It will be an opportunity to see the newly updated Boca Raton offices of the RAPB, network with other Realtors, hear guest speaker Suzanne Denihan of The Mortgage Saver Program and take a break and have lunch courtesy of your Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches.
I've been attending these monthly lunches for about 2 years now as an Affiliate and vendor exhibitor. If you've attended, you'll remember me as "The Brownie Lady".
And if you've never attended, you're missing out on this great opportunity. This is just one of the benefits that your Board of Realtors provides for you. Speakers at the lunches have motivated us; taught us about Chinese Drywall; discussed bankruptcies, and educated everyone on the new contracts.
Vendors at the Monthly Lunch include Two Men and a Truck, RMLS, Wells Fargo, Home Team Inspections, Bekins of South Florida, and Room Service Home Staging.
Ok Let's see a show of hands for those of you who participate in some form of networking for your profession....
I'm betting most of you do. What local organization doesn't have a Realtor in the group? And that's wise... it's a great way to get your name out there. And in Networking Groups the common goal is for members to help fellow members out with referrals.
Over the years I've had some great advice about networking. I even wrote one of my earlier posts about how many cards you give out at a networking event. I learned from someone at my Chamber of Commerce meeting that it's better to walk away with 5 or 6 cards of people with whom you've spoken and gotten to know, than collect bunches of cards of people you haven't spent any time with.
In fact a Realtor I was introduced to a few years ago at one of these Business Card Exchanges (I think they need a better name) has been one of my best contacts. There must have been 200 members there but I think I handed out maybe half a dozen cards. It may not sound productive to some but I've had a steady source of referrals from this Realtor.
Another piece of advice I was given after I'd joined a group was to get involved... don't just show up. Have you noticed that in many groups there's always a small handful of members that keep the group going?
Rebecca Gaujot is a good example of this. If you follow her blog at all you know that she is very active in her community. She's been out helping build houses for Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity. She isn't just a name on a Member Roll.
Toni Weidman is active in her Rotary Club and shares their activities with us. I bet she doesn't have to hand out many cards because her community knows her from her work with this organization.
So if you're out there networking either by joining your professional organizations, your local Chamber of Commerce and their internal leads groups, other leads groups, BNI, or your community groups remember to do more than just show up and hand out cards.
Let them get to know who you are by getting to know them!
Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches (RAPB) held their Monthly Lunch on the House today!
As part of a service for its members the RAPB holds a Lunch on the House for its members each month. It's an excellent opportunity to network with other Realtors and to learn something from the varied guest speakers..... attorneys discussing bankruptcy and foreclosure; motivational speakers; mold remediation; the new Real Estate contracts... all good information!
As an Affiliate I benefit because it's my opportunity to interact with Realtors and educate them about Home Staging and my company, Room Service! Home Staging. There are other Affiliates there such as the Women's Council of Realtors, Bekins of South Florida, Two Men and a Truck, Home Team Inspections Services, House Master Home Inspections, Group One Mortgage and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
If you're in Palm Beach County and want to get to know your peers, learn more about a Real Estate related topic and get a FREE lunch, go to the RAPB website and mark your calendars for next month's lunch!
Lou Ludwig at our tableGuest Speaker Angela Territo
Steve Hoffacker (at a previous lunch)
Ken Choy Group One Mortage
For more information : Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches 1920 10th Avenue North, Suite 410 561-585-4544
Yesterday I attended the Women's Networking Luncheon that meets once amonth. Just like many of you, I attend various networking lunches, breakfasts, after hours cocktails ... the list goes on. If you're in business, especially in sales, that's what you do.
Lisa Shaheen has been the guiding force behind this group. Besides being President of Ability Glass &Mirror, Lisa is known to us as the Juice Plus lady. She organizes us and keeps the ball rolling for all of us. Without her, I don't even know how we'd get together.
However this networking group is different from other formal networking groups: There are no mandatory requirements other than you want to be there to exchange and share information. There is no restriction of 1 representative per industry.
This month's presentation was given byLisa Lothian, a Certified Chae Professional, who gave us a list of toxic and carcinogenic ingredients found in products that could actually do more damage than good.
At any lunch, we'll have Realtors, attorneys, financial planners, bankers, fitness experts, life coaches, and other business owners.
Every networking group is different, with different goals and ways of achieving them. This works for me because of the informality. In my previous life I attended one to two 7 am breakfasts a month; at least one networking lunch a week, and many after hours socials. It began to feel like work for me.
Whatever you choose, I hope you've found a group that works for you! And, if you're in our area, give me a call and Join us!!!
