Women's Wisdom Network (827)
Every year and in every way, I try to help create more Anticipatory Leaders and individuals working at Anticipatory Organizations as opposed to reactionary ones who quickly miss opportunities that are in plain sight. The major cornerstone to an Anticipatory mindset is my Hard Trend Methodology, where we discern between Hard Trend future certainties that are based on future facts that will happen and Soft Trends that are open to influence. This effort lets you see disruption before it disrupts and solve problems before they occur, turning disruption into a choice. Highlighting the three categories of my Hard Trend Methodology — technology, government regulations, and demographics — one of them is a constant that all organizations in every industry should be paying as much mind to as possible: demographics.
In a recent episode of my “Opportunity Hour: Conversations with the Masters,” I invited Dr. Ken Dychtwald to speak on the subject of the Baby Boomer age…
Is it time for a break? Okay..so the kids are on Spring break, but when do you get to take a break? Why don't we just TAKE one?It’s that time of the year again. You know, Spring break, upcoming graduations along with the non-stop schedule of buying gifts, prepping food, baking cookies, keeping the house sparkling clean, going to parties, relatives to visit, and on and on and on.
You race from one event to the next, and fall in bed exhausted. There’s never enough time to pack it all in, and by the time you are close to catching up, you just might be a tad irritable, worn-out, and maybe even sick from the latest bug going around. And somewhere in all of that chaos, you’re supposed to be focused on business and hitting your year-end sales goals. It’s enough to make you sit down and cry.…
Both the 10yr and the 5.5% 30MBS have broken through their 200 day moving averages and it looks like they are wanting to improve even further. What stands between us and further improvement can be employment news today and tomorrow. We have the unemployment number Thursday and the March jobs report on Friday. Given the data we have seen reported earlier this week from ADP, if unemployment claims go higher and the jobs report on Friday shows weakening, the bond market could see more space to improve. While I don’t think we can see a massive move, weaker numbers can help sustain this rally and could very well lead us to the FED pausing rate increases and signal inflation is coming under control from previous rate hikes. We all know that these rate hikes take about a year to fully impact the markets, and the first hike was just a…
Limited new listings are making it feel like a seller’s market in some parts of the U.S. even though sales are down by double digits. Some markets still feel cool. Although elevated mortgage rates continue to dampen homebuying demand, low inventory means home are selling fast in some parts of the country, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. The pool of homes available to buyers is shrinking quickly. That’s mainly because new listings are scarce. New listings fell 21.8% from a year earlier nationwide during the four weeks ending April 2, one of the biggest drops since the start of the pandemic, contributing to an unseasonal early-spring decline in the total number of homes for sale. Many homeowners are staying put because they’re unwilling to give up their low mortgage rate. Although average 30-year mortgage rates posted their fourth-straight decline this week, dropping…
The future itself is uncertain, and this is an all-too-often scary realization for businesses of all sizes and industries. Where is your specific industry headed? Will a new technology come to be that leaves your current technology or operation completely in the dust? Will your customer base take a dramatic turn in their wants and needs? These are only a fraction of the questions that plague businesses on a daily basis. Yes, the future is uncertain and this may strike fright in some. But to me, this uncertainty is exciting and full of opportunity thanks to the skills that come with an Anticipatory mindset! The difference between those that fear the uncertain future versus those that find it exhilarating and ripe with opportunity is one’s ability to more clearly see the future in front of them and in turn, feel confident leveraging it to their advantage. And in my Hard Trend…
Another week, and another group of people who are shocked by the reality of the markets. To some people it wasn’t a surprise that pending home sales were UP .8% instead of the projected -2.3%. Those that were projecting, didn’t know what we all were seeing, interest is up, credit pulls are up, pre-approvals are UP! So of course we have people making offers and properties going under contract!
Rates are an excuse, not a reason. Anyone who thinks it’s about rates, really needs to understand how to calculate payments and explain that the interest rate on renting is 100%, FOREVER! Inventory isn’t an excuse, it’s an OPPORTUNITY! If you can’t find an agent that can understand that, then go explain it to an agent so that they can, then work with them until they DO! How are all these homes going under contract if there isn’t any…
Redfin’s Homebuyer Demand Index jumped as prices fell for the sixth-straight week and mortgage rates declined for the third week in a row. But a lack of new listings is holding back sales. House hunters are wading into the market as mortgage rates and home prices continue to decline, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Mortgage-purchase applications increased for the fourth week in a row and Redfin’s Homebuyer Demand Index—a seasonally adjusted measure of requests to tour homes, make an offer and/or talk to a Redfin agent about a home search—jumped to its highest level since last May during the week ending March 26.
