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!

Rare Opportunity: Get your listing remodeled and sold!

See if this sounds familiar.  You take a listing and comment after comment from agents and the public, or just a general lack of showings, prove that if the sellers would lower the price the property would sell.  Another option, which fewer people are willing to consider these days is to do some remodeling to bring the condition of the house in line with the price they are asking.  Many people don't have the money and most don't have the vision and design skills for that.  Enter my new friends on a very popular real estate reality show.

If you live in Austin and have a listing that isn't selling which remodeling would help, get in touch with me - fast.  One lucky home is going to benefit from the expertise of some very talented individuals who have a fantastic track record (80% of their projects sell within 10 days if I'm remembering correctly) and just happen to be preparing to film a pilot for a new show.

Think about your listing inventory and of the houses you've shown lately, and when you think of a candidate, let me know so I can connect all the right people.

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)

 

 

Updated Holiday Travel Tips

 

A couple of years ago I wrote a well received post with travel tips for the holidays.  Things have changed quite a bit since then so I thought an update/reminder would be great for anyone headed to the airport this week.

Security

• There is a movement on line to refuse scanners on Wednesday and force mass pat downs which will seriously slow down security.  The idea is to cripple the TSA and trigger change.  I don't think people will really do this, just in case, you may want to get to the airport earlier than usual
• You have to take jackets, hats and shoes off still and shoes should go directly on the belt.
• Wear slip-on shoes without laces
• Pick the line without kids (good luck with that this week!) and it should be faster
• Southwest is the busiest airline and most people are sheep in an airport.  This means most will go to the security line nearest the Southwest counters.  Very often, the security lines at the other end of the airport near other airline counters are less crowded.
• Laptops still have to come out of your bag for scanning.
• iPads, netbooks and the new 11" MacBook Air can stay in your bag for scanning.  NOTE:  If there is too much stuff in your bag, they may stop you and re-run it.  So if you're packing a lot in your laptop bag, save yourself some time and just take the devices out for scanning.
• Very early morning flights are substantially cheaper and so they are ALWAYS crowded.  This is why the airport is so crowded at 4:30 am.
• You can refuse the scanners if you don't like the idea of the radiation but that triggers a pat down.   I guess you can look at who's patting people down and decide if you want them touching you - haha!

On The Plane

• I don't care where you are or what time of year it is, airports and airplanes are ALWAYS hot so dress comfortably and wear light clothes.
• Leave your bulky coats at home and opt for a much more travel friendly, thin, NorthFacejacket or pull over.
• Put your laptop bag or purse under the seat in front of you.  Trust me, the extra 2" for your feet is not worth the fight over bin space when bigger carry-ons need to be up there.  Be kind and don't be selfish and force others to check their bag because you want to put your computer bag or coat up there.
• Food is disgusting on the plane and smells awful to anyone not eating it.  Eat that mess before you get on the plane.
• Speaking of food, bring protein bars or mixed nuts and fruit with you instead of eating airportfood.  Other than the random Subway or the salad place at Chicago Midway, there is NOTHING in an airport that you should be eating.
• You will never read all that!  There is never enough time to catch up like you think you will.  Pick a book and a magazine or two.  Paper is heavy and if you are like me, when you get home you will wonder why you thought you'd have time to read all that crap you lugged around.
• Earplugs!  Pack them.

General

• Every airport Starbucks is awful.  Just awful.  Bring, or buy their VIA instant coffee and ask for a cup of water to go with it.  They won't charge for that and it's sooo much better that what they'll make you.
• Need to change clothes in the airport?  Often the family restrooms are open and there is plenty of room in there to change.

 

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 to get the most out of MegaCamp 2010

Last week I was talking to one of my graduates about coming to Keller Williams MegaCamp and about all of the possibilities at the event.  Eventually our conversation turned to her specific goals for her business.  To sum them up you could say all she wants to do in her business is: List - Write - Teach.   So as we talked about my city (Austin) and her trip to it for MegaCamp, we settled on this:  Instead of just showing up and seeing what happens, she will set her intention to take every piece of information  she can that supports those three goals.

And what about you?  Were you just going to show up to MegaCamp or have you given some thought to what you'd like to take away from it?  What I know for sure is that there will be more to learn than any one person could possibly absorb.  If you write out your intentions before you even pick up your registration packet, you'll certainly maximize your investment.

I'd love to hear what you're after.  Share your intentions in the comments section!