Marys Community Corner

What an honor it is to be standing up here in front of so many talented agents. I want to say that it has taken a village to get me from where I was one year ago to where I stand today. First, I want to thank two key people who, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here. Tony Montalvo, my best friend and worst enemy, who I fought with often in the early years, but without whose mentorship, I would not be in the business today. Brent Moore has supported me throughout some incredible ups and as importantly has been a beacon of light during some real challenges. Thank you, Brent. Thank you to Jennifer and her staff, who go above and beyond, and exhibit far more patience than I am sure I deserve. Thanks to Maggie who keeps my office running smoothly, dealing with all the details I abhor, but most importantly, Maggie, our clients love you. I hear it over and over again. With that warmth reaching out from our office, you are letting people know that we DO care- and that mak...

Success often depends on the ability to manage our time well. Whether scheduling meetings, doing the books, training new people or introducing a new product or service, successful business owners know that every day is a calculated race against the clock. But what about non-business time? That has a dollar value, too. How you use—or misuse—your free time is a determining factor in the quality of life you and your family enjoy. That’s why some people can work 70 or 80 hours a week, yet still manage to participate in a highly rewarding home life. Meanwhile, others see leisure time as an opportunity to channel surf the television and then fall asleep on the couch. Or they devote their down time to household chores and yard maintenance, even though they’d rather be out playing golf. We Spend Time…Just Like We Spend Money We can waste time…just like we can waste money. You may want to ask yourself, “how can you get the best value from your non-working time?” Evaluate how to best use time in...

I am awake tonight, my spouse in bed, and I am contemplating Forgiveness. Why, some may ask. And it is no wonder. I met my spouse at the age of 40… and came to the relationship with more than a little baggage. She knows that deeply. Even after 10 years of sharing love, passion, and life, I still have some work to do. Not life changing work. More like life affirming work. I found a webpage and it speaks to me on this topic: http://www.bhaktilife.com/forgiveness.html “The spiritual path is a path of letting go of our false identities and learning to identify with our True Nature - the Self. Forgiveness is an essential element of letting go, a purification that clears away karma. Karma, both good and bad, binds us to our human existence. Karma is the unfinished business we have with the world. When Jesus hung on the cross he asked God to "forgive them, for they know not what they do." His Cosmic Compassion and Cosmic Wisdom allowed Him to forgive those who were torturing Him and...

How many of these 10 secrets of success do you practice? How you think is everything . Remember to “think positive” at every opportunity. Visualize success, not failure. Avoid negative environments and people. You are what you think. In fact, a study shows that positive thinking actually increases longevity . Decide on your dreams and goals . Be specific about your goals. For example, say “I am taking a cooking class next month,” rather than “I would like to take a cooking class sometime.” Create a plan to reach your goals, and stick to it. Take action. Goals alone have no meaning; you need to take action to make them real. Don’t let fear hold you back. "Just do it." Never stop learning. Take classes, go back to school, read books, join a discussion group. If you are interested in a subject, make time to learn about it. Keep acquiring new skills. For more information, read The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Older Adults . Be persistent and work hard . You’ve probably hear...