Special offer

Nashville, TN Real Estate News

How many projects on your list are almost completed? Why are they ALMOST completed? What’s happened? At the beginning, you had such great energy for each of these projects and tackled them with vigor. As you approached the finish line, you took your foot off the gas? Was there some other slique, new project distracting your attention? Have you decided cut the dangling threads and cease work on the project, or will you do the hard work of gathering those danglers and weave them into the fabric of completion? Don’t let complacency and distraction turn you into a starter who doesn’t finish . . . Unless there’s good reason . . . Like it’s not important anymore. Posted byBarry OwenFebruary 25, 2019Posted inConsumer Blog, Life Rhythm Way, Pareto Realty, Real Estate ProfessionalsTags:#beafinis...
Comments 3
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Most of the schools in Middle Tennessee are closed today due to the forecast of apocalyptic rainfall. It’s not so much the rain that’s the concern . . . It’s the VOLUME of water that’ll be deluging the creeks and Rivers and the low points. One might wonder why we Nashvillians can’t seem to figure out this “water Management” thing. One valid excuse is that there is SO much property development of houses, apartment complexes, and commercial buildings, the water drainage routes are ever changing. When I was in the Army (Combat Engineer), our most formidable foe in terms of clearing clear paths for mobility of personnel and vehicles/equipment was NOT the enemy . . . it was WATER. When water flows, it will always follow the path of least resistance . . . and if that path is obstructed, the ...
Comments 6
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
I relentlessly preach the importance of being held accountable. There seems to be some unwritten code that forbids the “followers” from holding the “leaders” accountable. I guess this is a perk of being the “BOSS”, eh? So . . . who, then, DOES hold the “leader” accountable? What leaders out there are willing to be vulnerable enough to allow their “subordinates” this power? As CEO, Principal Broker, trainer and coach, I reckon most folks consider me to be THE “Leader” of our “Vital Few” tribe of exceptional real estate sales professionals. I DO have accountability to my monthly Forum Group (5 business owners) and to my 1:1 weekly accountability partner, and I’m now realizing that missing a fine and poignant nuance regarding the accountability relationship. For this relationship to be opt...
Comments 3
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
When in your place of business doing your thing called “work”, interruptions of any kind are counter-productive, right? So . . . why do we allow them? My prescription for optimal personal and professional performance calls for 2-3 hours of FOCUS at a high level of INTENSITY during that time when we are most mentally sharp. This must become a daily regimen . . . a discipline mandate that is the driving force for projecting our “force” (influence) out “there” where our work improves the environment for those we serve . . . including our own self. Absent this daily routine of intentional focus, we are less effective and more vulnerable to damaging distractions. The world around us is conspiring to steal our attention. We must be strong! First, we must “train” all of those people closest to...
Comments 4
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
All of us have different ways to measure our success. For some, it’s fulfillment, Happiness . . . a feeling of accomplishment.   Some others are all about the numbers (Business-centric) . . . Number of calls dialed, conversations had, conversions to appointments, then conversions to client, then closings (Volume, Gross revenue, Profit).   Then there are those folks who gauge success by their level of status, fame, & notoriety as being THE expert in their field of business in their unique SOI (Sphere of Influence).   Ah yes – Some measure success based on what other people are out there saying about them.   Of course, there are myriad other ways, and each and every one of them is just as valid as all the others as long as they result in motivation to continue moving forward with glee.   ...
Comments 4
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Thor got loose last night . . . Thor is the innocent looking one on the left. He’s got a great, loving disposition. Looks can be deceiving! There’s a veritable hellion imprisoned in that calm and endearing presence. 90% of the time, he oozes with love and affection. The other 10% of the time, he’s capable of rending destruction on anything and everything within his reach. The eerie part of it is that he can accomplishment this physical havoc without making any noise whatsoever in literally a fraction of a minute (or so it seems). After having to experience this mayhem multiple times, I became certain that Thor’s mission in his ever shortening life-span (JK – I wouldn’t really kill him) is to destroy everything of value to me. For sure, he is a Master teacher of me on the importance of n...
Comments 3
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Throwing money at marketing to see if it’ll stick ain’t the path of least resistance to a successful business. Every day, I “run the gauntlet” of ads and connection requests from “Marketers” on Facebook, Linkedin, Email, text . . . They all promise the same thing. If I give them (Enough) money, they’ll deliver gobs of “qualified leads” which will result in fame and riches for ME and my business. How could ALL of them do this? Have they tapped into some universal potion that works for all businesses all the time? Even more to the point, how do they already know WHO I want to serve and where? Perhaps there’s some clairvoyance mojo they have had the good fortune of being born possessing. I decline all of their connection requests, and (like cockroaches) they continue to show up ad nausiam....
