Once again Belinda Spillman has challenged all of us to Pay It Forward by making a difference in the the lives of others.  I believe that we are called upon to do this every day.So to begin let me say that I believe that we can give the three T's--our time, our talent, and our treasure.  For a number of years I have worked with the Volunteer Center New York which is an organization receiving funding from the United Way.  But to be more specific I am part of a group of executives who are 55 and over.  It is our mission to use our experience help solve many community concerns.I have used my talents in human resources, organizational development, and strategic planning to help organizations such as The White Plains Youth Bureau, Richmond Community Services, Aging in Place, YWCA, and The Ne... 12/23/2015

While most real estate agents are working on their business plans for 2016, I would like to step back and ask you, "What are your dreams for 2016?"  It all begins with a dream and a goal is a dream with a timetable.   Let’s start the process imagining your dreams. Do an inventory of your dreams and write them down. Can you visualize them and verbalize them? This is the first step in goal achievement. In order to create the motivation to achieve your goal you must have a burning desire to reach it and that would come from a big dream. If you have made goals in the past and have not achieved them one reason may be that you did not have a burning desire and, therefore, not driven to achieve them. New Year’s resolutions fall into this category many times.When you think about your life, your... 12/20/2015

Different situations call for different types of leadership.  One size does not fit all.   For example, a real estate broker or team leader will need to apply a different type of leadership that that of a general manager of a restaurant.Not only that but I also don’t believe that people have been born with something that makes them a good leader. One trait of a successful leader could be a liability in someone else’s leadership.A great leader is effective and effectiveness means understanding the situation, the team, and the desired results.Rather than being born with certain traits leadership can be developed. However, just as there are habits of highly successful people there are also habits of highly successful leaders.   Here are seven habits of highly effective leaders.A Leader alw... 12/13/2015

Here is my entry for Debbie Laity 's contest Show Us Your Home for the Holidays.  I have so many pictures from the last two nights that I don't know how many to post but I will try to give a sample.Armonk NY is the home of the author of Frosty the Snowman which means that we have plenty of winter and holiday imagery.Let's start with our Wampus Brook Park in the center of town and the newly restored Gazebo.Notice the decorated gazebo.  In front is a Christmas tree and a Menorah.  But who is standing in the gazebo--none other than Frosty the Snow Man.   I walked up to the gazebo in the park by crossing the fully lit bridge below.  It crosses the Wampus Brook.Our town center has changed in the last couple of years with the addition of Armonk Square--a beautiful assortment of restaurants an... 12/09/2015

What is the difference between working IN your real estate business and working ON your real estate business.  The answer lies in strategic planning.  If you are looking for results you need to plan for them.  If you fail to plan you are planning to fail.Everyone should be working on their goals and business plans for 2016.  And don't forget to work on personal goals as well.  Your personal goals affect your business goals and it is important to maintain a work life balance. Right now I am working with businesses and executives in Westchester County New York on their annual goals review.Setting a goal is not like a New Year's resolution. That is just a wish. Just wishing and hoping for something isn't going to make it happen. Setting a goal is having a target to shoot for and a plan to ... 12/06/2015

Everyone talks about the big event in the beginning of December every year.  That is, of course, the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.You might be thinking about the lighting of the Rockerfeller Center Tree in New York City.  If you can't get to Manhattan to see the tree there are plenty of tree ligthtings in Westchester County NY.In addition to tree lighting, Armonk NY is home to Steve Nelson who, in 1950, wrote the music and lyrics to Frosty the Snowman.  So every year after Thanksgiving Armonk, NY has a Frosty Parade.  Here is the video from this year:Armonk Frosty 2015 - 2 from All About Armonk on Vimeo.  Hometown Holiday Tree Lighting - Bronxville Friday, December 4, 2015 Caroling, hot beverages and a parade led by Frosty the Snowman!  Holiday Tree Lighting – Yonkers Friday, December ... 12/02/2015

