GOD Has Told Me EVERY Move to Make in My Career. REALLY!

HOW DID I KNOW THAT REAL ESTATE WAS WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO?

     I prayed.  I was still.  I listened and God spoke and showed me the way and the sign...LITERALLY!

   Almost 20 years ago, I was a high school Spanish teacher and volleyball coach.  You see, I knew at an early age that I was going to be a teacher.  Of that, I had no doubt.  I never dreamed of the route God would take me to get to where I needed to be right now!

     It was a rainy day in Rowlett, Texas 18 years ago.  I had started my normal morning routine with my Spanish I class that mainly consisted of high school freshmen and sophomores.  I know...joy! After about 10 long minutes of saying, "Stop doing that! Be quiet! Leave her alone! Put that down! Sit down! Stop talking! Shhhhh!", an epiphany just hit me. 

     I sat down at my desk.  Not one soul noticed I wasn't teaching and every student was just chatting away.  I began writing my letter of resignation to my school.  The entire 45 minutes went by without anyone saying anything!  No one said, "Mrs. Allen, what's up?  Why aren't you teaching? Are you ok?"  They just sat there and talked and left when the bell rang.  

     It wasn't just this one day that did it.  It had been every day for the last four years up to that day that had done it.  I have had my hair torn out of my head, my thumb broken and my clothes torn from breaking up daily fights in hallways and at lunch.  I had even had my life and my dogs' life threatened.  On that one, I went to speak directly to the parents and told them their son had threatened my life and my dogs life.  I said, "Your son told me he was going to shoot me and my dog today."  

     I'll never forget this...the father threw his head back and laughed heartily and said, "He won't shoot you! We took his gun away from him yesterday."  

    ( Let me add here that teachers are completely underpaid for what they do everyday! I idolize the chosen few that are called to be a teachers.  They are absolute heroes!)

     So you see, it's been a process.  But this particular rainy day, I was listening to my inner voice and I was done.  I had never been more done with anything in my entire life.  I had never been so sure and suddenly, I had never been happier! I skipped down to the principals office and turned in my letter of resignation.  My last two weeks of school were the happiest I had ever had.  The only reason I can tell you is that there was hope.  I hadn't realized that I had been feeling so hopeless and trapped for the last four years.  

     I love to teach!  But something wasn't right with where I was.  So weeks before that, I had started praying for God to reveal what I couldn't see.  That was my future.  I didn't know that God was truly going to reveal to me a sign in the most literal of fashions!  Oh how He works!  

     When you're a teacher, you get paid the same as the teacher across the hall that has the same amount of years experience.  If you love to teach, which I did, you spend ALL your time creating, writing and providing an experience for your students so they can learn in the most meaningful way possible and so you'll make an absolute difference in this world.  Or...you could be like the teacher across the hallway who hands out worksheets everyday and turns on a movie on Fridays.  When all is said and done...you get paid the same!  

     I kept thinking how unfair this was!  What could I do about it?  Well, I stopped worrying and had my epiphany that fateful day and resigned.  What now though?  Oh my goodness.  There were no jobs lined up.  Nothing on the horizon for me.  I've always wanted to teach but had never been more certain about anything else in my life that this was not how it should be.  I wasn't going to be getting a paycheck next month! What do I do?

     So I did what I had been doing for weeks.  I prayed.  I left school that cold rainy day and drove around the city.  As I was driving, I prayed.  I asked God to show me the way. Show me what I needed to do.  Show me where I needed to go.  Give me a sign.  Any sign.  And then it happened.  A single ray of sunlight shone out of the sky and onto a 2 foot by 2 foot sign in front of me.  I had probably passed that sign twice a day every day for years.  But today, a single ray of sunshine was shining directly on it and it said, "Get your real estate license here."

     With a tear and my eye and a quick point up to heaven to thank God for this "sign" I put my blinker on and turned right into the brokerage advertising classes, stopped the car, didn't hesitate to get out and walk right in.  The broker was standing at the front desk and asked if she could help me.  I smiled and happily and confidently said, "I was told to come here.  I DO want to get my license."

     As they say, "The Rest Is History!"  Since then, I've been top listing agent, joined a builder team and racked up top sales, been plucked from sales to be a Fortune 500 National Sales Trainer, a national sales consultant, a brokerage owner, a published author and now... my own Real Estate School. Teaching!  Can you believe it?  I'm living my dream job! In every single change of jobs, God lead me there.  Sometimes He spoke through a feeling, through a sign, through other people and in one instance (for another blog post) through a still small voice.  But He spoke and He still speaks.  He is speaking today, we're just too busy to listen.

     If you are struggling about where you are in life...pray.  Be still.  Listen.   God will speak.  It may be TOTALLY off the rails where He wants you to go, but I can tell you the destination will be absolutely awesome! 

     If you are feeling led into Real Estate, you can allow me to help you.  My new school, The Real Estate Business School of Salado not only helps you get your license, we help you learn how to use it.  I teach my students what I had to learn through trial, error and embarrassment.  You'll get the knowledge I never got so you be confident and successful right off the bat! Be blessed in whatever it is you do and make sure it is your calling.  If it is, you'll love it.  If it is not, pray. 

Click HERE to see if Real Estate is YOUR calling!

     

Written by:  Myka AllenJohnson 

myka@trebssalado.com

When Your Seller Says at Closing...”You didn’t get paid enough!”

When Your Seller Says at Closing...”You didn’t get paid enough!”

