Enjoy this off-the-cuff interview on KellerINK's The ONE Thing, and hear why Jay says busy does not equal productive, multitasking is a lie and there's still time for Downton Abbey.
read more →The ONE Thing Comes in First on WSJ
Congratulations to Gary and Jay on hitting the No. 1 spot on The Wall Street Journal's Bestseller List!
read more →The ONE Thing Drives Focus on the Track
“Find your passion and seek the ONE Thing that will make it work for you.”
This is the message that Adrian Berryhill, owner of the Vision Racing Team, is bringing to the track for NASCAR’s Nationwide Series 2013. His sparkplug? A business book you may have read.
Adrian says Gary and Jay’s latest title The ONE Thing made him shift gears – get small and realize his team’s purpose. “I’ve decided to focus on ONE Thing rather than chase two rabbits,” he says. “Chase one and succeed at getting it.”
This season, the team’s “rabbit” is to race at least one time a week. Focusing their trajectory on that checkpoint, the Vision Racing Team spent the winter months lining up a domino fall that will surely surpass expectations.
read more →Are You Stealing Time From Yourself?
If everyone has the same number of hours in a day, why do some people get more accomplished than others? Do they work harder? Do they work longer? Or is it something else? Watch our latest video to find the answer. Then think about your day and how you can apply The ONE Thing principle. You may be surprised at how simple the truth behind extraordinary results really is.
read more →Slow and Steady Wins
When Dave Ramsey delivered the keynote at our annual convention earlier this year, he shared five ideas from his new book EntreLeadership on running a successful company. Funny enough, the ONE big lesson we focused in on is something we’ve all heard before: “Slow and steady matters.”
read more →All Things ONE: Empire Building the El Arroyo Way
Great food and drink is not the only thing that has turned El Arroyo into an Austin, Texas, destination eatery. Its large, street-facing sign – changed daily – is what’s really brought this Tex-Mex Tavern into the spotlight. The out-of-the-box messaging – the restaurant’s only form of marketing – has people admittedly going out of their way for daily words of wisdom … and maybe a margarita.
You might say, El Arroyo’s ONE Thing is their sign. We thought so, and sat down with owner Ellis Winstanley to learn more. What we didn’t expect to find were twin brothers under the age of 40 who have built an empire across multiple industries by focusing on ONE Thing – by the way, it’s not the sign.
read more →Light a Candle for Big Success
Think back to your childhood, when adults seemed to have magical powers and could do anything. When taking the training wheels off seemed like a sure way to end up with two skinned knees, but was more importantly the key to unlocking your neighborhood. When tossing your sister from one end of the pool to the other was surely only something Super Dad could accomplish, but you set your sights on it anyway – regardless of how your sister felt about it.
Yes, you had fears as a kid – a lot of fears – but moving past those big challenges led to a whole new level of freedom. As kids, we didn’t let fear stop us in our quest to grow. Whether it was learning to ride a bike or swimming to the deep end, solving a complicated math equation or climbing to the “top of the world,” we tackled challenges with determination, knowing that chasing big goals would help us to reach new levels.
And it did. We learned that on the path to big, we got bigger.
Somehow this lesson was forgotten by most of us along the journey. We became content in our achievements and started capping our aptitude. And though we wanted success, we started fearing big.
But big is not bad.
read more →All Things ONE: A Night at the Movies
If we asked, would you know who John Towner Williams is? Would it help if we hummed the theme song from Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Superman, or Harry Potter, to name just a few?
So who better to bet on this Sunday than the man deemed “America’s Composer” – the only living person with, now, 48 Oscar nominations? We’re marking our 2013 ballots John Towner Williams, as his passion for music has always been the ONE Thing that’s led to his greatest successes.
read more →ONE Thing Means No Regrets
Life is too short to pile up woulda, coulda, shouldas. That’s the message Gary wanted to set the stage with when he invited two-time Grammy Award Winner Pam Rose to kick off his recent presentation of new book The ONE Thing in Dallas.
“A life worth living might be measured in many ways, but the ONE way that stands above all others is living a life of no regrets,” Gary explains.
So, how do you live a life of no regrets? The same way your journey to extraordinary results begins.
read more →How Louis Braille's ONE Thing Changed the World
As the next nod in our All Things ONE series we’re connecting the dots between ONE person who spent his entire life focused on ONE Thing – and it changed the world.
