Another delay. Been busy with real estate and with green issues related to real estate. That gets to the matter at hand. I've decided to start another blog to focus on Climate Change, energy efficiency in housing and other buildings, community planning strategies and lifestyle adjustments that reduce CO2 emissions. Should be up in a few days---developing list of names today.
There is a huge volume of information out there and most of it tends to be negative, bordering on scare tactics. That doesn't go over well with most people and most industries. Change is hard and it's even harder if that "you are not worthy as you are" shroud gets draped on the process.
There are positive things happening all over the world. Little things, big things and everything in between. There is a limitless buffet of possibilities---low hanging fruit for everyone! The key is for wide participation to occur sooner, rather than later. Ordinances alone won't get things where they need to be in time. Neither will business as usual.
Motivation, ability to act and trigger mechanisms are how behavior changes and those will be explored in detail using the new blog. Behavioral changes cost little or nothing, can happen quickly and when done by enough people can have a significant impact on CO2 emissions.
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Real Problem?
This is an interesting little 26 second look at 131 years of global warming. Depending on you viewpoint, it may be pure fantasy or a hard look at where were came from and where we're headed.
Take a look---and also look at the comments (still growing) below the video.
http://www.climatecentral.org/
The tough part for me was seeing that things were pretty good when I was a young lad--early 50's--AND even into the 60's and 70's---then the warming started accelerating. The last 20 years are disturbing to see. Normal climate cycle? Variation in sun's intensity? Perhaps, but evidence otherwise is substantial.
What if the warming is being caused by human activities? Is sustaining the sanctity of the institutions and governments worth the grave risks associated with a failure to seriously address the possibility and take all appropriate actions? The institutions seem to believe so--their actions speak quite loudly.
Take a look---and also look at the comments (still growing) below the video.
http://www.climatecentral.org/
The tough part for me was seeing that things were pretty good when I was a young lad--early 50's--AND even into the 60's and 70's---then the warming started accelerating. The last 20 years are disturbing to see. Normal climate cycle? Variation in sun's intensity? Perhaps, but evidence otherwise is substantial.
What if the warming is being caused by human activities? Is sustaining the sanctity of the institutions and governments worth the grave risks associated with a failure to seriously address the possibility and take all appropriate actions? The institutions seem to believe so--their actions speak quite loudly.
Laws of Nature?
I know, been a long time again---working with other media and doing a lot of reading. One of the things I've been struggling with is WHY there is less and less interest on the part of the governments, organizations, etc to directly deal with the fairly clear immediate effects of climate change and the dire prospects for future generations. A couple days ago I awoke in the middle of the night with the revelation outlined below---jotted most of it down in an email to a friend. Now that it's set down in writing, it seems obvious, but the idea of such a global fail is initially difficult to grasp. Unpleasant though it may be, understanding this illogical foundation for current actions may facilitate creation of some structure offering alternative paths into the future.
It is pretty clear from the fossil record that Mother Earth's Laws of Nature have produced some striking mass extinctions in the past--so the belief we don't need to fear any dire consequences from climate change seems a little naive. Major environmental shifts have occurred and will again. The driving force may be a bit different in our present predicament, but the Laws of Nature producing the global impacts are the same as in the past. That's why we call them LAWS!
The actions occurring now suggest THREE possibilities.
1. The institutions, corporations, governments, etc. sincerely believe that their power, money, control and political skill can suspend or modify the laws of nature. Specifically, they operate as though climate change is an optional politically malleable process, subject to spin doctors, expedient protocols and innovative interpretation, all designed to further the advance of chosen agendas. In this scenario Mother Earth is not perceived as the final judge of human conduct in the allocation of resources.
2. A more ominous possibility is that those institutions, etc. ACTUALLY DO understand the laws of nature and the role of Mother Earth in determining the future in a very definite way---according to HER LAWS--and they don't care. They are willing to incur the long term consequences of a planet supersaturated with human population and far beyond a tipping point, beyond which a marked reduction in population is inevitable in reaching a new equilibrium at a horizon marked by far less quality of life. In other words, to achieve their immediate agendas, the future be damned.
