Boy… It’s hot, and not just outside

You do not have to be a weather person to predict the weather this time of year.  We all know… it is the hottest time of the year.  But that is not all that’s hot.  The economy is red hot too.  By all measures the best economy in 20 years or so.

This is GOOD for most reading this, but there will be some exceptions.  There always are.  An example could be someone will sell a house and make out great, meaning a buyer pays a bit more than they would have not too long ago.  And in some areas, the opposite happens.  Seller does not make out that great, but the buyer does.

Most homeowners who do NOT have to sell of course know this and will hold back on buying or selling.  That will of course impact supply and demand.  Results right now? RED HOT opportunities!

VIP CLIENT PROGRAM

How does this impact you?  Well, it is a HOT time to invest in real estate. Single-family, multi-family, even farmland.  If you did not get the memo, here is a special clause from our Buyer and Seller Agreements of our VIP Client Program enabling past clients of ours to create additional wealth thru real estate.

VIP CLIENT PROGRAM:  Seller ___ does OR ___ does not wish to participate in Broker’s VIP Client Real Estate Investor Program (REIP), whereby Seller will receive notices of free real estate investor trainings and notices of real estate investment opportunities by mail, email or phone at times when investment opportunities arise.  Seller may opt out of The REIP at any time. Seller is never obligated to invest in real estate.

So, if you or anyone you know like the idea of making money in real estate using other people’s money, please contact us right away… while these HOT investment opportunities are available.

Making gains in assets and wealth are nice!  I especially like it because it allows me the opportunity to GIVE more. How about you?

Your Referrals Really Do Help The Kids

As you probably know, we donate a portion of our income to some AMAZING worthy causes!  Like B Walker Ranch, a day program for kids and adults with autism that enhances their skills and abilities.

This year my team and I are on a mission to raise $10,000 for B Walker Ranch! According to the Center of Disease Control, 1 out of 59 births is on the autistic spectrum. 750,000 autistic adults will be looking for adult day programming as they age out of existing school programs. B Walker Ranch has the solution.

The ranchers will be fully immersed in the responsibilities of running a working ranch, learning to care for animals and growing product from seed to harvest, while understanding the process.

The activities become the teaching tool and offer therapeutic benefit. The rancher’s interest will       come forth as they are challenged physically and intellectually through various programming.

As a leading non-profit, B Walker Ranch depends on Sponsorships and Donations to continue its leading-edge service.  We proudly donate a portion of our income from real estate sales to B Walker Ranch to help them continue serving the needs of those who most need it in our community!

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to our real estate sales team?  Not only will they benefit from our award-winning real estate service, a very worthy cause will benefit as well. To refer anyone considering buying or selling a home just give me a call or pass on my number 925.216.7720.  Thank you in advance for your referrals!

Go Serve Big!!!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

The Almaro Team

P.S. When you read the story enclosed your heart will warm! Boy mine sure did. Check it out.

Happy FREEDOM Month!

As you know July is the month to celebrate FREEDOM.

We assume the rights of freedom and debate its boundaries in politics, yet how often do we take time to reflect on what freedom means to us personally?

Freedom is not a concept carved from stone; it is malleable and personal, always shifting shape depending on where you find yourself standing and the angle of the slanting light.

My personal definition of freedom is the ability to act based on my convictions without external restriction or retribution. It is the ability to represent myself as I see myself to be, not having to hide or disguise who I am in order to pursue happiness, fulfillment, and growth. It is the power of free self-expression. Personal freedom is one of my top three values.

Of course, there are boundaries to freedom. My actions should not hurt others or restrict their personal freedoms, and so this is the dance of conscience. Will what I want conflict with what others want or need? If so, how can I have the personal autonomy I need while respecting the freedom of those around me?

A real estate team with experience, proven results and a give-back philosophy!

I believe there is always a path for mutual free expression, when we respect one another. Today, as we prepare to celebrate Freedom Month, I offer the following quotes as food for thought and as writing prompts:

“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” ― William Faulkner

 “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” ― Noam Chomsky

And I leave you with these questions: Which, if any, of these quotes resonate with you? What do you believe about freedom and how do you describe or define it for yourself?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Beautiful famous words. Those words really come to life for us when you consider the idea of owning real estate, especially your own home. My guaranteed sale program is a solution to ‘wrongs’ in real estate for homeowners experiencing the Catch 22. In fact, this is how successful businesses are built. Identify something that is a problem for people and solve it.

