Change is inevitable for all of us. As many of you know through my emails or social media sites, I had a chance to hang with Case Kennum. If only for a brief moment during a visit when he was with the St. Louis Rams a few years back. I also tried my hand at helping him find a place to live when he first landed in Minnesota. you might be thinking, “Who Cares!” I can tell you, “I care.” Because once you get to know someone, shake their hand and hear their story… Like I do every week on my podcast. You get a brief glimpse into their world, their soul and what they are all about. Most of us call this a “First Impression.” My first impression of Case, “He is a really good dude!” I will never forget the smile on his face and how he genuinely shook my hand, gave a high-five to my kids and was more than willing to take pictures or whatever we wanted. I remember talking with Case when I was trying to help him find a home in a new land, Minnesota. Imagine moving from city to city. Year after year… Never knowing anyone. Always searching for a home. A place you can fit in. He was really excited about Minnesota. One year later… Everything changed. Like in sport, business is much the same when it comes to change. One day you are on top of the world. You feel like
Continue reading...
Back in 2003 I became a licensed real estate agent. Just 1 year out of college. Still living in the basement of my parents home, living on the little money I made from my bunk 9–5… Little did I know in 4 short years the market was going to crash and everyone would go into survival mode. Some agents choose to work with the banks, listing foreclosures. Others, like me, choose to help friends battle the banks negotiating short sales. Finally, you had the survivors who refused to do either. Scratching and clawing their way through the market just like all of us… With sheer grit and determination. Each and every one of us doing everything we could to survive. Like a starving child. Walking down the streets in a third world country. I was desperate to find my way in the real estate world. Desperate to grow my business and become the entrepreneur I knew I could be. It was in that desperations I lost focus on my purpose. I was starving… Hungry. As I made more and more money I realized the hunger inside me was not being quenched. When I dabbled in marketing gimmicks, cold calling, 10 days of pain lead generation and follow up I realized they all made me feel sick to my stomach. So sick, I couldn’t do it. But, that’s what the “Big Guys” were doing. Why am I any different… Deep into the real estate bust in 2010–2011 I was grinding on
Continue reading...
Money was abundant, your quality of life was everything you dream of Then what? In our society today it’s hard to ignore “Keeping up with the Joneses.” We all paint a picture of the perfect life. Married, 2 kids, a dog, beautiful home in the perfect neighborhood, with awesome schools and the perfect neighbors. Vacations once or twice a year to experience the world and a job that is fulfilling, not too much work and pays really good money. Doesn’t that sound perfect to you? Now imagine you had all of that and more. So much more you couldn’t even imagine it was real… Because it surpassed your wildest dreams. What would you do? Now, how would you live your life… What would give it meaning. How would you feel a sense of accomplishment. What would get you up in the morning. Do you think your perfect life would remain perfect forever… Or do you think human nature would kick in and maybe… Just maybe… It wouldn’t be as perfect as you thought. Think about it. This is where purpose comes in. When you live your life to fulfill a purpose you’ll find yourself waking up in the morning ready to take on anything. You will focus on achieving goals and positively impacting lives. Because you know. In order to achieve your ultimate purpose in life you can’t stop moving. You can’t stop improving. You will always know where you are going while embracing your journey to get there. You
Continue reading...
I read this story from Josh Longawa a friend of mine on Facebook. It was so powerful I felt compelled to share it with you today: “So, I had a very intense event happen today while driving home with my son. I will give you the condensed version. While driving in St, Paul I noticed a car in a corner of a parking lot behind a van with one end of a hose in the exhaust pipe and the other end in the car window which was mostly rolled up. It took a minute to register in my head that someone was attempting to take their own life or perhaps the life of another. I had to turn around and see. I pulled into the parking lot I told my son to say in the car because I did not know what I might find. As I approached the car there was a young man slumped over the center of the front seat. I knocked loudly on the window and the man sat up. I opened the door and said “you can’t do this! This will kill you!” and said “do you promise”. I could feel the pain he was in and I could see it in his eyes. I burst into tears as I said people love you! There are so many people here that you haven’t even met yet that LOVE YOU. We sat for a while and talked. There is a quite a bit more to the
Continue reading...
I’m sick of hearing, “Those damn Millennial are lazy and don’t know what hard work is.” I was talking with my friend and well respected business owner Tim Murphy (Yes, we have the same name. He’s better looking.). Tim owns Murphy Automotive a very well run and successful company in the Edina and Lakeville area. In our conversation we talked about the frustration and misunderstanding between generations. His being the Baby Boomer generation and today’s Millennial. Our discussion naturally lead to talking about Millennials and how people perceive them as lazy and unmotivated. I told him the only thing I care about is “Hard Work!” If they choose to work hard I love them. If they choose to be lazy I don’t. But, I said, “The real problem is a misunderstanding of when, where and how hard work gets done. Therein lies the frustration.” Hard work is a choice. Every generation: Gen Xers’, Baby Boomer’s, those from “ The Silent Generation” and GI generation had individuals who chose to work hard and those who chose to avoid hard work at all costs. Why are so many saying the Millennials don’t work hard, are lazy and expect everything for nothing? I believe it’s perspective. You see, I’m a Gen Xer the small “forgotten generation” smashed between two large generations, from a population perspective. Gen Xers’ (1965–1984) have the Baby boomers (1946–1964) before us and the Millennials (1985–2004) after us. The majority of people I talk with who are most frustrated with
Continue reading...