3. Finally there's a religious slant supposing that humans have dominion over the earth and a supreme being acting on their behalf will change the laws of nature in a timely way so things remain just fine for all, or at least those believing in the correct supreme being. Population or energy use won't matter in this divine world. This sort of magic is a little overdue, but perhaps the supreme being is waiting to maximize the PR opportunity created by an increasingly desperate humanity.
These three possibilities are fairly obvious. What is not obvious is why the public looks to politicians, corporate heads and religious leaders for information on climate change and repeatedly chooses to disregard the scientists who work for relatively low compensation their entire professional lives to achieve understanding of climatology, ecology and various other related disciplines. Our society apparently suffers from mass delusion created by the institutions for the benefit of the institutions.
My bet is on Mother Nature and her laws. I won't be around to see how things turn out---and I'm glad I won't be. The future is not likely to be pretty.
In the meantime, anything we can do to delay the apparently inevitable massive adjustment of population size and degradation in quality of life is worth the effort. Individuals must take initiative, because human society is apparently unable to cope effectively with the scale of the problem presented by an extreme addiction to excessive carbon loading.
Friday, June 1, 2012
How Green?
Another gap in the posts. Closed two escrows is two weeks, so been a little busy. Feast or famine defines real estate and consulting--when you do both it can get really hectic. Famine is worse, although having nothing on the calendar sometimes seems attractive. Folks who retire from real estate seem to experience rapid aging and loss of mental acuity, so the empty calendar has a darker side to it.
Went to a class a couple weeks ago intended for appraisers on valuation of energy efficient features. It lasted 7 hours--about 3 longer than my back endured some monumentally uncomfortable seating--I'm sure the designer's brother in law was an orthopedist. A couple of take away ideas emerged from the squirming
1. Appraisers don't set fair market value. I looked up "Fair Market Value" in Wikipedia--there's a specific definition that came out of a Supreme Court case. Doesn't mention appraisers. The point being---if appraisers were to start factoring in energy efficient characteristics in their reports, BUT the Sellers and Buyers remanded largely ignorant of their role in valuation, there's no market value incentive to increase energy efficiency. The appraisers would have another source of wiggle room in making the value come in, but those attributes would not have played a role in either pricing the house or in the Buyer's decision on how much to pay. The Buyer and Seller must be knowledgeable before fair market value is achieved. At present they aren't--at least in most cases.
2. The other idea involved the complexity of comparing energy efficient feathers between houses. Duct sealing vs additional insulation, vs more efficient HVAC, vs more effective passive solar characteristics, etc. etc. Sellers, Buyer and Agents don't have the skills now and probably won't. That makes energy ratings particularly important. The MPG approach isn't perfect, but it's certainly necessary to raise awareness and speed increasing the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock.
Unfortunately, the state and national real estate trade associations are still pounding their 600 lb gorilla chests about point of sale and energy ratings are considered point of sale fodder. So far, the local politicians are pretty cold on point of sale mandated ratings, BUT the election hasn't happened yet.
Bigger picture here is that AB32/SB375 sets standard that will be met or a huge amount of funds will be lost. Whatever happens at the state level that has the effect of reducing energy efficiency improvements at the local level merely raises the bar for the local Climate Action Plans. The state trade organization opposes several bills that would increase energy efficiency, but 2020 will come and the local governments will not wait until 2019 to figure out they aren't going to meet the standards.
The real estate industry seems to feel if they can beat back point of sale the game is over---they don't need to do any more. They can continue to do business as usual free of those onerous mandates. It's like the Meatloaf song "I'll do anything for love, but I won't do that". Agents will do anything for a sale, but they won't do green and they won't do energy ratings--and the trade associations are apparently fine with that.
The public will bring about the change--when and if they become knowledgeable that their best interests (as in fiduciary duty interests) are involved in determining total housing costs (including utility use), resale value, exposure to potential mandatory retrofits in the event the house they bought has poor energy efficiency. Ratings are a relatively simple solution to many of these problems, but adoption is impeded by the "no point of sale" knee jerk doctrine.
