Industry Visionary Interview

John E. Featherston is president and chief executive officer of RISMedia, Inc., founded in 1980. Under Featherston’s direction, RISMedia has developed into a highly regarded national news and information service that provides a wide array of services to clients throughout the home services industry.

Email John

Voices of Women Interview

Michael Saunders is the founder and president of Michael Saunders & Company, an independent real estate brokerage with principal offices in Sarasota, Florida. Michael oversees a prestigious real estate firm that employs over 450 sales associates and 180 staff members in 17 offices from Anna Maria Island to Boca Grande.  Last year, her company generated over $3 billion in sales.

Email Michael

Following the popularity and success of our industry “Visionaries” and “Voices of Women” interviews, FrogPond is launching a new initiative which will highlight innovative brokerages and their star agents in the industry.

As part of the series, the participating broker has the opportunity to select an associate that they would like to highlight for the associate’s sales achievements and how the individual sales associate exemplifies the brokerage. 

FrogPond is proud to interview Windermere Real Estate's Pat Grimm and Michelle Bannon as this month's picks for Trendsetter and Rainmaker

Industry Trendsetters Interview                      

Pat Grimm is responsible for directing the operations of Windermere Western Washington Services’ administrative arm, with a primary focus on consulting with office owners on financial and business operations.

Email Pat

Industry Rainmakers Interview

Michelle Bannon’s customer service background provided excellent training for her real estate career. Windermere Real Estate strong community presence was a benefit that worked well with for Michelle her business ideals. She recently closed a $1 million dollar transaction from an eTeam managed lead.

Email Michelle

Brokers click here to learn "How to Double your Recruiting in 90 Days" 

You will want to find out about FrogPond Real Estate Coaching if you are...

1.Coaching your experienced agents.

2.Interested in a proven recruiting plan.

3.Tired of the same old recruiting strategies.

4.Looking for new ways to increase recruiting.

5.Wanting to learn how to be the leader experienced agents are looking for.

What others are saying...

Recently Rich added Reece & Nichols as a client. Not only did he double their recruitment, he increased GCI by $100 million.

“I just signed my tenth experienced agent this month for a combined volume of $23,500,000. AND I have three more appointments this week and one for next week. AND I made two more calls yesterday, I am flying high!!! Thank you so much for sending me that flyer last year and for making me look in the mirror and be excited about this business again.”

Carol Lalumondier, Reece and Nichols, Kansas City, MO

Looking for a recruiting tool that separates you from the rest? It's never been easier, or more cost-effective to add a Web-based agent training program to your company's Website. 

Ask me how easy it is to add FrogPond Real Estate Coaching to your Website. Watch your agents' sales increase.

Corporate Culture -- The Competitive Edge

You've probably seen the news about Google being ranked by Fortune as the number one best place to work. Its unique culture helps the company attract thousands of job applicants each day. The Google corporate culture works for its market.

Whether you're running a large company, a division or a small business, there is a culture that exists that can affect your ability to compete. Every company has a different culture. I recently heard a consultant describe the Toyota culture as "paranoid." He explained that the company operates from a place of fear that their competitors will catch up with or surpass them.

Your tip for today: Determine the corporate culture that will help you achieve what you want in your business. What will work best for your company or firm?

As a starting point, take a look at your current culture and answer these questions:

•  In just a few words, how would you describe your
   current culture? What are the first words that come to
   mind?
• How would your employees describe your culture?
• How would your customers describe your culture?

Every culture is unique and has the potential to change, some more easily than others.

10 Tips for Planning an Office Meeting

1) Avoid meetings. Test the importance of a meeting by asking, "What happens without it?" If your answer is, "Nothing," then don't call the meeting.

2) Prepare goals. These are the results you want to obtain by the end of the meeting. Write out your goals before the meetings. They should be so clear, complete, and specific that someone else could use them to lead your meeting. Also, make sure they can be achieved with available people, resources, and time. Specific goals help everyone make efficient toward relevant results.

3) Challenge each goal. Ask, "Is there another way to achieve this?" For example, if you want to distribute information, you may find it more efficient to phone, FAX, mail, e-mail, or visit. Realize that a meeting is a team activity. Save tasks that require a team effort for your meetings.