In today’s market, many homeowners really want to make a move, but are finding themselves in a Catch 22 – whether to sell first or buy first. They don’t want to end up getting stuck owning two homes or none at all.

My solution to this dilemma is this guarantee:

“Your Home Sold Guaranteed at a Price Agreeable to You or I’ll Buy It*”

My own revolution, so to speak, that deals with the age-old indictment of whether to buy first of sell first.

Rotary leads the way in restoring lives one person and one community at a time.

Another wrong we are on a mission to help right is the indictment that life sometimes deals people a raw deal. Bad things many times happen to good people.

This is why we are on a mission to raise $10,000 for Rotary Club of Concord! For 110 years, Rotary has established itself as the World’s most respected servant leader connecting more than 1,200,000 volunteers who have a desire to help with those who need help the most.

Whether it’s promoting peace across cultures, by training leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas, or fighting disease by riding the world of polio, to providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, to saving mothers and children by expanding access to quality medical care, to supporting education, Rotary leads the way in restoring lives one person and one community at a time.

As a leading non-profit, Rotary depends on Sponsorships and Donations to continue its leading-edge service.  We proudly donate a portion of our income from real estate sales to Rotary to help them continue serving the needs of those who most need it in our community!

SO, YOUR REFERRALS REALLY DO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS WHO NEED HELP THE MOST!

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to our real estate sales team?  Not only will they benefit from our award-winning real estate service, a very worthy cause will benefit as well. To refer anyone considering buying or selling a home just give me a call or pass on my number 925.216.7720 .  Thank you in advance for your referrals!

Just like The U.S. Declaration of Independence inspired many similar documents in other countries, I hope my newsletter this month inspires you to pursue happiness and join us in helping others do that as well. GO SERVE BIG!

With all my appreciation,

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

& The Almaro Team

925-216-7720

P.S. Talk about Pursuit of Happiness! Check out the story of Major Gwyn’s Salvation Army Gives Back To Those Most Impacted By The Virus!   

Welcome June!

Keeping You Safe During the Pandemic

We continue to practice safety for our clients, ourselves and anyone we come in contact with. We follow strict guidelines and these are the rules all persons must follow when entering any property:

• Washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer immediately upon entry and before touring or inspecting the property.
• Wearing a protective face covering.
• Practicing social distancing by keeping at least six feet between yourself and others, and not gathering in groups.
• Avoid touching surfaces or items in the property. All persons on property for in-person showings should avoid touching knobs, faucets, toilets and toilet handles, light switches, garage door opener buttons, handles and pulls, alarm system controls, fan pulls, remotes, thermostats, switchboxes, gates and gate latches, window locks and sashes, pool coverings, counters, door and cabinet handles, sinks and other such items. If you believe it necessary to touch surfaces or items on the property, consider the risk of doing so.
• You will exercise care to protect yourself, and assess your own risks, by considering your age, underlying health conditions, recent travel, possible exposure to COVID-19, doctor’s recommendations, and local, State and Federal recommendations. You agree and understand that it is your responsibility to evaluate the risks and protect yourself.
• You will follow all Federal, State, and local laws and Stay Home Orders, even though such laws and orders may be changing rapidly.

Well, since you have been kind enough to be a part of our business, I wanted to take the opportunity to give YOU (and those you know) TWO very special gifts!

Gift #1 is my lifetime home sale guarantee.

Your Home Sold Guaranteed or I’ll Buy It*

Yes, this is the guarantee I am most famous for. And you will know that whether it’s a super awesome real estate market or a housing recession, I have not wavered from this guarantee. The peace of mind from a guarantee like this is a fantastic gift. I can think of none better.

My team and I are committed to results. In fact, Results Oriented is one of our core values. For more than 19 years people have been coming to us when they want their home sold, at their price and with the least hassle. We look forward to the next 20 years of Guaranteed Results for area homeowners.

Gift #2… Donations to B Walker Ranch.