Next post will discuss some new thinking on whether mandatory point of sale ratings are really a good idea. I've changed my perspective over the past weeks. I can do that---unlike certain trade organizations.
Went to a class a couple weeks ago intended for appraisers on valuation of energy efficient features. It lasted 7 hours--about 3 longer than my back endured some monumentally uncomfortable seating--I'm sure the designer's brother in law was an orthopedist. A couple of take away ideas emerged from the squirming
1. Appraisers don't set fair market value. I looked up "Fair Market Value" in Wikipedia--there's a specific definition that came out of a Supreme Court case. Doesn't mention appraisers. The point being---if appraisers were to start factoring in energy efficient characteristics in their reports, BUT the Sellers and Buyers remanded largely ignorant of their role in valuation, there's no market value incentive to increase energy efficiency. The appraisers would have another source of wiggle room in making the value come in, but those attributes would not have played a role in either pricing the house or in the Buyer's decision on how much to pay. The Buyer and Seller must be knowledgeable before fair market value is achieved. At present they aren't--at least in most cases.
2. The other idea involved the complexity of comparing energy efficient feathers between houses. Duct sealing vs additional insulation, vs more efficient HVAC, vs more effective passive solar characteristics, etc. etc. Sellers, Buyer and Agents don't have the skills now and probably won't. That makes energy ratings particularly important. The MPG approach isn't perfect, but it's certainly necessary to raise awareness and speed increasing the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock.
Unfortunately, the state and national real estate trade associations are still pounding their 600 lb gorilla chests about point of sale and energy ratings are considered point of sale fodder. So far, the local politicians are pretty cold on point of sale mandated ratings, BUT the election hasn't happened yet.
Bigger picture here is that AB32/SB375 sets standard that will be met or a huge amount of funds will be lost. Whatever happens at the state level that has the effect of reducing energy efficiency improvements at the local level merely raises the bar for the local Climate Action Plans. The state trade organization opposes several bills that would increase energy efficiency, but 2020 will come and the local governments will not wait until 2019 to figure out they aren't going to meet the standards.
The real estate industry seems to feel if they can beat back point of sale the game is over---they don't need to do any more. They can continue to do business as usual free of those onerous mandates. It's like the Meatloaf song "I'll do anything for love, but I won't do that". Agents will do anything for a sale, but they won't do green and they won't do energy ratings--and the trade associations are apparently fine with that.
The public will bring about the change--when and if they become knowledgeable that their best interests (as in fiduciary duty interests) are involved in determining total housing costs (including utility use), resale value, exposure to potential mandatory retrofits in the event the house they bought has poor energy efficiency. Ratings are a relatively simple solution to many of these problems, but adoption is impeded by the "no point of sale" knee jerk doctrine.
Next post will discuss some new thinking on whether mandatory point of sale ratings are really a good idea. I've changed my perspective over the past weeks. I can do that---unlike certain trade organizations.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Return to normal
Been a long time! Lots going on, not much positive.
My last cat, 18 year old Sasha, was put down on April 9th. Kidney failure and just plain old age. During her final 10 days I fed her chicken livers and picked up bacterial infection, Campylobacter. Thought it was stress, but didn't get well. Finally went to Dr. thinking chicken might be cause. then lab test came back and I got call from County Health--outbreak going on in CA. Meanwhile, my LA trip to see Springsteen was coming up--great timing there! Took a course of antibiotics and headed to LA in a bright red Impala (they didn't have compact to rent). I'll post separately about the concert and strange deja vu at USC--in summary it was AMAZING trip!. On way back up coast, stopped in Santa Barbara for brief discussion with new friend that tapped earlier intellectual pursuits. All the while working two escrows and trying to get over Campylobacter's effects.