4) Prepare an agenda. Everyone knows an agenda leads to an effective meeting. Yet, many people "save time" by neglecting to prepare an agenda. A meeting without an agenda is like a journey without a map. It is guaranteed to take longer and produce fewer results. Note, without an agenda, you risk becoming someone else's helper (see tip #6 below).

5) Inform others. Send the agenda before the meeting. That helps others prepare to work with you in the meeting. Unprepared participants waste your time by preparing for the meeting during the meeting.

6) Assume control. If you find yourself in a meeting without an agenda walk out. If you must stay, prepare an agenda in the meeting. Collect a list of issues, identify the most important, and work on that. When you finish, if time remains, select the next most important issue. Note: you can use a meeting without an agenda to recruit help for your projects.

7) Focus on the issue. Avoid stories, jokes, and unrelated issues. Although entertaining, these waste time, distract focus, and mislead others. Save the fun for social occasions where it will be appreciated.

8) Be selective. Invite only those who can contribute to achieving your goals for the meeting. Crowds of observers and supporters bog down progress in a meeting.

9) Budget time. No one would spend $1000 on a 10¢ pencil, but they often spend 40 employee hours on trivia. Budget time in proportion to the value of the issue. For example, you could say, "I want a decision on this in 10 minutes. That means we'll evaluate it for the next 9 minutes, followed by a vote."

10) Use structured activities in your meetings. These process tools keep you in control while you ensure equitable participation and systematic progress toward results.

Source: Digg Blog

Eight Challenging Questions to Get Ready for 2007

1. Let's imagine, we walk out together, into your future for _____ years. When you look back at that time, what would you have liked to accomplish? (With you? Yourfamily? Your career? Your business?)

2. If anything in your world or future, could come true, what would that include?

3. What would you most like to change in your life? How willing are you, to make these changes? When will you make them?

4. What's your biggest piece of "unfinished business"...personally or professionally?

5. What brings you the greatest happiness? How are you going to make sure, you have more of that happiness in your life?

6. What kind of resources could be re-directed to achieve your goals?

7. What activities, experiences, events or moments, would make your life complete? What steps will you take...to make these things happen?

8. And perhaps, the most challenging question...What's the risk of doing nothing?

Source: Jeff Blackman, Results Report, New Year's 2006 Edition

You have permission to reprint this tip in your publications. Please include the following Resource Box:

Reproduced with permission from Jeff Blackman's free e-letter, The Results Report. Jeff is a speaker, author, business-growth specialist, success coach, broadcaster and lawyer. Contact Jeff at 847.998.0688 or to subscribe, visit jeffblackman.com. Copyright 2006, Blackman & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. FrogPond offers you More Royalty-Free Reprintable Articles at FrogPond.com

To request information about royalty-free articles and publishing your online magazine and newsletters, call 800.704.FROG(3784) or email Susie@frogpond.com today. Take the Tour

 Get Organized in 2007

1. SIX Starters

You can start the new year with a new attitude and enjoy a less stressful, more organized life. Here's how:

1. Set up an "In Box" at home. Place an attractive basket or container near the door to prevent counter clutter. Dump everything into it as you enter your home. Clear it out after dinner.

2. Write a list of six or seven meals that your family regularly enjoys. Take the hassle out of food preparation by including crock-pot and quick prep meals. Keep meats and vegetables in the freezer so you have them available.

3. Find a laundry system that works for your family. Perhaps you keep all the hampers in the laundry room and do a load whenever one is full. Maybe your teenagers could wash their own clothes. Do whatever works.

4. Use one portable calendar to keep track of everyone and everything. Write meeting times, appointments, due dates and ideas in it. A Paper or electronic calendar is a personal preference. Use whichever works better for you.

5. Give them a home. What are you constantly looking for? Keys, batteries, tape, scissors? Choose drawers, shelves, or containers and make all household members aware of each items' permanent home.

6. Set up your closet so you can dress quickly and effortlessly. Place like items together. Consider separating work clothes from leisure ware. Get rid of any stained or torn items or anything you didn't wear in 2006.

2. FIVE Time-Saving Tips

Try these quick tips to find more time for yourself in 2007:

* Do what's important first. Instead of wasting time on trivial tasks, jump right in on your priority items each morning. You'll accomplish more before lunch than you usually do in a full day.