In last month’s letter, I updated you on our goal of raising $10,000 for B Walker Ranch this calendar year. In case you missed it, we donate a portion of our income from home sales to B Walker Ranch. The ranch was created as a direct response to the epidemic amount of people with mental disorders aging out of the school systems and in need of quality programming. This day program allows these kids to set realistic goals and affirm who they are and who they will become. B Walker Ranch’s work in helping kids with mental illnesses mainly focusing on autism is second to none! And as a not for profit day program in our area, they depend on sponsorships and donations to continue providing their leading-edge care.

Since that letter, we have received 37 referrals. That is 37 families wanting to buyer or sell a home, referred to us by clients like you. This means we have been able to contribute extra dollars toward this very worthy cause!

YOUR REFERRALS HELP THE KIDS! Keep them coming!

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to my real estate sales team? Not only will they benefit from our award-winning service and iron clad guarantees but the kids at B Walker Ranch will benefit as well.

Just give me a call or pass my number on to anyone you know considering buying or selling. My number is 925.216.7720.

If you would like to find out more about B Walker Ranch and Sponsorship Opportunities visit their website: www.BWalkerRanch.org

Life moves fast for some and we are eager to make the Home Selling and Buying experience a smooth rewarding one. Over the last two decades of helping hundreds of families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you!

As we move forward this Summer, please know we are extremely thankful for you being a special part of our business.

Go Serve Big!!!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

P.S. Check out the story enclosed of this amazing mother who founded B Walker Ranch.

InHouse Spring 2020

“Your Success is not limited by the economy; it’s only limited by the people you know and the amount of interest you can generate in your products and services.”

Grant Cardone is a well-known business speaker and sales guru.  Not too long ago I was meeting with some of my business colleagues and we were discussing how easy it has become for people to just give up.   It reminded me of one of his books, “If You’re Not First, Your Last”.   In his book, Grant shares the specific thought processes and actions necessary to move from where you are right now to the front of your field.  Regardless of the product or service you sell. Grant draws on his experiences of getting through three recessions, emerging stronger, more capable, and more profitable after each one.

Each chapter builds on the next, encouraging the reader to follow this step-by-step approach of thinking and acting to help the reader achieve their goals.

Advance and Conquer

Right from the beginning Grant makes it clear that there are four responses (and attitudes) made by people when the economy or things take a turn for the worst in their lives. I love the fourth response, advance and conquer, because it illustrates the mindset and actions that people who dominate their field make on a consistent basis. The advance and conquer approach is about being the absolute best at what you do regardless of the external situation.

It is about going out into the marketplace and doing massive amounts of activity above and beyond what is considered normal. For example: planning your day so effectively that you’re able to double or triple your calls. Or creating a strategy that enables you to follow up each one with an email to get at least two touch points with each client per day.

One extreme way to look at the advance and conquer mindset is to ask yourself “how would I think, move, act and speak differently if I had 24 hours left to live unless I closed a sale by the end of the day?” There would probably be a much greater sense of urgency than if you thought you had 20 years left to live.

Insight #1

Own your mind and what you believe

“Change your thought process. Drop the arrogance, your old beliefs, and any limitations on what you are willing to do and get going on producing your economy.”

Having the right thought process is critical for success. In sales, business and life we are governed by a certain set of rules that guide how we think and act. Often these are negative and are rules that enforce what we should not do more than what we should. For example: Am I calling this client too much? Am I justified in asking for a referral? What will the client think if I don’t negotiate on price? Thoughts like these paralyze you from acting and being successful.

Grant suggests that most of what we worry about tends not to happen, so why waste time worrying about it when that time can be spent using your mind on everything you can do to change the situation? If you are going to advance and conquer you must eliminate all the worry, doubt and fear of negative consequences that could happen if you act. This is not to say you should pretend that everything is okay when you do have reason to worry. Be encouraged to build positive thinking muscles, so you are better equipped to handle challenges.

Insight #2

Perform at your highest level always

“Make it clear to the world every day that you have things to do and people to see.”

In order to get the most out of The Big Idea and Gem #1, it is necessary to be deliberate about the actions that you will take each day and focus your thoughts into doing everything you can to complete them. I have found that the most successful times in my life were when I got the most done and felt best about myself. Specifically when I actively took control of my mind by scheduling the most important actions that needed to be done that day and doing everything I could to complete them. Rather than leaving my day to chance.

