Yesterday while reading the web a thought crossed my mind…are humans really ready for transparency?  With readers expecting higher levels of transparency…can humans really handle it? When reading some of these sites you can feel how the transparency slowly releases.

Sometimes the transparency is lopsided or one sided by only offering some of the facts and/or a few little white lies or some of the important details are left out…allowing the imagination to wonder about peoples behaviors…encouraging speculation, and a war begins right online.  Next thing you know…all kinds of secrets revealed..and a blanket of dirt spreads all over the web but worse a division occurs because someone was too transparent and some human beings can’t handle it.

When this type of behavior happens I wonder if humans are really ready for transparency?  We want to know more about people, we expect people to share themselves..we judge people based on interactions…connections…and building bonds but all people are different with different cultures, morals and goals…..we don’t want to hear the bad or the ugly or do we?

We do…. sometimes in the world of transparency….certain things get revealed….and the meter of truth causes discomfort to those who judge rather harshly rather than look into their own lives.  Because we are all different some may not be open enough to share their everyday lives….because of some stranger might get offended or look down at our written words.

In this modern day of technology as people we feel entitlement as long as the transparency is on someone else.  Curious by nature…we expect people to reveal everything about themselves even if the choices someone else makes is quite different from our own.    Instead of looking at our own lives and fixing what needs to be repaired…we read about others and sometimes are very shocked in what is revealed….sometimes we can’t handle the truth…sometimes the truth is too harsh…sometimes the truth is TMI and better left unsaid.

What right do we have as humans to knock, ridicule and judge those who are very transparent?  I applaud those that are true to themselves….who doesn’t hide the fact the life is bigger than what they do for a living….because they choose to live their life and share it on the web.

Yesterday I witness something that was just down right mean spirited…nothing new…but what I found interesting….was the comments showed transparency and revealed character….in truth I am disappointed…the comments not only were transparent of  character but those few that I held in high regard….is no longer transparency….but TMI!

When tracking marketing it is extremely important to know where your leads are coming from.  I often wonder when someone calls to utilize your services do you remember to think about…

Lead Generation | How did they find me?

Often times when I pose this question to someone they are not sure…either somewhere online or so and so referred me.  I don’t know about you…but I really appreciate specifics.   I want to know is my marketing working for me and what marketing specifically?

Yes I know more than likely most track where their leads come from but I wonder when someone asks you, how did you find me…do you remember or are you toooooo busy to provide it? I’m not being a jerk here just trying to make a point.

Everyone in business want to to track their marketing….any business and you should!

This doesn’t pertain to just real estate but to all businesses that would include mortgage brokers | insurance agents | doctors | lawyers | webmasters…etc. etc.  To me we have to help each other and by providing this courtesy to your personal service providers may very well help you to remember to ask that very important question yourself.

How did you find me?

When the fall months come and the air is much cooler I seem to slow down. Less activity = more downtime or in my case I seem to really reflect and soul search.  I plan.   And many times the decisions that I make seem to happen by end of the year.

• I got married in December twice
• Closed on a house in December
• Changed jobs, careers and brokerages
• Bought cars in December

Yes, December has always been a very active month for me and this December is no different.  My life is about to change and I’m not sure where it’s going to take me.  It’s something new…exciting …and a little scary…and in many ways a dream come true! I am about to embark on a new career path for me it’s the beginning of an exciting journey really truly working online.

Three years ago I set goals for myself and slowly my goals are starting to become reality.

I have to let some things go in order to proceed…

One is actively selling real estate.   Real Estate has been a huge part of my life but my passion lies within training and teaching.   It’s time to get back to training neutrally and without the REALTOR logo.  (that to me is a little scary and sad)

My latest endeavor is writing web content and offering SEO services on behalf of International Web Media or better known as IWMonlne.com, my fearless leader Bruce Kirkpatrick is innovative, a hard core web developer and offers some amazing products.  Everyday I learn something new and everyday I am excited.  The feeling is not much different than closing your very first sales contract.  That excitement hits me everyday that I work.  Lucky me…I work from home!

Finally I will have time to write real estate training, finish ebooks and continue with my sites:

• DaytonaRealEstateTrainer.com
• MidoriMiller.com
• MidoriInterviews.com

So this winter if you are snowed in or feeling a bit lazy…why not take some downtime and take a hard look at your own reflection..if you do not like what you see…take steps to change it!

Make it a great week!

Are you a Miami Club or Bar owner?  We want you…No not to buy your bar…but we would like to use your bar for a daytime event…one that represents Miami in its truest form…Where possibly 200 Real Estate Industry professionals…can learn during the day and party the night away in true Miami fashion!

