I bet my I.Q. is insanely higher than yours ;) lol

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since I posted. I’m trying to achieve my goal of posting 3 times or more a week.

I’m more or less taking Friday off again, though I did some work this morning on getting my iPhone back up and running. For some reason it stopped syncing properly with the computer a few weeks ago (at the last OS update???) and I was beginning to lose contacts. Unfortunately, none of the fixes I found online worked, and I ended up erasing my whole address book and re-importing the old contacts as vCards. That means I have to go back and reorganize by hand the various groups I had, as well as re-type the Notes for each contact. REALLY irritating.

Last night some friends from church came over for dinner. They gave me permission to add them to my database, and also offered a referral. Yea! Need to follow up Sunday and get addresses.

Also got a referral and a new CAP member through Arapahoe Community College’s Spring International Language Institute. A 19-year-old student from UAE needs a new host family, and his father wants to buy a townhome in Denver, anticipating that not only this boy but others in the family will need a place to live while studying here. Word from the school staff is that the father is kind of hard to deal with, but that’s nothing new for me. If anything, I’m pretty good at that, though it takes its toll on me emotionally and psychologically.

Made progress this week on doing my taxes and learning Quicken. Spent 3 hours with my accountant ($150) and got instructions on what to do. I’m seeing him again next Tuesday afternoon to submit the necessary paperwork for him to do my taxes.

I bought the most recent Mac version of Quicken and downloaded January ‘08 transactions from my bank. I’ll need to import the data and get set up, but it was clear from my conversation with Don (accountant) that spending a couple hours once a month to update my Quicken files will make my tax filings TONS easier and TONS more accurate.

Monday’s closing took nearly all day, since the weather was bad and I had to drive out to the title company’s office twice, then to the buyers’ house. Nice little payday, but frustrating to lose the day.

The boy whose dad was referred by the college is planning to come by to decide whether he wants to stay here. It’d be nice to have the extra $600/month income, as well as someone to eat with and talk to, but I’m a little nervous about having a Muslim kid staying with me, being gay and all. Don’t know how he’d react. In any case, he has to be out of his current homestay by Sunday, so we may go ahead and do it and see how it pans out.

W, the client who is always such a butthead, continues to work with other brokers. After hiring another broker to write up an offer on the King Street property, that fell through. Serves him right, since I was the one who brought it to him. He’s since used that other broker to make yet another offer on a property, this time, though, it wasn’t one I brought him and it seems to have failed, too. I found another possibility for him yesterday only to learn that his other broker beat me to the punch. Can’t wait to get rid of this client! My listing of his on Julian Street opens for showings tomorrow, but W wants me to hold off on doing any open houses. I hate doing open houses, but that was my biggest source of business last year and I really can’t afford not to.

Got my folks on board with helping me find a place to volunteer in Africa at the end of the year. They have many friends who are from or connected to Africa.

Saw the movie War Dance the other day, about kids living in the Patongo refugee camp in northern Uganda who join a national music competition. Touched my heart. Can’t find any volunteer opportunities specifically in Patongo, but continue to look. I’m getting excited about doing this. Still looking for a poster for the office to use as a motivator.

I’ll have to work hard this weekend to make up for a lazy and distracted week. I have several phone calls to return. I’ll try to do at least 5 pop-bys tomorrow, get 10 note cards out, and make those calls.

D, the homeless man I’ve been trying to help out has continued to be both trouble and IN trouble this week. He managed to get thrown out of the church under threat of arrest. He finally decided to leave Colorado and go to Arizona where he has connections. I bought him a non-refundable bus ticket, but now his mother, who lives in subsidized housing, has gotten into it with management over him staying with her, and has decided to move out, basically putting her on the streets, as well, and D’s not going to leave Denver if his mom’s homeless. He clearly has emotional trouble and needs help with more than just housing and a job. He flies off the handle, threatens people and it looks to me more and more like a return to jail is the most likely scenario. That wouldn’t be so bad if they offered some kind of mental health help, but if they just warehouse him it only postpones the issues till he gets out again. At this rate, he may just kill someone before it’s all done.

