Sunday, July 31, 2011

Daniel Pink piece http://www.danpink.com/archives/2011/07/the-genius-hour-how-60-minutes-a-week-can-electrify-your-job

The Genius Hour: How 60 minutes a week can electrify your job

phone
Lots of people believe that a single individual can’t make a difference in an organization.
Lots of people, it turns out, are wrong.
Take the case of Jen Shefner. She’s an assistant vice president at Columbia Credit Union in Vancouver, WA, in charge of the credit union’s online and mobile services. Last month I met her at a conference, and she told me about a smart and simple innovation that she calls the “Genius Hour.”
Jen grooved on Google’s 20% time and Atlassian’s Fedex Days – and wanted to bring that sort of noncommissioned work to her department. Trouble is, the three folks on her staff handle phone calls and requests from credit union members and internal customers. They have to be available throughout the day. Breaking away for a 24-hour FedEx Day or an afternoon passion project – and leaving customers with an endlessly ringing help line – is a nonstarter. So Jen fashioned a solution.
Each week, employees can take a Genius Hour — 60 minutes to work on new ideas or master new skills. They’ve used that precious sliver of autonomy well, coming up with a range of innovations including training tools for other branches.
Of course, an hour a week for every employee isn’t much time. But it’s an hour more than most of us get. And Jen makes it work for at least three reasons.
The boss pitches in. Who answers the phone when an employee is on a Genius Hour? Jen does. That’s right. Jen steps up and does her staff’s jobs so they have time to do big think work. Imagine if all managers showed that level of integrity and commitment.
Implementation matters. Jen admits that “it’s hard for our industry to see ways to offer autonomy,” and for good reason – credit unions are highly regulated and by necessity must be conservative. As a result, good ideas often blossom – and then wither from inaction. Jen works like a fiend to see that the best ideas get implemented.
It’s on the schedule. Genius Hours aren’t ad hoc. They’re fixed on the departmental calendar. The hour, if not exactly sacred, is semi-sacred. In most organizations what gets scheduled gets done.  Genius Hours get scheduled, which why they get done.
“Great ideas come from every level,” Jen says. But she’s too modest to suggest that the Genius Hour itself is a great idea. It is.
When are you going to give it a try?

Saturday, July 30, 2011

5 things to consider when you buy


While on the hunt for a perfect home, it can be immensely helpful to create a wish list of sorts. This can help you and your real estate agent obtain a clear picture of what type of home would best suit you.
Some things to consider:

1. Move-in ready or fixer-upper?
Making a home “your own” can make fixer-uppers an attractive option, along with the lower cost. Making a mark on your new home via renovations. Take some time to think about what homeownership means to you, and whether you are interested in renovation.

2. Upgrades
Certain upgrades in a home, such as marble or granite counters, are often coveted by buyers. Consider what type of upgrades are important to you – energy-efficiency, professional grade appliances, luxury tiling? Make a list and show your Realtor.

3. The Yard
What type of backyard are you looking for, and how important is it to you? Think about low versus high maintenance yards, the amount of space you’d like, and what kind of yard would best suit your lifestyle.

4. Swimming Pools
For some homebuyers, having a swimming pool can be a dealbreaker. If this is something that you really desire in your dream home, make that clear to your real estate agent so that they can narrow the search for you.

5. Schools in the Area
Last but certainly not least, the quality of the schools in the area of a dream home should be an important thing to research. Ask your Realtor for information about schools in the area of your search, and comparisons between them. This information is easily obtained, and real estate agents will be more than happy to show you school scores and more. Also consider private schools, if that is an option for your family.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Watch a video low rates = good time to buy

Low Mortgage Rates Make it a Good Time to Buy

With mortgage rates at a 30 year historic low, the Wall Street Journal is suggesting now is the best time to buy. Ken Rosen of the U.C. Berkeley Fischer Center for Real Estate said that mortgage rates will be much higher five years from now, and to take advantage of the current low rates.

The Wall Street Journal video below elaborates:

Friday, July 22, 2011

I love you all so here are 7 things not to do when you are buying or refinancing a home

7 Things You Should NOT Do When Applying for a Home Loan



This is a list of things to steer clear of when you are seeking to obtain financing for a home. If you do any of these things, please contact your loan officer immediately.

Even if you have been pre-qualified, we can help you re-qualify.