I’m Attending are you?

I’m talking RE BarCamp…Miami…

If you are a bar or club owner…and are looking for…

• Free P.R.
• Lots of world wide web exposure in blog articles, facebook, twitter and photos over the course of the next few months.  This event will take place September 14th, 2009.
• These events have many many after parties which means people spending $$$$.

We are looking for a facility that we can use during the day..for FREE or at a nominal cost.  An atmosphere that represents Miami..you know hot … hot ..hot…

Caliente!

If you are interested please contact Ines at Miamism dot com or visit the RE BarCamp/Miami site for additional details.   If you are reading this and know someone who owns a bar or nightclub in Miami we would love to hear from you too!

About The Author: Midori Miller is a Real Estate Trainer and writes and trains Real Estate Training and assists sellers in short sale situations. Midori is a Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker , License # BK645709 and a member of the Daytona Area Association of REALTORS. Contact midorimiller@yahoo.com or (386)453-3236.

It’s a technology based world…with the instant gratification in many part of our lives…technology allows us to function this way but really is it always good business?

There are many occasions  where I will not hesitate to allow my phone to ring and send people to voicemail.

Is it wrong?  Bad business?  Not always.  I’m must have some old school ways of thinking….

• I believe the person in front of me at the moment is more important than the person on the phone in most cases.

• Sometimes I am in the middle of putting something together with the expectations of perfection by other parties and picking up the phone will only kill the concentration and the momentum and allow for costly mistakes.

• When it’s meal time there is nothing more unappealing than listening to someone chomp on their food or partake in a family dinner conversation while trying to conduct business on the phone.
• Solicitations…Solicitations…and sometimes as you are calling I am googling at the same time!

• Many times on the road I will not pick up the phone.

These are just a few of the occasions where I do not pick up the phone…I can tell you there are others depending on what I am doing, the day, date and the time.

With the speed of technology and the power of the web…we sometimes let technology take over our lives and jump through hoops and short change those who need our attention.

So if I do not pick up the phone…don’t take it personally..it might very well be…that I prefer to talk when there is enough time for a conversation or maybe I am in front of a person…and while technology moves at the speed of light…this old school trainer..admits…sometimes she does not!

Sammy jailed at the Vet! Midori Miller

Sammy had surgery almost a year ago and we have  the best vet in town.

If you are looking for affordable prices, exceptional services and experience excellent customer service and a very personable staff.

Val-U-Vet in Daytona Beach, Florida is who I recommend!

Dr. Needham has the most gentle manner about him and is very skilled in his craft.  In Sammy’s case…so skilled its saved his life.

In most cases they will see you the same day and don’t forget to pick up the discount coupons in various local publications!  I love ValuVet.

Sammy the cat is not a paid actor in his mind he is a prisoner…. in my mind…in good hands !  Check out their site..and tell them Sammy the siamese cat sent ya…don’t worry… more than likely they’ll remember him! 

Recently I have been applying for gigs..as much as I love real estate I tend to enjoy technology too.  With the necessity to fill in the gaps of income..I thought I would give it a shot, heck I do it just about everyday why not get paid for doing it.

One thing I have found..when applying for these online gigs..you must be careful and do your homework.  Scam…spam…phishing!

Just as an employer who is seeking to hire new employees often times do background checks..the same should apply to some of the many companies who require you to apply online.

Many of the job sites and  gig sites have the same problem…we freely give our personal information to only be sent to either another job site or get spammed to death…but the worst part is for someone who is desperate to find employment..you may end up getting scammed.

This should not be happening..especially for those seeking serious employment/gigs.

Today I applied for what I thought to be a dream gig..one of my favorite past-times…blogging...it was a strange thing but I decided to go ahead and do some research on the company.  Little did I know…if you google them they were known for scamming…for spamming and phishing.

As I read more about the company…I found out they had changed their name and the story goes beyond scamming…spamming and phishing.

Moral of the story: If you are in serious need of work..before you send your resume out online...research the company…otherwise you might wake up to an overloaded email box or someone taking your personal information and have a field day with it.

Is the best use of the internet?

While it really isn’t trivia but an important part of American History. I found this very interesting!  Especially since so many mothers miss their sons and daughters who make up the the U.S. Military.   A little United States History!

According to Wikipedia: “In 1870 Howe was the first to proclaim Mother’s Day, with her Mother’s Day Proclamation.“   If you follow the links its pretty interesting stuff!

Happy Mothers Day To Moms all over the globe!