Posts Tagged ‘Tough Market’

How Big is Your TV?

Friday, April 30th, 2010

As I mentioned above, Jim Rhon, the amazing motivational speaker has been quoted as saying “Poor people have Big TV’s, Rich people have big libraries.” Four years ago I gave away my own TV and have never had another one.  I know as a former actor this surprises many of you.  It is not that I don’t love acting or movies or anything of the sort, but I just could no longer look myself in the eye, wanting to achieve greatness and knowing that I was wasting such a great amount of time.

I remember sitting in front of the TV for 6-8 hours a day, many times just watching mind numbing programs until the wee hours of the morning.  Then of course, I could not get a good night’s sleep and so I started to sleep later and achieve less by the day.  I must have had a “prime time” Angel that woke me up one day and told me to cancel my Dish, load up my TV and drive it down to Good Will because that is exactly what I did.  That Angel knew that I had greatness in me, but that I needed to take action in order to achieve it.  That day, I took action to remove my giant time waster, and at the same time I opened up a course on Time Management for the Renegade Entrepreneur.  I have never looked back.

Now I think about what I have achieved in the past 4 years and I realize that I have created 4 successful businesses, built and sold a business, published 2 children’s book and am about to launch a huge program to Real Estate Agents all over the US and Canada.

Today, my library is BIG.  And, I read, re-read and use everything in my library.  I am currently on my 3rd read of a recent mindset book.  Other systems have dog eared pages, notes attached to the end of chapters and dates in my planner on when I need to reference others.  I decided that I wanted to be one of the “Rich People” and that I was willing and able to do what it took to get there.

It has taken a great deal of work.  My systems are in place and today I am far more abundant and prosperous than 4 years ago. The best part is that I also realize I am 3 feet from gold.  That I have finally crossed over and began to do things my way, the way I envision them…and this is good…very, very good!

So what does it take to get there?

1)      Give away anything that distracts you and keeps you from achieving your goal.  Do you want to run the best Home Staging Business in your market?  Are you ready to get your APSD Home Staging Training and book a job each week? Do you know How To Become a Home Stager or do you want to learn that in the next 30 days?  If any of these sound like what you are looking for, the decide right now what distracts you so you can get rid of it in order to fill your library with everything that is going to make you the Ultimate Home Stager.

2)      Once you have removed the distractions, set up your systems.  When will you work, when will you market and when will you learn?  By defining specific times for each, they will all get accomplished.  I normally set aside an hour each morning that I read to learn every single morning. And yes, I get up earlier to make sure that I can accomplish this.  Then, I balance out my schedule to do “money tasks” first which is normally marketing and then I take care of other business.  Now, I am learning, earning and doing. Great system!

3)      Next, fill your library each time you are ready to learn something new.  By removing your distractions, you will now have more time to learn.  One thing I would encourage you to do is to really think about whether or not you are going to use the information before you purchase it.  Will you read it, and if so, when?  When will you apply its lessons?  Are you caught up in the moment or have you done your research and you know this is right for you?  I am a BIG fan of continuing education and believe that you should always invest in yourself.  But, you also need to make sure the content is right for you and that you will use it.

4)      Enjoy the good life!  The job of the entrepreneur is to learn, build the system and then delegate.  When you follow the above 3 steps you will soon find yourself with more work than you can handle.  So, naturally you will want to begin to delegate some things so you can move on to the next level.  When you get to this point, find a great assistant and empower them.  You may also decide to add another Home Stager to your team.  The possibilities are endless when you decide to eliminate your distractions and build that Home Staging Library (hopefully with APSD Marketing, Education and Home Staging Certification Systems!J).

In order to accomplish this, one of the best things you can do is to start to attract more and more clients and customers. The best way to do this is to get my Complimentary Plan on “How to Attract a Million Customers in the next 90 Days” and follow me in real time as I do the same! It is my gift to you! www.TheBornLeader.com/BusinessPlan Imagine having a million new Home Staging clients! Ohhhh La La!

