Jason Edwards

The TSA Makes $400,000 a Year Finding Loose Change

via www.theatlanticwire.com

Many of you know I pick up loose change all over the place and that every time I pick up money, I use it a reminder that I'm always connected to abundance. In fact, that's pretty much the affirmation I say as I pick up the coins: "I am always connected to all the abundance I desire.". I even picked up a penny at the dog park this week that was covered in dirt and had jagged edges from the granite path. It looks like I need to pay more attention at the airport!

Last week I posted a pic on Facebook that showed two sandwich bags of coins collected over the last 6 months. Reading the linked article, it's clear there is plenty more to be had! Keep your eyes open friends!

Books that inspire me. $1.99 on Kindle

Today I found a bunch of really great books on sale for the Kindle. I've become a Kindle junkie lately and can't wait to get the new Kindle Touch. Most of the books I found I already have in print but since they're so cheap why not get the digital version and take them all with me!

Several of the books are either on the Keller Williams BOLD Program recommended reading list or have been mentioned by BOLD creator Dianna Kokoszka. They are all great and will inspire everyone who reads them, just as they have me. 

NOTE: The Louise Hay titles are only on sale today in celebration of her 85th birthday so grab them fast!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM ALL

Adding a buyer's agent. Could it hurt your business?

Absolutely it could, if you add a buyer's agent too soon. I've been asked three times in the last week about adding people to a real estate team and I think that's a great thing. To me it means those people have a growth mindset and are productive enough to at least search around for answers.

It's too bad then that most of the time, I'm asked about adding a buyer's agent by an individual who doesn't even have a personal assistant yet, or worse a listing inventory to speak of. It doesn't take much in real estate to "feel rich" and when you get some momentum and others (who don't have it) notice, they often ask about being on a team with you. 

Having a team or group is great for the ego, until it's built upon a weak foundation that had steps skipped in the building process (insert your own house building analogy). So next time you think about building a team or adding a buyer's agent, consider the questions below. And no matter which real estate company you work for, get a copy of the Millionaire Real Estate Agent - it's the best guide book out there on the topic written from a industry neutral point of view.

• Do I have a big enough listing inventory to feed consistent leads to another person on my team?
• Do I have the proper mindset to lead others?
• If I hired a personal assistant, would that allow me to convert more leads and lose fewer?
• Is an assistant all I really need to be happy and balanced again?
• Do I really want to lead a team/group or do I just like how the idea sounds?
• Am I considering teaming up with someone who is looking for the magic spot where leads are always handed to them?
• Is that the best kind of person with which to partner?
• After hiring an assistant, if there are still surplus leads, could I refer them to a trusted agent in the office for a high referral fee?
• Might that be a good way to test out my reaction to working with others with leads I've generated?

What thoughts do you have about growing a team? I'd love to hear in the comments!

Agentjason. Now in Japan!

At first I thought I was an idiot; after you read this, you may think I am. Since 1998 I've been the proud owner of agentjason.com and on Friday, I lost that URL to a company in Japan who is now squatting on it. (Not all GoDaddy emails are sales pitches. Turns out some are reminders to renew your domains!)

Agentjason was my nickname when I was an active Realtor and when I started speaking and training, it was difficult to get away from it, even though I did try. People would find me as my alter-ego in the web's long long memory and begin calling me that. So I gave in and kept it, embraced the name even, except for the last year or so.

Lately I've realized that I've grown way past "agentjason" and really haven't been fully "that guy" since 2004. So maybe subconsciously I let that URL expire knowing that it would push me to expand faster. In any case, I'm not paying a huge ransom to get it back. I spent Friday mad at myself and the rest of the weekend letting go so as to allow growth.

The blog is still here. I'm writing again.  I'm allowing the growth and the web reinvention and will soon find the inspiration for a new URL. As always, I'm happy to have you along for the ride!

Do your clients suffer from MDNAS?

Check this very clever and well written blog post:

Sellers Medical Alert | Bonaire Island Real Estate.

The first person to bring this on my plane...

...with your kids gets tackled!  (see video at 2 minutes 19 seconds)

 

 

Money is everywhere - literally!

My students will appreciate this story:

I'm flying through airport security today, rushing to my gate as usual when the guy next to me comes through his line at the same time. As he's putting himself and his bags back together (frequent travelers know you learn to do all this while walking away from security into the terminal) he pulls his hand out if his pant packet and loose change flys EVERYWHERE! You know exactly what I was thinking don't you? ABUNDANCE!! And I almost bent over and started picking it up right in front of him! After all, you have to recognize and acknowledge abundance, correct?! Thankfully, my reasoned mind kicked in and I realized that would be stealing. So I just kept walking and laughing. It's hard to convey how much energy I tap into after speaking, let's just say I can get a little carried away. This evening, it would have to be enough to just observe that abundance.

So what about you? After our work in the classroom, what kind of stuff have you noticed yourself doing to acknowledge abundance? Let me know in the comments.

How a BOLD coach challenges himself

I understand and acknowledge the physical and mental rigors associated with triathlon, duathlon, or other multi-sport events, and realize that running, bicycling, swimming and other portions of such Events are inherently dangerous and represent an extreme test of a person’s physical and mental limits. I understand that participation involves risks and dangers which include, without limitation, the potential for serious bodily injury, permanent disability, paralysis and death.

That was part of the waiver I signed to enter this race.  When I'm in these races, I always think of my students and how hard I push them.  Even though I've already been through everything I'm asking them to do in the real estate world, it's still important to me to push through challenges in any activity.  After all, mental discipline is mental discipline.  Doesn't matter if you're calling FSBOs or Expireds for the first time, trying to make 100 contacts in a week (or a day BOLD100 Club!), or completing an Ironman race.  And although lawyers (or FSBOs) try to scare the crap out of us, that mental discipline is just a thought away.  There is no stress in the world, only people having stressful thoughts.  Instead of thinking about the paragraph from the waiver, I choose to

AFFIRM:  I have the ability to accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease and comfort.

How to prevent interruptions during prospecting

Noel Harris and Rick Hogue of Keller Williams Louisville, KY

Big Brother is searching you

Computerworld - While everyone is concerned about privacy violations from Facebook Places, government agencies may be using powerful new technology to violate Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches.

via www.computerworld.com

This article is only loosely tied to the real estate industry and still I found myself wanting to post it to my main blog. I've recently bumped into author Mike Elgan on Twitter (@mike_elgan) and subscribed to his email newsletter which compiles his articles for different outlets. I'm really enjoying his stuff so far and you can find him at www.elgan.com.

What if you put a pool in your back yard and didn't pay for a permit, then years later got a big fine from the city because they were looking at your backyard on Google Earth? What if that in some way screwed with a transaction you had heading for closing? Is it okay for your government to do stuff like this?  I wonder if the average american even knows what the fourth amendment says.  I don't have a pool (or any other work missing permits) and still, I think it's definitely not okay for communities to allow this. Click the computerworld link above and read the article, then let me know your thoughts in the comments.