Ken Brand
Ken Brand - Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors. I’ve proudly worn a Realtor tattoo for over 10,957+ days, practicing our craft in San Diego, Austin, Aspen and now, The Woodlands, TX. As a life long learner, I’ve studied, read, written, taught, observed and participated in spectacular face plant failures and giddy inducing triumphs. I invite you to read my blog posts here at Agent Genius and BrandCandid.com. On the lighter side, you can follow my folly on Twitter and Facebook. Of course, you’re always to welcome to take the shortcut and call: 832-797-1779.
By Ken Brand on February 8, 2010
Wise Words
“What ever is happening to YOU now, YOU either created it, YOU allow it or YOU promote it.” ~Unknown
Reread that. It’s stark truth and reality for 97% of what is going on with our real estate careers. Success and challenges alike.
Setting things right is simple…take personal responsibility and embrace The Fix It or Fire It Method.
Fix It or Fire It
Current Listing Inventory Not Selling? Fix It or Fire It?
Fix how the property shows compared to the competition. Sellers won’t help themselves? Fire them.
Adjust the price to a competitive level. Sellers won’t help themselves? Fire…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Service, Social Media | Tagged Choosing your friends, Embrace Chang, Fit It or Fire It, Leaderhsip, Qualifying Buyers, Right Priced Listings
By Ken Brand on February 1, 2010
Good News! Your Raise Is Effective As Soon As YOU Are.
No Brown-Nosing, glass ceilings, boot licking, politics, nepotism, seniority, annual performance reviews or begging for a raise.
In our real estate world, YOU are your own boss. That’s good news for hard persistent faithful smart committed motivated workers, bad news for slackers.
Why?
Because the real estate business is pure pay-for-performance. Want a raise?
“Your raise is effective as soon as you are.” Marilyn Eiland
3 Questions You Have To Ask Yourself:
When do you want it?
What do you need to do differently? Doing nothing is not an option.
When…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Lead Generation, Marketing, Marketing, Real Estate, Service, Social Media | Tagged Asking for a Raise, Business Development, Don't Get Stuck in Stupid, Embracing Change, Wagging Your Long Tail
By Ken Brand on January 25, 2010
Are We Victims?
Some people allow events, people and circumstances to impact them permanently negative! These people are victims. You recognize a VICTIM like so:
Victims mope, whine, opine and wish things were like they used to be….way back when.
Victims bleat, it’s never their fault, there is no forgiveness or acceptance.
Negativity poisons their passion?
Setbacks cripple compassion and chinks their soul.
Hopelessness brittles their heart and turns their futures fruitless.
Misery loves company. Victims throw impromptu pity parties to infect friends with their victim-virus.
Victims are mean and small and petty.
At times, life’s hard, unfair and brutal. How…
Posted in Coaching, Marketing, Marketing, Real Estate, Service, Social Media | Tagged attitude, Don't be a Victim. Do be a Vitamin, Embracing Change, prosperity, Weathering the storm
By Ken Brand on January 18, 2010
Angels Broken
Sometimes angels wings get broken. Foreclosure, bankruptcy, job loss, dinged health, divorce — it hurts. We don’t like it and we can’t control it, but we can learn from it.
Thankfully, broken wings can heal and angels can reinvent and resurrect. If they want too.
Do you believe we’re all angels?
Me-Ether Immersion
I’m into me. That’s fine sometimes, and normal, I suppose. But, I don’t think “normal” is valuable.
Hour by hour, day by day, we all fly our race. I flap Away-From and I fly frantic In-Chase-Of. How often do you and I simply “ground” ourselves? How often…
Posted in Coaching, Ethics, Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Service
By Ken Brand on January 11, 2010
Symmetry
It’s attractive and sexy — Symmetry.
Symmetry in the ways and means of Business, the science and art of Home-Economics and in the Discovery Of and The Collision With, listing and selling opportunities is profitable, beautiful and ideal.
In the pursuit of the profitable, the beautiful and the ideal, humans generally trend towards Over-Kill. At least that’s what I’ve observed, and of course, that’s what I seem to routinely do.