Louis Braille wasn’t born blind, but an accident while playing in his dad’s workshop took his eyesight at the age of three. As he grew up, he struggled with traditional schooling even during his time at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth. Luckily, a chance encounter with a former soldier at age 12 helped him to see a whole new approach to communication for the blind.
read more →Five Reasons Multitasking Makes You Less Effective
Many pride themselves on taking a conference call while perusing their inbox and texting their son; talking to a coworker while putting the finishing touch on that report and listening to the latest podcast; and making dinner while they ask their spouse about her day, fold laundry and watch their kids swim. But, do they really think this is reason to toot their own horn? Are they giving full focus to any ONE of those projects?
No. It’s called multitasking, and it’s a lie. As Steve Uzzell says in The ONE Thing, multitasking is “merely the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time.” Translated to Gary speak – just plain dumb.
Why?
read more →All Things ONE: A Votre Sante! - A Champagne Toast to a Historic Businesswoman
In celebration of our new title, The ONE Thing we’re kicking off a brand new series called All Things ONE where we’ll look, time and again, at how some of the most celebrated success stories made their claim to fame by living their ONE Thing.
And what better way to inaugurate a new series than with champagne! Raise your glasses to Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, better known as Veuve (rhymes with dove) Clicquot, of early 19th century France. She’s not only the subject of our first All Things ONE post; Madame Clicquot is quite possibly the first woman in history to run an international commercial empire.
read more →Be Part of the 12
Eighty-eight percent of all New Year’s Resolutions fail. In fact, time management firm FranklinCovey found that more than a third of us won’t even make it to February. It’s no wonder the top-10 resolutions repeat year after year – most never actually get crossed off in year one.
How do so many people go wrong?
read more →The Beauty of Finding Your First Domino
Everyone has seen a domino fall – that one flick of a finger that creates an amazing chain reaction. Knock over the first domino and the rest follow. But, did you know that one regular sized domino can actually knock over a chain of progressively larger dominoes? It’s true.
read more →Pre-Order The ONE Thing and Achieve Extraordinary Results Today
The ONE business book you need in 2013 is finally here! New York Times bestselling authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan have once again teamed up to pen a game-changer – The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results.
In The ONE Thing, Gary and Jay conquer the question: If everyone has the same number of hours in a day, why do some people accomplish extraordinary things, while others struggle to take a single step forward?
read more →Two Steps to Build Your Empire
Oftentimes, the word entrepreneur evokes thoughts of small, local business owners – mom and pop shops, if you will. But, not all business creatives can be contained to one zip code. In fact, we’ve found that most thought leaders suggest just the opposite: Think big!
Easier said than done? Not if you follow the strategy of a small-town entrepreneur named Walt. You may have heard of him before. Grab a pad and pencil. It’s time to bridge the gap between dreaming about big success and making it a reality. It’s time to build your Disney.
read more →Add Personal Perspective to Your Business with Five Free Behavioral Assessments
Many companies begin idling around the holidays. But just because your hard deadlines and daily meetings have been pushed till after the New Year doesn’t mean your business savvy needs to go on standby. In fact, after you rev your team engine with your simple 2013 business plan, we suggest taking advantage of your downtime to readdress your personal professional goals. And we’ve got five free – and fun – online assessments to help you jump-start the process.
read more →Cookie-Cutter Solutions for a Successful Startup
Got a sweet tooth? What if we told you the business of baking can cook up more than a quick sugar fix? That’s right, this National Cookie Day – December 4 – we’ve got five recipes from the pros that will have you rolling in dough.
read more →Navigate Your 2013 Business Plan with Your Own GPS
As one year closes another begins and with 2012 approaching the finish line it’s time to prepare next year’s business plan. Normally, this process can cause more stress than holiday shopping and travel combined. But, have no fear! We’ve got a tool to help you find the best path for your business. Happy holidays! We call it the GPS.
read more →The Five-Floor Riff Strategy: Make Your Elevator Pitch Rock
You’re on the plane heading home for some family and turkey time. A man sits next to you and comments on the novel you just cracked this morning. This leads to friendly conversation where you find out he was recently hired as the new CEO of the largest global corporation headquartered in your city. He just moved to town and is looking for the best neighborhood to settle in with his wife and three dogs. You’re a real estate agent. What’s your next move?
Yes, these moments happen. And with Thanksgiving being the most traveled holiday of the year, a chance encounter like this may be closer than your next layover.
