Tony & Darcy - The C Team's Blog

Those of us familiar with MAD Magazine recognize the famous line from Alfred E Neuman, in the magazine.  To say the least it is a classic line.  It is something that I am feeling right now, what with the economy and now the impending Swine Flu Pandemic.  Does the media really think that creating a widespread panic is in their or anyone's best interest?

How &^%% stupid are they??????  What good is pushing the panic button once again?  It seems like the Great Media Roller Coaster, one impending disaster to the next with a short respite between each disaster.  I believe that it is time to let common sense to take some semblance of control, that is if there is enough common sense left in the general populace for it to do so.

I am not saying that the economy and Swine Flu are reasons to be concerned, and caution should rule one's actions especially with our health, but let's be serious!  You can be concerned, prudent, cautious, sensible, and wise without panicking!

My common sense, (whats left of it), says that it is time to do something else and completely turn off the media, in our market, that includes the local media.  Time to no longer allow programming into my home that by design, is bent on creating mass hysteria and panic.  It is time to take the necessary precautions, washing hands, covering your mouths when you cough, etc.  As with the economy, it is not time to panic, nor is it time to continue to waste our time listening to the drone of the hysteria machine!   

I was watching TV Monday Night, I had to watch the season finale of Chuck.  Anyway a commercial came on, and because I was watching the show in real time, I had to watch the commercials.  Normally, I TIVO shows and watch them at my convenience, and by pass the commercials. 

I think that it was a Florida Orange Juice commercial that had the line "dirty hands from hard work= a clean mind." 

What a great line.  Like everyone else, I have had several jobs that required a lot of physical exertion to accomplish my work assignments.  It is amazing, in thinking back, that is really true.  When I have worked to physical exhaustion, I feel good about myself, what I accomplished, and what I was doing. 

That could be the answer to a lot of the negative thoughts in our minds, going to work and working hard.  Doing everything that we can physically do, while maintaining a smart plan in our efforts.  Set lofty goals, and work hard to make them happen!

Make it a Great Week!

The NBA playoffs are well underway, and while I hope that my Jazz can at least make the Lakers work to advance, have Okur injured really hurts the Jazz's chances of advancing.  Basketball has been called a ballet in sneakers.  I don't know if I would go that far, but they are amazing athletes!  I watched Michael Jordan play live once when he was on his second return to the NBA, as I had watch Dr. J, when he was still in the ABA with the Nets.  I used to think that I would never again see their equal, but I have to be honest LeBron if he isn't at that level, he is certainly knocking on the door.

Where am I going with this, well I found a great quote by one of the more successful coaches in NBA history, Pat Riley.  He is one of the few that won championships with two different teams.  There is an arguement to be made that even I could win with Magic, Kareem, Worthy and Wilkes.  Winning with D Wade and Shaq put an end to that argument. 

The quote is this:  "Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better."

This is a great quote, I believe that too many, especially myself, expect perfection from the outset, but Riley is right, it is a process that if we're constantly getting better we can achieve a level of perfection. 

Go out and Make it a Great Weekend!

I have sat here for hours trying to think of what I could possibly write about that would be a benefit to someone else out there.  I have been thinking of one of my favorite poems.  It talks about failure, success, time management, risks, rewards and life.  It is honestly one of the classic poems ever, it is by Rudyard Kipling and entitled If,

                     If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

The last three words could be changed to simply be a success.  I am not going to change them, to me, that would just be wrong, but this is a pretty good blueprint of what is necessary to be successful in life and in business.  I have struggled with what to write and remain positive, I hope that others can draw as much strength from it as I have.  Make it a Great Thursday!

Here in Southern Utah it looks like that for the most part Spring has arrived.  The lawns are getting green and the trees are blooming with leaves soon to jump out and create a beautiful green also.  Lawnmowers and weedeaters are being used throughout the neighborhoods around Cedar City.  Kids are walking to and from school wearing shorts and tee shirts.

What does any of this have to do with Real Estate? 

It is a great time to go and update the photographs that you have of your listings!  Get rid of the front shot where the driveway and walk ways were just paths between the snow banks.  Get rid of the dormant, dead looking trees and lawns and replace them with vibrant, verdant shots.  If we do this, the buyer may realize that it is a beautiful home with a beautiful, green yard and lots of great trees.  Instead of thinking that the house is about a half a block from the North Pole, they will realize that it is in Cedar City, or what ever your town is!