* Make one daily change in the way you do things. You'll quickly see an increase in your productivity. Evaluate the way you do things. Is there a better, quicker, easier way?

* Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Keep some stress-relievers nearby (stress balls, calming fountain, music). Eat healthy snacks. Stretch. You'll have more energy and accomplish more in less time.

* Pad your time when scheduling. Assume each task is going to take 25% longer than you expect. Keep a list of five-minute tasks with you so you can fill in when needed.

* Delegate! This is the number one time saver. Pay or barter as necessary. Consider co-workers, friends, neighborhood teens, and your children.

3. FOUR After-Christmas Organized Ideas

The gifts have been opened. Leftovers chill in the fridge. Before you start focusing on the new year, try these tips to organize next Christmas.

1. Make a list of people who sent you Christmas cards. Add anyone else you'll send cards to next year. Input the list into your computer. Shop for cards at after Christmas sales.

2. Check your inventory of wrapping supplies. Buy them now at 70% off in most stores.

3. Make sure you have enough storage containers for all your decorations. Storage supplies go on sale every January.

4. Open your planner. Start a shopping list for next Christmas. List names. Shop or at least note gift ideas throughout the year.

4. THREE Secrets to More Kitchen Space

Here are three easy ideas to increase your kitchen space:

1. Move excess clutter. Seasonally used items such as platters and holiday dishes are better stored in a basement or attic. Unless you have a very large kitchen, it is best to remove items that are not used on a regular basis.

2. How many glasses do you really use between dish washing? Store only as many as you regularly use (glasses, dishes, wine glasses), and place the extras in storage.

3. Go through your cookbooks and keep in the kitchen only the ones you use regularly. Seasonal cookbooks can be stored with your holiday dinnerware. Others can be kept elsewhere or given away.

5. TWO Decluttering Ideas

Finally! Get rid of your clutter this year. Here's how:

* Put it away.  About half of the clutter in most homes consists of items that simply haven't been put away. Fill a laundry basket then deliver the items to the proper rooms. Avoid this trap by making things easy to put away and by enforcing a family "use it and put it away" rule.

* Donate it.  If you don't use it, it's not a treasured decorative item or memento, and it's not an important piece of paper, get rid of it. Pass it along to someone who can use it. Make it easier by keeping a permanent donation box in your home

6. ONE Way to Escape Clutter

There's one simple way to keep your home or office from getting cluttered: sorting. Sort everything into categories and give each category a home.

7. How to Enjoy a HAPPY, Organized New Year

Your life didn't become disorganized overnight. Take the organizing challenge one step at a time. Focus on one room or one area of your life each month in 2007.

8. Encouragement

"Time management is a vehicle to take you from wherever you are to wherever you want to go." --Brian Tracy

You have permission to reprint this tip in your publications. Please include the following Resource Box:

Copyright© 2006, Barbara Myers.  All rights reserved . FrogPond offers you More Royalty-Free Reprintable Articles at FrogPond.com

Mobile Faxing in a Mobile World

• "FaxEvolution" The future is here!
• More than ever, today's businesses need tools that can multitask efficiently and effectively.
• Documents still need signatures.
• Faxing simplified. Anytime. Anywhere. Now your fax can go wherever you go. 
• Business moves fast.  You're not chained to your desk why should your fax be?
• Professionals are putting the power of the FAX in the palm of your hand.

• Fax to multiple numbers and send multiple faxes
• Automatically redial and receive proof notifications
• Automate distribution of invoices, notices and forms
• Eliminate the frustration of missing faxes - the mobile Fax is always on, never busy
• Retrieve faxes online for days
• Protect sensitive information
• Enjoy peace of mind with 24/7 customer support

eFax Benefits 

Mobile: Send and receive faxes anywhere you access your existing email account: from your home, office, client's office, hotel or airport.

Inexpensive: For just pennies a day, you will save hundreds on fax overhead by saving from no fax machine, long-distance fax charges, and best of all, no second phone line required!

Professional: With a toll-free mobile Fax Internet fax number (US and Canada), you can provide better service to your clients, they can fax you for free, and it costs you nothing. The ability to FAX romotely gives your business a professional edge.