It’s time for the elevator pitch – that internalized speech ready at a moment’s notice. If you don’t have one, you need one. And if you don’t know how to create it, keep reading.
read more →Executive Oversight: What's the Optimum Number of Direct Reports?
Did you know that the President of the United States has approximately 50 direct reports at any given time? Between a personal team, the Executive Office, the White House staff, Cabinet members and a handful of people who have Cabinet-level status, our Chief Executive has more than a full-time job just holding his staff accountable. In fact, if overstepping your overseeing boundary was against the law, the president would be ticketed for a span of control of almost 10 times the “legal limit.”
read more →Work Hard, Play Hard: Increased Company Culture Pushes Productivity
Halloween is the official seasonal start gate around the KellerINK office. What do we mean? Costumes, contests, community and culture. Just when “the busy season” kicks off, our culture-based holiday events commence, and increased play actually fuels productivity, companywide.
read more →Nine Ways to Avoid the Business Travel Blues
Oscar Wilde once said, “The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself.” With this truth in mind – and coming off of a large convention – we decided to “check in” with some professional business travelers on how they make the trip a breeze. Make sure your seat belt is fastened, seatbacks are forward and your tray tables are in the upright and locked position…here we go.
read more →Seven Strategies to Bring Entrepreneurship from Classroom to Conference Room
With enrollment in entrepreneurship-based education on the rise, you’d think small business would be booming. But according to a recent article in the Harvard Business Journal, only 400,000 Americans started their own business last year. Why surprising? There were more than 600,000 students focused on business degrees during that time.
So where’s the disconnect? Application.
Sure, continuing education has been proven to have a direct correlation to success. But how can more graduates apply their entrepreneurial minds to create purposeful businesses? We’ve got seven strategies to help bridge the gap.
Seven Strategies for Entrepreneurs in Action
read more →USA Today Names HOLD National Bestseller
Following in the ranks of its predecessors – The Millionaire Real Estate Investor and FLIP – HOLD: How to Find, Buy, and Rent Houses for Wealth hit national bestseller status this morning! As the third and final member of The Millionaire Investor Series, HOLD’s long-term investing strategies are proving to be the missing link to the trifecta.
read more →HOLD hits Bookshelves
Hold the phone! The wait is over! HOLD is here! That’s right, HOLD officially hits bookstores today, and authors Jim and Linda McKissack, Jennice Doty and Steve Chader want readers to know one thing: You have the power to take hold of your financial future. “We wrote this book to share the models and strategies we’ve been using for over 20 years,” Jim says. And, based on the crowd’s response at a recent KellerINK sold-out presale event—mission accomplished.
read more →How To Avoid Convention Letdown
In any industry, conferences serve as vital opportunities to network and get educated. But, on the heels of a recent convention, to debut HOLD, we realized that three days soaking up the latest innovations and information is inspiring and at times overwhelming.
“We see it all the time at our own events,” says Gary. “People come, get all fired up and want to implement everything they learn. Then three months later, nothing.”
Every year, companies spend massive budgets to put on and send employees to industry conventions, and attendees spend large blocks of time away from their families and businesses to do so. Unfortunately, the common take away is often what we call “convention letdown”—lots of ideas, little execution.
So how can you avoid letdown and get the most out of your next conference?
read more →If Your Clients Google You, Who Will They Find?
Eighty-one percent of people Google each other before a blind date, and 74 percent research items online—often remotely—before buying a product. So, how can you make sure when potential clients search for you or your brand that the right person will show up? Have no fear! Jay Papasan, Co-Author of Soci@l says, “Social Media to the rescue.”
read more →Nine Ways to Power Network at Your Next Event
For many, networking is just another part of business trips. But for us, if you’re taking time away from your family and the office, you should be committed to getting the most out of every industry event you attend. And who better to learn networking dedication from than Scott Ginsberg—better known as “the nametag guy.” As the author of The Nametag Principle, Scott is so focused on meeting the right people that he’s worn a “Hello, my name is” nametag for over 12 years—he even got it tattooed on his chest.
Why?
“It breaks the ice,” he says. See, Scott’s strategy to make networking simple is to be approachable. Wearing a nametag automatically “portrays self-confidence in your identity,” he says. “It gives people a reason to say hello.”
read more →Embrace Your Niche
“The customer is always right.” This pulls some weight in our camp when it comes to customer service, but in reality customers shouldn’t dictate our business operations. They know what they want, but unlike many of the entrepreneurs that serve them, they often don’t understand what’s possible. Henry Ford may have said it best: “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have said ‘a faster horse.’”