Home just two days, repacked and then left for Sacramento and state association meetings--still in the red car. Cool in Sacramento. Food and tummy not yet happy together, but better. Chorus almost sang for Governor. He appeared about 10 minutes too late. Too bad, we sounded really good. Came home Friday May 5th--commuting traffic is like a NASCAR race from Sac to Bay area and south to San Jose. Made it to Los Osos in 4.5 hours!
Did booth at Home Show in SLO the next day--that's another post--more not very positive content.
When I arrived home after both trips I really missed being greeted by a cat. First time I've been cat-less in over 45 years. Didn't want to get more till I was home for a while, but I need to get on with choosing one or two, otherwise the weeks will pass and there are cats who need me too.
Sooo, coming up. Post on concert. Post on state association meetings, Post on Home Show.
I will return to blogging more regularly. This has not been a good year for health. Upper respiratory thing got me late January though first part of March, then Sasha faded, then bacterial infection and now it's May and pollen allergies are raging. Getting old is full of challenges--I'm betting these are just a phase--LOL.
My last cat, 18 year old Sasha, was put down on April 9th. Kidney failure and just plain old age. During her final 10 days I fed her chicken livers and picked up bacterial infection, Campylobacter. Thought it was stress, but didn't get well. Finally went to Dr. thinking chicken might be cause. then lab test came back and I got call from County Health--outbreak going on in CA. Meanwhile, my LA trip to see Springsteen was coming up--great timing there! Took a course of antibiotics and headed to LA in a bright red Impala (they didn't have compact to rent). I'll post separately about the concert and strange deja vu at USC--in summary it was AMAZING trip!. On way back up coast, stopped in Santa Barbara for brief discussion with new friend that tapped earlier intellectual pursuits. All the while working two escrows and trying to get over Campylobacter's effects.
Home just two days, repacked and then left for Sacramento and state association meetings--still in the red car. Cool in Sacramento. Food and tummy not yet happy together, but better. Chorus almost sang for Governor. He appeared about 10 minutes too late. Too bad, we sounded really good. Came home Friday May 5th--commuting traffic is like a NASCAR race from Sac to Bay area and south to San Jose. Made it to Los Osos in 4.5 hours!
Did booth at Home Show in SLO the next day--that's another post--more not very positive content.
When I arrived home after both trips I really missed being greeted by a cat. First time I've been cat-less in over 45 years. Didn't want to get more till I was home for a while, but I need to get on with choosing one or two, otherwise the weeks will pass and there are cats who need me too.
Sooo, coming up. Post on concert. Post on state association meetings, Post on Home Show.
I will return to blogging more regularly. This has not been a good year for health. Upper respiratory thing got me late January though first part of March, then Sasha faded, then bacterial infection and now it's May and pollen allergies are raging. Getting old is full of challenges--I'm betting these are just a phase--LOL.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Yet another opportunity
Not too long after the iPad was first introduced I went to a presentation on the new hardware at a state association business meeting. It was certainly cool, but during the presentation I realized that the coolest thing would be to use the iPad to create an electronic MLS book---like the old ones (remember them) only with big pictures, more data and agents could still flip through the pages. I remember some of the agents in offices I managed way back when would have tabs, color coding, paper clips--it was very intense.
That meeting was almost 3 years ago and now with iPad 3 there is even more reason to drop MLS data and photos into the handy package. A distributed data base incremental download could update the iPad in the AM, even if it did't have 4G. Rest of the day the WHOLE MLS database would be right there for open houses, showing property, doing analysis and arranging big beautiful photos. If some MLS vendor is already doing this, I haven't seen it around here.
MLS technology is one of those areas of innovation in which each vendor strives to be just a little better than the competition OR have some huge political clout to lever into expanding user base. Actually making a game changing advance is far from a priority. That's why greening the MLS is mostly lip service. MLS systems do not now support best interests of Buyers or Sellers seeking to pursue the benefits of energy efficiency to save on overall housing expenses and enhance the future of the planet. Apparently organized real estate is just along for the ride and the commission check. Business as usual is just fine. Carbon emission reductions can come from somewhere else. Nothing that would complicate the process or add expense to sales transactions could possibly have short term benefits that would justify the cost. Oh, and long term benefits don't count.