                “Things no seller has EVER said for $1000, Alex!”

Wishful thinking in a world of people trying to get the most bang for their buck?  Is this something said in a fantasy world that agents wished they lived in?  The answer is, “No”.  Sellers have really said this many, many times. 

I’ve heard so many agents say that they only like to work with buyers because they’re so happy when they get a new home.  But sellers... oh man! Sellers are never happy!  Sellers are too much work.  They’re high maintenance.

                “My seller thinks I’m not doing anything.”

                “My seller thinks I should cut my commission because all I’m doing is putting a sign in the                    yard.”

                “My seller calls me all the time, mad, because I haven’t showed their home yet, myself.”

                “I wish my seller would stop asking me why there are no showings!”

    “My seller never stops telling me that his “zestimate” is higher than our marketing price.”

     (Ugh.  Don’t get me started.)

   “My seller says he want s to switch to an agent that will list for more and take less                commission.”

                Have you ever said any of these things?  Of course you have!  We all have.  The seller is paying you a commission to market the home, bring him a buyer and sell and close it.  Every day that a buyer doesn’t present himself or herself is another day of frustration for the seller and another day that silently, he blames his agent.  You may eventually get a buyer, negotiate a deal and close but many times, the seller is left with a bad taste in his mouth.  He feels there are things that could have gone smoother, faster, better, you name it! Sometimes it’s painful for him to see how much money the agent has received when he felt like things could’ve gone differently. 

                So how do we as agents come together to help our sellers see value?  How do we help them see how much we really do behind the scenes to get their home sold?  How do we get to that world where sellers look at their closing statement and say, “You didn’t get paid enough?” 

I have a few simple tools for you to take away with you today that can change your listing career forever if you’ll follow them.  These are tried, tested and true and I have heard my sellers say this many times and it’s music to my ears.  A happy seller creates more referrals and referrals give you longevity in the real estate business.  The majority of your business should come from referrals.  Leads that you or your broker pay for should just be the gravy on top of the meat and potatoes!  If the majority of your business is NOT referrals, you are NOT growing your richest resource and that is your happy, closed clients. 

Change Your Listing Life Tools

1.        Ask your new listing clients what their expectations are.  Before you sit down at that table at your listing appointment and start telling the owner how great you are; find out what their expectations are.  Here are some good questions to ask:

a.       What are you expectations for the agent that you hire to market your home?

b.      What have your experiences been in the past?

c.       What are your major concerns about selling your home?

d.      What do you know about the market in your neighborhood?

The reason that you ask these questions before you start your presentation is so that you can tailor your presentation based on what is important to your new clients.  (Go ahead and read that again a couple of times.)  You will take notes based on their answers.  Taking notes lets them know you care.

You ask me, but Myka, why would I make them talk about negative things that have happened to them before?   Why would I ask THEM what THEY know about the MARKET?

You ask them so you can find out what you’re up against.  You ask them so that you can make it better.  You are the Real Estate Doctor.  Prescribing a solution to a problem you know nothing about is real estate malpractice. 

                  You cannot diagnose their condition or prescribe a solution until you know what their concerns/issues are. 

For example, you ask these questions and find out that they are expecting multiple offers in a market that doesn’t support that.  They had a bad experience before with an agent that never called them and never kept them in the loop and they felt lost.  They are concerned about paying a full commission because they think they still owe too much and their best friend said to ask for a reduction in commission to help their bottom line.  Their best friend down the street also told them that his home sold for $250,000 when it actually sold for $235,000. 

Now...you have all this valuable information.  You can now present your listing presentation and tailor it to make sure everything that you do takes care of their needs and concerns.  You touch on every concern and make sure what you do to sell their home is the answer they have been looking for. 

Your listing presentation will include several examples of homes staying on the market for awhile and that multiple offers is not what is happening in our market now.  You will reassure them that your weekly update calls will let them know what’s going on in the market around them will help them stay in the loop and you’ll send them an email of what has gone under contract and sold so they see how their home stacks up to what’s selling around them.  You list all the things you do for them during the listing and break down the commission letting them know you are working nonstop to get their home sold and your value is undeniable.  And you can gently let them know that their neighbor’s home is actually a comparable for theirs and it actually sold for $235,000. 

Suddenly, you emerge as the hero!  You have diagnosed their issues and prescribed the perfect solution.  YOU!  You’ve successfully avoided the trap many agents fall into by presenting first and telling how great you are and then back peddling when the objections arise and you’ve already given them all the apples out of your basket.  Being on the defensive is not an attractive look for agents.  You want to be pro-active by asking what their concerns are in the beginning.  You are the Real Estate Doctor.  You would never go to your own Doctor, tell him a few things that are wrong with you and let him wheel you directly into open heart surgery!  Malpractice! You run tests and ask questions to find out the issues and THEN prescribe a solution.

2.        Continuously Build Rapport From Beginning To Infinity.  If you don’t genuinely care about your clients’ best interest then you are in the wrong business.  Your clients need to know that you care and that they can trust you.  If there is no rapport in your relationship with your clients, then you will not gain referrals after the sale.  Relationship building is the keystone on which your business is built. (Go ahead and read that again.) 

“You mean it’s not how much I spend on leads?  You mean it’s not how well my assistant sends out mass mailings?”

Your clients should know that you genuinely care.  You should know their children’s names, funny stories, sad stories, how work is going, how tee ball is going and what their pet’s names are.  I’m not saying you have to invite them over for Monday night football, but the time you spend with them needs to be valuable. 