Grant suggests that people don’t do things like watch TV, take long lunches or gossip, worry about what others think because they are lazy, but rather because they lack a commitment to a power schedule. When you have other places you must be and don’t have time for these things, then you just don’t do them. A good way to start is by asking yourself these questions:

1. a) What time will you go to bed at night and what time you will get up?
2. b) What wasteful actions am I currently involved in?
3. c) How do I spend my weekends?
4. d) How am I spending my time after work?
5. e) Are these activities adding to my confidence and the way I feel about myself or are they holding me back?

This book shows you how to take everything you already have and direct it into profit through methods Grant has used himself and found to be successful  Here are a few key insights that you need to wake up with everyday so you can be first!

KEY INSIGHTS:

• Being first to the market is not as important as being number one in your category.
• You don’t necessarily have to be the company introducing a product to be the best choice in the buyer’s mind.
• If you aren’t number one in your category or field, then you are in a precarious and dangerous situation.
• The only way to flourish during an economic downturn is to take lots of unreasonable actions in order to dominate.
• The quitters are basically scavengers who depend on “good” economies to provide enough cash to fund their lifestyles.
• Remember: People like to buy and do business with people they know and like.
• Any attention is better than no attention.
• Contacts turn into contracts, and the more contacts, the more contracts.
• Warning: Reactivating past clients must be approached from a standpoint of offering service and taking interest in the client.
• If you go out and start making things happen, something will happen.
• According to the study, 80 percent of sales to businesses are made on the fifth sales call, but only 10 percent of salespeople call beyond three times.
• Price is never the way to create a wow experience.
• The wow moment occurs when you present the product, let customers know how it can solve their problems, and figure out how it makes them feel as well as how you present, service, and deliver that experience.
• Selling on price is an indication of a weak-minded and poorly trained individual or organization.
• Money will find what people perceive as value; not the lowest price.
• You need clients more than they need you in any economy.
• Act like your life depends on every transaction, every moment of every day.
• The person who willingly swings the bat has a better chance at success than the person who refuses to swing.
• After all, there is no shortage of money on Earth; there is a shortage of planning, motivation, courage, action, and follow-through.
• Selling is to an organization what food, water, and oxygen are to the body.
• Remember the rule of no. Whenever you say no to something in life, there is usually a lack of know.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

• Quit being reasonable.
• Don’t settle with just “getting by.”
• You need to wake up every day and want to be first.
• Do not rely solely on e-mail or snail mail for this venture without first getting in touch via phone or personal visit.
• Advance and conquer; don’t retreat and contract.
• Think solutions and you will find many!
• Get uncomfortable. The discomforts you experience now may well guarantee that you’ll be comfortable in the future.

Go Serve Big!!!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

& The Almaro Team

Your Home Sold Guaranteed!

Hello to you sellers, buyers and real estate stakeholders,

It is difficult to remain indifferent to the situation in which California has plunged. In the aftermath of the Coronavirus outbreak, also known as COVID-19, men and women in the health and public safety sectors are working tirelessly to maintain essential services. We take this opportunity to pay tribute to them. The exemplary courage of these professionals deserves to be highlighted.

Each day, they alleviate the virus spread by their actions, their devotion towards the public. On behalf of our team, The Almaro Team, we wholeheartedly thank our frontliners. The spread of the Coronavirus leads the majority of people to isolate themselves, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of prevention. Containment has repercussions in the real estate market; fewer sellers are opening the doors of their property to potential buyers.

At The Almaro Team, we support you in this unprecedented times. We sympathize with you and we will do everything in our power to prevent the situation from obstructing the process of buying or selling your property.
We are proactive and present you virtual tools and tips that will allow you to continue and find your dream home while protecting yourself and your family.

HELLO APRIL

Give Me 30 Seconds and We’ll Save a Kids Life Together…

Welcome to the month of April. By the time you are reading this, you will be deep into it. That means I can’t play any April Fool jokes on you. Never been a fan of those anyway. When I was a kid, my favorite radio station Star 101.3 in Walnut Creek announced they were going to be changing formats and playing elevator music and for half the day they did that, only to announce it was a big April Fool’s Joke.

Another BIG deal in April is TAX day! Yep! Deadlines for filing those personal income tax returns. I don’t think most people mind paying taxes as long as they are being put to good use. I think it’s the waste that bothers most us citizens.

