Why Relationships Are Important

We tend to take for granted our relationships with others. We get too busy to spend the needed time as we seek to get ahead in the “rat-race” of life. But, if we can stop for just long enough to think about this, do the other things matter if we don’t have relationships? Does success in finances, career, material things, etc., really matter if we don’t cultivate relationships with others who can share in those successes?
We’re all familiar with Charles Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol. In watching the wealthy yet miserable miser Scrooge, we've probably all wondered the same thing: Why? What’s the point? Why pinch, scrimp, save, and reach financial success, to be miserable all by one’s self?
I don’t know about you, but I rarely enjoy eating out by myself, especially at a nice restaurant. While it’s definitely a nice break sometimes in between appointments to go over my goals and get back on-track, it’s definitely not the type of thing I like to do all the time. Have you ever been to a fancy restaurant, maybe on a business trip, ordered the filet mignon, and felt very hollow and alone as you looked at couples talking over a nice meal? Some things are meant be enjoyed and shared with others. In fact, most things are best enjoyed in the company of friends and family!
So how do we keep from subconsciously undervaluing relationships? The truth is, nurturing those relationships usually doesn't take as much time as we think. We blow relationship building out of proportion! It doesn't mean we have to quit our careers, sell all of our belongings and give up all of our personal goals. It does mean that we need to be more thoughtful in our approach. Here are some pointers that have helped me:

-          Date your family members. I think it’s very important to take close family and/or dear friends on “dates” every so often. What little kid won’t remember that special one-on-one fishing trip, road trip, visit to the local ice cream shop, for the rest of his life? What spouse won’t remember that “date” that was specially crafted with their favorite interests in mind? What dear friend won’t remember an out-of-the-blue dinner or lunch invite?

-          Take friends or acquaintances out for coffee. For those people who aren’t connected quite as closely, it never hurts to sit down over a cup of coffee. Just the thoughtfulness of asking is a big sign that they matter to you.

-          Make a phone call. Have you called that old friend from college in the last several years? What about your aunt in Pennsylvania? When’s the last time you thanked a past customer? The fact that you took the effort to dial their number will mean something to them.

-          Send something special. I know it’s old fashioned, but a handwritten note means a lot. Even a quick e-mail means something.

In real estate, there are three ways of getting business: new customers, past customers, and referrals. We love all sources of business, but we cherish the business that comes from past customers and referrals! They’re easier to talk to. Referrals have been introduced by a friend
In order to get referrals, we have to constantly realize that we are in the business of cultivating relationships. Our goal has to be to provide such a high level of service that our customers want to refer friends and family. It takes a long-term approach rather than a short-term perspective.
We are grateful for the relationships we have with you and are anxious to serve you and anyone you know at the highest level. Please let us know what we can do for you today.

Top 5 Feel Good Stories About Overcoming The Odds

Eric LeGrand signed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers—LeGrand is a former Rutgers University football player who sustained a severe spinal injury in a 2010 game. Throughout LeGrand’s ongoing recovery, one of his staunchest supporters has been then-Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.

Schiano was hired as head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this year. One of his first personnel decisions was to symbolically sign LeGrand to a player contract. LeGrand spent almost three months as a member of the Buccaneers before announcing his retirement in late July.

Man Climbs Sears Tower Using Bionic Leg—It may not have taken place on a track, field or court, but Zac Vawter’s story deserves recognition as a symbol of the convergence of human spirit and advances in rehabilitation. Vawter, who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident three years ago, climbed all 103 flights of stairs of Chicago’s Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in November with the help of a bionic leg.

Designed to respond to electrical impulses from muscles, the leg is controlled by the mind. As Vawter climbed the stairs, the leg worked in conjunction with his body and mind to propel him forward. While the device itself will continue to be improved and perfected, Vawter’s accomplishment was an inspiration to athletes with disabilities everywhere.

Oscar Pistorius Competes in 2012 Summer Olympics—Pistorius, who has double below-knee amputations, was the subject of a long legal battle to determine his eligibility to run against able-bodied athletes in international competition. This year, the South African star qualified and competed in the men’s 400-meter race, where he advanced all the way to the semifinals, racing against eventual gold medalist Kirani James of Grenada.

