THE Gadget for 2005

Finally, my wish has come true! For the past couple years, I have been in search of a certain kind of audio solution for my home. Being a gadget junkie and an audiophile, I always thought it would be cool to control the music throughout my house from my computer. I have thousands of songs downloaded, I mean copied from the CD's I purchased, but the only way I can really enjoy them is by playing them on my computer or ipod.

In January, a company called SONOS is releasing a product that allows you to play your digital music all over the house, controlled from a full color hand-held remote control. It works like this: You buy the SONOS Zone Player units (one for in each room you want music). Plug in ordinary bookshelf speakers to the Zone Player and control what music plays using the remote control. So, basically, you can put your entire CD collection onto your computer, and play that music anywhere in your house at any time. AND IT'S WIRELESS. If you have multiple Zone Players, you can play different songs or playlists in different areas of the house. You could even buy one for the back yard and buy those 'speaker rock' things...you know, half speaker, half boulder.

Anyway, this system costs a small fortune (about $1200 for 2 Zone Players and the Remote), but if you've ever wanted to transmit your music throughout the house, without having to run a bunch of cable or wire, this is THE gadget for 2005. Check out their site at www.sonos.com.

Oh, and they make great gifts too :)

-Jeff

Making It Count

If you've ever know an Italian family, you know that many of the stereotypes are true about them. They are passionate about family, food and holidays. In my family, Christmas is not a day, it's a month. Now you might think that's strange, but I've always liked getting in the spirit early. To this day, we still maintain our family Christmas Light Ritual. We dress up my folk's house in Griswold-like fashion and have our 'lighting ceremony' on Thanksgiving. We get our tree the next weekend and we're usually all set by December 1. Throughout my adult life I have been haunted, however, with one affliction: Shop-At-The-Last-Minute syndrome. But...

NOT THIS YEAR BABY!

Here we are...November 4th and I have almost half of my shopping done. This year I am finally going to be The Guy Who Gets His Shopping Done Early™. Why the sudden change? Well, this year I figured something out about myself. I've finally learned that I always had the vision, but never the plan. It wasn't until I wrote down my plan step-by-step that it finally became my reality.

I didn't intend for this to be a cheezy segue, but I've put together a new seminar. It's entitled Marketing Strategy 2005. What's different about my seminar is that I not only talk about how to create your strategy for 2005, but I give you the tools to actually make it your reality. It's a discussion that joins business strategy with technology. If you'd like to see this 1 hour presentation, you can sign up for it at http://www.fidelitytraining.com/ or email me and I can arrange to do the class for your office.

Now go get your shopping done.

Ciao.
Jeff

Get out there and vote ya'll.

Just A Quick Update

Houston, we have a buyer. I won't subject you to photo's of my ex-house any longer. Thanks to all of you who passed the word along.

Two weeks ago, we took my brother to Las Vegas for his 30th birthday. Now, we're not big gamblers...in fact, when we go to Vegas we'll drop maybe a hundy or two in the slot machines or on a table, but the majority of our time is exploring the hotels or the local sights. This time, we rented a car and actually got to see some of the things off the strip. Hoover Dam, Red Rocks, and Claim Jumper Restaurant were all stops during our day. The reason I bring this up is that you need to check out my brother's website. He's an amateur photographer and he took some amazing shots of Vegas (and other places). Visit his site HERE.

On the tech side, if you haven't had a chance to check out the new version of PLAXO, you should. Version 2.0 allows you to upload your contacts, calendar, notes and task to your own webspace. This allows you to have access to all of your Outlook info online, through Plaxo's website. Not only can you view your valuable information, but you can update it as well. This is a GREAT solution for those of us working from more than one location. The program is free, check it out.

Two new employee updates. We hired a new sales representative for our Lake Oswego office. Her name is Elizabeth Jansen. If you're out in L.O., make sure you meet up with her...she's fantastic. And many of you in Gresham already know that Alex Nelson (formerly of the customer service dept) is the new representative out there. He was born & raised in Gresham and will be a great addition to the team out there.

Have a great October!

Jeff

The Digital Life  

A couple new things here at Fidelity worth mentioning:  

1. Fidelity's Digital Marketing Warehouse:  This CD is loaded with tons of Publisher templates, already designed [by yours truly] and ready to go.  You simple drop your logo and photo in and edit the text.  I've got tons of templates; brochures, flyers, postcards, marketing cards, market update, themed cards, homebook templates...and on and on.  If you want to get a copy of this CD, email me and I'll set up a time to demo it for you.  

2. Data Exchange:  This one is big HUGE.  In one sentence:  This program allows you to digitally streamline many of the tasks you already do when you take a listing.  Order a sign...done.  Just listed/sold...done.  3rd party letter from Fidelity sent to your client endorsing YOUR services...done.  Hear me now: A.U.T.O.M.A.T.I.C.A.L.L.Y.  Please take a look at this one...you won't be sorry.  Email Me for a demo.  

I've got more stuff to talk about in my e-newsletter.  I'll be emailing that thing out this week I think.  

Side note:  I don't know if you read that RMLS Market Action report thing, but this month, it mentioned that there is currently only 2.4 months of inventory left.  By my calculations, at the current rate, we should be completely out of inventory by December of this year...Merry Christmas everybody!  You'll be happy to know that I've talked to several people in our California operations [they had a similar inventory 'issue' already] who have assured me that they're already rebounding down there.  :)  

"Drive thy business or it will drive thee" -Benjamin Franklin.  

-Jeff

Yeah, Yeah...I'm Getting To It!