Giving Back:

phoebee

As I step further and further into a Leadership role, with APSD, The Born Leader, Phoebee Fleabee and LuvMyStripes.com and as an international Business and Leadership Coach and Mentor, I have realized the importance of giving back.

True leaders, Born Leaders, give back without expectation of receipt.  So, it has become my goal to do the same. 

Don’t you think Phoebee Fleabee is cute? This is a children’s book I have written and I am giving her away at no charge to everyone that is looking for a good book to enjoy with their child.  You can get her story as my gift at www.LuvMyStripes.com Oh, and please, pass her to everyone you know!

By giving her away to over a Million People, I am satisfying my need to give, as well as the burning desire within me to spread the word about my wonderful book.  It is interesting what happens when you give…you receive abundantly!

Be a Leader every day and look for ways that you can give back.  Sometimes, it might mean calling someone to say hello, picking up a piece of discarded trash in a park and throwing it away, or  throwing in an extra tip or two at no additional charge.  Whatever it is for you, practice being a leader every day, by giving back.

Watch for “The APSD members ” FREE publication to come to you each and every week, filled with Home Staging Business Strategies, Marketing for Small Businesses and Compelling Mindset Strategies designed to set you apart from all the others and to help you to literally step into your Home Staging greatness!

To Your Greatest Joy and Success,

Karen Schaefer

www.APSDmembers.com

Your Home Staging Training Mentor…

APSD, The Leader in Home Staging Training, Marketing and Business Developement

Your APSD Weekly Mission:

Are you ready?  You are going to have to be tough for this one.  Decide on one thing that you know is wasting your time and get rid of it.  Be bold, be strong and give it away, donate it or toss it in the trash.  It might be your TV, trashy novels, or cell phone (I said you were going to have to be strong!).  Whatever it is, just decide that from now on, you will have a BIG library.  Then, purchase one new Home Staging Learning tool.  Just one, and you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg.  Just choose one that will move you forward this month. I would recommend this week’s product listed above, The Home Stager Pro kit.  It is such a simply yet compelling system that no Home Stager Library should be without it.

Go forth and do great business!

Joy and Success,

Karen Schaefer

“Get Organized to Create Profit” in Your Home Staging Business

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Everyone always asks me how I am able to do so much.  Well, there are 2 secrets:

1)      Leverage other people’s time by being a good delegator

2)      Get very organized.

I know what you are thinking… “Well, Karen you are probably already hyper organized right?” Wrong. By nature I am an insane perfectionist.  I like everything a certain way, I am very picky on details, and I don’t want to have to say or see it twice!  But, I am only good and having other people do this for me.  I am good at giving them specifics, creating timelines and setting standards…and of course, holding myself to the same standard which I expect to receive.

Only you can know what system of organization works for you but I can tell you for a fact that if you are serious about creating enormous income (even just decent income) you need to get organized.

1)      Evaluate your level of current organization:  Is your office clean and uncluttered?  Do you or your asst. know where everything is?  Or, do you need to come up with a specific system so that things are easy to file (half the battle) and then easy to find.

I like overall categories like; “Marketing” and then subcategories such as “Flyers.”  If I am working on properties, I keep a main template of marketing pieces in the Marketing file so I don’t have to reinvent the wheel with each new property, but I also do the same thing per property.  So, in this instance, I would have “Properties” as my main category.  Then I might have a sub-category for “Home Staging’s” followed by “Active” and “Completed.”  Then of course the property address file within each of those.  It makes my life very simple and I can get anything in a moment’s notice.

This simple system works with any type of business.  I use it for my Home Staging Training Company, my Speakers Training Company, Our On Line Systems program as well as My Coaching and Mentoring Business for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners.

2)      How do you manage your email?  This is a big one for many Entrepreneurs because we live by our email and cell phones. I will address phone calls next, but first, let’s look at managing your email.  When you are going to work, you need to turn your email off.  Don’t minimize it, turn it off.