Well, there’s time for a short nap before the student calls, assuming he does. BFN 

I woke up with severe chest pain again, so I have a call in to my doctor. No call back yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s related to the return of my ulcers. Hopefully I can get on Meds and get more comfortable. It really takes it out of me to be in pain all the time.
I’m taking the day off, though I have chorus friends coming over to watch videos tonight. That is, if anyone shows. Thornton probably will, but he’s the least interesting friend I have. Partly because of his stutter, spending time with him is exhausting. I still need to clean house today.
This morning I’m driving Dwayne around helping him with errands. He’s the homeless guy I’ve been trying to help. He’s irritatingly out of touch with reality. A church friend, Ben, has offered to let him stay indefinitely, but that’s not good enough for Dwayne. He has to have his own place “by Monday” or else. Even if he has to use someone else’s money to do it.
Failed to meet my goal of spending time with Paul in january. So far I’ve sent out ten notes this week and left voicemail for a few clients. Gotta do better.
Coach is encouraging me to organize my finances. Gotta do it, and work on taxes.

Yesterday I got out my notes, and then got waylaid with phone calls. I put up a valence in my guest room, put away the Christmas decorations, painted a couple bulletin boards, and hoped to do more.

I ran out of steam, though. While I was at Home Depot Paul, my coach, called and we talked for half an hour. I’m having a slight surge in business, and I’ve actually had a few referrals (and given a few). I still need to follow up on his advice.

 Last night I baked a Cornish game hen. I may have undercooked it a little, because I had diarrhea, and then woke up several times in the night with chest pain. I think it was indigestion, but I actually had an episode where I couldn’t breathe. I should probably go to the doctor—my chest still hurts today. It’s just such a pain in the ass, and it seems to be getting better as time goes by. 

Wayne called last night to say that his purchase of King may fall through, and he wants to look for something else. I’ve looked and sent him some things. If I had any balls at all I’d refuse unless he signs an agency contract. I suspect, though, that he’d decline.

I’m excited about  going on a 1-month volunteer mission in Africa after the Chorus’ Holiday Concert. I have brochures and info coming, and am using it as a motivator to get back on track in my business.

Well, I’m not sure why, but I’m feeling a little better today. Yesterday I went to nearby Praise Church expecting a worship service with lots of music. Turns out it was a charismatic church. Call me a bigot, but while I have no problem going to a black church where services are a little wild, seeing white middle-aged suburban men in coats and ties jumping up and down and being slain in the Spirit creeps me out. I left before the sermon and headed back to MCCR for their 11 o’clock.

Dwayne, the homeless 24-year-old I’ve been trying to help out was there and asked me to call the landlord of the place he want to rent. Don’t know why, but I guess I’m paying for it after my closing next week. I don’t mind, but I really want him to get on his feet and stop mooching off me and off his mother.

 I also got up the nerve to ask Kirk and Eugene over for dinner on Friday night. Promised to cook Japanese food. I’m really excited about it. Jim began a series on Exodus, and his point was that by being open to God’s work, and by asking Him, He’ll keep us moving forward, however slowly, and that the end is not the same place as the beginning (rather than just coming full circle). I’ve been feeling so distant from God, having such deep doubts about my faith. But sitting there at prayer time I took to heart Jim’s advice to “Ask!” and prayed for a friend. I feel like all my efforts at making friends are mostly to generate business. The advice to “Fake it till you make it” means that I can’t be genuine about my struggle with depression and loneliness. I really need a friend.

Saw a good movie Saturday night, “Eternal Summer.” Chinese film about two kids who become friends when the teacher asks one to look after the other who is a bit of a troublemaker. When the get into university, one has fallen in love with the other and can’t/won’t say why he’s become cold and distant. Reminded me of several of my relationships from years ago, and the Asian context really made it hit home. Choked me up and made me feel that much more deeply my loneliness. That’s why I was thinking of friends at church on Sunday.

Steve Layman gave me a referral at church—said his brother plans to move within the next year.

Lots of talk at Chorus rehearsal of the GALA retreat in Miami in Florida in July. They’re suggesting sharing 4 to a room. I really want to be more gregarious, but sharing a room is tough for me, and sharing a bed is almost unthinkable. I fart and snore so badly all night long I can barely stand myself. How could I possibly expect anyone else to put up with me!? That said, I’ve had a minor crush on a 20-something Hispanic kid and got up the nerve to ask if he’d found roommates. He said “not yet, but I’ve had several offers.” I hate competing for friends, but I left it that I’d be happy to share with him. I should take him to lunch and try to warm up the relationship.