Both days I mention above are for sure conversation starters, one full of funny stories, the other maybe not so much, but there are few days more memorable than the day you buy your dream home. That day is supposed to be fun, exciting and great feeling of accomplishment.

Therefore, we offer guarantees and assurances to our clients. 

We call this Our Risk Removal System.  Like our Guaranteed Sale Program: Your Home Sold at a Price Agreeable to You or We’ll Buy It*. And our VIP Buyer Satisfaction Guarantee:  If You Are Not Happy With Your Home, We Will Buy It Back!*  In fact, our Exclusive Seller Agreements Offer 10 Unprecedented Guarantees.  In my experience, these guarantees elevate our service and our clients experience.

And by now, four paragraphs into this month’s Homeward Bound, you are wondering how the headline ties into any of this.  If you are receiving Homeward Bound for the first time, you will notice we give back to those in our community who need help the most. Like the young adults at B Walker Ranch!

Just down the street from where I’m typing, B Walker Ranch is working on opening their doors to help these young adults with disabilities find their place in the world. And that is no April Fools joking matter.

As you know B Walker Ranch is putting together a day program for adults with disabilities this will give them a working environment where they can learn and grow with others who can support them. They will be learning through activities such as taking care of animals, growing a garden, learning to cook with foods that they have grown and so much more.

Most don’t know though that B Walker Ranch is a non-profit. They depend on sponsorships and donations to be able to provide their care and program to families with kids who need it the most.

AND remember, your REFERRALS help the Kids!

This year, we’d like to give even more! 

We are on a mission to raise $10,000 for B Walker Ranch. We do this by donating to them a portion of our income from homes we sell.

So, when you or anyone you buy or sells the place they call home with us, we deliver on our exclusive guarantees and award-winning service AND a very worthy cause benefits as well.

The reason for the headline is because 30 seconds is about all it takes to think about who you know that may be considering buying or selling the place they call home and to give us a call.  If it is you, then awesome! If it’s a friend or family member, that’s great too!

Thank you in advance for your referrals! My number is 925-216-7720.

REFER YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS:

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to our real estate sales team?  Not only will they benefit from our award-winning real estate service, a very worthy cause will benefit as well.

I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates or family members considering making a move, so here are your options:

You can call me direct at 925-216-7720 or
pass on my number.

If you or someone you know is planning to make a move have them text LETY to 925-392-3202 to get my virtual business card.

You can visit my website to refer a friend www.bit.ly/38x83mo

And Start Packing Today!!!

I’ve added a photo of myself along with many of the great agents at our company helping paint, plant and build the ranch after one of our service days. With the help of our clients, I’m confident we’ll make our big goal of $10,000 this year.

Over the decades of helping hundreds and hundreds of families sell or buy the place they call home, we have met so many wonderful, loving, caring people. We are so grateful. Thank you for reading over this month’s Homeward Bound and thank you for referring anyone you know considering buying or selling to my team. They will be in good hands and a very worthy cause will benefit as well.

Go Serve Big!!!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

& The Almaro Team

925-216-7720

Two Big Myths in the Homebuying Process

Who Cares if the Ground Hog got it right, Spring is STILL Coming. I promise.

Spring is Springing and Ground Hog did not see his shadows!  Yay!  I just came inside from shooting a video outside and WOW!  It’s nice out!  Yes, I realize that when you get this and read it that it could be cold and rainy, but those cold days are just about over.  Everyone loves Spring, primarily because it means… summer is near!

For many across this great country though, it’s still COLD, grey, and snowy! One thing is for sure, this winter season is coming to an end.  It does every year without fail.

Just like the weather seasons come and go, so do the seasons of life. I just turned 61, my husband is retired and my dog naps all day. Are you with me when I say that these seasons seem to come and go faster and faster as well as the time? My husband reminded me last night we have shared 19 of our birthdays together.

Some of life’s seasons will be HOT and others will be COLD, some high and some low. The lows we want to move by quickly, the highs we want to stay in forever. But it’s the low points, those tough times, that I have learned the most from. All of the experiences through these seasons make me who I am.

So, what does this have to do with you and real estate?

