40 participants.

Green building, design, merchandising, sales strategies, Realtor relations, internet skills, and many other topics are being offered.

From 9:30-11:00, I am hosting the session "The Power Of Social Media." We're going to be looking at Active Rain, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linked In, and many other social networks and platforms.

If you miss this session, I do similar ones throughout the year, and can schedule one in your market if there is sufficient interest. Let me know.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.From 9:30-

Thursday's Thought - "Full Color"

Thursday's Thought: "Full Color." We all like the bright colors that adorn the trees in the fall. This reminds us to present ourselves boldly in our relationships with those around us - not in an arrogant way but in a fully committed way - so that our attitude and personality is not muted but strong and bright.

 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. © 2011, 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 any way.

Join Us For "Meet the Experts"

Join us starting at 8:00 in the morning in Rooms 305 A & B for the annual "Meet The Experts" program at IBS put on by the NSMC and IRM. A total of 12 sessions will occur each day involving sales and marketing topics for builders, on-site salespeople, Realtors, tradespeople, suppliers, lenders, marketers, and others. This is an informal breakout type Q & A format.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Anticipating Great Things

Today, the International Builders Show (IBS) begins in Orlando. There are educational programs, exhibits, product demonstrations, and of course, the chance to see friends and colleagues that maybe we haven't seen since the last Show.

Like many events that happen once a year or at special times - birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, holidays, vacations, and the like - the anticipation of the event starting plus the outcome and enjoyable experience of it are powerful. Not only do we look forward to learning new ideas and techniques, we get a chance to renew acquaintances and friendships.

The attendees and the exhibitors are anticipating a great event that will have a positive outcome for them.

In my podcast message "Anticipating Great Things," I talk about the benefits of IBS and we are looking forward to it beginning today.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Nearly All Ones

Depending on how you choose to write today's date, it is all ones - or nearly so. I like to have fun with numbers, and today can be 1/11/11, 01/11/11, or 1/11/2011 - a lot of ones anyway you look at it. It won't be all ones - in the shorthand conventional version of mm/dd/yy until November, but today is pretty close.

Just a little fun to get the day started.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Starting Strong

2011 is moving on. It's time to throw off all of the fun and good times we have had over the holidays and to really get back to business this week. One week of the new year is already over. This is the week to get started.
 
We have come through the year-end holidays and even the first week of the brand new year - maybe without a lot to show for it. Now, that is changing.

It's time to really get started - appointments, phone calls, meeting people, making presentations, and eventually making sales. We need to jump right into the game of 2011 and hit it hard. It's a little like coming back onto to the field after halftime. We have new ideas and plans and enthusiasm.

In my podcast message "Starting Strong," I talk about how we really get down to business this week.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Spotlight - "Standing Out"

Sunday Spotlight: "Standing Out." Sometimes it doesn't take much to be different and be noticeable.

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. © 2011, 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 any way.

The Second Week Begins

Last week ago we were welcoming in the New Year and had the entire calendar in front of us. Now we've already used one of those weeks. It didn’t take long.

Time moves quickly. While there is no need to be concerned about the passage of the first week with maybe little to show for it, the second week can be very promising.

For anyone connected with the building industry, the International Builders’ Show (IBS) is being held in Orlando this week. If you are attending, come to Rooms 305 A and B on Thursday or Friday for educational sessions and to say hello.

In my podcast message "The Second Week Begins," I talk about how we really get down to business this week.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Friday's Thought - "Heads Up"

Friday's Thought: "Heads Up." Looking down all the time and following the crowd is not the way to get ahead - only to stay part of the crowd.

 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. © 2010, 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 any way.

The People's House

With the 112th Congress convening yesterday for the new Congressional term, I applaud the new Speaker of the House John Boehner for verbalizing that they are working for us in our house and the time of self-serving interests is over. Let's hold out some optimism that this is true.

This is a great commitment from at least the House that they understand the anger and disgust we had for Congress that we vented on November 2nd in the election. Boehner says that they are in Washington to be about our business and not their own. If this holds true it will be extremely refreshing.

In my podcast message "The People's House," I discuss the refreshing beginning to the new Congressional term.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

The Haze Clears

This morning, the haze clears. New Year's Day is over. Christmas is over, 2010 is over.

Here we are in a brand new year, at the very beginning of it and yet already in the middle of the first week.

The holiday lull is disappearing, and now it's time to refocus on work. Time to get after the goals we set for this new year. Everyone is back from the holidays, so it's full speed ahead.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

New Beginnings

Let's celebrate the arrival of 2011 and all that it has to offer. We are faced with so many opportunities, new possibilities, and new beginnings.

Everyday is fresh. Let's have a great attitude to start the year on a note of anticipation and optimism.

Whatever we didn't like about 2010 we can change. Whatever worked well we can do even better. No point in focusing on the past, we have such a bright future ahead of us.

A fresh start for all of us - that's what 2011 offers.

In my podcast message "New Beginnings," I discuss forgetting about 2010 and embracing the new year.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

First Monday of 2011

Today is the very first Monday of 2011. For many it's the first day back to work after a holiday recess.

It make take a little while to get back into the swing of work after a few days off, but we are embarking on a fresh slate of possibilities. Everything is new.

This is the first full week of the new year - so much to do, schedule, plan for, and commence.

It's great to have a new start. Let's really capitalize on it.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

The Wait Is Over

It's a brand new year. No more anticipation. It's here!

Everything about 2010 is done - we can't change it. Good or bad, it's done. Now all we can do is focus on 2011 and vow to make it the best year that we can.

The year is full of optimism, fresh hope, a new start. Let's keep the momentum going.

In my podcast message "The Wait Is Over," I celebrate the start of 2011.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.

Happy New Year!!

Well. it's here. No more waiting. No more talking about it. No more wondering if it'll get here.

Now, we have 364 days ahead of us onto which we can write our story. We should endeavor to make the biggest difference we can in the lives of those around us - family, friends, acquaintances, clients, customers, and anyone else.

We have so much opportunity. We should be setting goals and working to achieve them.

Whatever you expect or need from 2011, may it be there for you - work to make it happen.

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. © 2011, Steve Hoffacker. All Rights Reserved.