Private: Faxes are sent from and received in your private email inbox;  they no longer sit idly on the fax machine paper tray for others to see.

Convenient: Mobile-type Fax is "always on" and eliminates the frustration of missing faxes when you are away from the fax machine or when the line is busy.

Digital: Your faxes are always accessible because they're on your computer with your emails and documents.

You have permission to reprint this tip in your publications. Please include the following Resource Box:

FrogPond offers you More Royalty-Free Reprintable Articles at FrogPond.com

Nametag Tips for Your Next Event!

By Darlene Lyons

Attendees Want Readable Nametags
Your attendees expect to be able to read a person’s first name from about 10 feet away. They want to confirm a person’s name before they speak. Make sure that names can be read from across the room by making the first line of the badge at least 36 point type.

Nametags make it easier for people to network and mingle. Select a size that meets your needs. Most people use a 4” x 3” badge but you might consider the 4-1/4”x 3” badge which gives you just a little bit more room since it is bigger and it is also is quicker to assemble since there are fewer tabs to separate when you’re ripping the nametag inserts apart.

Most people feature their logo or event name on their nametag. They look more official and are tougher to duplicate. Preprint the logo using your own color printer. Carefully consider the information that will appear on the nametag. Up to four lines of information fit easily on a 4” x 3” nametag.  

Standard information on a nametag is:

First line – First name or nickname (largest type)

Second line – Last name

Third line - Company name

Fourth line - City and State

Meeting participants like to be able to easily separate the exhibitors from the members and the press from the staff.  Make it easy with color inserts or stackable ribbons. As an example: give red to exhibitors and green to members. Vendors can pick out customers with a glance. A great resource for stackable ribbons and nametags is http://www.pcnametags.com Good luck on your next event!

You have permission to reprint this tip in your publications. Please include the following Resource Box:

Copyright© 2006, Darlene Lyons.  All rights reserved . FrogPond offers you More Royalty-Free Reprintable Articles at FrogPond.com

To request information about royalty-free articles and publishing your online magazine and newsletters, call 800.704.FROG(3784) or email Susie@frogpond.com today. Take the Tour

5 Reasons Why Certain Newsletters Get "READ",
Whilst Others Get "TRASHED"!

by Michael Green

It's a simple truth...

Some newsletters seem to attract readers like bees to honey - whilst others seem to struggle to find a marketplace of accepting and interested subscribers. But why?

What's the big difference between success and failure when it comes to publishing your own newsletter? And what should you aim to do, if your goal is to build an army of loyal subscribers?

For the first time ever, acknowledged newsletter expert, Michael Green, reveals his top five hints for creating your own winning newsletter or Ezine publication.

#1. CONTENT

If you edit a newsletter and think you can muddle through without top quality content, then think again!

Let's look at it this way. With so many newsletter titles out there today - especially on the web - the choice for readers is almost endless.

Your audience is more subtly aware of the quality of your editorial, articles and content, than you may think.

So don't skimp when it comes to finding top quality contributions for your publication. It should be obvious, but great content matters, perhaps more than ever before.

#2. STYLE

Great newsletters all have one thing in common. They display style and personality.

Wait a minute...can a newsletter really have a personality?

You bet. In fact, it must have a personality, or it's simply doomed to fail!

Your readers *really* need to appreciate what your publication is all about. Which perspective are you approaching your subject from? Are you light-hearted or serious? Do you display the traits that can foster trust from your readership?

Don't leave your readers in any doubt about your market position.

Display style and personality in every issue and be sure to allow your readers to share in your spirit.

#3. FREQUENCY

A big difference between newsletters that get read, and those that get trashed, is that the good ones are nearly always published to a regular schedule which is advertised in advance and understood by their readerships.

So determine a publishing schedule, let it be known, and rigidly stick to it.

If you want others to take your newsletter or Ezine seriously, then you need to work your way into your readerships routine.

A regular publishing timetable helps you to achieve this goal and so "frequency" is an important feature in achieving success for your newsletter.

But remember, frequency doesn't mean that you have to commit to publishing every day or every week. It just means that you need to set a schedule that is fully predictable for your readers. That could just as easily be quarterly.