When I started this website about 4 years ago, I vowed never to be That Guy Who Doesn't Update His Site. 2 Months since my last post...nice work Jeff.

Fidelity has kept me very busy over the past few months...so much so, I'm having to restructure my job a little. No, not "restructure" in the corporate sense, but rather reorganizing my time and resources so that I can reach more people in a timely manner. The coolest thing about working for this company is that I have the ability to create and innovate. I have responsibilities, but don't follow a job description. That said, I am responsible for delivering 'the goods'...and lately I haven't been doing that.

If you're one of the 4 or 5 dozen people who have waited 2 days+ to get a call back from me...thanks! As I reorganize my business this month, you should see my response time quicken and my appointment availability open up. The best way to communicate with me, still, is via email.

Hey, the coolest news this month is that our Pearl branch is finally set to open...I believe the grand opening is July 6th or 7th. The address is 430 NW 10th Avenue #150. Check out the new space!

Check out the HumanClock.

Delivering The Goods

In my short business career I've learned one thing: for every problem, there's an opportunity to shine.

Over the past 3 months, I've had intermittent problems with my Comcast Internet. My modem resets randomly, then I can't get on for a couple of days, then I can, then I can't. I called tech support and the guy said nothing was wrong, the "system must be busy". On Friday, I had had enough. I called 1-888-COMCAST & asked for a technician this time. They told me he'd be out at my house on Saturday, between 8 and 10 AM.

At 8:05 AM, I got a call from Robert, our Comcast technician, to verify our appointment for that morning. He arrived shortly thereafter and greeted us warmly. He said "hi" to my kids first, who were bouncing on the couch. As I was getting ready to show him to the home office he said, "well, actually, I think I've already found your problem. On his way in, he glanced up and saw that our overhead cable line (yes, I live in Portland. We have overhead utilities) was partially broken, probably by a squirrel or the ice in January.

To make a long story short, Robert, in his 3 1/2 hour visit, replaced the overhead line, and also felt the need to replace my digital cable line as well as all of the coaxial cable leading to our computer. He also installed a signal booster for the upstairs bedrooms. On his way out, he thanked ME.

Total Charge: $0. ($40 for his cost on the booster)

Comcast shined today.

With all of the technology in the world, it still clear that it's the tiny human touches that make a difference.

Add something human to your business...people will notice.

Yack, Yack, Yack

3 words...This Weather Rocks! This post will contain some miscellaneous stuff I've been thinking about.

1) The RMLS Technology Show is coming up on April 22nd at the Convention Center. We have a killer location this year...when you walk in the doors look straight and to the left and you'll run right into our booth. We've got a bunch of cool stuff on tap for this years show. We'll be demo-ing Tookie Tracks, the Real Estate add-in for Microsoft Outlook. and showcasing Imprev, the Online Design Center for Real Estate. Stop by our booth and pick up our Multimedia Brochure outlining all of Fidelity's new technology & marketing products. I think our theme this year will be "tons-o-stuff".

2) We posted some new classes at www.fidelitytraining.com. At the site, you'll find our usual fare, plus NEW classes on Computer Security, Microsoft Excel & Palm Pilots. Stop by and sign up for a class or two.

3) We have this little sports pub in my neighborhood called "The Skybox". On their little reader board last week was the following message: "Martha Stewart Special: Garlic Bread And Water". I thought it was worth mentioning.

4) The Meucci Theorem of Gadgetosis: Equilibrium=iPod + iTunes (or E=i+i, algebraically expressed). Get one.

Seacrest...Out!

Well, the calendar has control of me again. If you're one of the 243 people who have left me a voicemail or email last week, I promise to try to get back to you this weekend. In the absence of a free minute, and a momentary lack of personal creativity, I give you this:

"I was recently at the bank with a client, an attorney named George, when one of his clients came in. George's client raved, and I mean raved, about George's performance. The client liked both George's service and George's personality, and told him what a pleasure it was to do business with him. George just blushed and thanked him.

After his client left, I suggested to George that the next time he should thank the client for his kind words, and then do two other things. First, he should ask his client to put his compliments in writing, so George can include the letter in all future proposals. Second, right after the client gushed about his service, George should have asked the magical question: 'That is nice of you to say. Who else may I serve?' Even if your client doesn't have anyone immediately in mind, at least you plant the seed for future referrals.

Most businesspeople, if they ask for referrals at all, ask at the wrong time, either too soon in the relationship or too late, when it's awkward. The best time to ask for a referral is immediately after a client has praised your service."

(An excerpt from Richard Buckingham's book Customer Once, Client Forever).

New Years Resolutions?

If increasing your knowledge was on your list of 2004 resolutions, read on...

One of the things I love about my job is that fact that I get to go out and teach. I've taught a variety of classes to real estate agents ranging from Microsoft Outlook, to Publisher to E-Marketing Strategies. I usually get great feedback from the seminars, however one of the negative recurring comments I get goes something like:

"Jeff, the seminar was great, but even with the handouts, I won't remember half of what you showed us".

Well, in case you missed it...we've taken a step in the right direction. Fidelity has invested in a training room at our new administration/title plant location downtown. The training room is equipped with 10 Dell Laptops, drop down screen, projector, nice leather chairs, coffee etc. What does that mean to you?

HANDS ON TRAINING BABY!

Check out www.fidelitytraining.com to sign up for a class. Check back often, because we have plans to add a bunch more!

FAQ:
1. Q: Do I get credit hours? A: Yes
2. Q: Do you validate parking? A: Yes, check website
3. Q: Is there a fee? A: Classes are free to Agents

This is one resolution you CAN accomplish! Check it out.