Listen to your customers, but stay committed to your vision. Otherwise, you risk spreading yourself thin in an effort to please everyone, instead of building something truly spectacular.
read more →HOLD Authors Take the Mic - And You're Invited!
*Update* If you missed the live interview with the HOLD authors, don't sweat it! Listen to the recording here today.
Listen in as the authors of HOLD join Rowena Patton on The Plain English Real Estate Show podcast tomorrow, and get your questions answered on the air!
One of Jim's tips - for experienced or first-time investors - is to be a part of the discussion. "It's important to talk about your goals and network- seminars, masterminds, investor clubs," he says. "Our journey has been very cool. And, you'll be surprised what develops out of the relationships you build."
read more →
Three Top Challenges Entrepreneurs Face and One Solution for Them All
As many as 75% of all businesses are sole proprietorships - just the entrepreneur and her vision taking on the world. Some pursue small business ownership because big businesses aren’t hiring; others were born to be their own boss. Either way, it seems like self-staters are enjoying a kind of heyday with bestsellers like The Four-Hour Work Week and The $100 Startup fanning the entrepreneurial flames.
The appeal is easy enough to see: freedom, flexibility and financial opportunity. In reality, success in small business is no small feat.
We took a look at three of the top challenges small businesses face and asked if there wasn’t one solution to them all. There is.
read more →Meet the HOLD Authors: Jay Papasan Shares Insider Aha's on Investing and Working with Gary
Growing up, Jay Papasan has a distinct memory of his father reading the business page of the paper each morning. He also remembers having zero interest in it. “I worked the crossword,” he says. So it was no surprise when Jay double-majored in French and English as a young man. What Jay didn’t know was that he would reconnect with business and finance as a publishing professional, and this combined with his boyhood memories of his father would change his life.
read more →Meet the HOLD Authors: Enjoy the Journey with Jim McKissack
Self-employed since his senior year in college, working a typical “9 to 5” has never crossed Jim McKissack’s mind—even in his most desperate hours. So when his restaurant/nightclub business landed he and wife/HOLD co-author Linda $600,000 in debt, real estate was an obvious choice.
read more →Meet the Authors of HOLD: Jennice Doty Talks Real Estate and Superheroes
As a seasoned property manager and real estate investor, Jennice Doty is hands down an expert in her field. Along with her investment partner Steve Chader, she has built a successful career providing management services to more than 1,000 residential homes and 35 commercial properties. Yet, she credits her success in real estate to the talented people who surround her in business and in life. Without the right people, Jennice wouldn’t be able to accomplish much of what she does, and it is that level of leverage, she says, that is often underestimated in the pursuit of success. We recently sat down with Jennice to learn more about how she accomplishes her goals and how that drove her involvement in the creation of HOLD.
read more →Book Lovers Day: Gary Shares Three of His All-Time Favorite Business Books
Book Lovers Day is Aug. 9! Nearly everyone has a favorite book—many have more than one. We were curious to find out what Gary’s favorite business books were and why.
In his office, between the red leather couch and chairs where he meets with guests, there is a small table. Among the rows of guitars, pictures of family and friends, and bookshelves littered with books and mementos, it stands alone. Gary uses this table to display eight books. All of them are tattered – some more than others – with faded covers and worn binds. Amazon would probably rate them “Used – Acceptable,” but to Gary, they’re invaluable.
Meet the HOLD Authors: Follow the Model, Using Your Network and Other Lessons from Steve Chader
HOLD author Steve Chader has been involved in the Millionaire Real Estate Series since the very first book – The Millionaire Real Estate Agent – when Gary invited him to Austin to discuss real estate. He and his partner, Jennice Doty (another HOLD author) co-own a property management company, worked with investors, and invested themselves. So the conversation eventually steered toward investing. Later, they helped mastermind The Millionaire Real Estate Investor. Steve says: “HOLD was just a natural part of the process.”
In the book, Steve acknowledges his real estate investing mentor, Bob Laird, who was the very first broker Steve worked with when he first joined the real estate world. Steve credits Bob with teaching him how to analyze properties and determine what’s a good investment and what’s not. Now Steve is able to pass on his expertise, and says he lives by the statement: The more we share, the more we grow.
read more →10 Tips for a Pain-Free Move
Two of our team members were recently faced with sneaking in a move between work, two book deadlines, end of summer vacations, camp, school and the day-to-day happenings of what we call life. So to help ourselves and you, we conducted an impromptu social media survey of our virtual network, asking: What are your best tips for making the experience as pain free as possible?