Everyone’s favorite subject is themselves.  Let them tell you about themselves and their family.  Take notes, so you can ask them about those things at later meetings, throughout the transaction and beyond.  These happy clients will be your richest source of referrals in years to come because you care about them. 

Mass mailings, newsletters, mass emails and texts are good and effective.  But nothing makes people love you more than something personal every once in a while.  A call, voicemail, genuine text or email just to tell them you were thinking of them and hoped they were well. 

Your clients will soon be saying:

“You have to use (insert your name here) as an agent!  She still calls every once in awhile just to see how we’re doing.   She’s amazing!  You’ll love her!”

3.        If You’re Not Telling Them What You’re Doing, You’re Not Doing ANYTHING!  

          The biggest complaint I hear from sellers is that they never hear anything from their agent unless there is a showing or they want to lower the price.  Ladies and gentlemen, this does not build value in your seller’s eyes. 

Set up a day and timeframe that you will call all of your sellers and give them an update even if there’s not an update to give.  (Go ahead and read that again.) 

Why should you do this even if there’s nothing going on?  Because it builds rapport and trust and they don’t wonder as much what you’re doing behind the scenes.  This is your chance to tell them that you are currently sending out mass emails to agents to put their home in front of their faces, talking to agents at events about their home, pushing it on the online platform, you’re researching what has gone under contract and will send them that list so they can see how their home stacks up to what’s recently been sold... anything and everything you’re doing.

By simply doing this, you reassure them they’ve gone with the right agent.  You’re showing character by doing what you said you would do when you first met them at your listing presentation.  You’re showing competence by constantly researching the market to ensure they’re priced correctly.  You’re providing them with confidence that they have chosen the right REALTOR®.  You are showing your genuine conviction for the love of your job.  You are letting them know that you are behind the scenes constantly working on their behalf.  You answer their questions and reduce those midnight texts and emails where they’re wondering what is going on.  You are building your worth; your value. 

Don’t ever sell yourself short.  Don’t cut your commission.  You are worth every penny and your sellers will say that too if you will abide by these 3 simple rules. 

                The single best compliment I ever received was from a seller who had to bring money to the table to be able to close on their home.  We worked together so hard to make the deal work and after setting the right expectations for them, building a beautiful working relationship filled with genuine rapport and keeping them informed throughout the entire process, at the end, my seller said, “You didn’t get paid enough.  Can we fix this here?  You deserve more.”

                I said, “That’s my job.  I’m so glad you’re happy.  Just tell everyone you know about me.”

                And they did. 

Written by:

Myka AllenJohnson

LIC TX REALTOR® StarPointe Realty

Owner / The Real Estate Business School of Salado

Published Author: Tales From Sales: Outrageous, Hilarious and True Stories From Home Sales

Stranger Than Fiction

I'm so honored that Meg White of Realtor Magazine would review my book, Tales From Sales!  Click on the link to view her review!  I'm on cloud 9! Thank you, Meg!

Stranger Than Fiction

How To Change a Work-A-Holic Realtor

                                           How To Change a Work-A-Holic Realtor
                                           (It Includes Thai Food and an Ambulance)

     Last Friday afternoon, my entire office personnel and my husband went to eat at our favorite Thai Food restaurant. It was like any other normal day, except I wasn't leaving in my husbands truck. I was leaving in the back of an ambulance.

      This is for all of you work-a-holic Realtors out there and for anyone in any position where you just can't stop working. Stop. Take a break. This is my first time for this to happen and hopefully the last time as I have had to change my entire work schedule and how I do things entirely. We had paid our bill and were just talking about our responsibilities for the remainder of the day which were quite hefty. We are blessed with a busy brokerage. Suddenly the top of my head went numb. Then my face went numb and inside my head felt like someone had just plugged me in and it was electrically humming! Then the numbness went down my neck into my chest and arms then into my hands. I started feeling heavy like I couldn't hold myself up and keep my eyes open. My husband immediately called 911 as he is a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. He knew I was about to go out.

     My co-workers immediately saw my color change, I slumped in my chair and my speech was slurred. One of my co-workers pulled my hair up using a chopstick. I didn't even know it at the time, I couldn't feel my head. By the time the ambulance got there, I didn't even know what was going on. Only during the ambulance ride to the hospital did I start to realize what was happening. It happened twice more at the hospital and it was a very scary feeling like I was about to lose consciousness. I couldn't shake the dizziness, nausea and numbness. They tested me for a stroke, heart attack, did a CT scan and every other test you can run. They kept me overnight to observe me to find out why this wasn't stopping or why I wasn't feeling any better. My vitals were normal and all my tests came out normal. I am perfectly healthy. So now is where I get the lesson of a lifetime.

     The Doctor came in and asked what my work week was like. Before I could even start talking, my phone started ringing, buzzing, and dinging with multiple texts and emails from clients and other business related issues. He asked if it was always like this. I said, "Yes. It's the life of a Realtor." He said, "No. That's where you're wrong. That's the life of a dead Realtor."

     Silence.

     After I explained that I work every day and haven't taken a real day off in two years and haven't taken a vacation in over 4 years, he simply shook his head and asked me if I wanted to live. I told him I thought I was living. He said, "You're going to die if you don't stop. Yesterday, your body told you it needs rest and to slow down. If you don't slow down, you're body will slow down for you and next time may not be so nice."