“My phone is ringing, and it’s usually first-time buyers or investors,” said San Francisco Redfin agent Ali Mafi. “First-time buyers are interested in looking at homes because prices have come down, though they’re still concerned about high…
Despite slim pickings and affordability challenges, buyers got a jump on spring shopping in March, but rising rates could cause a late-spring frost Spring is officially here, and like green shoots emerging from the bleak winter, new data suggests that more buyers are back in the market, although more subdued compared to a year ago. According to the Realtor.com® Monthly Housing Trends Report released today, the recent six-month surge in active listings lost momentum, moderating to 59.9% year-over-year, and time on market shrank to 54 days, from January’s high of 74 days, as buyers eased back into the market in March, but higher mortgage rates could freeze them back out. “Signs show that buyers are active in the spring housing market, even if they aren’t as numerous as they were during the pandemic. Amid fewer new choices on the market and still rising home prices, home shoppers have shown that…
Business is uncertain, as the future is an uncertain place to be in no matter what industry your business or organization is part of. Because uncertain times are a commonality, how do small to medium-sized businesses or startup companies find their way through the many uncertain times we all face? Through many of my writings, I explore my Hard Trend Methodology where a business leader or organization as a whole realigns their focus on Hard Trend future certainties to determine what they know is certain to happen. Acting as a metaphorical compass that guides you through times of extreme uncertainty, Hard Trends point directly at the evidence of what you can be certain about by highlighting what will continue. This then leads a business or organization to Anticipatory action! Hard Trends can be heeded by all, but what I like to focus on intently is the importance of their role in the exponential growth of small to…
I have been asked to put together a program for companies or individual branches to take advantage of the coaching program while helping control costs. After spending some time working through the process with a handful of current clients, I have put together a program I think will help meet the needs of those facing challenges. The program is just a framework and can be adjusted to individual needs. Here are the basics. Initial site visit to understand the needs and direction of each individual group. This will be a full day at your location working with those you choose to share the challenges and needs of the program. A specific targeted follow-up planning session to get the management clear on the process and direction coaching will take, and the prioritized areas of attention. Up to ten weekly coaching accountability sessions of 30 minutes each to work one on one…
With the advancement of digital devices and technology, many employees as well as consumers are becoming more advanced and technologically savvy than companies and even their IT departments! This is an internal disruption quickly taking place across industries and has been for some time. While businesses can certainly benefit from the ever-expanding consumerization of IT, there are also challenges that must be faced, especially as the workforce becomes more hybrid than ever before. Traditionally the consumerization of IT referred to employees increasing reliance on their personal devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers, in business settings. But with the more recent influx of hybrid and remote work opportunities, many employees are now finding their own software applications to help get their job done better as well.
As more sophisticated apps and other profound software developments are more readily available to the professional consumer, the average person’s knowledge base is…
It is with a heavy heart I have to share the news that my friend and mentor, Greg Frost Sr. past away on Tuesday. While many of those who will read this or see the Vlog post may not have known Greg, you are all the beneficiaries of what he has done, and for those he mentored along the way. Greg was the original icon in our industry. He was first to do so many things and he sustained a level of excellence for decades! He also was a man who loved to share his wisdom and always had time to talk with and offer advice to even the lowliest of originators. I know this because I was once a struggling young originator who saw him speak and had the courage to ask for his help. He shared some of his thoughts, set me on a path, and gave me…
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First, let me say that I appreciate all the kind words and messages about the series we just completed on mentoring and the mentoring mindset. It’s always nice to put in the work and be rewarded with a great outcome; so I thank you all for your support! Following that thought process, isn’t it interesting to see all the excuses as to why more houses aren’t selling or that we aren’t doing more loans? It really is something, here are some of my favorites:
Interest rates are too high and nobody can buy a house now! Well, average rates for 30-year fixed rate loans have averaged 8.76% since the 1970’s, plenty of homes were sold with rates much higher than they are now! Inventory is low because people won’t sell and give up their 2.5% mortgage! Some may not, but 35% of all mortgages in place now are…
Plantation shutters are a classic and timeless window treatment that can add value to any home. They not only provide excellent light control and privacy but also enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of a room. However, choosing the right style and color of plantation shutters can be a daunting task, especially if you are trying to match them with your home decor. In this article, we will discuss how to style your plantation shutters to complement your home decor, whether your style is modern, traditional, or somewhere in between. Modern Style: Choosing the Right Color When it comes to modern decor, the key is to keep things simple and minimalistic. For a clean and contemporary look, choose plantation shutters in neutral colors such as white, gray, or black. These colors will create a crisp and clean backdrop, allowing other elements in the room to stand out. If you have a…
Connect Social, An Amazing Merchant Ecosystem and User Social Platform Scheduled to Launch Fall 2023
Connect Social was born at a meeting of like-minded entrepreneurs in a coffee shop in the spring of 2019. Tired of the ever-growing dominance of Amazon in the retail sector and seeking to find a way to better utilize social media for enterprise purposes, the idea behind Connect was formed. A revolutionary new, free of charge, social network ecosystem where users would be paid for their data. Merchants would, in turn, have Connect Social consumers shopping with them, and be provided with a low cost trackable and result-driven advertising method, with which they could market directly to the exact consumer they want. Consumers and merchants will transact in a brand new, never been done before, a centralized economy driven by a freely distributed and exchanged currency (a loyalty token) – truly revolutionary! So, in the fall of 2019 Connect Social started testing in a single city with merchants and consumers, offering…
Great ideas do not always come from the top down. As a matter of fact, some of the most transformative ideas that have gone on to change the world have been from a lower- to mid-level employee. From the iPod at Apple to the Happy Meal at McDonald’s—both digital and physical innovations in all industries have often stemmed from collaborative creativity at all levels. As a low- to mid-level employee, your ideas are likely important to you, but will they be perceived as great ideas to the CEO, CFO, board of directors, or other integral decision makers at your organization? Most likely, at first the answer will be no, but you can change that! By mastering the concept of selling up your ideas, your intrapreneurial spirit will shine brightly, giving you the chance to take the organization you work for to stratospheric levels. And as a C-suite executive or a…
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