New adventures!

I am very excited to report I have joined Alain Pinel Realtors !

For the last several years I have been hoping that they would come to Marin, and this week as a series of fortunate events, my manager was hired to build Alain Pinel here. Currently I and about 50 other agents have decided to turn a page.

My daughters used to love choose your own adventure books. Turn a page and you are on a deep sea adventure , turn another you are on safari. Your ending depends on the page you turn to. This is a new adventure and I am thrilled to be on board.

I encourage you to follow this adventure because it is sure to have happy ending with you along!

Friends, Family, Health and Home

Here it is... 2009!

This year more than any other I think it important to keep our focus on what is truly important. I have been a news "junkie" for many years and increasingly the news seems strained and anguished. Wars, a shaky economy, the seedier side of life displayed in living color. This could get you down... no doubt about it.

I met a colleague in the hall just now and she commented on a challenging year ahead. My response is we are some very lucky people and each day should begin with that affirmation.

My reflections for January.

Friends. I have an incredible collection of friends and associates. They are warm and generous and funny and smart. Having them in my life encourages me to be all those things in return. I am very very lucky.

Family. My family is my foundation. From my sisters and brother, father and in-laws, to my most incredible husband I am surrounded with love. We move through the phases of our lives accepting the awkwardness of transitions, revelling in the welcome of new little ones, mourning together our mutual loss when one passes from us. Like all families we have our disagreements, but we are strengthened by the knowledge that family lasts. It is the constant. It forms us as we help form it. I am blessed with everyone one of them.

Health. This is a precious gift. The New Year is a time that people focus on how they can keep that gift. Gyms, diet, stress relief and the other multiple resolutions made on December 31 are as habitual as breaking those resolutions. When you have a life threatening illness, it give us pause to think what we could have done to avoid the situation. Sometimes, these instances are simply life's reminders that our time here is limited and should not be taken for granted. Each day is a day to celebrate and cherish.

Home. Whether home is an apartment, a mansion or a cottage in the woods, it is all just living arrangements unless you fill it with love. Home is a place where you can be yourself with all your idiosyncrasies. It is place where you can celebrate all the gifts of your life. When you welcome someone to your home you are welcoming them to your life. Home is not a luxury item, it is a necessity. This year, perhaps more than any in the past, honor your home. If you haven't found that special place yet, make 2009 the year when you do. Because there's no place like home.

I wish for you this year a year where you honor, friends, family, heath and home.

Happy New Year.

If you like homey houses, houses that feel like comfort food... take a peak at my friend and client's house featured in the Wall Street Journal. Also featured in Pottery Barn and soon in the SF Chronicle!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122670283553229665.html

If you would like to make this dream come true for you, let me know. I can hook you up with all the resources to make this possible!

It's rough out there... show your spirit

The Marin Food Bank has told us that they have an increase in demand of 1/3. Partially due to tough economic times, their donations have been down. Our office at Pacific Union Central Marin has lead a drive for P&J. Several of our agents have let their clients know that the need is great to amazing results! One agent had a client donate $5000 when he heard about the need. Others have had people give whatever they could.

By everyone doing what they can about some of the pressing needs in our community we can make a difference. Please, donate this season to someone in need. There are many organizations who would be so grateful for your help. From the arts, to basic needs donations are down throughout the country. Do what you can.

If you would like to contribute to the Marin Food Bank, send a check to

Marin Community Food Bank75 Digital DriveNovato, CA 94949

or make an online donation...https://payments.auctionpay.com/ver3/?id=w018053

Be proud.

It's almost time to vote...Take a look at this Robin William's classic and remember to be proud of who we are....

Coming from behind......

Real Estate...Olympics...what do they have in common.

I guess there are those people who decide to be a Realtor, and decide that all they need to do is show up. They do their job and turn in their time go home and hope it will pay off. They figure they are at the mercy of the times, they have no impact on the times. They put a sign in the yard and read the papers. When the news is bad, they believe what they read. They resign themselves to their circumstances.

There are Realtors who boast. They brag about their accomplishments. They antagonize their rivals. They stretch the truth of their ability to their clients. When the news is bad they tell their clients the news is wrong.

They show up and honor the listing in doing so.

They want the client to feel lucky to have been chosen.

There are Realtors who don't believe in giving up. They don't need to brag because it wastes time and takes the emphasis off the important thing, which is the house. They put in 200% of their effort and use creativity to promote the listing, not their own image. The news is bad, they acknowledge the news and determine to be more creative, and more tenacious. They are honored when someone selects them to market their home. They take this honor seriously.

They never give up. Never stop believing...

I was struck by yesterdays Men's 400 meter freestyle relay. I understand what its like to hear the self serving boasts of competitors. I also understand now easy it would be to slip into a fatalistic view of our business. But above all, I understand that intangible drive that comes from deep down inside that lifts you to the next level of effort, especially when other people are counting

on your performance for their success.

Thanks men's team for reminding me again... never give up.

Lift up! Strive up! Reach the goal! Bravo!!



http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0811_HD_SWB_HL_L0194

You Tube

I am hoping there are people out there that have an opinion about this.

"You Tube" is a tool that I have considered using for my listings, in addition to the webpages, slide shows and everything else...( a long list) I use to market my properties.

My husband bought me a very cool, easy to use, point and shoot, plug in pocket video recorder. The problem is I think the photos are not up to par. I could try and be super creative.. and campy... I could try another technique... I could buy another camera with better quality or.... I could forget the whole thing. Do you have an opinion?

This keeping up with the latest is making me... DIZZY!