     I get it. I understand. I cried for what seemed like hours because at that moment, I realized I had been cheating my family of my time. And if I had kept on, I was cheating them of my life and my presence completely. For a work-a-holic, the only way of life that we know is to wake up thinking of work, to work all day and to go home and stay up on the computer working out ways to be ready for the next day and to get one step ahead. I realized that I haven't had a full nights sleep in over 4 years that hasn't been interrupted in some way. I've pushed my body to the absolute limit and I can't expect to continue this way.

     Today, I'm typing this during an Open House and I've had to reschedule three clients for Monday because I'm taking tomorrow off to be with my family. Because my family deserves ALL of my time. I had clients that I cannot show rental homes to them this evening because my husbands birthday party is tonight. They didn't like my answer and it was hard to tell them no because I don't want anyone to be upset with me. I have changed my voicemail to let people know when my days off are and that I won't be available. I have also set normal work hour parameters. I would usually get home around 8:30 at night. That is unacceptable. I'm wrapping up at 5 and headed home to hang out with my precious daughter. Life is simply too short to not focus on God, family and quality relaxation time. I still have a great work ethic, I just changed the rules. If this story has hit too close to home for you, take today to change your priorities and change your schedule. Set the right expectation for your clients and anyone else in your life that demands your time. Let them know when you start and stop accepting calls, emails and texts and if it's beyond your "end" time it will have to wait until tomorrow. Nothing is more important than your health and being able to be there for your family for years to come. I'm a new Realtor. A better Realtor. A healthier Realtor. It just took a big slap in the head to make me see it. Thanks for the reminder, God. Written by: Myka AllenJohnson Owner/Realtor StarPointe Realty Author: Tales From Sales: Hilarious, Outrageous and True Stories From Home Sales www.talesfromsalesmykajohnson.com forsalebymyka@yahoo.com 512-585-3703 cell

Lessons From Zig Ziglar's Granddaughter

“Do What You’re Doing Now To The Best Of Your Ability.”

Zig Ziglar’s Granddaughter, DeDe Galindo

April 24, 2013

 

                Today I was honored to meet a legend in the inspirational speaking industry.   She is DeDe Galindo, Zig Ziglar’s granddaughter.  What an inspiration and a positive influence.

                The last time I saw Zig Ziglar speak before he passed away was in 2008 in Dallas, Texas.  Previously, I had seen him speak and he was all over the stage!  Running from one end to the other…reaching out to people with unbridled enthusiasm.  He was mesmerizing!  This last time I saw him, he was helped to the stage by his daughter.  He sat in a chair for almost two hours answering questions from his daughter and the crowd.  Unbelievably, THIS time, was the most mesmerizing he has ever been.  I absorbed every word he spoke and remembered every story.  Two hours seemed like two minutes.  You could have heard a pin drop in the American Airlines Center.  He received a standing ovation for what seemed like several minutes.  I did not want it to end. 

                When I left, I was uplifted, inspired and determined to make my life and my career an inspiration to others.  I thought to myself, “How can such a small in stature man have the power to silence, inspire and bring tears to thousands?”

                The answer to that question was answered again today by his granddaughter, DeDe.  It was his purpose.  It was his purpose and his drive in life.  He had a genuine passion and love for helping others become better and he was a living testimony that it worked.  I realized when I left the American Airlines Center that day, that I had a purpose driven life and I was able to set goals that have helped me get to the place where I am today and I haven’t stopped climbing and setting resolves for bigger and better things.

                DeDe Galindo spoke today about following your purpose.  She tells us to have the “Right Mental Attitude.”  We should always be aware  of our surroundings.  Surround yourself with other purpose driven and positive people; listen to them and keep learning.

                Are you ready when you’re big break comes? Or when opportunities present themselves?  If you’re not, it can pass you by and you’ll never know it was there.  Overcome suffering and hard times.  Do not let it take over.  Get back up and find your purpose again.  Wherever you are right now, whatever you’re doing while you’re reading this blog…do what you’re doing right now to the best of your ability.  You’ve made decisions that have led you to this moment in time, right now.  Get up…do the best you can do right now and every day.  You will create beautiful opportunities for success when you do.

                What is your purpose right now in your life?

Written by:
Myka AllenJohnson
Author/Realtor/Brokerage Owner
Author: Tales From Sales: Outrageous, Hilarious and True Stories From Homes Sales
Realtor/Owner: StarPointe Realty in Killeen, Texas
forsalebymyka@yahoo.com
www.talesfromsalesmykajohnson.com
www.starpointeforthoodhomes.com

 

From left to Right:

VP of Women's Council of Realtors, Gloria Smith, DeDe Galindo and Myka AllenJohnson

Why I Look Like A Deranged Ninja 363 Days of The Year

Why I Look Like A Deranged Ninja 363 Days A Year

 

                I have a debilitating fear that keeps me from effectively showing homes to my wonderful clients in the Spring and Summer.  In Texas, it’s Spring and Summer all year with only two days of Winter.  So, I’m deemed officially, an anxiety ridden agent with the propensity to pass out at any given moment for 363 days of the year.  How, you may ask?  It all started when I was 4 years old in Houma, Louisiana.

 

                In the year 1978, I had the highest and worst fever I had ever had in my short little life.  I remember all of the events as if they were moments ago in my mind.  I was lying in my cute little bed, sick, coughing, burning up with fever.  Suddenly, I heard a noise in the hallway.  I looked over my toes, over the end of the bed and into the doorway.  Something about two feet tall, white and fuzzy leaned into the doorway and looked at me.  I was scared stiff!  It had no face but looked like a spider web cocoon that was two feet tall and about a foot wide. 