You must schedule time to answer emails just like you schedule time to get your work completed.  If you allow your email to interrupt you all day long, you will never complete your big income tasks and you will continue to wonder why you can’t be as prosperous as you would like.

If you choose to keep your email and phone active all day long, you must understand that you are conditioning your client to view you as having a lower value because you are always available instead of being busy enough not to be available.

However, if you manage their expectations, by telling them exactly when they can expect a return email from you, they view you as professional, organized and valuable.

Now, you can get your Mo*ney tasks completed and still service your customers in an extraordinary way.

3)      Unless you are waiting for Brain Surgery, turn off your cell phone!  I mean it.  Why do you allow people to interrupt you all day long.  It takes 20 minutes to “re-group” after you have been interrupted.  20 minutes!  You are here to achieve great things…right?  So, 20 minutes is valuable time.

For friends and family, accept and return their calls after business hours (you are holding regular Home Staging business hours right?).

For clients, do the same thing you do with emails.  If you have an assistant, then great, he or she can answer the phone for you. You can also hire an answering service. If neither is an option for you, manage your clients expectations by telling them on your voice mail exactly when they can reach you and when they can expect to receive a return call.  I would get very specific and tell them you are always available M-F by phone form 8-10am and you return calls daily between 4-6pm.  And if they have a specific time they need you to reach them, ask them to leave the time on your voice mail and you will do your best to accommodate them.

Now, they completely understand how to reach you and when you will contact them.  You can go further and let them know that you are taking care of them 100% by offering these specific hours they know they can reach you.

4)      What are you doing with all that email?  There are so many times when we know we should look at something or want to save it and read it later, but we just don’t have the time or system in place to do so.

I like the “One Touch System.”  In other words, if you receive an email that you may want to read but don’t have time, create a “Drop Folder” for those emails on your desk top. As soon as you open it, drop it into the folder for later.

Then, schedule an hour once a week that you review this folder.  You can now review, delete, save and/or take action.  One hour a week to create a One Touch System.

The more organized you can become the more profitable you become and it allows you to also have the right staff.  So, logically, if you have enough customers, you can create the income and lifestyle you so desire.

One of the best things you can do is to start to attract more and more clients and customers. The best way to do this is to get my Complimentary Plan on “How to Attract a Million Customers in the next 90 Days” and follow me in real time as I do the same! It is my gift to you! www.TheBornLeader.com/BusinessPlan

Giving Back:

As I step further and further into a Leadership role, with APSD, The Born Leader, Phoebee Fleabee and LuvMyStripes.com and as an international Business and Leadership Coach and Mentor, I have realized the importance of giving back.

True leaders, Born Leaders, give back without expectation of receipt.  So, it has become my goal to do the same.

phoebee fleabee

Today, I am preparing for the launch of my Children’s Book Give-Away to the world!  Don’t you think Phoebee Fleabee is cute?  You can get her story as my gift at www.LuvMyStripes.com beginning on April 1st.   Oh, and please, pass her to everyone you know!

By giving her away to over a Million People, I am satisfying my need to give, as well as the burning desire within me to spread the word about my wonderful book.  It is interesting what happens when you give…you receive abundantly!

Be a Leader every day and look for ways that you can give back.  Sometimes, it might mean calling someone to say hello, picking up a piece of discarded trash in a park and throwing it away, or hosting “poker night.”  Whatever it is for you, practice being a leader every day, by giving back.

Watch for “The Born Leader” FREE publication to come to you each and every week, filled with Business Strategies, Marketing for Small Businesses and Compelling Mindset Strategies designed to set you apart from all the others and to literally step into your greatness!

Become a Born Leader…when you are ready to change the world!