Today, Monday, I didn’t do much work. I answered the phone, scheduled a closing, took a stack of listings over and left them in a client’s door. I got a call from Dale H., whose house I listed (but didn’t sell) a couple years ago, and his company is moving him back to Denver, so he wants to buy again. I’d basically written him off because his daughter got a broker’s license and when he re-listed he did it with her and stiffed me. Apparently she’s out of the biz now, so I get to sell him a house if he moves back. Yea!

Tonight I bought a new battery for my laptop ($150) and then unpacked some boxes and put away some books and DVDs. Felt good! did away with some of the crap in my garage, and am motivated to work more on the office tomorrow.

There are so many of my goals I haven’t worked on at all since my last coaching call. I’m supposed to be making 25 calls/wk, but getting less than 10 done. Should be passing out 5 biz cards/day but only doing 1/wk. Should be getting my taxes done. Not yet. Should be sending out HUD-1s to last year’s clients. Not yet. Should be putting together budgets, getting incorporating papers filed, getting ABR designation finished. All not yet. About the only thing I’ve been really good with is sending out 30 postcards/wk.

Tomorrow’s a new day. Gotta try to Win the Day. 

Wednesday morning is here. I have been really struggling with depression the past few weeks. At a meeting with my real estate mentor he mentioned that once one figures out the “why” the “how” will come easier. That’s had me thinking about my “why.”

I really want to be financially independent. I want to be able to have the things that make my life comfortable. And I want to be able to give without reserve. Mostly I want to be doing something that helps people, particularly kids, meet their physical and emotional needs.

 I think if I were a high school student now I might be a “Goth.” I tend to see the world in very dark terms. It’s such work for me to be “up” in front of people. I just feel tired all the time, counting the minutes till I can reasonably get back in bed.

 Business is slowing for me. I have one closing scheduled for Feb 4, and one new listing for Wayne on Julian street which won’t really become active for another couple weeks. He’s still working on the property.

 Yesterday I sent out 10 note cards, and over the weekend I did 9 pop-bys and 5 calls. My coach tells me that I need to be having 25 conversations a week to generate 10 leads and 5 deals each month. That’s because my goal is to close 24 transactions this year.

In terms of finding a “why,” my coach suggests I make plans to do something I really want to do this year. I’d love to go back to Africa, maybe work for a month or two with Habitat for Humanity or a children’s organization. He suggests putting up posters in the office as motivators.

The truth is that I’m once again re-considering my career in real estate. Of all the things I have wanted to do in my life—teacher, reporter, doctor, counselor—real estate was never on the radar. Even now, the only reason I can see to do it is to finance other things.

I’m scared of my finances and my tax liability. I think one reason I’m so irresponsible in my spending is that I’m afraid to look at my bank account. If I know the details I have to take responsibility for fixing it. The bills from the remodel are starting to come due and I’m falling behind. It seems every time I look at the bank account there’s far less money there than I think there should be.

Well, gotta do it. Tax day is just around the corner, and some of these bills are on Mom & Dad’s accounts so any irresponsibility on my part affects their credit. Not good. Gotta pay those off first. 

A lot’s happened since I POSTEd last. I’ve joined a Buffini and am paying nearly $500/month for coaching. I CONfess that I’m not very good at following my coach’s suggestions. 

Client “W,” whom I complained about last April, has continued to be a pain in the ass. I have had several more listings from him and sold them for exactly what I told him they’d sell for. He’s continued to ignore my advice and overprice by $20K each time, and so is pissed at me when in the end they bring in exactly what I advised him they would. 

One of his complaints has been that I never bring him good properties. Well, I gave him a great property the other day. He took the info and bought the property I introduced to him (and spent time and money thoroughly researching) through another agent, apparently out of spite that I am making too much money off of him. My coach says I have to fire him. I can’t wait, but I still have to develop other sources of business first. 

More later. 

One of the big five record companies has announced that starting in May music published by EMI will be sold without Digital Rights Management through iTunes and other online music stores.

Could this be the beginning of a trend? Hard to judge. It seems like more of an experiment being carried out by a smaller publisher. I hope that the public makes clear their support for DRM-free music by purchasing those tracks (in spite of the added cost at iTunes) and by steering clear of DRMed tracks by other publishers.