 

                It waddled into the doorway where I could fully see it.  It looked like the frosted side of a frosted mini wheat.  I know.  It’s stupid.  But I was scared to death!  Somehow, it climbed up the foot of my bed, crawled over my feet and stood on my legs rocking back and forth.  I was paralyzed with fear.  I couldn’t move, breathe or make a sound.  Suddenly, it lunged at me and ran up my body and attached itself to my face!! Like in the movie Alien and I was Sigourney Weaver!  I couldn’t breathe!  All I could see was white webbing and it was sticky like a spider web.  It was horrifying!

 

                After struggling for what seemed like an eternity, I finally was able to scream out to my mom.  When she came running in and sat by my side, it ran back down my body and out into the hall.  She hadn’t seen it of course.  I told her what had happened and she told me that I was hallucinating because of my fever.  But the damage was done.  I was forever deathly afraid of spider webs.  Not the spiders.  Just the spider webs. 

 

                Now, it still affects me the same way.  In Spring and Summer, I walk around completely terrified because webs are just floating on the wind everywhere!  If one wraps around me or touches me…I hit the ground, completely paralyzed!  My husband thinks it’s hilarious and just laughs and points at me while I’m lying on the ground wrapped in soft, completely non-harmful silk.  It’s my kryptonite.

 

                Sometimes I tell my clients and sometime I don’t.  Sometimes I have to tell my clients because as I’m walking around outside, I’ll duck, jump, run several feet around one, crawl on my knees to escape a floating web or simply lay down on the ground and wait for it to float past, all while whining and whimpering for it to please go away.  Only when my clients are staring at me thinking I’ve completely lost my mind, do I then have to tell them my stupid fear.  I look like a deranged ninja trying to steal a diamond that’s guarded by deadly lasers throughout the room.  Except not as cool and stealthy…and not in as good of shape. 

 

                What are you afraid of?

 

 

Written by:  Myka Allen Johnson

Published Author of Tales From Sales:  Hilarious, Outgrageous and True Stories From Home Sales

Owner/Realtor of StarPointe Realty in Killeen, Texas

Follow me on Twitter:  @StarPointeMyka

Like me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/talesfromsales

"I just talked to my dead cat, MuMu."

 

"I Just Talked To My Dead Cat, MuMu."

 

      A few years ago I obtained an amazing listing that any Realtor would die to get their hands on!  They had met with nearly every Realtor in town and weirdly decided that they liked me.  (Not sure now if this is a compliment.)  We had a great first meeting.  We toured the home, had a great conversation that lasted for a couple of hours.  Somehow, we ended up talking about how much we loved our pets.  So I sat there and listened to the owner talk about her beloved cats.  Not a big deal, but it hadn't gotten weird yet.  We ended the meeting on a great note and agreed to meet the next week to take pictures of the home.

 

     The week dragged on.  I was so excited to get back out there and take pictures of the gorgeous home.  I was going to be the envy of every Realtor in town.  Upon entry, we immediately started talking again and of course the chatter began about the owner's cats.  She has one at her other house and her almost human like cat/child, "MuMu" had just passed away. 

 

     She was able to communicate through a choked voice, tears and puffed out bottom lip that MuMu was her son, her pride and joy and the reason she lived.  She didn't think she could go on.  And at this moment, she had to sit down, the grief was overwhelming.  Which meant, I had to sit down, put my hand awkwardly on her hand and tell it would be okay.  The conversation that came next is one I've never had with anyone.

 

     Me:  "Please don't be sad.  I'm a firm believer that our pets go to heaven.  He's in a better place now."

 

     Her:  "I know.  I just want him here."  She choked out. 

 

     Me:  "Well...(at loss for words) maybe you can get another cat."

 

     Her:  "Are you kidding?  MuMu is coming back.  I can't get another cat." She beligerantly yelled at me like I was an idiot.

 

     Me:  "Umm...what?  What do you mean?  Like Pet Sematary?" (That's how it's spelled in the movie.)

 

    Her:  "What?  Well...we buried him in the pet cemetary close to our home outside of town."

 

     Me:  "Oh yeah.  That's the one they're going to move and make room for a new subdivision." (Big mistake.)

 

     Her:  "WHAT???" she screamed and started wailing, crying and asking me to tell her that's not true.

 

    Me:  "W...w...w...well, maybe it's not true.  I...I..I'm not totally sure."

 

     Her:  "Well I hope not!  He said he was trying be happy where he was.  If we move him, he'll just freak out even more! 

 

     Me:  "Uhhh...what do you mean, 'he said' and 'he's coming back'?"  (I was really starting to think I would have to call the authorities.)

 

     Her:  "I just got back from Michigan for the second time.  I went to talk with a pet psychic.  I needed to speak with MuMu.  He can't live without me."

 

     Me:  (Thinking to myself...yeah, he's dead.  He definitely can't live.  What the heck is this about?)

 

     Her:  "The pet psychic couldn't find his spirit at first because alot of pets were trying to come through and talk to her. (Imagine me with a "is this a joke?" face.)  But then...then...my MuMu came through.  He told the pet psychic that he was scared where he was and that he needed time to adjust.  He needed exactly a year.  When it's been a year since MuMu's death, I should go to the pound and look for a cat that looks like MuMu (black and white) or has red hair.  Then he'll be reincarnated within the cat I choose and my MuMu will come back to me.  He'll come back!"  And she started to sob again.

