Jim Gainer's Blog

Ok, Summer's here and you're getting itchy for a week off, and so are all the consumers out there. They have the same lives we have: kids to the pool, kids to the movies, trying to find a few days to escape to the beach or the mountains or where ever. Summer can be a little slower because we and ...

Denise (my Wife) and I were working on her weekly activity planner today and it made me wonder if I ever discussed my theory about how every day of the week should have it's own theme. So here it is...remember that old children's song "today is Thursday, today is Thursday, what do we do today?" W...

Now that the tax incentive is over and we're back to business, I think it's time to get back to your Farm. My favorite thing about getting one listing is that I should be able to get at least one more in the area. Did you ever notice that as soon as one sign goes up in a neighborhood, another pop...

The 2010 Children's Free Care Fund events are already underway at the Hershey office. Every year all 130+ Howard Hanna Offices band together to raise money for the Children's Free Care Fund.  In 2009 fundraising efforts raised $568,763, and during the past 20+ years, the company has raised more t...

Measure twive, cut once...that was always the advice I heard when ever I tried to build something. And it is very good advive for almost anything we do in life. Loosly interpreted it says to me, "think carefully before you make an important decision that might be hard or even impossible to change...

What you offer sellers as a Marketing Plan says a lot about who you are as an agent. Is it just a to do list that you causually share with your prospective seller, or is is a strategic plan to maximize exposure and results? Let's break it down into some simple pieces...and lets start with what co...

During a training seminar recently we were discussing the benefits of one of our company programs, and someone asked, "Doesn't everybody have this?" All of us have programs or services or systems that might be similar to what's offered by other companies, but the difference is who articulates it ...

Some times it's symantics and other times it's nit-picking but this time I'm fired up about something... I heard that... I read an article this morning about how someone felt that 'goal setting' was out dated. I disagree; it seems to me they're either doing it wrong or they are using the wrong te...

With all the crazyness surounding the new HUD rules and the new forms...I say this is a good time to give your settlement and mortgage folks a big hug. Thanks them for all they did for you last year and let them know that you'll be there to support them in this tough transition. And oh by the way...

Well it's been a while, and what have I been up to?  Busy summer and even busier early fall! But I'll get to that in a minute...Let me tell you why I called you all here: It's time to take a look at your business plan. (he says to the moans and groans in the room...) What business plan some of yo...