Pistorius also qualified for South Africa’s men’s 4 x 400-meter relay team in the London Games before winning two gold medals and a silver in the Summer Paralympics later that month.

Manteo Mitchell Breaks Leg, Continues to Compete in Olympic Event—One of Oscar Pistorius’ opponents at the 2012 Summer Olympics was Manteo Mitchell of the United States. Running the first leg of the 4 x 400-meter qualifying heat, Mitchell felt a pop in his left leg. He’d broken his left fibula.

Amazingly, Mitchell continued on—the injury occurred at about the halfway point in his lap— to finish his leg of the relay and keep the United States’ medal hopes alive. With a substitute runner in Mitchell’s place, the United States would go on to win the silver medal in the finals of the event, cementing Manteo Mitchell’s spot in Olympic history.

Adam Greenberg Returns to Major League Baseball—In 2005, Adam Greenberg was a rookie outfielder for the Chicago Cubs. In his very first plate appearance in the majors, Greenberg was struck in the batting helmet by a 92 mile-per-hour fastball. The pitch left Greenberg with a concussion, vertigo and vision problems and derailed his baseball career.

Slowly, he recovered and returned to the sport—a comeback that culminated in signing a one-day contract with the Miami Marlins this past October and earning a pinch-hitting appearance against the New York Mets and eventual Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey. The baseball portion of the story doesn’t have a fairy-tale ending—Greenberg would strike out against Dickey—but Adam remains determined to continue his comeback.

“Life throws you curveballs," Greenberg said. "Mine threw me a 92 mile-an-hour fastball, and it hit me in the back of the head. I got up from it, and my life is great.”

Sports Doc, Expert Advice on Staying Fit and in The Game, December 12, 2012

Waiting ‘till spring…may want to rethink that.

We live in a counter-intuitive society. Rather than buy stocks when they are low, we jump into the market when we hear the stock is hot, missing out on the best part of the growth. Instead of selling when things are high, we wait until the ship is already sinking before we jump off. And for many of us thinking of selling our home, we wait until the newspapers, radio and television let us know the market is heating up and it’s time to sell, rather than selling when the time is best for us.

In virtually every market across America – and even in our market here – 15 to 20% of the homes that sell will do so in the first three months of the year, before the spring market gets a good head of steam going. And the best part of that is those who sell during the first part of the year usually face way less competition than those who wait until after March has gotten here.

If you are open to selling at this time of the year, you’ll have a stronger pool of motivated buyers knocking at your door to see your home. That is for sure.

Here are a few things to consider if you are open to selling now:

• ·         Best foot forward: The first showing on your home, believe it or not, is the pictures that people see when they go on line. Make sure you have professional-looking photographs of your home on line so buyer prospects get a great first impression of your home.

• ·         Christmas is over: Packing up the Christmas decorations is a hassle, let’s be honest. Sometimes we can let them linger a little longer after Santa has dropped off the goods. Make sure that you’ve returned your home to its every day look and keep is spotless. It may even be worth it to invest a small amount of money to have your home professionally cleaned so that it shows extremely well to prospective buyers.

• ·         Make small improvements: Sometimes that toilet-paper roller falls off and we let it linger longer than it should. Occasionally, the wall gets marked and we don’t wash it or paint over it right away. From time to time, a stain gets on the floor and we don’t call in the flooring people to get it squared away. Unfortunately, these seemingly insignificant issues can detract from the saleability of your home. Take the time to fix the little things to make your home shine.

There are scores of other hints, tips and tricks we’d love to discuss with you if you’re thinking about putting your home on the market.

Please call us today at 405-216-9600 for a no-cost, no-hassle consultation on what to do to prepare your home for sale in the next few months.

Happy New Year from The Atchley Group

Here are some New Year’s quotes that you’ll surely enjoy in 2013:

Hal Borland
Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.

John Burroughs
One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.

Mark Twain
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Benjamin Franklin
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.

Ellen Goodman
We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.