Opportunity and Risk vs Status Quo and Safe

I have long been a proponent of people taking calculated risks to improve situations and achieve dreams. People often shy away from such risks because the fear of failure has too strong of a hold on their life. But I wonder what the greater sadness is, risking failure by taking a chance on yourself to achieve your dreams or always playing it safe.

Everyone has goals and everyone has dreams. Some talk about them and some keep them hidden deep within themselves. But be assured everyone has them. If you are the type that keeps your goals and dreams hidden, stop it. Share them.

Tell people what you want to do. Lose the fear of someone else thinking you are silly because of your dream. Those that wish to squelch your dreams are not worthy of an opinion. People are either pulling for you or pushing against you. Decide who you want on your team and let all the others go.

Wouldn’t you rather gamble on yourself and take your shot rather than wake up one day towards the end of your life having lived a life full of regret and missed opportunities? Take a chance on yourself, you will be surprised how many people are rooting for you.

Curt Fletcher aka The Likeability Guy, is a Real Estate Professional, Business Development Strategist, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and REALTOR with Atrium Realty Group in North Texas.

Faith and Opportunity

Faith is a word that is extremely powerful. True faith only occurs when you believe with 100% of your heart and mind that your belief system is correct. Faith is when you make a decision that is not based on scientific evidence. Faith is most closely used when talking about religion, but it is also a large ingredient in allowing yourself to be successful.

When you have faith in yourself to achieve something, opportunity is not far behind. As you change your mind set to believe that you are destined for success, the world will start to reveal new opportunities all around you. Have faith in yourself and others will too.

Curt Fletcher aka The Likeability Guy, is a Real Estate Professional, Business Development Strategist, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and REALTOR with Atrium Realty Group in North Texas.

What do you do well?

Do you ever get stuck in that mode of wanting to be something or wanting to do something that someone you admire does?

Have you ever found yourself trying to emulate that person, but seemingly not having the same results?

This is a tricky topic to explain because it can be thought of in different ways.

The old school of thought is to simply copy or emulate what the most successful people in your field of work do and you will improve. While I believe much of this is true, there is always one little hitch left off of this theory.

If you are ever going to do something really well, meaning better then most others, you must make it unique. You must put your own spin on it to allow for obvious differentiation amongst you and anyone you are competing with.

If everyone takes the same books about success, implements all the theories, then what happens? Truthfully, not much. You will be working and operating in a big sea of similar people with no unique standout features.

What made the people like Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar, or you name the "success" person, is that they were totally unique in their particular era. So much is written today on the topics of success based on the theories of a small handful of people, that the message has been diluted.

What brings real success is when you implement successful habits on a daily basis, but also make yourself or product unique. You have to answer the "why" question for people, but it has to be answered in a way that is obvious to them. This isn't something you can just tell someone.

To be selected in any situation, your clients, prospects, hiring managers, or whatever, must internally be able to answer these questions without much deep thought.

• "Why would I pick you?"


• "Why would I buy this?"


• "Why do I need that?"


• "Why is this better than that?"


• "Why is this person better than that person?"


• "Why is this person worth this much?"

If the decision maker is having difficulty answering any of these type questions, you may not be positioned in a very clear and unique manner.

Curt Fletcher aka The Likeability Guy, is a Real Estate Professional, Business Development Strategist, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

Dream Big or Live in Content?

We had the baptism of my youngest daughter this past Saturday. We invited our immediate family and a couple close personal friends to join the celebration.

After the actual event itself, we went back to have the post reception type deal and everyone came over to have a good time. While there was definitely some non-eventful small talk happening throughout the house, there was one conversation that I had that made me stop and think.

To give a quick background check, you have to understand that I have always been the guy in the room (any room) that seems to think slightly different then everyone else. I don't say that to say that it is always a great thing, but rather to just inform that my thoughts are typically non-conforming to everyone Else's.

A friend of mine and I were having a conversation about current personal events, upcoming activities and things of that nature. About the moment that I was sharing a few details about some new activities I was about to engage in another person joined the conversation.

After a few moments of small talk about his business, he said something that got me to thinking. He basically made the comment that life is all about just getting through the day, plodding along trying to find moments of fun, then you basically die.

What?

Although, I have always thought tons of people think that way, it always just kind of startles me when I hear it verbalized.

Can you really believe that is what your life is meant for? All I could think about is that is a horrible way to live. Basically, it sounds like if that is your thought process, you are just waiting to die.

Wow. Just terrible.

I like to think that each day I wake up, it is my obligation to try something new, push myself to some activity that I am not sure about, learn something, help someone, or whatever else.