The Buyers and Sellers have the power to take control of real estate sales transactions back to better meet their best interests. Who benefits from NOT knowing the energy efficiency of houses? The few Sellers who have houses that perform much worse than would be expected AND the real estate industry seeking fast, easy, low risk commission checks. EVERYONE else suffers (as does the Planet). That's a tail wagging the energy hog sorta thing!
That meeting was almost 3 years ago and now with iPad 3 there is even more reason to drop MLS data and photos into the handy package. A distributed data base incremental download could update the iPad in the AM, even if it did't have 4G. Rest of the day the WHOLE MLS database would be right there for open houses, showing property, doing analysis and arranging big beautiful photos. If some MLS vendor is already doing this, I haven't seen it around here.
MLS technology is one of those areas of innovation in which each vendor strives to be just a little better than the competition OR have some huge political clout to lever into expanding user base. Actually making a game changing advance is far from a priority. That's why greening the MLS is mostly lip service. MLS systems do not now support best interests of Buyers or Sellers seeking to pursue the benefits of energy efficiency to save on overall housing expenses and enhance the future of the planet. Apparently organized real estate is just along for the ride and the commission check. Business as usual is just fine. Carbon emission reductions can come from somewhere else. Nothing that would complicate the process or add expense to sales transactions could possibly have short term benefits that would justify the cost. Oh, and long term benefits don't count.
The Buyers and Sellers have the power to take control of real estate sales transactions back to better meet their best interests. Who benefits from NOT knowing the energy efficiency of houses? The few Sellers who have houses that perform much worse than would be expected AND the real estate industry seeking fast, easy, low risk commission checks. EVERYONE else suffers (as does the Planet). That's a tail wagging the energy hog sorta thing!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Housing Valuation Factors
In the process of rewriting a brochure focused on incorporating green attributes into the house buying process, I decided to mention solar path. All houses have a passive solar performance profile. What is most commonly seen on the Internet and in books is how to design and build a passive solar house. Architects and contractors who specialize in that area are eager to promote the virtues. However, the vast majority of people do not have a house designed and built on a site of their choosing. They buy new or they buy resale. Whatever they buy has a solar profile, but few buyers consider it as significant factor in their decision.
Here's a good video explaining the path of the sun and why it's important. http://youtu.be/OR8EQ0DWpPw
So where does valuation come into the picture? Houses with inherently poor solar paths, because of curving streets or hillside locations or whatever, are not now valued proportionately. There should be a carbon load/energy efficiency factor folded into their value. The Buyer should benefit from a valuation compensation to offset the higher energy costs and the impact on the planet associated with such a house. That doesn't happen in today's marketing system. Conversely, a house with an excellent solar path and good design, perhaps achieved by pure chance, should enjoy an increase in value because of lower energy costs, more comfortable interior environment and smaller carbon impact on the planet. That doesn't happen either. There may be some primal, subconscious preference for superior houses among some of the Buyers, but the granite counters and travertine floors are sure attractive, regardless of where the sun rises and sets.
Solar path analysis is nothing new, but with climate change and growing awareness of the uncertainty of the planet's future, it should loom as an important factor in housing decisions and hence valuation. Photo voltaic positioning is critically dependent on solar path. Prices are coming down, but will the house accommodate placement?
The real estate trade associations remain pleased with the present marketing system and process of buying and selling homes. They created it and lobby hard to maintain it. It's worked for decades and lots of firms and agents have made billions of dollars in commissions. Why mess with something that works so well? Sell the houses, all the houses with the smoothest, simplest, most risk free transactions possible. Adding additional complexity and further analysis increases risk, places additional knowledge requirements on the industry and tends to confuse the public and agents.
From an organizational perspective, it's an easy decision to keep wandering down the exiting path that detours gracefully around energy efficiency, climate change and the well being of future generations who may occupy a planet much different than the one we now know.