A day later, we had more than 75 tips from real estate agents and their nomadic clients, proving people want to know—and share in—the joys of moving. Thanks to everyone who participated, and now, we’ll count down our top 10 tips for a painless relocation.
10. Move from denial to acceptance. Before you strap on your serious boots and start hauling your boxes away, Patrick says the best thing to do is “sit back, relax and accept the fact that, in the move, stuff will get broken, lost, or packed in a box that you never open.” Once you realize there will be potholes along the road, it’s a lot easier to handle hiccups as they arise.
read more →Meet the HOLD Authors: Linda Talks Attitude, Education and Success
We recently sat down for a round of speed dating with Linda McKissack, one of the authors of the soon-to-be-released, HOLD. Our goal: to find out what it is about the combination of real estate and business that makes Linda as enthusiastic today as she was when she started her wealth-building journey in the early 90s.
read more →Four Tips for Hiring a World-Class Executive Assistant
The days of the Mad Men-like secretary are gone. Miss Money Penny is no more. Administrative help is no longer about taking dictation, fetching coffee or stocking up on clean ties. Rather, if you want a successful hire, you must find someone with the aptitude and determination to maximize your business.
Today’s executive assistants are smart, talented and driven. They have leadership skills that enable them to do your job when you’re not there. In fact, stop thinking “executive assistant” and start looking for an “assistant executive.”
read more →HOLD Foreword Unveiled: Gary Wants You to Meet the Investor Team
It’s almost time for the trilogy to be complete. That’s right, HOLD—the third and final book in our Millionaire Investor Series—is prepping for its grand entrance this fall, and we can’t wait to share the wealth building power of the trifecta with you!
A strong financial future is key to a successful business venture or stress-free retirement. But simply having money won’t get you there—building wealth will. And with the October release of HOLD on the horizon, our author experts are ready to teach you how to start your journey.
Over the next five weeks, we want to formally introduce you to each of our HOLD specialists in the “HOLD Meet the Authors Series.” Every Thursday we will feature a new author and give you an extended insider look at our first-rate wealth building team. And to kick us off, we’re letting Gary start the intros with a sneak peek of his foreword:
read more →Talking Trust with Stephen M.R. Covey
Muhammad Ali and The Beatles. Salvador Dali and Walt Disney. Andy Warhol and Alfred Hitchcock. Even Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon. Every now and then, you see a photo or read an article about a chance encounter between people like this and you can’t help but think, “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.” Most of the time, it’s just that: Wishful thinking. But on rare occasions you do get to eavesdrop on a thought leader – or two’s – conversation and watch the light bulbs burn bright.
So, when Gary said he wanted to interview Stephen M.R. Covey and Greg Link, co-authors of Smart Trust, it was a no-brainer. We set up a conference line in the next room and listened in. And now you can, too!
read more →Don't Let the Latest Market Shift Leave You Listless
The most recent curveball the real estate market has served up for home sellers, buyers and the agents who represent them is a scarcity of homes for sale. In fact, listing inventory in the top 54 markets is down 24 percent year over year and a whopping 61percent below the peak in September of 2007. With fewer foreclosures hitting the market, more sellers holding off on selling and new construction lagging behind demand, buyers enticed by remarkably low mortgage interest rates are finding slim pickings. In pockets all over North America, a historic buyer’s market has suddenly shifted to a seller’s market. As a result, many are experiencing bidding wars and multiple offers as demand outstrips supply.
These “mini-housing bubbles” may or may not be a harbinger of lasting housing recovery, but for now, they represent a major challenge for real estate professionals who specialize in listing houses for sale. What’s a listing agent to do when there are no homes to list?
Simple, the successful adapt.
read more →Shift Commercial Wins NAREE Bruss Award
The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) awarded Shift Commercial the bronze in this year's industry-renowned Robert Bruss Awards Ceremony, and we couldn't be more proud!
read more →Nine Simple Summer Strategies for Saving Money at Home
Here in Austin, Texas, we know when spring hits it’s only a matter of days before the sweltering heat follows. However, for many of you north of the Panhandle, the first day of summer is the turning point for increased temperatures and added energy costs. But, what if we told you a way to counterbalance the cost that comes from the expensive dog days of summer?