Spring is a time of action, a heating up of the desire for a new place to call home for many.  Maybe you or someone you know is right now looking or considering it.  That’s great!  We are here to help with that.  Whether it be a list of the 10 best buys matching home buying criteria or delivering top dollar on a home sale along with our written guarantee of the asking price, our award-winning SYSTEM and TEAM are eager to help.

Unfortunately, there are some that will have a Springtime they would much rather forget.

With all the beauty this Spring time brings, there is also the ugly for some. Rotary Club of Concord is working in Honduras to build bathrooms for local schools.  Most students in America are drinking fresh water and playing outside on the school yard. While students in Honduras are not attending school from sicknesses due to the lack of clean water and sanitary bathrooms.  For them and their families, Spring time is the furthest thing from their mind. Don’t get me wrong, these families long to see their kids out in the yard playing or riding their bikes – but for now, they are praying for help.

 Your Referrals Help Continue the Life Changing Work by Rotary Club of Concord!

Through our Go Serve Big mission statement we are on a quest to raise $10,000 for ROTARY CLUB OF CONCORD! For 40 years, Rotary Club of Concord has established itself as one of the Bay Area’s respected servant leaders who have donated tens of thousands of dollars to local needs as well as international projects.

Whether it’s providing food for the struggling and hungry through its many food pantries, or providing sanitary water and bathrooms to communities that need them,

to helping refugees try to get back on their feet, to ridding the world of Polio, to empowering people to make a change, to teaching people about medicine and hygiene, to connecting communities and making positive change in the world, Rotary leads the way in restoring lives one person and one community at a time.

As a non-profit, Rotary Club of Concord depends on Sponsorship and Donations to continue its leading-edge service. We proudly donate a portion of our income from real estate sales to Rotary to help them continue serving the needs of those who most need it in our community! 

SO, YOUR REFERRALS REALLY DO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS WHO NEED HELP THE MOST!

Who do you know considering is buying or selling a home you could refer to our real estate sales team? Not only will they benefit from our award-winning real estate service,  a very worthy cause will benefit as well. To refer anyone considering buying or selling a home contact me or pass my contact info on to them!  Thank you in advance for your referrals! The best number to reach me at is 925-216-7720. If you want to refer a friend online, it’s easy! Just CLICK HERE!

Over the decades of helping hundreds and hundreds of families sell or buy the place they call home, we have met so many wonderful, loving, caring people. We are so grateful. Thank you for reading over this months Homeward Bound, and thank you for referring anyone you know considering buying or selling to my team. They will be in good hands and a very worthy cause will benefit as well.

Go Serve Big!!!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

& The Almaro Team

925-216-7720

P.S. Please read over the great story enclosed in the photo below.  It will help tell the story of the great work Rotary Club of Concord is doing better than I can.

Read The Full Newsletter By Clicking The Image

InHouse Winter 2020 – 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Direction, Not Intention, Determines Destination!

Not too long ago I heard one of my favorite leaders say these words: “Direction, not intention, determines your destination”.  That stuck with me.  I don’t know about you but seems daily I battle keeping my mind and feet on a path toward productivity vs just activity.  You may have heard me say in past newsletters that Your Routine = Your Results.  For me to ensure the right direction of being productive and valuing others each day I need to examine my habits.  As you know, we can create and establish effective and productive habits but also develop bad habits.

So, as I began working on HOW to better help myself, my team and you as we head in to a new year, I began by looking at MY habits.  It is amazing how you can start out with a great routine of good habits but over time – drift.  To hedge against that, I looked back at the habits of the most effective people.

You may or may not have ever read Stephen Covey’s best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, if not, you should get a copy and read it.  If you have, it could be time for a refresher… depending on whether you are happy with your direction or concerned your current path may not 100% end at your desired destination in life.

In the book, Covey presents an approach to being effective in attaining goals by aligning oneself to what he calls “true north” principles based on a character ethic that he presents as universal and timeless.  Most people believe they have good ethics, but again, if the outcomes or results we are getting from our daily routines are NOT what we want… we must realize something isn’t quite right.  How effective are you at obtaining desired results?

Effectiveness is the balance of obtaining desirable results with caring for that which produces those results. Covey illustrates this by referring to the fable of the goose that laid the golden eggs. He further claims that effectiveness can be expressed in terms of the P/PC ratio, where P refers to getting desired results and PC is caring for that which produces the results.