What does symmetry look like in the business of attracting, discovering and colliding with listing and selling opportunities?
How We Attract, Discover and Collide With Opportunity
Before the Internet, how we…
Posted in Coaching | Tagged balancing old school and new school, Social Media Overload, Top Of Mind Awareness
By Ken Brand on January 4, 2010
When The Jig Is Up…
When caught, you have one chance and one smart choice.
Fall on your sword, come correct and confess. Get it over with and get on with it. You better be sincerely-sincere. If you Run silent-Run-Deep, pretend-sorry, spit excuses or blame, you’re screwed.
In that spirit…
Seppuku City
I must confess. My time and attention have strayed. My sensibilities about commitment and responsibility have been seduced by the muse of Christmas Spirit, Family Warmth, Holiday Cheer and New Year Celebration.
Confession
What I shoulda done. What I’m supposed to do. What I’ve committed to do. What I love doing,…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Ethics, Real Estate, Service, Social Media | Tagged Apologizing, Coming Clean, Confessing, Forgivness
By Ken Brand on December 28, 2009
Has this ever happened to YOU?
Weeks of involvement drag by. You’re not having fun. Pouring yourself into it, people don’t seem to appreciate you. You’re likable. But, you’re not connecting. Relationships aren’t blooming.
What’s wrong?
This misfit story unfolds when the decision to join a group/organization/tribe/niche, is based on demographics, or worse, random happenstance. What’s wrong? Your Psychographic proclivities are not in alignment with the group you’ve selected — these people aren’t your kind-of-people, you know it and they know it. Ergo, nothing good happens.
The fix is simple and quick. When you engage with a tribe that has…
Posted in Marketing | Tagged Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media
By Ken Brand on December 21, 2009
Context Sharpens Clarity.
Clarity Creates Understanding.
Understanding Creates Trust.
Trust Attracts.
Attraction Leads To Employment and Referral Recommendations
Blah, Yada! If you’ve been around the block, you know about the importance of sharing the benefits of all your features. It’s wise. Do it!
If you want to pogo to the pro level, you’ll want to focus your brand, marketing, presentations and conversations with the clarifying lens of context. First features, then context, then benefits.
Context Sharpens Clarity
Minus context, our messages are recieved as fuzzy, out of focus and either uncertain, untrue or BS.
Examples:
Fuzzy: Mortgage rates are at an all time low. Mortgage rates…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Social Media | Tagged Business Building, Clarity, communication tips, Context, conversation expertise, creating trust, laws of attraction, Understanding
By Ken Brand on December 14, 2009
Overheard
Got any appointments this afternoon?
I wish.
No sense waste’n the day, wanna go see Cameron’s new AVATAR flick…supposed to be awesome, if we run we can catch the 2:15, maybe it won’t be crowded and we can walk right in, grab some popcorn and check it out? Since you suck at selling real estate and I’m the greatest of all time, I’ll buy.
Nah, I can’t. I’m stuck here — waiting on a couple’a important calls.
What’er you talk’n about? You’re sit’n here, just waiting? Don’t they have your cell number? C’mon, let’s go, it’ll be fun…I’m buy’n. Hell, I’ll even…
Posted in Coaching, Coaching, Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate | Tagged accountability, leadership, Phone Call Follow-up, time management
By Ken Brand on December 7, 2009
If You’re Human…
Needles of fear prick your skin, inside-out. Salty beads bubble up and bloom. Two perked ears hear a thumping heart. A pie-hole, normally wet, goes desert dry. Breathing quickens. Imagination, formerly confident, runs rogue, bad things loom dark and certain.
Fear robs your future, if you let it.
What Do We All Fear?
Rejection.
Looking lame, inexperienced and unworthy.
Saying the wrong thing, awkward interaction.
Disapproval.
Opportunity amputation.
Not knowing what to do or when to do it.
Not knowing the answer, looking stupid, ignorant and out of touch.
Success.
Failure.
______________________________
Fear-feelings are normal. If we allow our…
Posted in Coaching, Public Relations | Tagged fear, future, Real Estate