It’s possible – and all from the comfort of your own home!
read more →Consumer Finance Survey Makes Dollars and Cents of Homeownership
The June 2012 Federal Reserve Bulletin offers a preview of the much anticipated release of the 2007-2010 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. It has more than just economists weighing in on the average American’s money matters. And when it comes to housing, everyone is trying to make cents of the reported 29 percent drop in the median American household’s net worth.
Well, we’re here to let homeowners know: Even after the Great Recession, there’s still no place like home.
read more →Three Reasons to Invest in Your Child's College Housing
As the post-commencement rumble quiets, finances take center stage as many parents and students look at fall college expenses and budget for the inevitable. Continuing education is by no means cheap these days. While housing costs quadrupled at their peak, college tuition skyrocketed tenfold from 1980 to 2010. But there are ways to cut costs. For instance, ordering used books online can save you hundreds. Surfing sites like Craigslist.com for used furniture can help cut up front living expenses.
But, what if we told you there’s a way to save thousands? What if you could take one of the largest college expenses and turn it into a financial gain? Instead of paying for a dorm or renting an apartment, savvy college-bound students and their parents are choosing to invest in real estate with a buy-and-hold strategy.
read more →Three Reasons Every Professional Should Carry a Notebook
Everyone who works with Gary Keller carries a notebook. In fact, new employees are presented with one on their first day. It’s not really optional behavior. Why? The best professionals adopt the mindset of a lifelong learner. They are learning-based.
It’s not about knowledge for knowledge’s sake but rather knowledge for doing’s sake. They reject taking action from ignorance and ignore, trivial pursuits—they want knowledge that helps them get better, that gives them an edge. They refuse to stop learning and growing, which is one reason they consistently outperform the rest.
read more →Get Inspired: Seven of the Most Memorable Commencement Speeches
Every May audiences are treated to the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance as graduates line up to check off the big goal they’ve been pursuing for years: Graduation! It’s a huge day and a huge accomplishment at any level. Commencement speeches come in two varieties: forgettable and unforgettable. To celebrate graduation season, we’re serving up seven of our favorites for your inspiration whether you’re donning a mortar board or not. To kick things off, we’ve highlighted a couple that touch on two of our favorite themes: Follow your passion and never stop learning!
Follow Your Passion
One of the world’s most famous television personalities gave the commencement address at Tulane University in 2009. In her speech, Ellen DeGeneres said she never let anyone dissuade her from following her dreams of working in television as a comedian. She explained the rough patches she encountered on her road to success, including the cancellation of her sitcom, and instructed the graduating class to, “Follow your passion. Stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else’s path.”
read more →Playing Up: To Succeed at Your Highest Potential, Surround Yourself with High Achievers
You’ve heard it from your mom time and again – be careful of the company you keep. In the same vein, Oprah Winfrey once said: “Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher.” We don’t know about you, but when both mom and Oprah say it, you better listen – because in all likelihood it’s true!
When your network of peers succeeds at a high level, their achievement is contagious. And you should be conscious of this in all of your relationships – personal, business, spiritual and financial – to reach your full potential.
But why are friendships with people who desire success more worthwhile than others? One word: motivation.
read more →A Mother's Day Gift for Supermoms: Nine Counter-Balancing Tips
For a mom, the job is always on, and these days, seven out of 10 mothers are also career women. So it’s no wonder “balance” is a hot topic among the maternal workforce. But has anyone ever really found that perfect work-life balance? The answer is no, and surprisingly, they’re happier for it.
read more →The Downside of Choices: Too Many Options Can Lead to Bad Decisions
Fifty-seven varieties. Thirty-one flavors. We all like options. In fact, the more choices the better, right? Wrong. When put to the test, the “more is better” theory doesn’t hold much water. Rather, it’s been found time and again, too many options can actually be a hindrance. Turns out, our ability to make good decisions fades when we’re faced with an abundance of choice. In this case, we oftentimes end up not making a decision or are ultimately unhappy with our outcome.
read more →Three Trends in Green History and Nine Simple Ways You Can Make a Difference
Being green might seem like a new fad, but it’s not – not by a long shot. For instance, the first Earth Day was celebrated before unleaded gasoline, before recycling, before the ban of DDT and before lead-free paint. In fact, partying for Mother Earth can be traced back much further than April 22, 1970. And, environmentalism as a whole predates today’s “movement” by more than 4,000 years.