 

     Me:  (Not believing this was even a real conversation.) "Well, there ya' go!  Proof positive all will be well.  Let me just get these last few pictures done." I got up slowly to take the rest of the photos and mainly to get away from the madness.

 

    

     So she layed her head on the table, exhausted from the sobbing and pain that she had to wait a year for her cat to be reincarnated.  I wandered around taking photos in surreal silence, only interrupted by an occasional murmur that whispered sadly, "Mumu." 

 

     I had so many questions.

 

     How does a cat communicate with a pet psychic?  Series of foot taps?  Tail swings?  Yowling once for yes and twice for no?  If I can't tell if my cat is constipated or hungry in the real world, how can a dead cat communicate reincarnation to a live human?  Then I found out she spent about five grand on the whole ordeal.  Suddenly...I think my cats are making more sense and if any of you doubt it, I'll prove it to you, for a small fee. 

 

     What do you think you're cat is saying to you?

 

Psychic:  "See..he's clearly thinking he needs more playtime from you in order to be happy."

 

Cat:  "I need to poop."

 

    



 



What's Your Level of Consciousness?

What’s Your Level Of Consciousness? 

“I don’t need training.  I’ve been doing this for years.”

“They can’t tell me anything I don’t already know.”

“Real estate is easy!  Anybody can do that!  Are you kidding?”

“How hard can it be?  Hey…you want this house?  Yeah?  Ok.  Let’s go.”

                I hear these words on a regular basis from other people in and out of the business.  The fact of the matter is, no matter if you are in the real estate industry or out of it, there are levels of consciousness that we need to be aware of when you are trying to advance and be an expert in your field.  You are currently standing firm on one of the levels of consciousness but you may not know what it is.  Knowing is key.  When you know where you are and where you stand, then…you can move up to the next level.

                Let’s take a look at these levels and then determine where you may fall on the scale.

               When you’re evaluating yourself in a certain field to determine your level of consciousness and your expertise in that field, you have to look at these five levels.  It’s easier to illustrate them when you use the example of riding a bicycle. 

                The first level, Unconscious Incompetent, we begin to look around us at other people riding a bicycle.  They make it look easy!  You think, “I can do this! Too easy!” But you have no idea that you don’t know how to ride.  You get a bicycle and ride a foot and fall over.  What?  I thought this was easy.  You didn’t know…that you didn’t know.  But this knowledge propels you to the next level.

                The second level, Conscious Incompetent, simply means, now that you’re sitting on the ground with a skinned knee and elbow, you simply know that you don’t know how to ride.  Now you know that you’ve got to put a good deal of work into this bike riding thing!  If you want to be like all the other kids zipping around on their bikes, you better get to work and put a plan together.  Working towards a goal shoots you up to the next level of consciousness.

                Conscious Competent is the third level and after you’ve practiced a bit, you are now riding your bike slowly but surely on the neighborhood streets.  You have to pay attention to every little detail of what you’re doing; steering, pedaling, speed, braking and also driving defensively.  If you aren’t focused you’ll fall again.  You’re not proficient enough yet to ride with no hands or do tricks but you now know that you know how to ride.  You’ve come a long way but you still want to zip around the park without having to constantly pay attention to what you’re doing and think about it.  Your new goal of leisurely riding around without thinking so hard about it has boosted you up to the fourth level.

                At the fourth level, Unconscious Competent, you’ve practiced so much that you can now ride, do tricks, and not have to even think about all the details while you’re riding.  You are a great bicycle rider and its fun!  It feels great to get on your bike, ride with your friends, laugh and talk and have a great time.  Now you’re going to the bike park and doing some tricks, wheelies and other new things that you’re practicing.  The more you enjoy this level, practice and it becomes natural to you, the closer you get to the last level of consciousness.

                The last level is Conscious and Unconscious Competent.  This simply means that you’ve mastered this field enough to be considered an expert.  You have the knowledge that it takes to teach someone and to advise them in your field of bike riding.  You’re a professional.  The tricky part to this level is that if you don’t continue to practice and/or teach you can move back down to the fourth level.  We should all strive to be at this top level, but we should never be satisfied, and should always strive to do more and be more.

                Change out the term “bike riding” for your field of expertise.  If you’re at the top level that’s great!  But what are you doing to stay there and continue to raise the bar?  There are people on the levels below you that are setting goals and scrapping and pushing every day to reach the same level as you.  Will they surpass you because you’re content with your current location? 

                I hope this starts a good discussion.  Please leave your comments.  If you were to assess yourself today, what level would you be on?  Where would your friends and co-workers assess you?

Written by:

Myka AllenJohnson

Owner/Realtor of StarPointe Realty

forsalebymyka@yahoo.com



All The Money In The World

 

All The Money In The World

 

 

     Most of the time, you don't expect to be inspired or completely awestruck on any given day.  You get up every morning, brush your teeth, put your clothes on, and walk out the door for another vanilla day at work.  Being here in Killeen, close to Fort Hood,  has given me a chance to meet the strongest and bravest individuals I know I'll ever meet in life.  When my husband began his career as a firefighter, I would stay up the nights he was on shift and pray for him to come back home safely.  Nearly ten years later; I'm still doing it, but with my daughter now.  "Please take care of daddy. Watch over him and bring him home safely to us in the morning. Amen."