Covey promotes what he labels “the character ethic”: aligning one’s values with so-called universal and timeless principles. In doing this, Covey is deliberately and mindfully separating principles and values. He sees principles as external natural laws, while values remain internal and subjective. Our values govern our behavior, while principles ultimately determine the consequences. To better demonstrate this, Mr. Covey presents his teachings in a series of habits, manifesting as a progression from dependence through independence on to interdependence.  Bottom line… Daily habits that = desired results and then some.

However, as they say, old habits are hard to break, so the first step is to understand where success really starts:  how you think.  How much time do you sit and just – think? Really analyze, even meditate on where you are and where you want to go?  Tough to break a habit without knowing about it or understanding how/why you do it.

My first step to a better 2020 is to bridge the gap between knowing and doing.  In order to do that, let’s begin with what Covey introduces as the Maturity Continuum. These are three successive stages of increasing maturity: dependence, independence, and interdependence. At birth, everybody is dependent, and characteristics of dependence may linger; this is the first and lowest stage of maturity.

Dependence means you need others to get what you want. All of us began life as an infant, depending on others for nurturing and sustenance. I may be intellectually dependent on other people’s thinking; I may be emotionally dependent on other people’s affirmation and validation of me. Dependence is the attitude of “you”: you take care of me… or you don’t come through and I blame you for the result.

Independence means you are pretty much free from the external influence [and] support of others. … Independence is the attitude of “I”. … It is the avowed goal of many individuals, and many social movements, to enthrone independence as the highest level of achievement, but it is not the ultimate goal in effective living. There is a far more mature and more advanced level.

The third and highest level in the Maturity Continuum is interdependence. … We live in an interdependent reality. Interdependence is essential for good leaders; good team players; a successful marriage or family life; in organizations; in relationships. Interdependence is the attitude of “we”: we can co-operate; we can be a team; we can combine our talents; we can value each other.

Each of the first three habits in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is intended to help achieve independence. The next three habits are intended to help achieve interdependence. The final, seventh habit is intended to help maintain these achievements.

I am committing here and now, as you read this, to BETTER more effective habits! Those that help me be more productive and better at delivering value to others (like you).  Thankfully, there is a road map to follow: the 7 habits road map.  Here is a summary of my intended habits.  Feel free to call me out if you see me violating any of these.

The First Three Habits surround moving from dependence to independence (i.e., self-mastery):

1 – Be proactive.

Talks about the concept of Circle of Influence and Circle of Concern. Work from the center of your influence and constantly work to expand it. Don’t sit and wait in a reactive mode, waiting for problems to happen (Circle of Concern) before acting. Be mindful of WHO I associate with, WHAT I watch and read.

2 – Begin with the end in mind.

Envision what you want in the future, so you can work and plan towards it. Understand how people make decisions in their life. To be effective you need to act based on principles and constantly review your mission statement. Are you – right now – who you want to be? What do I have to say about myself? How do you want to be remembered? If habit 1 advises to change your life to act and be proactive, habit 2 advises that you are the programmer! Grow and stay humble. All things are created twice. Before we act, we should act in our minds first, before we create something we measure twice. this is what the principle is about, do not just act, think first, is this how I want it to go and are these the correct consequences.

3 – Put first things first

There exists a matrix of importance vs urgency used in deciding where to invest efforts. I must understand the difference between leadership and management. Leadership in the outside world begins with personal vision and personal leadership. So, what is important and what is urgent? Priority should be given in the following order

(Quadrant I. Urgent and important (Do) – important deadlines and crises

Quadrant II. Not urgent but important (Plan) – long-term development

Quadrant III. Urgent but not important (Delegate) – distractions with deadlines

Quadrant IV. Not urgent and not important (Eliminate) – frivolous distractions

The order is important; after completing items in quadrant I, we should spend most of our time on II, but many people spend too much time in III and IV. The calls to delegate and eliminate are effective reminders of their relative priority.

If habit 2 advises that you are the programmer, habit 3 advises: write the program, become a leader! Keep personal integrity: what you say vs what you do.

The next three habits talk about Interdependence (e.g., working with others):

4 – Think win-win.

Genuine feelings for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people by understanding a “win” for all is ultimately a better long-term resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten their way. Think Win-Win isn’t about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.

5 – Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Use empathetic listening to genuinely understand a person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening and take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates an atmosphere of caring, and positive problem solving.