The title of this post comes straight out of the movie Cool Hand Luke and it has become a catchphrase because it really speaks to a real dilemma. Sometimes we may say we are communicating when we are really only talking to ourselves.  I think most would agree that our real purpose for communication is to get an expected response from someone. But sometimes, in fact often, we do not get the response we expect.   One powerful reason for this failure is that we talk more than we listen. We are so concerned with making our own points and having someone understand us that we do not take the time to understand them. How often do we try to insert our own opinions to try to persuade others?Communication requires a sender of the message and a receiver—that is to say that communication is a two w... 11/29/2015

Dick Greenberg has given us the opportunity this month to show our wallpaper.  I think about what I see which means I think about my two daughers, Lindsay and Ashley.Here is a wallpaper I had for some time:Although they are 7 years apart they have always been close.  This picture was taken of Lindsay (right) giving a hug to her little sister.  I had this on my computer when I was working in the corporate world.  I think it was taken around 2003.  People would see me working on my laptop and compliment the picture of my daughters.It was about the time Ashley was a junior in high school and got her driver's license.  Lindsay went with Ashley on a college visit about that time and later when Ashley was in college she was Lindsay's maid of honor.Now an updated wallpaper:Times have changed b... 11/24/2015

Dan Stewart has challenged us to think of 5 things that we have been thankful for which has affected our business on a daily basis.  1.I am thankful to have my own business.I worked in the corporate world for over 30 years and started my business in March 2009.  I am grateful that I have been rewarded for my hard work.  This is truly a business where I can do what I am best at every day. 2. I am thankful for my affiliate support organization.I have learned from the other people in my affiliate organization.  Each quarter I get to attend development sessions in Reading, PA.  These are given by my peers and colleagues and I have had the same opportunity to share, learn, and grow. 3. I am thankful for the education from Active Rain.Four years ago I started to learn about blogging when Debb... 11/23/2015

Being your own boss comes with many responsibilities.  You don't have a boss to give you deadlines and hold you accountable.  That means that you must be accountable to yourself.  You are responsible making and keeping deadlines.  Do you manage your deadlines or do they manage you?I speak to many entrepreneurs in Westchester County who tell me that their biggest challenge is managing their time. In fact some report feeling overwhelmed. When that happens things seem to spin out of control, leaving everyone feeling overworked, overloaded, and overwhelmed.   Having a system in place will not alone solve the problem because time management is really not a time management issue. No you first need to know your purpose. So here are some tips on surviving being overwhelmed. 1. Know Your Purpose... 11/22/2015

Did you know that the biggest source of new job creation in the United States is small business.  By helping small business were our helping ourselves by boosting our economy.This is why in Westchester and Putnam County NY our Workforce Investment Board is funding the Just Add One program to help local entrepreneurs grow and hire people.  You can read about that in my recent post.On Saturday November 28th please remember to support your local small businesses by #SHOPSMALL.I plan on supporting the stores at Armonk Square.  These include Tazza Cafe coffee shop, Bowls Handcrafted Salads & Soups, Lilies and Lace lingerie and swimwear store. Also, Fortina, the trendy Italian restaurant specializing in pizzas, and DeCicco’s family supermarkets.  Information and pictures provided by Grant Sch... 11/18/2015

39 Photos Status: FOR SALE Price: $699,500 Move In Ready Address: 1 Gressel Place Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Suite: Yes Living Area: 2,369 square feet Year Built: 1955 More Details Virtual Tour View Rooms Request More Info | Email Listing Description Do you need a separate office, exercise room, quarters for your nanny, or have extended family, then this house is for you! Totally renovated home in Armonk with separate studio and private entrance on over 3 acres overlooking pond.The main house itself offers 3 bedrooms with 1.5 baths plus a new eat in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances leading to an over sized living room / dining room combo with fireplace. Door from kitchen out to large blue stone terrace in the courtyard. Fu... 11/17/2015

You are free to choose whatever path you wish to take. You can choose a safe and easy path which will yield average success and that may be fine. Or you can choose to enter the unknown which will yield risk but also more reward. Although this path is filled with risks and uncertainty you also have the greatest opportunity to break out and insure your success along this path. Along this less traveled path you will grow and become stronger. What will it take for you to choose the less traveled path?I was recently coaching a Westchester County NY business executive. She wants to advance in her career. She has been working hard but playing it safe and wondering when she is going to get her “turn.” She said she was waiting for the right time. Do we know the right time in advance?The most peo... 11/15/2015