“What are you doing!” My good buddy and business partner Chris said to me when we were talking business this morning. “I am fasting for 120 hours.” I responded. “What does that mean? You’re eating something right?” Chris responded. “Nope, only water, tea and bone broth. It’s been 82 hours.” I told him. “You are NUTS!!! You have to eat. Your body needs it” Chris responded with a strong energetic voice.“Maybe just a little.” I said as I was laughing. Chris is not alone in his thinking. The anticipation of what will happen if my body doesn’t have food boggled his mind. Like Chris, my wife Sarah thinks I am NUTS!!! She is not in favor of this and genuinely fears for my health. I know her fear is real because I can feel her anxiety every time I or someone brings it up. I guess, I just look at it differently. Like most challenges in life… I tend to be the eternal optimist. Always looking at what is to gain not what could be lost. For some, like my wife, it can drive them nuts. For me it’s just the opposite. I will never understand those who always have an excuse for not trying something new. Those who anticipate the worst and block their minds from seeing opportunity. Funny thing is, Chris is one of the most daring people I know. Chris has jumped from air plane. Snowmobile to elevations of 12,000 feet in the mountains with powder so
Continue reading...
Today I was listening to a podcast and the guest was Dr. Robert Cialdini. He only sold something like 46 million copies of his book “Influence The Psychology of Persuasion.” So you might have heard of him. In the podcast I was listening to him talked about a few of the psychological triggers social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and many others use. Human triggers, Human instincts we tend to utilize without even knowing it. One of them being “Liking” on social media. It might be a thumbs up, a heart, a fist bump or whatever the symbol is. What I found fascinating. This seems like common sense. We as humans know why Facebook put in a function for “Liking” other people’s posts. Because when we like their posts we build a stronger bond with that person on the other end. It is only human to build relationships with others we know, like and trust. That’s why I write you as often as I can. Because I feel safe with you. In return, for the safety you give me I want to give back to you. My way of giving back is by sharing my advice about life and business. It’s what I know. What blew my mind. When Dr. Robert Cialdini talked about how people they called “Fakers” use “Liking” as a tool to manipulate you. Yeah, so instead of being like you and me… The guys who actually take time to read each other’s posts, engage in
Continue reading...
I am so excited!! My daughter Ireland is playing in the District 6, girls 10U — A Team, championship game this coming Thursday. In the last two games they have beaten not only the best two teams in our district, Edina Green & Edina White, but two of the best teams in the state for girls 10U — A hockey. There is nothing like being a parent and watching your children achieve their goals. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. The trick, this time of year is usually our busiest time of year when it comes to helping our clients win. As spring market is upon us families are getting the itch to make moves. That’s when they depend on our team to help them buy or sell their home… many times both. Like with my daughter Ireland. There is nothing like helping our clients achieve their goals. Making it all work is the trick. Ben and Erica in the picture with me were no exception. On a quest to find their first home, timing was everything. Today’s market for purchasing homes is fierce. With very little supply and huge demand there is very little room for error. Many times our client’s are finding themselves in multiple offers looking to us for guidance. It’s moments like this Diana (concierge of our team) and I never take for granted. Because we work so hard to achieve them. It’s in these moment when our family values truly shine. For me to make some of Ireland’s
Continue reading...
I was listening to Jordan Harbinger’s interview on the “Self Made Man” podcast today when he said, “I lost may job and my business. When it happened… It felt like I lost everything.” You see, Jordan hosted the podcast “Art Of Charm” which received over 4 million downloads a month. Over the last 10 years he grew his podcast from 0 to 4 million downloads a month. No easy task. Like most entrepreneurs we get lost in the grind and day to day checklists that need to be completed. Doing everything in our power to keep the ship moving forward. Sometimes losing focus of the relationships we build along the way. In Jordan’s podcast on “Self Made Man” today… He talks about how reality slapped him in the face. Feeling down on his luck, stressed about how he is going to fight to get his business back and furious about how someone could have taken everything from him… I mean it was his business!! It was his show! It was all about Jordan and his connection with the audience. How could anyone take that away!!! That’s the point. Jordan had every right to feel furious about what happened to him. He had every right to feel like his baby, the company he build from the ground up, was taken from him. But, as he gained his composure. Doug deep into his soul. he realized something very few of us do. It was not worth fighting for the business, the name,
Continue reading...
Nothing holds her back from doing big things “Dad, Dad!! Are you excited for hockey today?” Shanley (Shay) said at 8am on a Saturday morning as she jumped in our bed to give me a HUGE Hug. “YES!, honey I’m SUPER EXCITED to skate with you today.” I responded. “Me Too!!” Shanley said with a smile from ear to ear. This time of year, Saturday & Sunday mornings, Shay and I get to enjoy an hour on the ice together doing one of the sports we both love… Hockey! There is nothing like her smile when she wakes up and knows its hockey day. Immediately, Shay jumps out of bed, rushes downstairs and starts packing her hockey bag. She can’t stop talking about shooting pucks, scoring a goal and practicing her stops… “Dad, don’t forget to tape my stick.” she yells up the stairs. “Dad, do you think we will get to play a game today… I’m going to score a GOAL!” she said to me as I knelt down next to her and helped pack her hockey bag. “Sugar Shay, are you sure you don’t want to get dressed at the house… instead of at the rink.” I asked. “No Dad, I am 6 now and I know how to get dressed like my sister Ireland and the big girls.” she responded. So, we packed up her hockey bag, her diabetes bag and grabbed something quick to eat. Then headed off for the rink. As we drove to the
Continue reading...