#4. CREDIBILITY

Stop and think about any newsletter that you personally happen to read on a regular basis. Now ask yourself: "What is it that really makes me read this newsletter?"

The answer is invariably that you believe what's written in it.

That's right. Newsletters that you like, all have a high "credibility factor".

So be cautious about just allowing anyone to be a guest article author. Check 'em out first, be comfortable that the knowledge that they are imparting is really first-class.

One bad article published in YOUR newsletter or Ezine could destroy YOUR credibility with a reader forever. So thoroughly vet everything you publish.

#5. INTEGRITY

Perhaps the most important factor in establishing your newsletter as a trusted source, is your ability to create real integrity for your publication. What does this mean?

Well you've probably read newsletters, particularly those on the web, which forever seem to be pushing some new resource right in your face. And you know straightaway that there's obviously something in this for the editor.

Actually, they're probably pushing an affiliate program or some kind of joint-venture.

Nothing wrong with that of course. But try to avoid turning your entire newsletter or Ezine into one long relentless advertising pitch.

I've read a lot of newsletters that start out well for a couple of issues, but then descend into one long sales spiel by the third edition.

So follow the FIVE GOLDEN RULES of newsletter success and you'll soon turn your own publication into a newsletter that gets READ, not one of the many that gets instantly TRASHED upon arrival.

Good luck with your newsletter or Ezine.

You have permission to reprint this tip in your publications. Please include the following Resource Box:

Michael Green has created an award-winning toolkit for budding newsletter editors everywhere. His "How To Write A Newsletter" toolkit is crammed full of copyright free articles, newsletter templates and a complete "How To" editors manual. Copyright© Michael Green - How To Corp - All Rights Reserved.
Check it out right now at ==> http://www.howtoWRITEaNEWSLETTER.com

To request information about royalty-free articles and publishing your online magazine and newsletters, call 800.704.FROG(3784) or email Susie@frogpond.com today. Take the Tour

www.mayoclinic.com Help in an emergency

But there are different types of medical emergencies. It is important to know what to do in a medical emergency. This is especially true if you have children. 

The Mayo Clinic’s site tells you what to do in a wide range of emergencies. Bookmark for quick reference. It's a good idea to read over the site so you are prepared when an emergency strikes.

gethuman 500 key

Before you call the customer service number on the back of the box, visit Gethuman. It features a database of companies. For each one, you'll find the secret for getting to a live person.

The gethuman 500 list is designed to be readable yet concise, to pack a lot of information in as few pages as possible.

Here is a key to the gethuman 500 table format and shortcuts:

The first column contains the organization name. Click on that name to rate your experience with the organization.

If the name is followed by an information graphic, it means the organization is a public company. Click on the  to see the stock info page for that company, including official mailing address and corporate officer names and titles.

The grade column is a rating between A (excellent) and F (failure) for the organization's telephone customer service vs. the gethuman standard.

The contact column has the phone number; if the phone number is underlined, you can click on it to go to the customer service web page on their website. If there is an "@" sign next to the phone number, you can click on it to send email to that company.  

mymoney.gov - Manage your money better

Tax season is here. Many of us are assessing our finances and want information to learn about options to improve. It's not difficult to get started with this site's imformation.

MyMoney.gov has plenty of tips on managing money. You can learn more about investments and saving money.

The site is divided into a number of different topics. You can click on one and start reading. But you may want to take the interactive quiz first. It will help you decide where to start.

U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission - Providing financial education resources for all Americans

Title V of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACT Act) established the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (Commission) with the purpose of improving the financial literacy and education of persons in the United States. To reach the widest number of people possible, the Commission established a website and a toll-free telephone number to coordinate the presentation of educational materials from across the spectrum of federal agencies that deal with financial issues and markets.

Hugs, The Frog

Susie Hale, President
Frog Pond
FrogPond Publisher
800.704.FROG (3764)
susie@frogpond.com

The Pond Report is published monthly by eFrog Pond, Inc. Our corporate address is 101 Westcott, Suite 102, Houston, TX 77007. We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. If you received this newsletter from a friend and you'd like to subscribe FREE to The Pond Report, click here. To unsubscribe or notify us of change of email address, click here.  

The information in this newsletter represents the views of the author and/or contributing authors and their interpretation of events. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy, profitability or legality.