 

     Until I moved here to Killeen and started to really see what life was like for these families, I didn't realize how lucky I have it.  My husband works twenty four hours then he's off for forty eight hours.  To me and my daughter, that twenty four hour stretch is excruciating and we just want daddy home with us.  These military families go without their mommies and daddies for twelve to eighteen months at a time!  Some daddies miss the birth of their sons and daughters, some mommies and daddies miss the first steps, the first words, the first day of school or just being able to watch them grow and to hug them everyday.

 

     The military moms and dads are across the world, fighting for our freedom and are occasionally getting to speak to their loved ones on the phone or web.  No one can know what's it's like for our soldiers over there.  We know they come back changed.  No one can know what it's like for the families who are here without their loved ones.  Not knowing if they're safe tonight or any night.

 

      Some of the strongest women I've ever known have been military wives who somehow take care of everything that needs to be taken care of, be everywhere that all the kids have to be and somehow retain their sanity and give all of their love to their children and to their significant other across the phone or Internet and still find time to support other families and friends in need. 

 

     I met one of these strong military wives one day as I was selling homes for a local builder.  Two women walked into the model home; one was obviously the mother and the other the daughter.  They looked so much alike.  The daughter came in and did not raise her head but looked at the floor.  She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties.  The mother was definitely the leader and began a conversation with me.  She told me that her daughter and she would like to find two homes.  One for her and her husband and one for their daughter.  They wanted to live next to each other.  They had a very close family. 

 

      I realized after about thirty minutes that the daughter had still not said a word and she couldn't even look at me.  The mother was friendly and told me a lot about what they were looking for  but I could tell there was something else they were holding back. 

 

     So I took them to look at a few homes, the mother said she liked two but never asked the daughter what she liked.  They exchanged a couple of painful glances but that was about it.  I tried to start conversations with the daughter, to break the silence and awkwardness but the mother would interrupt and start on a different topic.  I knew that we had the right homes for them, in the right location and the right price.  The mother gave me their contact information and left with me telling them that I would call them tomorrow.

 

     I sat in my office and just thought about that entire two and half hours of interaction.  Not a single word from the daughter. Maybe she had emotional problems or physical problems.  I didn't want to guess but I knew that I needed another piece of the puzzle.  So after they left, I began to write them a thank you note and the thank you turned into a longer note about how much I enjoyed helping them and how I wanted to make sure they found something perfect for their family because I could tell their daughter meant the world to them.

 

     Two days later, the mother and daughter showed up again in my model, with a baking tin full of brownies.  The daughter was still staring at the floor but I saw that she had the letter I had written them in her hand.  The mother handed me the brownies and said, "We've been a lot of places to look at homes.  This will be a special deal and we feel like we can trust you.  No one else cared to spend the time or to write us a letter.  We'd like to show our appreciation with these brownies and we'd also like to build our homes with you."

 

     She started to tear up a little and handed me the brownies.  I thanked her and we all sat down in my office and ate brownies and drank coffee.  The mother suddenly said, "I don't know when my daughter will want to speak up.  She's been through a terrible experience that we won't get into right now.  But I can tell you what she would like in her new home until she feels up to talking."

 

     I still had no idea what was going on, but I knew this sweet girl had gone through some sort of trauma.  She still had not looked me in the eye or even mumbled a word.  At the moment, she sat eating her brownie and while her mom talked, she paused and stared ahead of her. 

 

     Suddenly the daughter put her brownie down, without looking up and without moving she said, "Thank you for not asking me to talk.  Thank you for not asking what was wrong with me or why I'm so quiet.  Thank you for your letter."

 

     Then she looked me right in the eyes with tears rolling down her cheeks and said, "My husband was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder in Iraq and he killed himself.  He was my soul mate.  He was my life.  I wasn't there for him when he needed me.  I couldn't help him when he needed help.  I was here; safe.  He was there; sad and suffering.  I don't have a husband.  I won't ever get to have his children."

 

     At this, she stopped and lost control.  The mother put her arm around her daughter as if to say, "That's enough." But the daughter wanted...needed to go on. 

 

     With anger this time she said, "The only reason I can buy this house is because my husband killed himself!  I have to use the money I got from his death!  I would give back every penny and everything I have to have him back today!" She screamed.  "This house will always remind me that he will not be here to share it with me." And with those final words, she broke down and cried a long overdue cry that sounded like relief and at the same time absolute despair. 

 

     We all sat together and cried and prayed.  I helped build two houses for these unbelievably strong women.  There were happy days and there were sad days.  But family sticks together and it's love knows no bounds.  That was several years ago and they still live next to each other in the same homes I sold them.  Only now, the daughter has found a husband and there's a beautiful baby who lights up their home.  It's not the family that she had originally planned; but it's a wonderful sight for me to see her running in her front yard, chasing her little toddler.  Happy and full of love again. 

 

     If you ever need a moment to put things in perspective when you wake up every morning thinking about how bad your day is...be thankful for your family, for undying love, for a God who takes care of us even in the bleakest and darkest of days and for the fact that you are alive.  Wherever you are, when you see a soldier, thank them; buy their lunch or just shake their hand.  They deserve happiness and respect. The reason we can get up in the morning, go to work, be free and be happy and safe is because they are protecting us. There are thousands of families who would gladly give everything they have to get their loved ones back who have given their lives for our freedom.  Thank you soldiers and military.  Army strong.