1. Don’t buy or lease an auto!
Lenders look carefully at your debt-to-income ratio. A large payment such as a car lease or purchase can greatly impact those ratios and prevent you from qualifying for a home loan.

2. Don’t move assets from one bank account to another!
These transfers show up as new deposits and complicate the application process, as you must then disclose and document the source of funds for each new account. The lender can verify each account as it currently exists. You can consolidate your accounts later if you need to.

3. Don’t change jobs!
A new job may involve a probation period, which must be satisfied before income from the new job can be considered for qualifying purposes.

4. Don’t buy new furniture or major appliances for your “new home”!
If the new purchases increase the amount of debt you are responsible for on a monthly basis, there is the possibility this may disqualify you from getting the loan, or cut down on the available funds you need to meet the closing costs.

5. Don’t run a credit report on yourself!
This will show as an inquiry on your lender’s credit report. Inquiries must be explained in writing.

6. Don’t attempt to consolidate bills before speaking with your lender!
The loan officer can advise you if this needs to be done.

7. Don’t pack or ship information needed for the loan application!
Important paperwork such as W-2 forms, divorce decrees, and tax returns should not be sent with your household goods. Duplicate copies take weeks to obtain, and could stall the closing date on your transaction

read about my pal co worker Nikki great story

Nikki Menda at The Yoga Studio in Campbell

Looking at Nikki you might glance over her as just another employee in the rank and file of the great people of our company. But really Nikki Menda’s life might appear more like a performer for Cirque du Soleil than as our Setup and Facilities Manager. In her off time you can find her flying through the air as she practices aerial yoga.

What is aerial yoga? Think the body nourishing practice of yoga taken off the ground by way of of a strip of fabric called a hammock. According to Nikki, the hammock allows the yoga practitioner to attain an even better pose than just working on the ground. The hammock also allows its users to expand into unique poses that would not other wise be possible.

The story of how Nikki entered into the world of Yoga starts with a splash. Nikki, being a a die-hard surfer girl, was given a set of yoga DVD’s for surfers by her sister. After watching the videos, Nikki became hooked. She soon found a deep and resounding love for the practice.

Nikki has also been able to use her yoga to align her health as well as her inner self.
“It has literally kept me sane and has been a healthy outlet for all my residual negative and complicated emotions,” Nikki says. “It enables me to channel my feelings and expel them through an incredibly detoxifying process.

Nikki has shared her love of yoga with others at our headquarters, and loves to introduce her co-workers to the practice.
“I try to get everyone to try it,” said Nikki. “It’s a great way to get to know your co-workers outside of our four walls.”

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Here is a post from keith Ferrazzi http://www.keithferrazzi.com/

Assertive Ask Can Land You a Job
Posted on July 12th, 2011 by Keith Ferrazzi
Once a month I'll be presenting a stellar success story from someone who has read my books or participated in the Relationship Masters Academy. This month's story comes from Terence Kirby and highlights how a little audacity can lead to a lot of success. Terence is the VP of Sales & Marketing at School Gate Guardian. He tweets @KeepSchoolsSafe.-KF
"Right out of college, I was one of about 75 candidates for a pretty good sales job.  For whatever reason, the owner of the company and I hit it off.  He promised me I would be one of five follow-up interviews and that he would contact me no later than Monday of the following week.
Monday came and went and I started getting nervous that I was wrong that we had hit it off, and that he was just being polite.  I still had not heard from him by Wednesday so I called him and asked him point blank if he still intended to have me back for a follow-up interview. His response was yes; he would call back by the end of the week to schedule. I took a deep breath and simply said, 'Since I have you on the phone right now, why don't we just go ahead and schedule that meeting?'
Since this was for a sales position this seemed to be the right thing to say since it's a situation I'd be likely to face in the field – you're often promised sales presentations by prospective customers when they never intend to meet with you.  He seemed to like the way I went about this and said, 'Sure, let's meet for lunch at my favorite restaurant this Friday and we will talk about the position'.  I got the job that Friday.  He later told me that by me forcing the appointment on him he felt I was the right candidate for the job.  As you can see below I am now the VP of Sales & Marketing for a successful software company.  Thanks for the reminder for success!!!!"

tips of how to retire

Creative Ways to Retire Without Savings



Like many baby-boomers today, you may be faced with an upcoming retirement and a lack of a retirement savings account due to the rough economic times of the past few years.