So, in honor of the 43rd Earth Day, and as a nod to all our ancient Green Your Home educators and fans, here are three eco-conscious trends that have sustained history and nine ways you can help extend the timeline.
read more →Don't Lose Sleep Over Big Decisions
It happens. A decision looms and you hear a customer, or maybe even yourself, say “Let me sleep on it.” But, is this always the right response? It’s important to recognize that all decisions are time sensitive. And, the biggest risk in being slow to decide is having the decision taken out of your hands.
read more →Are You Ready to Rock?
“We have our work cut out for us, but I’m confident that together we can green our mindsets, change our habits and adjust our lifestyles for the better.” – Gary Keller
Following Gary’s words of encouragement from Green Your Home, the KellerINK Team will be partaking in our first eco-awareness party next Friday, April 20, from 2-4 p.m. CST. And, we want you to be there!
read more →Practice Makes Perfect: How Process Can Influence a Brand's Design
We love how many of you jumped behind the chair for our April Fool’s “Support the Stache” campaign to stylize our brand with your fine-tooth comb – and maybe some wax where needed. What you don’t know is that “Gary’s Stache” was actually one of the top-five KellerINK design concepts created during our branding process. So, where did our final inspiration come from?
read more →Support the Stache: KellerINK Gets a New Face
After some much-appreciated feedback in our inaugural months, we’ve decided to give KellerINK a new face – literally. Based off of the iconic Gary Mustache itself, KellerINK has matured past infancy and is now sporting a stache. Help us keep growing into adulthood by letting us know which facial hair best personifies each of our books. Tell us what you think, and support the stache with your own mustache twibbon!
read more →Plant a Tree and Watch Your Green Grow - by More Than $6,000
When Gary’s parents moved into their home in Austin, Texas, he wanted to give them the ultimate housewarming gift. He planted a tree, something he has always advised his buyers to do.
While not the most traditional welcome to the neighborhood, trees are one of the most valuable investments a homeowner can make.
Why? Trees are vitally important to us. Not only do they provide oxygen, shade and scenery; apparently money really does grow on trees!
So what better time to get planting than the first week of spring? What you – or your clients – may not realize is how much adding to your tree line will also add to your bottom line.
read more →The Waiting Experience: First Encounters of the Customer Kind
Literally and metaphorically, “wait” is a four-letter word. It evokes all the times your mother told you to, drab waiting rooms populated with dusty magazines, backed up lanes on the freeway and clogged lines in the grocery store. Just thinking about it can raise your blood pressure.
Recently, waiting for my turn at the deli counter I fixed on the sign by the ticket dispenser that read: “Please take a number so we may better serve you.” Tired and a bit stressed after a long day, I remember thinking to myself: “I have no interest in being a number.”
Often the first interaction a customer has with your business is waiting on the phone, in line, or in a room. So what is a small business person to do to create a positive first impression? How can you avoid practical but demeaning “take-a-number” strategies?
read more →Thinking to Pin, and Pinning to Think
One book, two book, red book, blue book.
From there to here, from here to there, Gary’s books are everywhere!
Overstuffed, oversmushed…shelves two sizes too small.
But, on Pinterest we found there is room for them all.
read more →Listen In: Gary Talks Achievement with Sales Guru Harvey Mackay
With more than 10 million books sold and over fifty years of experience under his belt, Harvey Mackay has plenty to offer in the way of sales advice.
read more →The Secret to Success: Fail More Often
It’s a little-known fact that Microsoft founders Bill Gates’ and Paul Allen’s first “big idea” was to build a business around collecting traffic data for engineers. The company was called Traf-O-Data—no joke—and one can only imagine Gates rallying around the dream of “a light post on every corner, of every street, processing traffic everywhere.”
But, the company failed.
read more →The 90-Day Database: Build Relationships, Generate Leads
How many times have you heard, “I’ll call you on Monday,” and it never happens? Gene Arant of Lake Travis, Texas, implemented a system that ensures you’ll hear from him Monday. It’s called the 90-day database, and it has grown his GCI from $435,000 to $830,000 in one year.
read more →Bet Your Life on Your Decisions
To an outside observer, nearly two decades of teaching the same course may seem monotonous or even cliché. But, those who have heard Gary Keller teach Quantum Leap just keep coming back for more year after year.