Here's a good video explaining the path of the sun and why it's important. http://youtu.be/OR8EQ0DWpPw
So where does valuation come into the picture? Houses with inherently poor solar paths, because of curving streets or hillside locations or whatever, are not now valued proportionately. There should be a carbon load/energy efficiency factor folded into their value. The Buyer should benefit from a valuation compensation to offset the higher energy costs and the impact on the planet associated with such a house. That doesn't happen in today's marketing system. Conversely, a house with an excellent solar path and good design, perhaps achieved by pure chance, should enjoy an increase in value because of lower energy costs, more comfortable interior environment and smaller carbon impact on the planet. That doesn't happen either. There may be some primal, subconscious preference for superior houses among some of the Buyers, but the granite counters and travertine floors are sure attractive, regardless of where the sun rises and sets.
Solar path analysis is nothing new, but with climate change and growing awareness of the uncertainty of the planet's future, it should loom as an important factor in housing decisions and hence valuation. Photo voltaic positioning is critically dependent on solar path. Prices are coming down, but will the house accommodate placement?
The real estate trade associations remain pleased with the present marketing system and process of buying and selling homes. They created it and lobby hard to maintain it. It's worked for decades and lots of firms and agents have made billions of dollars in commissions. Why mess with something that works so well? Sell the houses, all the houses with the smoothest, simplest, most risk free transactions possible. Adding additional complexity and further analysis increases risk, places additional knowledge requirements on the industry and tends to confuse the public and agents.
From an organizational perspective, it's an easy decision to keep wandering down the exiting path that detours gracefully around energy efficiency, climate change and the well being of future generations who may occupy a planet much different than the one we now know.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Transparent, translucent or ???
Seth had a good post today that shone a light on a key obstacle in garnering more interest in energy efficiency among the public and the agents who represent them. Read the post here.
This post was one of those Ah Ha!! moments getting to the heart of the difficulty with energy efficiency. Much of real estate marketing targets the "glow" of houses--their essence, the ambiance they create. I know better than most the impact possible-it's what I try to discover with my photographs. How do you make energy efficiency GLOW??
The technicians, those who promote rebates/incentives, the lenders pushing EEM/203K mortgages etc, etc seem a little light in the "glow" department too.
Most agents, focused on the "glow" of houses (and the commission check) don't want another part of the business to depart from positive feelings and experiences. The forms, disclosures and other legal threats that play a huge part in the real estate business (and make the trade organizations huge profits) offer essentially no positive feelings. Ever hear anyone say--OMG!! That new disclosure is just so special--the "glow" is almost too much to take!! With the legal morass, if you do everything perfectly and you're lucky, nothing happens. How uplifting is that?
How can we put the GLOW in energy efficiency? I saw a TED video of Nancy Duarte last week and her principles might offer an answer to reaching a glow state and resonance with agents and the public. STORIES and VISUALS. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned from the automakers--fuel efficient cars aren't very exciting, but people buy them--there's a certain mystique there. What about houses?
There is a nexus between energy efficiency and a future where humans can still achieve a quality lifestyle accented by a healthy planet and biota. Sunsets, misty forests, healthy croplands should help to define a desirable "glow".
This post was one of those Ah Ha!! moments getting to the heart of the difficulty with energy efficiency. Much of real estate marketing targets the "glow" of houses--their essence, the ambiance they create. I know better than most the impact possible-it's what I try to discover with my photographs. How do you make energy efficiency GLOW??
The technicians, those who promote rebates/incentives, the lenders pushing EEM/203K mortgages etc, etc seem a little light in the "glow" department too.
Most agents, focused on the "glow" of houses (and the commission check) don't want another part of the business to depart from positive feelings and experiences. The forms, disclosures and other legal threats that play a huge part in the real estate business (and make the trade organizations huge profits) offer essentially no positive feelings. Ever hear anyone say--OMG!! That new disclosure is just so special--the "glow" is almost too much to take!! With the legal morass, if you do everything perfectly and you're lucky, nothing happens. How uplifting is that?