I've been waiting for weeks for this day. Some of you may have Friggatriskaidekaphobia (Fear of Friday the 13th), but on this day, I absolutely did not.
Our meeting has been mentioned in some of the comments around ActiveRain. Plans were made; emails sent; a final phone call to firm things up. The three of us would meet. Nothing to hide. We're all adults. We had a small window of opportunity, so the three of us had to be on time.
It's almost noon and I'm hoping my GPS (I call her Daphne) was right. I'd never been to this place but I knew it had to be close. "Bear right on Wilton Manors Drive". ...... "Arriving at destination on right" ....... I see colorful balloons and an outdoor patio. There it it.. Rosie's Bar & Grill.
I'm out of the car and I see two figures sitting at the bar, their backs to me. One I'd already met, another I felt like I'd known forever. His back was towards me, but I would have known him anywhere....
Roger Mucci and Linda Scofield
Three ActiveRain Stagers sitting around eating Fish 'n Chips and guess what we talked about! Yes, you're right, Staging was mentioned. But more than that we got to know the person behind the post. If you've been at ActiveRain at all for the last few months then you're sure to have read Roger's blog about his mother, his life and his Home Staging and Redesign business, Shaken with a Twist. Needing a much deserved break, Roger flew down to Ft Lauderdale yesterday for a visit with his brother, Tony, and Linda and I were eagerly looking forward to meeting him. Roger minces no words, but I'm glad he doesn't. Political Correctness is highly over-rated.
I'd met Linda Scofield a few months earlier when we decided to form an informal "group" to help support each other as we strive to build and grow our Home Staging and ReDesign businesses. Linda's company, Above and Beyond Home Staging and Redesign is one county south of me but she also provides staging services in her home town of Toccoa, GA. I have to admire Linda because she is an example of a new business owner getting out there and networking in her community through her local Chamber of Commerce.
So, there you have it! My first ActiveRain Meange a Trois. I wrote a post last week about picking up the phone and not relying strictly on email or Tweets.... Reach Out and Touch Someone. I know many of you already have met other ActiveRainers when you're on your travels. For those of you who haven't had the opportunity, I encourage you to try it just one time. Who knows .... you may like it!
It all started so very innocently... I commented on someone's post one day last week. Nothing new. I do it every day! And, I honestly can't remember which post.
That day I received an email via ActiveRain from a fellow Rainer and South Floridian....Realtor Patty Da Silva. Patty took the time to email me to suggest that I make the font on my Profile page larger so it would be easier to read. No problem! I went straight to my page and in 10 seconds, the print was large enough to read. (which I suppose could be another post about checking your profile page from time to time.)
Her next email.... said "Do you do work in Broward County?" (I'm in Palm Beach County; Broward is just south of us)
You can see where this is going...! "You bet I do!"
We discussed real estate (of course), Staging, pizza, carbs, and oh yes, did I say Staging?
Yadira Martinez, Chris Wilson and Patty Da Silva
I learned about the market in Davie, Florida (relatively good BTW) and they learned about how staging can help them sell their listings! I also learned that this is a dynamic group merging tried and true Real Estate practices with New World marketing techniques.
This meeting came not from my "cold calling" efforts; it did not come from my participation in various local networking groups.
My meeting of these new friends came from a Comment here at ActiveRain!What are you Waiting for???
I was standing by my table speaking with any and all that would stop by, when I thought I saw a familiar face. Perhaps I met him at one of the other RAPB functions?? After all, this was my fifth Lunch on the House. Or, maybe I'd met him at one of the networking functions given by the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce?
Our Presentation was given by Lou Ludwig whose topic was ALL THE RULES HAVE CHANGED-THE SECRET TOTHRIVING IN ANY TYPE OF MARKET. Hm-m-m , his name sure sounded familiar. How did I know him?? Lou is a consultant to the Real Estate and Home Building Market. Could he have worked with my husband's company??
If you ever have the opportunity to hear Lou speak, I highly recommend you make time in your schedule to attend.
My rambling point in all of this is that after the event I wanted to thank Lou for a great presentation and to ask him if it would be all right for me to write about him and paraphrase what he said on my blog in ActiveRain. Steve was standing near by and said:
I'm on ActiveRain too!
I've had my head buried so much in my laptop, reading the blogs of others and trying to keep up with my own that I'd forgotten that ActiveRain does exist in the real world!! 3 Dimensional!!! I remember now that Steve and I have commented on each other's blogs, and I also know that I've read Lou's motivational ones.
As of last night, I had 2 more Associates added to my list, and I'd added 2 to mine.
So, get out there, network and who knows. . . the next person you meet just might be a Rainer!