A recent CBS MoneyWatch article tackles this problem by suggesting resourceful ways to make retirement work for you.

One bold idea is to pair up with another married, retiring couple, pooling together Social Security income for a manageable budget. Social Security income at age 66 will be $2,000 per month, with an additional $1,000 per month for the spouse, resulting in a $36,000 per year income.

Another tactic is to delay retirement until age 70, in which case your monthly Social Security income will increase to $2,640 per month. In this situation, your spouse would not need to delay past age 66 to receive the $1,000 per month. “You’d want to file and suspend your Social Security income at age 66, so your spouse can start the $1,000 monthly spousal benefit income at age 66,” advised the article.

At age 70, your combined income would be $43,680 per year following this plan. If you were to pair up with another married couple, that Social Security income would increase to $87,360 per year.
Your circumstances may not be right for such an arrangement, but this is just one example of creative and resourceful ways to head into retirement in this economic climate.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tips on being a prepared first time buyer

Biggest First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes to Avoid


Looking for your first home can be an exciting experience, but it can easily get overwhelming. There are some mistakes that are pretty easy to make if you aren’t familiar with real estate.

Looking Without Knowing Your Price Range
This is a waste of time for you and your real estate agent. It can give you the wrong idea of a realistic fit for your financial situation. The first thing you should do is sit down and figure out what you can afford. Once you’ve done that, your Realtor can show you houses that fit your price range.

Discounting a Great Home Because of Decor
Just because you can’t afford to replace the hideous wallpaper right now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to soon. Getting too picky over small details that can be changed could keep you from ending up in your dream home. Use your imagination and visualize what the house could be like after you’ve put your touch on it.

Shopping Without A Mortgage Pre-Approval
What you have determined you can afford and what banks are willing to lend might not be the same thing. If you go into contract on a home and can’t get the loan you need, you will have wasted a lot of people’s time and gotten your hopes up. Contact a mortgage professional in order to get qualified for a loan before you do any serious house-hunting.

Here is the news of the week


This week brings us the release of seven important economic reports for the bond market to digest in addition to the minutes from the last FOMC meeting, two relevant Treasury auctions and semi-annual Congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Bernanke.

Several of the economic reports are considered to be of high importance, meaning we will likely see more volatility in the financial markets and mortgage pricing over the next several days. There are also some heavily watched corporate earnings releases scheduled for the stock markets this week that can influence bond trading and therefore, mortgage pricing. In other words, we are in for a heck of a week.

The first data of the week is May’s Goods and Services Trade Balance report early Tuesday morning, which measures the size of the U.S. trade deficit. This data is not considered to be of high importance to the bond market and will not likely have an impact on mortgage rates. However, if it does vary greatly from analysts’ forecasts of a $44.0 billion deficit, we may see some movement in bond prices and possibly a slight change in mortgage pricing. This is the least important of this week’s economic data.

Also worth noting about Tuesday is the afternoon release of the minutes from the last FOMC meeting. There is a possibility of the markets reacting to them following their 2:00 PM ET release, especially if they show unexpected dissention among some of its members during discussion and voting at the last meeting or give any indication of the Fed’s possible next move with monetary policy.

There is no relevant economic data scheduled for release Wednesday, but Fed Chairman Bernanke will present his semi-annual update about the economy and monetary policy before Congress. He will speak before the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday and the Senate Banking Committee Thursday, each at 10:00am ET. His testimony will be broadcast and watched very closely.

Analysts and traders will be looking for the status of the economy and his expectations of future growth, particularly inflation and unemployment concerns that will lead to changes in key short-term interest rates. This should create a great deal of volatility in the markets during the prepared testimony and the question and answer session that follows. If he indicates that inflation may become a point of concern or anything that hints at rapid economic growth, we can expect to see the bond market fall and mortgage rates rise Wednesday.

We usually see the most movement in rates during the first day of this testimony as the Chairman’s prepared words for both appearances are quite similar to each other, meaning that the second day of testimony rarely gives us anything we did not hear during the first day. The general exception is something asked or answered during the Q&A portion of the second day’s appearance.

Wednesday also starts the first of the two important Treasury auctions when 10-year Notes will be sold. That sale will be followed by a 30-year Bond auction Thursday. These sales can influence market trading in bonds and possibly affect mortgage rates. If the sales are met with a strong demand from investors, particularly Wednesday’s sale, we should see afternoon improvements in bonds that could lead to downward revisions to mortgage rates. However, if concern about the amount of debt that is being sold keeps buyers on the sidelines, we may see bonds fall after results are posted at 1:00 PM ET and mortgage rates move higher those days.