The way I see it, every day is sort of a new adventure. I don't allow the day to take me down a boring path of mediocrity. But rather give myself an opportunity to grow in some area.

To me, it comes down to one simple thought.

No matter what happens or what action you take or don't take, the same exact amount of time is going to pass. It is not preventable. The clock WILL keep moving forward. If everyone knows this, then why not spend that same exact amount of time doing something different?

Use that window of time to learn something, try something, or help someone.

Curt Fletcher aka The Likeability Guy, is a Real Estate Professional, Business Development Strategist, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

Don't stare at that closed door too long

There is a famous quote by Alexander Graham Bell:

“Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.”

Basically, the meaning is that when something negative occurs in life, people often dwell on for so long they miss the new opportunity that has opened up.

A few years ago I recall a situation in which I sold a home to someone. It was a scenario where I was building them a new home, so the process had taken about 3 or so months at the point in which they told me they wanted to cancel the deal.

In the new home sales business cancellations happen, it's just a fact of life, but this particular scenario, really seemed to bug me.

At the point of cancellation, I had invested a vast amount of time and energy trying to please this person, but nothing seemed to suffice.

I recall feeling a bit angry and somewhat dejected as I sat in my office when someone walked in the door.

When I heard the door make the BEEP! noise to let me know someone walked in I have to admit my first thought was....What now?

Horrible, I know.

In any case, I decided to suck it up and help this person that best that I could.

As it turned out, they bought that exact home that I cancelled earlier in the day, than over the ensuing 3 months, they referred 4 other family members and a couple friends.

They ALL bought homes from me and they ALL closed as Happy Homeowners.

I could have just put my head in the sand and felt sorry for myself, but I didn't. Because this other buyer cancelled, I had the NEW OPPORTUNITY to help someone else.

This NEW opportunity led to 6 NEW Sales!

That was the moment that I learned how important the quote from Alexander Graham Bell was.

Do you stare too long at a closed door?

Curt Fletcher is a Real Estate Expert, New Home Sales Professional, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!

The Country I Love!

I do not consider myself to be a Democrat.

I do not consider myself to be a Republican.

I do not have a rooting interest in Barack Obama.

I do not have a rooting interest in John McCain.

I consider myself an American Citizen.

I don't believe in labels that divide people or a nation as we have become.

The founders of our Great Country believed in that very fabric. They believed that the citizens should govern themselves.

It is sad to watch as our country is slowly being taken further and further away from where we began. Politicians decide what is law and what is not. Judges decide what is Constitutional and what is not.

These two facets of Government that are supposed to serve as the backbone of our great Democracy are failing and have been failing for many years.

This is NOT a Republican Issue and it is NOT a Democrat issue. It is an American Issue.

The problem is easy to identify. The solution is right in front of our faces. Why is implementation so difficult?

This is a country that is filled with Great Men and Women that are full of Desire, Wisdom, Focus, and Ability that strive to create a better Nation.

I have grown tired of listening to debates amongst Democrats and Republicans for the sole purpose of dividing our Country and feeding the agenda of the few and NOT the whole.

Throughout history we have seen the downfall of many nations and its citizens due to expanding perceived differences amongst the people and the powerful. Though I know our country is too strong to ever be brought to it's knees, the mere thought is not one that inspires.

We have entered an age of discontent and confusion. Fear Mongering and Negativity have become everyday mainstream news. The stories of triumph and hope have been suffocated and are disappearing with each passing day.

Are we still a Great Nation?

We are indeed. We are still the Greatest Nation on earth, but we are not without our problems and faults.

We need Leadership. Real Leadership.

We need Leadership not from politicians and policy makers, but from our Citizens. In a free society we elect our policy makers.

The time has come to drop the Status Quo. We need to ALL stand Up together as ONE. We are a Nation divided, but we CAN again be a Nation Together.

All people desire for Hope, Health, Opportunity, Security, and Comfort. These are not just the desires of certain people, they are the dreams of ALL People.

Allow your voice to be heard as an American Citizen! The time has come to drop the labels of political parties and agendas and BEGIN serving the greater good of ALL Citizens.

Am I naive to think this can happen?

Perhaps I am.

But as an American Citizen with ONLY one opportunity to live my life, it is my Desire to Unite not divide.

It is my goal to live in happiness not fear.

It is my dream to succeed and help others do the same.

We CAN make this happen. It is within our grasp. It is our Time.

Let's Lead Together and take back control of the Country I Love!

Curt Fletcher is a Real Estate Expert, New Home Sales Professional, Published Author of the book, "How To Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income," Sales Trainer, and Professional Speaker that focuses on improving your Likeability to increase your Opportunities for Success!