To Your Greatest Joy and Success,

Karen Schaefer

www.APSDmembers.com

Your Home Staging Training Mentor…

“Home Staging, Business and Marketing Mentoring to bring Your Vision to Life”

Home Staging Business Plan

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Pricing on the next APSD Staging program

…read more about the APSD Proprietary DigiStage Professional Home Staging Service

Here is what you will learn and receive during the APSD™ Stager Pro Training…

(more…)

Home Staging DigiStage

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Pricing on the next APSD Staging program

….read on about marketing and effective Curb Appeal Home Staging Service.

Here is what you will learn and receive during the APSD™ Stager Pro Training…

(more…)

Home Staging Curb Appeal

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Pricing on the next APSD Staging program
is only thru this Sunday…March 14th at Midnight!!! Read thru to the end for DETAILS!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Pricing on the next APSD Staging program

…read more about Marketing Templates for the Professional Home Stager

Here is what you will learn and receive during the APSD™ Stager Pro Training…

(more…)

Successful Team and Resource Building

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Click here for more info about the APSD Home Staging Training Program

Successful Team and Resource Building :

One of the biggest hurdles for business owners is getting the right team in place along with reliable resources.   It took some time to let go of all the control.   The problem was that I knew that no one else could do it as good as me.   I was right.   It did not change the fact that in order to grow my national staging and design business, I had to rely on other people.

(more…)

A Woman’s Touch

Friday, August 7th, 2009
Starting a home based business can be full of challenges and setbacks, but the rewards are immeasurable. In today’s economy, more and more women go everyday to jobs that they aren’t passionate about just to pay the bills, and pay for the daycare that they would rather do without. Life should be about more than just making ends meet. You should love what you do every day and have the opportunity to spend quality time with your family, instead of endless hours slaving away.

What if I told you that you could have it all? You might not believe me! Because as women, we are taught that we must sacrifice something. Well don’t believe it! By setting up your own property design business, you can have a career that you are passionate about, putting you in the driver’s seat of your career, and giving yourself the opportunity to spend more time with your family.

Home staging is an industry that is on the verge of exploding because of the slowing real estate industry. And there has never been a better time for women to get involved with it. In order to make a home stand out and sell it in this tough market, it has to appeal to a buyer’s emotions. And this is where a professional stager comes in. At APSD (www.APSDMembers.com) our program for Property Designers teaches you how to create Pockets of Emotion™ that will sell your clients homes.

Naturally women have an eye for what looks good and what will appeal to buyers on an emotional level. As a Property Designer, you will have the opportunity to help other people sell their homes and reach their goals while realizing your own dreams by finally living the life that you deserve.

About the author:

By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers. With Karen, you can learn more about home staging, home marketing and selling houses quickly. www.OnLineStagingTraining.com shows you just how to do home selling to people buying properties.

Mission Impossible? Not really

Thursday, July 30th, 2009
If you look back at the real estate industry ten years, or even five years ago you’ll see that it was a very different reality than it is today. It’s no secret that the market is slowing down, and has even stalled in many areas. But if you have a home to sell, don’t be discouraged. It is not impossible to sell property in this market. You just have to get creative and have the ideas of a home stager.

When it comes to selling a home in today’s real estate market, you need to set your property apart from all of the other listings. Put some energy into a market strategy that will stand out from the crowd. This is where staging comes in to play. Staging is so much more than making your house clean and pretty; it’s about creating a feeling in the home in order to evoke emotion in the buyer. That is why a home stager training is very important.

At Simple Appeal (www.simpleappeal.com) we know what works. We know how to turn a nice house into a home that buyers can picture themselves and their family living in. It is no longer enough to clean your house and put it on the market hoping for a sale. In today’s tough market, more than ever home staging is a necessity to make a sale so you can move on.

Whatever reason you have for moving, if your property stands out from the other listings you won’t even notice the slowing real estate market and you’ll be able to sell your home quickly and move on. It’s not Mission Impossible, it’s creative marketing!

About the author:

By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers. To learn more about improving your home staging careers, staging houses, marketing houses and selling houses quickly go to www.OnLineStagingTraining.com for a free 30 day trial and the best home stager school there is.