In addition to the second day of testimony and the 30-year Bond auction, Thursday does have some key economic data being posted. The first is June’s Producer Price Index (PPI) from the Labor Department. It is a very important release because it measures inflationary pressures at the producer level of the economy. It is expected to show a 0.3% decline in the overall reading and a 0.2% increase in the core data reading. The core reading is the more important of the two because it excludes more volatile food and energy prices. The bond market should react quite favorably if we get weaker than expected readings, but a larger than expected rise in the core reading could send mortgage rates higher Thursday.

June’s Retail Sales report will also be posted at 8:30 AM ET Thursday morning. This data is considered to be of high importance because it measures consumer spending. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of the U.S. economy, so any related data is watched closely. The Commerce Department is expected to say that sales at retail establishments fell 0.2% last month. A larger than expected decline in sales could help fuel a bond rally and lead to lower mortgage rates because it would mean that the economy is likely weaker than thought.

Friday has the remaining three economic releases, beginning with what arguably is the single most important monthly report for the bond market. That is June’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 8:30 AM ET, which is a mirror of Thursday’s PPI with the exception that the CPI measures inflation at the more important consumer level of the economy. Analysts have forecasted a 0.1% decline in the overall index and a 0.2% rise in the core data. The core data is considered to be the key reading because it gives us a more stable measure of inflation. Higher than expected readings could raise inflation fears and push mortgage rates higher, while readings that fall short of forecasts should lead to lower rates Friday.

June’s Industrial Production data is the second report of the day at 9:15 AM ET. This data measures output at U.S. factories, mines and utilities, giving us an indication of manufacturing sector strength. It is expected to show a 0.2% rise in production, indicating that the manufacturing sector strengthened slightly during the month. That would basically be bad news for bonds, however, the CPI will take center stage Friday morning.
The final report of the week is the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment. This index is released in a preliminary form each month and then followed up two weeks later with a final reading. The preliminary reading for July will be posted late Friday morning and is expected to drop slightly from June’s final reading of 71.5. This would indicate that consumers were a little less comfortable with their own financial situations this month than last month. It is believed that if consumers are confident in their own finances, they are more apt to make large purchases in the near future. And with consumer spending making up two-thirds of our economy, investors pay close attention to reports such as these. So, a decline in confidence would be good news for mortgage rates because it means many consumers will probably delay making a large purchase in the immediate future, limiting economic activity.

Also worth noting is the fact that tomorrow kicks off the corporate earnings reporting season when Alcoa posts their quarterly results. Market participants are anxiously waiting for these announcements to see how the economy is affecting earnings. Just as important as this past quarter’s results are their forward-looking estimates. If revenue, earnings and projections from the big-named companies exceed expectations, stocks will likely rally.

This would make bonds less appealing to investors and lead to bond selling. But if results are weaker than expected, indicating that the economy is stifling earnings, bonds will be more attractive to investors as stocks slide. That could help boost bond prices and help lower mortgage rates.

Overall, it is difficult to try to label one particular day as the most important this week. It is easy to say the least important will likely be tomorrow, but every other day has important data or other events that can cause significant movement in the markets and mortgage rates. The single most important report for the bond market is the CPI Friday morning, but Thursday’s data is not far behind. Wednesday’s Bernanke testimony could be huge also. The week’s corporate earnings also have the potential to heavily influence bond trading and mortgage rates via stock market swings. Therefore, it is highly recommended to maintain fairly constant contact with your mortgage professional this week if still floating an interest rate.