Let's all say thank you to our veterans today.  The men and women who have shouldered the burden so that the rest of us can live in freedom deserve our thanks. I want to thank my great great grandfather George Rentschler who served in the Civil War and my father George Schneider who served in World War II.   My sister shared this picture on her Facebook page today. Happy Veterans Day! 11/11/2015

Comments from my Throwback Thursday blog inspired me to write this.  This is a teachable lesson about change.  The story is about a corporate Icon that lost its way.   The picture here is of the World Trade Center Towers under construction in May 1970. It was taken with a good 35mm camera. However, the picture deteriorated over time because it was not Kodak film.Anyone who has done photography for years knows that Kodak was the gold standard of pictures. And if your Kodak film was also processed by Kodak you had the best quality picture. You really could tell the difference. Yes, Kodak was branded as a superior image because of its high quality film, chemicals and processing quality control. In the 1980’s someone at Kodak invented a prototype of a digital camera but Kodak did not want t... 11/08/2015

Is your turnover too high?  Many businesses do not understand and some don't even care.  That is sad because high turnover is a sign of disorganization and the business can't be doing well if that is the case.  Please don't assume that it is all about money. There is much more going on than just money.You cannot treat employees or members of your team as commodities assuming that they will come to work just because they are getting paid or that there is a placeholder for their license.  Some vendors of perks may even tell you that if you offer special perks then your retention will be better. You would need a very large amount of those perks to try to buy loyalty. And what would you gain in loyalty or performance? You might even entice poor performers to stay when you would be better of... 11/01/2015

We have so many awesome halloween decorations that it is difficult to choose.  In response to Active Rain's call to post our best decorations in the neighborhood on its Facebook Page,  I am proud to show decorations from one street in our Armonk neighborhood. Here is my number one pickHere is a runner up in support of the Mets.  Let's Go MetsThis street in Armonk, NY, Glendale Ave is always an attraction.  The home owners are all competing with each other to have the best decor.I took these pictures at 2:30pm on Halloween and the owners were out there prepping their houses for the onslaught of visitors.And visitors there are.  Around 4pm the Armonk Police Department will put baricades up so that cars can not come in.  Then the police will be riding through the streets on bicycles.We wil... 10/31/2015

39 Photos Status: FOR SALE Price: $699,500 Move In Ready Address: 1 Gressel Place Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Suite: Yes Living Area: 2,369 square feet Year Built: 1955 More Details Virtual Tour View Rooms Request More Info | Email Listing Description Do you need a separate office, exercise room, quarters for your nanny, or have extended family, then this house is for you! Totally renovated home in Armonk with separate studio and private entrance on over 3 acres overlooking pond.The main house itself offers 3 bedrooms with 1.5 baths plus a new eat in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances leading to an over sized living room / dining room combo with fireplace. Door from kitchen out to large blue stone terrace in the courtyard. Fu... 10/27/2015

What do you think of this statement? If all of the students fail the exam might the fault be with the teaching? Like students in a classroom your team may be under performing because you and your team are on different pages.  I have found that the reason a team is not achieving can usually be traced back to the leadership.  Now before you get upset with that statement I have some good news.  You can change this.  You can become a focused leader who empowers engaged team members who in turn create loyal customers leading to growth and success. Let’s start with the focused leader. You may have the title of manager but that does not mean you are seen as the leader. As managers we can influence the process through which people recognize our leadership by creating an environment where people... 10/11/2015

What do you think is most important for a new person in Real Estate?  Is it skill or will?  You can have all the knowledge in the world.  But knowledge is not power.  The application of knowledge is power.  Don't be fooled by knowledge and experience.  I work largely with privately held and family held businesses. But in that arena I have worked with many industries ranging from real estate, construction, retail, service and hospitality, nonprofit, and manufacturing. I have made the same observation in all of these industries. Those running the business believe that their industry is different from others, so unique that the primary requirement is experience. Because of that mindset I have seen many bad candidates hired and many qualified candidates screened out. The hiring manager is u... 10/04/2015