Comments 3
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
I arrived at the office at exactly the right time this morning. It was a smooth morning. The dogs and I had a great walk – Breakfast – Still a little “High” on a huge win yesterday . . . and LOTS of great things scheduled for today. I turned on the computer and entered my log-in PIN . . . The screen went black with only the little mouse arrow . . . all of the peripherals made their usual noises which meant to me that the computer WAS, in fact, on and functioning . . . but it was denying me the ability to see the screen . . . only a black screen. I’ve restarted multiple times to no avail. YUCK! Yeah – I could very easily derail my entire day . . . if I were to allow that. NOPE! The back-up chromebook doesn’t have all the same capabilities (Printer/Scanner), but it DOES do everything I ne...
Comments 4
Let’s go ahead and declare it to be Spring! Sure! We could get a blast of cold air during one of these Spring showers resulting in ICE or SNOW, but I’m thinking it won’t be much more than a 1 day inconvenience. My property (Owen Hollow) is full of buds and new growth popping up everywhere. There’s a special significance of this transition to Spring . . . Every day is a lesson in possibilities. The outdoors gets more interesting and vibrant with every passing moment – New smells and colors as the frequent rains cleanse the earth and feed the new growth. Same goes in our personal and professional lives as we realize the “dark days of winter” are behind us. We can now awaken from our relative hibernation and stretch ourselves in preparation for the busyness that ensues. Spring is a time fo...
Comments 1
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
You know those days when you think you’re doing something (EVERYTHING) wrong? The results of your efforts don’t seem to be “all that”, and your perception is that other professionals in your field of expertise are knocking balls out of the ball park. Self doubt creeps in, and we crave validation. Just a smidgen of commiseration from others would take the edge off these feelings of inadequacy. Is it just you? or is EVERYONE experiencing these thoughts? Is the whole market a little wonky? If it is, what can I (we) do about it? If you’re a believer in the notion that all boats rise with the tide, you’re likely warm to the idea of joining (forming) a consortium of your peers/colleagues if for no other reason than the catharsis that comes from these monthly meetings. Word History of Catharsi...
Comments 2
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
You are your own megaphone! Who are you broadcasting yourself to be? Will you admit to being influenced by: Digital peer pressure? “Independence brings freedom, but also responsibility.” Seth Godin hits the nail on the head . . . AGAIN! Do you have an awareness that, in many ways, you choose to define yourself by investing your time, energy, and money into those folks with whom you hang? “Peer Pressure” is frequently thought of as being a negative thing . . . Detrimental . . . a pressure from “dark associates” who goad you into going down a slippery path of not “doing the right thing.” Wikipedia says: “Peer pressure (or social pressure) is the direct influence on people by peers, or the effect on an individual who gets encouraged to follow their peers by changing their attitudes, values...
Comments 4
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
This is a bow to intentional living. A while back . . . in my younger days . . . I was in a very unhealthy cycle of life. I only had 2 speeds . . . Full-tilt and near-death. Working 80+ hour weeks and partying like a rock star . . . It was a veritable 24/7/30/365 all out pursuit to squeeze every second for all it was worth. This was FUN – Exhilarating – and EXHAUSTING! I could go 3-4 weeks non-stop until my body would literally shut down for sometimes as long as a week of illness . . . forced to STOP lest I perish. I could get away with that for a little more than a decade because, well,  I was young, and my mind and body was more forgiving than now. One day, I noticed this dangerous cycle and decided to do something about it. I had been a young (30) REALTOR (fresh out of the Army in 19...
Comments 7
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Every day I hear of another friend striking out on a new entrepreneurial pursuit/career. BRAVO! For sure, there’s plenty of opportunity for smart, hard working folks with great big, shiny new ideas. I know because I did it myself in 1993 as a full time Real Estate Sales Professional. Back then, I didn’t think of it as an entrepreneurial pursuit . . . Heck I didn’t even think of it as a “Business” until I found a level of “success” that was creating more revenue than I could ever have imagined . . . but it came at a huge cost, mentally and physically. I was all work and no play, and I found myself throwing money at just about anything that I thought would bring more of that “success” I had tasted. Hind sight is 20:20 . . . By the end of my 3rd year, I was fatter than I’ve ever been and p...