So, why can’t we get enough?
read more →Creating Passionate Users
When Kathy Sierra and her husband were laid off during the dot-com crash of 2001, the tech engineers pulled a U-turn and decided to become authors…for money. Hilarious, right? Wrong. The Sierras brought a decidedly analytic approach to the artistic endeavor of writing a book. They looked for a formula that would guarantee sustained, sizeable income even though they had no marketing budget, no particular talent and no celebrity. In an effort to reverse engineer a bestselling book, they asked the question: What has to happen for a book to peak on the desirability scale? Are readers passionate about the book or the author?
read more →"HOLD" to Complete Millionaire Real Estate Investor Series
As a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller with more than 200,000 copies sold, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor helped launch thousands on their wealth building journeys.
read more →Focus on Leverage - The Buyer's Side
In The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, we declared you could be just three exceptional hires away from having the organization of a Millionaire Real Estate Agent. That’s still
read more →Business Development: The Hottest CRE Skill
The commercial real estate market has changed – and is changing. Although many believe the market still hasn’t hit bottom, one thing is certain, commercial real estate brokers need new skills in order to thrive in the face of current market realities. Beyond the tried and true relationship strategy, I believe commercial real estate brokers need to focus primarily on honing their business development skills.
read more →Build Your Real Estate Business with Seminars
One of my favorite interviews at our recent Mega Camp was Gary’s chat with Jim and Jeff Reitzel of Kitchener, Ontario. Among the Reitzels’ best business-building tools is holding investor and first-time home buyer seminars—a lead generation strategy that helped them do more than 120 transactions and over $67 million in business in 2009. And they are on pace to have a much better 2010.
So what are the keys to success?
read more →Why Some Houses Sit While Other Houses Sell
Even in the hardest hit markets, there are still properties priced well enough and in good enough condition to interest buyers. Those houses attract offers and sell. Houses that aren’t priced and staged competitively sit. It’s not complicated. It’s really that simple.
read more →Take a Peek into Green Your Home
In celebration of KW first official Green Week, we are excited share the first chapter of Green Your Home. Please click here to download. To purchase Green Your Home click here.
read more →GreenWorks Realty of Seattle Joins Keller Williams
In line with Green Week, Keller Williams Realty International is proud to announce that one of the nation’s first brokerages with the mission to improve the livability and sustainability of its community has joined the Seattle Metrocenter West market center.
read more →Six Things to Think About Before you Suggest Green Improvements
It’s a familiar scenario: You’re walking through a property with a client and the client begins to visualize it as if it were theirs...
read more →Why Green Networks offer a Win-Win for you and your Sphere of Influence
Did you know that as a real estate professional you are perfectly positioned to help clients “green” their homes? No, we’re not suggesting you become an expert in solar panels or window sealants. Your role as a real estate agent is to connect your clients with the experts who have the know-how to turn green dreams into reality.
read more →Gary: "Think Big, Start Small..."
Gary Keller kicked off Mega Agent Camp 2011 with positive words for the more than 3,000 agents prepared to hear him discuss the fundamental models and systems that still apply in this ever-changing market.
read more →Multi-tasking is a Myth
Focus. Not everyone has it, yet everyone can attain it. That was the message Gary Keller drove home during Day Two of Mega Agent Camp last year.
read more →Shattering the Multitasking Myth
Even on the final day of Family Reunion 2011, the energy and eagerness to learn more and become more seemed without limits as attendees crowded into Gary Keller’s 7 a.m. session by the hundreds.
read more →What is Social Media Priority #1 for Real Estate Professionals?
Since Ben Kinney and I wrote SOCI@L last fall, we’ve had the opportunity to teach the material dozens of times. What’s clear is the enormous opportunity social media platforms provide to cut marketing costs and attract new business.
read more →The Three Key Hires
We've had such great feedback on building and leveraging your team, we wanted to share a video surrounding the same dialogue.
read more →Gary Keller on Mapping Out the Year and Making a Plan
For most entrepreneurs and independent business owners, fourth quarter is a time of reflection on the past year’s successes and an opportunity to put together a solid business plan for the next 12 months.
As you might imagine, Gary Keller, co-founder and chairman, Keller Williams Realty, Inc. goes through a rigorous planning process. Below is an email exchange between him and Todd Butzer, regional director, North Central on creating the “Master Plan.”
read more →Are You Surrounded by the Best?
If I had to pick one defining moment in the history of Keller Williams Realty, it would have to be a conversation that I had with a consultant back in 1994, when I was trying to map out a strategy for expanding our company outside of Texas. He said, “You know, I’ve looked at your goals; I’ve looked at your organization, and it’s going to take about 14 or 15 people for you to hit your goals.”
read more →