Fran Rokicki Realty, LLC Blog: November 2008

Look like a good idea to you?  LOL!  We did this last year:)

It's done with tin foil, little bits of it!

I hope that wherever you celebrate this holiday, you will be surrounded by good conversation, good friends, family members and delicious food.  I hope that you will remember those who helped you through this year.  Put on your happy face, hug everyone you can today and start tomorrow with a positive goal.  Good food, good times and good conversation.  Sounds like the perfect day to me!  If you are lucky enough to be where the weather is warm, this turkey is for you!

Here in Connecticut, we are experiencing weather in the forties and fifties, which is fine for this time of year.  Tomorrow, we have our Manchester Thanksgiving Road Race!  Approximately, 50,000 people attend.  You are walking, running or watching.  It starts at 9:30am and is usually finished by 11am.  There are bands playing along the route.  The television and radio stations are set up on Main Street.  Our state Governor Jodi Rell, attends with her family, too!

I'll be sure to take some photos of the race and post them here in a few days!  Signing off and wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the time of year to be grateful.  For your family, your friends, associates, clients and even, your pet!  Throughout this year we have all had many ups and downs.  Now is the season to be grateful that we are all here, still working, still healthy. 

Interest rates will go up and down.  The market will change again.  The economy will get back on track.  Removing the fear is probably the most important now.  But, all in all, be grateful.  It is a fact that people will always be moving.  Buying and/or selling real estate.  It has been going on for fifty years and it will continue to go on.

I am thankful to my family for their constant encouragement and support.  To my clients, some who call me a "shark", and some who just think of me as part of their family or community.  A few of my clients have contacted me, just to ask if I was okay, due to the market conditions! My vendors who constantly support and work with me to finalize details on a transaction.  I am very fortunate to have the hub that I do.

Thankful too, for my health. They say you are rich, if you have your health.  I do have health insurance because of my husband.  I know how good that is to have, just in case.

Grateful to Brian Buffini and all of his Servant Leaders and Staff.  To have such an amazing community of people who all work to make me better at what I do.  To the Clubnet Members who encourage others and continue to stay in contact with me.  To the referrals that they offer me, that are all A+!  To my community of Small Groups and Mentors who were smart enough to believe in these systems that made us all grow.

Happy to say, I am grateful to my black lab, Jack.  He continues to make me walk, everyday.  Even when it's rainy or cold, we go.  He wakes up every single day, wagging that tail of his and happy as a lark!  He makes me forget some of the issues that would normally make me go sideways in a heartbeat.

Lastly, thanks to all of you.  You, here on the rain, all continue to inspire me, teach me new tips and ideas, laughing while typing ( you know who you are:) and making blogging feel like a good part of my day. Thankful to the Rain Gods for starting this blogging forum.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Okay, here is how it works.  You choose, my new goal, for instance might be 200 popbys.  You have the entire month to do this.  Not one or two days.  I usually do thirty.  This month, for Thanksgiving, I passed out forty.  It really isn't that hard.  I did that in two days.  A few hours each day.  You can spread that out, over the month.  You can do 50 a week, or 9 a day.  Some days you will deliver more, some days less. 

The point to popbys is to be face to face with people.  They do not all have to be in your database.  My database has A+, A, B & C rated clients.  Only the A+ and A's get the goodies.  The remainder are people that I see on a regular basis.  Attorneys, paralegals, home inspectors, contractors, dentist, doctor, school teachers, bankers, credit union employees, and ironically, people who live next door to my A+ clients, get a quick hello and a popby.

If you don't see this for what it is, it will not work for you.  It is an opportunity for you to obtain business.  A listing, a sale, if you are a broker/owner, maybe a new agent on your team!  Yes, it generates business.  That is why I am increasing the amount that I do every month.  It is one sure way of getting business.  Everyone does not have to jump to my goal.  Start small, 7 a week.  Make your own goal.  You may find new business doing less!

These popby items are meant to be a little reminder, from you to your clients or anyone who may or has given you business.  A little reminder with a catchy little phrase, a handy little item for them and a face to fact visit with these people.  You stay for a few minutes, never go inside and happily go on your way to the next home or person.  When these people are then, out with family or friends and mention that they need help with real estate, your name is given to them.  You are their trusted advisor.

I am increasing my popby amount because I feel it is wise for me to do.  Everyone doesn't need to jump to a high amount:)  Once you provide this service, you will be amazed at how well it works.  Have fun with it!  It will break up your day nicely, too!  Imagine explaining to a new client that they can be part of this fun every month! Buyer's just love it! It becomes a good icebreaker.

As good as I am about getting my daily routine completed, I have popbys that never see my clients.  To counter act this situation that I have gotten myself into, I now theme my popbys.  Theme them so that, I must deliver them before a certain date.  For instance, back to school.  Had to get them delivered before the little ones returned to school.  Halloween, well, self explanatory.  Now, my latest, Thanksgiving.  To fool myself, I purchase a few more each month.  Sunday and today, I gave out forty basters with raffia, ribbon and my tagline card attached.  I was on a mission.  Glad to report, mission accomplished!

I remember sitting at the Turning Points and having someone at the end of day two, expressing how they had 25 transactions because of their monthly popby.  One month.  Now, I could really go for that.  So, that is my motivation.  I have started working on next year now.  Preparing my clients for the referral process and how my business will grow with their help.  I remember a lady Realtor from Texas.  She was handing out two hundred popbys!  I am so jealous.  Imagine the fun she had with that!  It was something to do with barbecue sauce.  Many of my fellow Clubnet members can probably remember her story.  Well, I want to be one of those Buffini success stories about popbys!  Wait til my Coach hears this news!!

Watch for me, I will be hitting the road on Saturday with my Christmas popbys!  If I can pass out enough of these goodies, I will have impacted the lives of my clients, friends, associates and family.  Did I mention that I will popby my vendors, fellow Realtors and anyone that simply asks if they may have one?  I am not sure what my number will be, but, I am going to get an early start, so that, I can finish big!  Stay tuned for the details:)

It's a Good Life!

Okay, this can be easy.  I actually sit at my computer chair which is next to my bookcase that holds my favorite books!  In my last book meme from Greg, I forgot to tag five more people, so, this is a good chance for me to pass on this blog to five or so, friends of mine on the rain!

Here it is!  See You at the Top!  By Zig Ziglar

Page 56, 5 sentences down,

"When commenting on another child, the wise parent will say, "My, what nice manners," or, "He is such an honest boy," or "Isn't she helpful?"  The wise parent will compliment the trait or characteristic he would like to see developed more in his own child."

You can interpret this in many phases of our profession.  Working with other agents, your clients and your broker.  We all like and need the positive reinforcement of our actions. Keeping yourself and your thoughts positive will help you to become a success in any market!

Thanks George!  These book meme's are fun and easy to do:)

Here are my five fab friends on the rain, to whom I will pass this blog!

Stephanie Knybel

Al Donohue

Rhonda Rawlins

Jim Minkey

Dwight Ufferidge

Hope they enjoy this task as much as I did:)