How can we put the GLOW in energy efficiency? I saw a TED video of Nancy Duarte last week and her principles might offer an answer to reaching a glow state and resonance with agents and the public. STORIES and VISUALS. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned from the automakers--fuel efficient cars aren't very exciting, but people buy them--there's a certain mystique there. What about houses?
There is a nexus between energy efficiency and a future where humans can still achieve a quality lifestyle accented by a healthy planet and biota. Sunsets, misty forests, healthy croplands should help to define a desirable "glow".
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Back from the undead
Been over a month--January got started, the EFH continued in post closing period and then there was state association meeting in Palm Desert and then I got the VERY NASTY COLD that's been cutting wide swath across the Central Coast. Been sick 11 days now--back to about 80%. Also backlogged on work and short on patience.
http://garyvaynerchuk.com/post/17044018609/a-rant-from-the-heart-hip-and-head
The above is a VERY MOVING 9 minute piece by Gary that could change your life or at least make you think about changing it. It will also make you feel deep regret for all the times you didn't swing at the pitch or ask the gorgeous, but quirky girl out or take the chance to fail in a really big way. That's life! I don't beat myself up too must with the regrets at this stage, but I'm not comfortable with them, either. I still firmly believe I can do great things with the time left. The fact I'm in a business that really doesn't operate in a way that values passion and innovation is just that much bigger a challenge. I'm still inspired by the public and an industry that really isn't that concerned with meeting its wants and needs. Real estate is listed and sold on terms that work for the real estate industry, not so much for the buyers and sellers. Thanks to the control of the state and national trade associations, that trend in spreading to more and more parts of the business. Excellence and innovation are suppressed by the one size fits all, satisficing mentality that drives the industry to maximize profits, minimize risk and make sure there's a member there to get a commission with every closing---even if it's not the right house or the right buyer. Hey, its' a deal!
Side note, my ex texted be yesterday than a friend of hers had just bought a ticket to an LA date of the Springsteen tour. Being sick last few days, I hadn't heard of the tour, but got on line and bought a ticket. Never been to a concert that big before, but new experiences are just as important in maturity.
Got Supervisors meeting Tuesday on vacation rentals. Wrote scathing comments last week when I was feverish and now want to pull rabbit out of the hat and try to cut to the core of the problem--irresponsible government without accountability and totally unconcerned with consequences. Good luck!
http://garyvaynerchuk.com/post/17044018609/a-rant-from-the-heart-hip-and-head
The above is a VERY MOVING 9 minute piece by Gary that could change your life or at least make you think about changing it. It will also make you feel deep regret for all the times you didn't swing at the pitch or ask the gorgeous, but quirky girl out or take the chance to fail in a really big way. That's life! I don't beat myself up too must with the regrets at this stage, but I'm not comfortable with them, either. I still firmly believe I can do great things with the time left. The fact I'm in a business that really doesn't operate in a way that values passion and innovation is just that much bigger a challenge. I'm still inspired by the public and an industry that really isn't that concerned with meeting its wants and needs. Real estate is listed and sold on terms that work for the real estate industry, not so much for the buyers and sellers. Thanks to the control of the state and national trade associations, that trend in spreading to more and more parts of the business. Excellence and innovation are suppressed by the one size fits all, satisficing mentality that drives the industry to maximize profits, minimize risk and make sure there's a member there to get a commission with every closing---even if it's not the right house or the right buyer. Hey, its' a deal!
Side note, my ex texted be yesterday than a friend of hers had just bought a ticket to an LA date of the Springsteen tour. Being sick last few days, I hadn't heard of the tour, but got on line and bought a ticket. Never been to a concert that big before, but new experiences are just as important in maturity.
Got Supervisors meeting Tuesday on vacation rentals. Wrote scathing comments last week when I was feverish and now want to pull rabbit out of the hat and try to cut to the core of the problem--irresponsible government without accountability and totally unconcerned with consequences. Good luck!