This Week’s Market Commentary

by admin on July 11, 2011This week brings us the release of seven important economic reports for the bond market to digest in addition to the minutes from the last FOMC meeting, two relevant Treasury auctions and semi-annual Congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Bernanke.
Several of the economic reports are considered to be of high importance, meaning we will likely see more volatility in the financial markets and mortgage pricing over the next several days. There are also some heavily watched corporate earnings releases scheduled for the stock markets this week that can influence bond trading and therefore, mortgage pricing. In other words, we are in for a heck of a week.
The first data of the week is May’s Goods and Services Trade Balance report early Tuesday morning, which measures the size of the U.S. trade deficit. This data is not considered to be of high importance to the bond market and will not likely have an impact on mortgage rates. However, if it does vary greatly from analysts’ forecasts of a $44.0 billion deficit, we may see some movement in bond prices and possibly a slight change in mortgage pricing. This is the least important of this week’s economic data.
Also worth noting about Tuesday is the afternoon release of the minutes from the last FOMC meeting. There is a possibility of the markets reacting to them following their 2:00 PM ET release, especially if they show unexpected dissention among some of its members during discussion and voting at the last meeting or give any indication of the Fed’s possible next move with monetary policy.
There is no relevant economic data scheduled for release Wednesday, but Fed Chairman Bernanke will present his semi-annual update about the economy and monetary policy before Congress. He will speak before the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday and the Senate Banking Committee Thursday, each at 10:00am ET. His testimony will be broadcast and watched very closely.
Analysts and traders will be looking for the status of the economy and his expectations of future growth, particularly inflation and unemployment concerns that will lead to changes in key short-term interest rates. This should create a great deal of volatility in the markets during the prepared testimony and the question and answer session that follows. If he indicates that inflation may become a point of concern or anything that hints at rapid economic growth, we can expect to see the bond market fall and mortgage rates rise Wednesday.
We usually see the most movement in rates during the first day of this testimony as the Chairman’s prepared words for both appearances are quite similar to each other, meaning that the second day of testimony rarely gives us anything we did not hear during the first day. The general exception is something asked or answered during the Q&A portion of the second day’s appearance.
Wednesday also starts the first of the two important Treasury auctions when 10-year Notes will be sold. That sale will be followed by a 30-year Bond auction Thursday. These sales can influence market trading in bonds and possibly affect mortgage rates. If the sales are met with a strong demand from investors, particularly Wednesday’s sale, we should see afternoon improvements in bonds that could lead to downward revisions to mortgage rates. However, if concern about the amount of debt that is being sold keeps buyers on the sidelines, we may see bonds fall after results are posted at 1:00 PM ET and mortgage rates move higher those days.
In addition to the second day of testimony and the 30-year Bond auction, Thursday does have some key economic data being posted. The first is June’s Producer Price Index (PPI) from the Labor Department. It is a very important release because it measures inflationary pressures at the producer level of the economy. It is expected to show a 0.3% decline in the overall reading and a 0.2% increase in the core data reading. The core reading is the more important of the two because it excludes more volatile food and energy prices. The bond market should react quite favorably if we get weaker than expected readings, but a larger than expected rise in the core reading could send mortgage rates higher Thursday.
June’s Retail Sales report will also be posted at 8:30 AM ET Thursday morning. This data is considered to be of high importance because it measures consumer spending. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of the U.S. economy, so any related data is watched closely. The Commerce Department is expected to say that sales at retail establishments fell 0.2% last month. A larger than expected decline in sales could help fuel a bond rally and lead to lower mortgage rates because it would mean that the economy is likely weaker than thought.
Friday has the remaining three economic releases, beginning with what arguably is the single most important monthly report for the bond market. That is June’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 8:30 AM ET, which is a mirror of Thursday’s PPI with the exception that the CPI measures inflation at the more important consumer level of the economy. Analysts have forecasted a 0.1% decline in the overall index and a 0.2% rise in the core data. The core data is considered to be the key reading because it gives us a more stable measure of inflation. Higher than expected readings could raise inflation fears and push mortgage rates higher, while readings that fall short of forecasts should lead to lower rates Friday.
June’s Industrial Production data is the second report of the day at 9:15 AM ET. This data measures output at U.S. factories, mines and utilities, giving us an indication of manufacturing sector strength. It is expected to show a 0.2% rise in production, indicating that the manufacturing sector strengthened slightly during the month. That would basically be bad news for bonds, however, the CPI will take center stage Friday morning.
The final report of the week is the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment. This index is released in a preliminary form each month and then followed up two weeks later with a final reading. The preliminary reading for July will be posted late Friday morning and is expected to drop slightly from June’s final reading of 71.5. This would indicate that consumers were a little less comfortable with their own financial situations this month than last month. It is believed that if consumers are confident in their own finances, they are more apt to make large purchases in the near future. And with consumer spending making up two-thirds of our economy, investors pay close attention to reports such as these. So, a decline in confidence would be good news for mortgage rates because it means many consumers will probably delay making a large purchase in the immediate future, limiting economic activity.
Also worth noting is the fact that tomorrow kicks off the corporate earnings reporting season when Alcoa posts their quarterly results. Market participants are anxiously waiting for these announcements to see how the economy is affecting earnings. Just as important as this past quarter’s results are their forward-looking estimates. If revenue, earnings and projections from the big-named companies exceed expectations, stocks will likely rally.
This would make bonds less appealing to investors and lead to bond selling. But if results are weaker than expected, indicating that the economy is stifling earnings, bonds will be more attractive to investors as stocks slide. That could help boost bond prices and help lower mortgage rates.
Overall, it is difficult to try to label one particular day as the most important this week. It is easy to say the least important will likely be tomorrow, but every other day has important data or other events that can cause significant movement in the markets and mortgage rates. The single most important report for the bond market is the CPI Friday morning, but Thursday’s data is not far behind. Wednesday’s Bernanke testimony could be huge also. The week’s corporate earnings also have the potential to heavily influence bond trading and mortgage rates via stock market swings. Therefore, it is highly recommended to maintain fairly constant contact with your mortgage professional this week if still floating an interest rate.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

