March Madness

I think March is my favorite month of the year. As a Duke basketball fanatic, March is right in the thick of things as far as basketball around here goes.

I've been involved with the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament here for 10 years, and it's one of my favorite events. The women can really play!

It's been a great opportunity to be involved with the marketing of this tournament. When we first started 10 years ago, we had to convince folks that this would actually be an exciting sports event worth watching. Now, we have sell-out crowds in the Greensboro Coliseum! Mission accomplished!

One of the reasons for our success is a partnership we began 10 years ago with Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test, a local grassroots organization that raises awareness and money to support research aimed at discovering a test that will detect breast cancer early. This organization is fabulous and has been wonderfully successful with their efforts. It's an honor to have been associated with them. You can read more about them at www.earlier.org.

The NCAA Men's Regional Tournament began here today, and I had breakfast with my dear friend Bob Harris (no relation!), who is the voice of the Duke Blue Devils. I've known Bob for more years than either of us cares to count, and he is truly a legend not only at Duke but within the ACC and national sporting world. He told me this morning that he's writing a book that is due to be published in the fall of 2009. It will have an audio CD as part of the book, with some of his most famous conversations over the years. Watch for more on this at www.voiceofthebluedevils.com.

And today is my birthday! What a wonderful way to celebrate than to be with dear friends and watching Duke basketball!

I Passed!

Well, I got my real estate exam results back today, and I passed the course! Whew! I did not want to have to take that class again, which is what I would have had to do if I hadn't passed the first time.

My NAIPT clients are thrilled with the news!

So now it's on to the NC State exam. I think I'll take a few weeks off before I tackle that one, so I've scheduled it for April 8.

Exam Time

I told you I'd keep you up to date on my progress in real estate school.

Getting back in the habit of studying has been the most interesting part. Boy, am I out of practice! I find myself studying every night and every weekend.

But I am learning a lot and have lots of new ideas to share with my NAIPT client as a result of the course. So it's been well worth it.

Final exam is February 25th. I have to pass this class exam in order to sit for the NC State exam. I figure I've gone this far, so I might as well get my broker's license!

Back to the books....

A Big Birthday

One of the things I've read recently in the trade press is, despite the downturn in the economy, people will still spend money on their pets. It seems to be a recession-proof category! It is estimated that US pet owners spent approximately $36 billion on their pets last year, quite an increase from 1994 when annual pet expenditures in the US were $17 billion.

And I'm certainly doing my part to contribute to that figure!

My miniature chocolate brown poodle, McKenzie turned 10 years old yesterday. He is the love of my life, to put it mildly. And we are so lucky that he's in perfect health. So, I thought a celebration was in order for him. And everyone needs an excuse to party in the middle of winter, right?

Invitations were mailed, and 50 of McKenzie's closest friends (two-legged variety) arrived last night to celebrate him at a buffet dinner at our home - catered, of course. No detail was overlooked, and the event concluded with everyone receiving a party favor to take home - individually bagged M&M's (tied with a red ribbon), personalized with McKenzie's picture on every one.

I wasn't kidding when I said I'm contributing to that $36 billion annual expenditure!

Real Estate School

I've always been known for learning my clients' businesses as well as they do - or at least trying to!

Well, the folks at NAI Piedmont Triad came to me last fall with an idea. They thought it would be a good idea for me to enroll in Real Estate school so that I could better understand their business. That's something that I must admit I'd never thought of before! But it makes sense!

So I enrolled in the Dan Mohr Real Estate School last week. It's a six-week intensive course - 12 hours each week. So far so good! The coursework is interesting and will require some studying to stay current. It's been a long time since I've had to study, not to mention run a business at the same time. But I do think it will help me be a better partner to my NAIPT clients, and that's the objective!

I'll keep you posted as to my progress!

A New Year

Happy New Year!

After 2008, we need one, don't we?

I always look forward to a new year and am optimistic about its possibilities. Why not! What do we have to lose from having a positive attitude?

I'm encouraging my clients to adopt the same attitude. I believe that it makes others want to be around you and want to do businbess with you. And it certainly makes you feel better!

So here's to 2009! May it bring all the good things you wish for!

NAI Piedmont Triad Sees Opportunity in Tough Economic Times

In a down economy, many companies feel that they just can't invest in marketing. In fact, this is exactly the time to do so!

I have been working with NAI Piedmont Triad, the Triad's largest independent commercial real estate firm, for two years now. We helped them last year launch their new name and organization. They are doing exactly what I wish all companies would do at this time and that is find creative and effective ways to stay in front of their clients. They have been very receptive to our advice and I am confident that when the economy turns around, they will reap the benefits of the investment they are making now in marketing themselves. Read more about them at http://www.naipt.com/.