    

     

The Deadly Dung Beetle

The Deadly Dung Beetle

 

                I nearly died yesterday.  I can’t remember when I’ve been more scared!  I can’t believe that I made it to the office safely without killing myself and everyone around me.  Here is how I nearly died yesterday.

                It was a typical day for real estate; I was meeting a home inspector at a home in downtown Killeen.  It is a beautiful property with gorgeous trees that are so old and tall.  Nearly the entire yard is shaded.  It’s lovely.  So when I was standing in the driveway under a massive oak tree talking with the inspector about what he felt were the main issues with the house, the inspector said the main thing was that there was a massive hornets’ nest in the breaker box and they got very angry with him when he opened it.  He was not stung but he did bother them a bit. 

                I am extremely allergic to hornets, wasps and bees and mainly just hate them in general.  I got the chills when he told me and I could just imagine them stalking me at that very moment!  We were still discussing the hornets when something big thudded on my right shoulder and I screamed and nearly jumped into the inspectors arms.  (That would’ve been really bad since he was half my size.)

                I looked on my shoulder. Nothing.  I looked all around me where whatever it was could’ve fallen onto the ground after hitting my shoulder. Nothing.  I thought it must’ve been a big acorn that fell from the tree and I didn’t see where it went.  The inspector said, “I hope it’s not a hornet!” and laughed.  We shook hands, said our goodbyes and I walked back down the driveway, across the street and into my car.

                I had about a 10 minute drive down the main drag in Killeen until I was back at the office.  Suddenly, the top of my head started to itch.  So I scratched it.  I didn’t think anything of it.  Then…the top of my head started to really itch and I could tell that something BIG was in my hair on the top of my head.  Just like in a horror movie, everything turned into slow motion!  I slowly looked at the top of my head in the rear view mirror and saw a giant orange and black bug moving around in my hair!

                Orange and black!  Orange and black!  Oh my God!  It’s a hornet!  A hornet!  A hornet is my hair, in my car!  I started to scream at the top of my lungs and weirdly just screamed the word, “Hornet!!” over and over again.  I was in shock.  Then it started to get mad and buzz trying to get loose from my hair! 

                Here are the thoughts that went through my head:

1.        I can’t touch it!  It’ll get mad and sting me! 

2.       It’ll get mad and sting my head over and over again because it’s stuck!

3.       It’ll get loose and fly around all pissed off and sting me while I’m driving and I’ll wreck.

4.       If I leave it alone, it’ll make its way down to my face and sting my face!

5.       Then it’ll get pissed and fly around the car, sting me again and cause me to wreck the car.

I was panicking!  So…the only rational thing I could think of was to roll the window down, stick my head out of the car as far as I could and scream, “Get out!!! Get out!! Get out!!” while crying uncontrollably and driving down the main street in Killeen!

At this point, people in the cars around me were staring and wondering what in the world was going on.  I was screaming with my head out the window and praying for God to get this hornet out of my hair.

I pulled my head back into the car after a couple of minutes and in movie slow motion again, looked into the rear view mirror to see if it had flown out.  There it was.  And now… it was tangled even worse in my hair and was even more pissed than before and was buzzing like crazy trying to break free from my hair!  I started to scream and cry uncontrollably but didn’t stick my head out of the car this time but people were still looking at me because my window was down and they could hear me screaming and asking God to get this hornet out of my hair!  I was still screaming and crying, “Get out!  Get out!”

As I approached my office, I slowly picked up the phone and called my partner, CJ.  He answered calmly of course, and then I screamed, “CJ!!  There’s a hornet in my hair!  Oh my god there’s a hornet in my hair!  Meet me in the parking lot now and get it out!!”

CJ said calmly, “Do what?”

“There’s a hornet in my hair!  There’s a hornet in my hair!  Just get out in the parking lot now and get it out!  Now!  Now!  Now!”  And I hung up the phone, careened into the parking lot, threw the car into park, jumped out of the car and bent over in front of CJ who was already in the parking lot ready to help. 

I was screaming at him, “Get it out! Get it out! Get it out!”

He kept saying he didn’t see it and then it buzzed and he said, “Here it is.” And he flipped out a giant bug that landed on the parking lot.  It was an enormous dung beetle. 

CJ pointed at it, looked at me, said, “Well, there you go.”  He turned around and slowly walked back into the office leaving me on my knees in the parking lot still in shock, heaving and weak from the adrenaline that had been pumping through my body.  I looked at that dung beetle and was so glad it wasn’t a hornet but the dung beetle is just as scary and gross. 

Everyone in the neighboring offices and businesses were staring and wondering what in the heck was going on with the screaming idiot that just pulled a giant beetle out of her hair and is now heavily breathing and crying on her knees in the parking lot alone. 

I took a picture of the dung beetle to remember the bug that nearly killed me.  I can’t believe I was able to drive that long, in panic mode, screaming with my head sticking out the window!  My head keeps itching now and everyone keeps saying that it probably laid eggs in my hair.  If so, I’ll write a follow up chapter when the eggs hatch and I try to drive back to the office and have CJ kill the hatchlings.  Hands down; scariest ten minute drive ever.  I hate bugs.

 

Here it is.  The Dung Beetle that nearly killed me.  I hope he died a horrible death being dismembered by a ravenous bird.  Uggh.

 

Written by:

Myka Allen-Johnson

Owner and Realtor of StarPointe Realty

forsalebymyka@yahoo.com