How do you make decisions?

I loike Todd Duncan because he has been to the top down and back. Has been a workaholic to embracin g his core values. Some of you may think oh no here he goes rambling with sound bites but no. I wanted to study decision making it is my current quest. I read multiple blogs and felt most connected to Todd's. I included a link to his blog for you to review. I really want to know what you think? How do you make your decisions??


http://toddmduncan.blogspot.com/2010/11/making-good-decisions.html

How to stage a home for sale a video where is my friend Sejal?

Princeton Capital Blog
Home sing is important factor in selling your home, especially in a competitive market. A well-staged home can make the difference between a quick sale and a long, arduous process.
While you can hire professionals to stage your home, you can save money by doing it yourself. In the video below, an award-winning home staging professional gives tips and advice.


Saturday, July 2, 2011

Patrick Lencioni http://www.tablegroup.com/pat/povs/pov/?id=41

Patrick runs the Table Group and shared his current point of view. I too feel like a child when flying read why-

Kindergarten at 20,000 Feet

June 2011
I learned a simple, amazing lesson during a recent flight on one of the big, legacy air carriers. I won’t mention the name out of courtesy. Besides, I’m finding it harder and harder to distinguish between the big airlines these days.
Anyway, I was sitting with a colleague in business class (something that I don’t take for granted), waiting for everyone to board so we could take off. The flight attendants weren’t in a particularly good mood, something I’ve grown accustomed to over the years. They seemed annoyed that their jobs were being made harder by having to deal with passengers. As they were doing their best to avoid smiling or making eye contact while barking orders at us, something occurred to me.
I turned to my colleague: “You know, the way I get treated when I fly makes me feel like a child. It’s like I’m a kindergartner again.”
She laughed and agreed with me.
As humorous as it seemed, there was something quite disturbing about the situation. Here we were, adults, on a business trip. It didn’t seem unreasonable to expect people to treat us with respect. After all, the clients we had just visited treated us like adults, with respect, as we did for them. The waitresses, shuttle drivers and hotel staff we met were polite and courteous enough, for sure. No one else we came across during our trip scowled at us or avoided eye contact, or barked at us at all, for that matter. It was only these flight attendants who seemed to mistake us for incorrigible six year olds.
I wish I could say that I was detached enough to simply observe this odd situation with objective curiosity. But I wasn’t. I was pretty annoyed. And I must admit that when I fly, I have to resist letting my least generous and empathic side come to the surface. I don’t really like that part of me, and I’m working on it.
Anyway, as our plane reached cruising altitude, an unexpected wave of courage and empathy washed over me. I decided I was going to talk to the flight attendants about the poor treatment I was experiencing, but in a kind way. So I went up and stood near the bathroom, waiting to be scolded and told to return to my seat. But when the flight attendants looked at me, I quickly struck up a conversation. “I’m just wondering how things are at Unameridelta Airlines these days.” Before they could answer, I made a leading, follow-up comment, trying my best to be gentle. “Because it seems to me like things aren’t so great.”
One of the flight attendants looked at me, knowing exactly what I meant, and smiled. I was glad she could tell that I was trying to be nice, and not just complaining about her surliness. Then she said something that floored me.
“You know, we just get so tired of being treated like children by this company.”
I couldn’t believe what she had said, and I immediately confessed to her about the comment I had made to my colleague just minutes earlier! The flight attendants smiled sheepishly and shook their heads; they weren’t at all offended or surprised. After all, it made perfect sense. They were being treated like children and so they in turn treated their customers the same way. Not that they were proud of it, or justifying it, really. It just made sense.
We talked for a while about management at their company, or the lack thereof. I was surprised to learn that they were as frustrated with their union as they were with management. They told me that they actually liked what they did but were so disillusioned by their leadership that they found it hard to care.
I asked them what they wanted most from their management. It didn’t take them long to answer. It wasn’t money. It had nothing to do with benefits or schedules or free travel vouchers for their spouses. What they really wanted was to be recognized for doing a good job. By someone. Anyone, in the chain of command. They then told me a few stories about flight attendants who did heroic things, going above and beyond for passengers, but who never heard anything from management. It was at once comical and tragic.
I think they were glad to be able to vent a little, and I was glad to be able to empathize with them. It was certainly better than being bitter. Eventually I went back to my seat, hoping that their management would become enlightened enough to realize that the only way to get their people to treat us customers better is for them to treat their employees better. It doesn’t get much more basic than that. Why is it that so many airlines have the hardest time understanding this?
Well, the realist in me wasn’t hopeful that these big airlines would be changing any time soon. So I decided to hope that my new flight attendant friends could get jobs at one of the handful of other airlines that actually reward and recognize their people for doing a good job. But then again, relatively few of them make the move to another airline because of seniority restrictions and union rules and... what a drag it is for these people!
So I was left hoping that they might have the courage and initiative to leave one day. After all, people staying in miserable jobs because of job protection, pension promises and seniority benefits doesn’t benefit anyone. It doesn’t help customers, who have to deal with bad service. It’s not good for companies who have little incentive to reward good employees and dismiss bad ones. And ironically, it’s worst of all for the employees themselves who find themselves trapped with rusty handcuffs in a frustrating situation.
Well, as for my two flight attendant friends, I couldn’t help but think that they owe it to themselves to do whatever they can to find careers that would be more rewarding and fulfilling.
Hey, maybe they’d be good kindergarten teachers.