Comments 3
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Pretty much everything we buy these days is more complex than necessary. Indeed, I would venture to say that the average consumer taps into less than 52.65% of the potential usefulness of any widget purchased. Even the simplest (by appearance) things that “set up themselves” (Like the Amazon Alexa Echo) can do things most users will never use. How often do you get frustrated with that expensive thing you bought that said it could do things you want them to do, . . . but it seems that you’ve gotta be a rocket scientist to figure that out? I find myself in these quandaries often. I want to get everything I can out of everything I buy, BUT . . . I think my tendencies aren’t just mine . . . I typically unpack the thing, assemble what needs assembling, power it up . . . and start fiddling wi...
Comments 2
When I was in the army, every mission was immediately followed by an After Action Review. Most of the time, this review happened while still in the field – Stinky, dirty, worn-out soldiers craving a hot shower and a cold beer gather in a huddle and assess what happened. We knew that it was essential to do this immediately upon completion because important details evaporate over time . . . and absent those details, fewer lessons learned. This post mission ritual was a “non-negotiable” because we knew that loss of a lesson learned could literally result in future harm up to and including death. The stakes were high so every team member was fully present and participatory. Is this not also true in our own personal and professional missions? Every day/week/month, we perform multiple mission...
Comments 1
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Many motivational speakers and/or authors of “Get Rich Quick” books pontificate endlessly as to the promise of miraculous results for those who invest in their “programs”. The reality is that achieving quick success is an “anomaly – Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected”. Instead, most of us mortals are relegated to the dismal reality that to achieve at a high level, we must do the work. I use the term “Dismal Realty” with tongue in cheek. Many of us rather enjoy the challenge of the work now and ahead, and what keeps us moving is the unveiling of new possibilities as we toil. This is “Life Passion” and I hereby challenge not to allow ANYONE (naysayers) to deter you from your honest, laborious efforts. Indeed, success IS very sweet because we have earned it ...
Comments 3
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Every time I go out to eat with my friend Buck, I witness genuine interaction. Always and forever when Buck sits down at the bar or a table . . . as the Bartender or server approaches, Buck is the first to speak. “Hi! My name is Buck – What’s yours?” Instant interaction. Interpersonal interaction from the get-go. For the duration of “our time together with our Bartender or server”, we “know” each other on a first name basis. If we need anything, It’s much easier for all of us because we are all inherently more connected than most patron-server interactions. “Hey Jake! Can you add a side of bacon to that?” We tend to be served better than others every time. Why? Likely the bartender/server feels more “honored/respected” Additionally, this level of interaction bears with it a higher level...
Comments 3
Greetings from Barry! For several years, I published a “Monday Morning Coffee” each and every Monday . . . and then it ceased. Why did it cease? I’m not sure I know the answer, but I am sure that it was a good thing that perished because of the “Opportunity Cost” of taking the time to write it every Monday Morning. Well . . . It’s BACK! In mid December 2018, I was putting the finishing touches on my goals for 2019 when it occurred to me that this Monday Morning Coffee was useful during the many years I dutifully published it. So . . . I added it to the list of things to re-ignite in 2019 . . . and it took me the whole month of January to write the first (this) “episode.” Why now? There are a collage of reasons, the most poignant for me being that this weekly publication was more than ju...
Comments 4
We’re not striving for “Market Dominance . . . Market Proliferation”! We don’t want to “OWN” the market . . . That sounds like WAY too much work. Once you “own” something like a market, you become the largest target for anyone and everyone and thus find yourself shifting from Offense to Defense as you protect yourself from the assaults that emerge as your competitors play the offense – capitalizing on any chinks in your armor – innovating and testing new models – and doing whatever they can do to take some of the mind-share your brand has in the heads of your prospects. (How’s THAT for a run-on sentence) A potentially more lucrative approach is pursuit of “Total Market Presence”. How could this be more lucrative? The overhead cost of maintaining market dominance often consumes the massi...
Comments 2
By Barry Owen
(Pareto Realty)
Some people don’t like to be surprised. That’s a tough spot they put themselves in, because odds are good that surprises are gonna happen whether we like them or not. Being attached to preconceived outcomes is tantamount to setting yourself up for disappointment and maybe even FAILURE! You might say: “THIS is MY plan which I will execute flawlessly and complete precisely per the specs and time allotted.” Guess what? Have your forgotten or are you in denial about Murphy? While I acknowledge that we humans have A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. abilities to visualize an outcome, make a plan, and execute that plan we must keep in mind the most probable truth . . . Seldom does anything of significance happen in strict accordance of the plan. Surprises can be great . . . After all, the creation of the post-it ...
Comments 12