The Habit 5 is greatly embraced in the Greek philosophy represented by 3 words:

1) Ethos – your personal credibility. It’s the trust that you inspire, your Emotional Bank Account.

2) Pathos is the empathetic side — it’s the alignment with the emotional trust of another person communication.

3) Logos is the logic — the reasoning part of the presentation.

The order is important: ethos, pathos, logos — your character, and your relationships, and then the logic of your presentation.

6 – Synergize!

Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, to achieve goals that no one could have done alone.

7 – Continual improvement!

The final habit is that of continuous improvement in both the personal and interpersonal spheres of influence. Stephen Covey names it as Sharpen the Saw.  This is such a big deal, I have it as one of the Core Values of our historic real estate company, Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty.  I preach to our people the importance of balancing and renewing your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. I primarily emphasize exercise for physical renewal, good prayer (meditation, yoga, etc.) and good reading for mental renewal. And of course, service to society for spiritual renewal.

Covey explains the “Upward Spiral” model in the sharpening the saw section of his book. Through our conscience, along with meaningful and consistent progress, the spiral will result in growth, change, and constant improvement. This Upward Spiral model consists of three parts: learn, commit, do.  So, I must be increasingly educating my conscience in order to grow and develop on the upward spiral. This idea of renewal by education will propel me along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom, and power (effectiveness at being productive and valuing others).  A direction to an intended destination.

Go Serve Big!!!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

Your Home Sold Guaranteed!

“HOME”WARD Bound

Impactful Real Estate News

FEBRUARY 2020

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

The Almaro Team

The Love Doctor is in…

Not that I am the Dr. of Love or anything like that… But then again, most of my family refer to me as Dr. Lety.  After all – Love is a very splendid thing. When my husband and I were planning our wedding back in 2001 we agreed to reveal to all in attendance words that would convey our LOVE for each other.  My favorite Love Description is from 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

It doesn’t matter your ‘religious persuasion’ to say “yea, that IS a great description of LOVE”. I am talking LOVE because February is the Love month, rightly celebrated with Valentine’s Day.

I could go on with all kinds of examples like – Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, even go all business on you with accolades about how much we love doing business with you, or how much we love your referrals and more – but, the point is we do love helping people sell and buy real estate.  And those people say we are good it!

In fact, if it’s OK with you, let me focus just a bit on the REFERRAL request.

Please know that my team and I are eager to help anyone you know wanting to make a move so much so that we are willing to make an offer that they will LOVE.

For the month of February, anyone considering making a move that you refer to me, we will guarantee them in writing their home will sell or we’ll buy it at a price acceptable to them.

We just need to agree on the price and possession date with the seller.

This is where you can help!

If you or anyone you know is considering making a move, we would like to offer them a FREE No Obligation Market Analysis that will give them a real idea of what they can expect to sell their home for.  

Just like we are thankful for you and your business, I am confident your referrals will be thanking you for steering them in the right direction on getting their home sold!!!

AND remember, YOUR referrals help the kids…   

We are on a mission to raise $10,000 for B WALKER RANCH!  Their goal is to create a day program for adults with disabilities, mainly autism. If you or anyone you know is considering making a move, not only will they benefit from our award winning service, but you can rest assured that we are also donating to a very worthy cause.

So, YOUR REFERRALS REALLY DO HELP THE KIDS…

Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to my real estate sales team? 

Not only will they benefit from our award-winning service, you can rest assured a very worthy cause benefit as well.   

I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates or family members considering making a move, so here are your options:

1. You can call me direct at 925-216-7720 or
   pass on my number.
2. If you or someone you know is planning to make a move have them text LETY to 925-392-3202 to get my virtual business card.
3. You can visit my website to refer a friend www.bit.ly/38x83mo
4. And Start Packing Today!!!

Over the last two decades of helping hundreds of families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people.  People like you!  So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help – you can rest assured that not only will they get the award winning service we are known for and the guarantee to back it up, but that a solid portion of the income we receive from the transaction will go toward a very worthy cause.

I hope you and your family are well and this Valentines Season brings you much joy and happiness.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Love Doctor!

Leticia Almaro Nicolini

& The Almaro Team

925.216.7720

There’s a Long Line of Buyers Waiting for Your House