Shadow Inventory is this an old radio show? What is it?

NAR’s Shadow Inventory


It’s still a great time to buy real estate! With real estate inventories so high, and rates still at attractive levels, the window is wide open for home buyers. But buyers beware, the window doesn’t stay open indefinitely.
Take a look at the blog by Economists Outlook, which features a state-by-state estimate of so-called “Shadow Inventory” – real estate that will be have to be sold that we don’t know about yet. It’s made up of homes that soon will be on the market, but not for the usual reasons.
Shadow inventory includes homes that are usually several months in arrears on their mortgage and about to hit the foreclosure circuit; homes that are 90-plus days delinquent and currently languishing in foreclosure; or bank-owned (REOs) that have not yet been put on the market. But come on the market they will, one way or the other, and at greatly discounted prices – distressed or short sales.

I want to keep my house and it is a struggle what do I do?

Avoiding Foreclosure

When the stress of a possible foreclosure rises, it is important to remember that there are many resources out there to help avoid it. The programs and agencies below all specialize in helping people avoid foreclosure on their homes:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
800-569-4287
http://www.hud.gov/local/ca/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm
HUD Avoidance Counseling
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/
Making Home Affordable Program
888-995-HOPE
http://www.makinghomeaffordable.org/
Housing California
916-447-0503
http://www.housingca.org/nr/resource/foreclosure_resources/
State of California – Consumer Home Mortgage Information
http://yourhome.ca.gov/
Fannie Mae Resource Center
800-732-6643
http://www.fanniemae.com/homeowners/index.html
Project Sentinel – Redwood City counseling agency
(HUD Approved Agency)
888.331.3332
http://www.housing.org
Neighborhood Counseling Services – Silicon Valley
(HUD Approved Agency)
408-279-2600
http://www.nhssv.org/foreclosure-counseling.htm
Neighbor Works America
202-220-2300
http://www.nw.org/network/foreclosure/default.asp
National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling
202-220-6314
nfmc@nw.org
The important thing to remember is that foreclosure isn’t always inevitable, and there are many programs and agencies ready to help. Share these resources if someone you know is going through a possible foreclosure on their home.

Email tips to avoid

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