Monday, January 2, 2012
accountability and consequences-prequil
While I was writing the previous post (and resolving to write more in 2012--LOL), I developed some content and ideas about how little accountability exists in our institutions and culture in general. People behaving badly or merely behaving with a lack of competence and foresight expect few if any consequences. This perverse pattern extends to Washington, Wall Street, Banking and other corporate environments, not to mention trade organizations, non profits and even to individuals. Trickle down theory is pervasive!
Abject disasters, such as the diverse and global mortgage meltdown, are dismissed with a simple "gee, who woulda thought?" Then, the perpetrators generally continue on down the crooked path smiling at the 99% over their shoulders. Why is this happening?
The answer isn't simple and it extends back thousands of generations to the beginnings of humankind. I'll refrain from mentioning the facial similarities between some subjects testifying in Congressional hearings to artistic renderings of pre Homo sapiens taxa!
Assuming I have the patience to get the hip boots out and wade through the muck, the remainder of the exposition will involve regulations, generally accepted standards of practice, regulators, regulatees, the "public" (remember them?) and accountability in a one size fits all world. Real estate is right there rolling around in the swamp with the rest of the luminaries, so check back for the next installment of Muck Wrestling 101.
Abject disasters, such as the diverse and global mortgage meltdown, are dismissed with a simple "gee, who woulda thought?" Then, the perpetrators generally continue on down the crooked path smiling at the 99% over their shoulders. Why is this happening?
The answer isn't simple and it extends back thousands of generations to the beginnings of humankind. I'll refrain from mentioning the facial similarities between some subjects testifying in Congressional hearings to artistic renderings of pre Homo sapiens taxa!
Assuming I have the patience to get the hip boots out and wade through the muck, the remainder of the exposition will involve regulations, generally accepted standards of practice, regulators, regulatees, the "public" (remember them?) and accountability in a one size fits all world. Real estate is right there rolling around in the swamp with the rest of the luminaries, so check back for the next installment of Muck Wrestling 101.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
How to have more FUN in 2012, and why.
Happy New Year!
2011? It came and went with a diverse assortment of challenges, transitions, examples of fate run awry and evidence of why the human condition inspires countless books but few answers.
Rather than simply move on with 2012, we might check for lessons embedded in the struggles and successes of 2011 to illuminate smoother future paths.
Einstein allegedly stated that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. By that definition, we are all insane. Sanity appears when we recognize what doesn't work and resolve to try something different. Different may not work either, but in trying it we might learn something that could suggest a still better different to try next.
The alternative to trying new flavors of different is to persist doing your old thing in hopes that the universe will magically shift to an alignment in which your exact attributes come into heavy demand producing abundant prosperity and sustained well being. Wanna guess the odds?
Here's an exercise for 2012 centered on different ways of getting what you already want. FUN! That is WAY BETTER than making (and breaking) resolutions!
In Column 1 list five FUN activities you LIKE to do and that you didn't do enough in 2011.
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
1. _______ __________ ______________
2. _______ __________ ______________
3. _______ __________ ______________
4. _______ __________ ______________
5. _______ __________ ______________
3. _______ __________ ______________
4. _______ __________ ______________
5. _______ __________ ______________
In Column 2 list the key reason WHY you didn't enjoy enough of those FUN activities last year (that could become a big column, but cut to the chase!).
Now, add a 3rd column to list a way to overcome the key obstacle listed in Column 2. Be creative, think outside the box! Ask yourself "what resources (personal, financial, friends, family, etc.) do I have that might help me make that kind of FUN a bigger part of my life in 2012? If you don't think you have the resources now, describe what it could take to get them. Maybe think of different resources that would get the job done. Is there any good reason you couldn't identify or create and then nurture those resources? Imagine all the FUN you missed in 2011? That’s not going to happen in 2012!
Having doubts at this point? Here's a scary way of doing something different. If you're having trouble completing Column 3, ASK someone for help. Sound radical?
When was the last time someone came up to YOU--in person--and said: "I've made a difficult decision to make a change and try something different, would you be willing to give me some ideas about how to do that and also let me know how I'm doing as my progress unfolds?" How would you respond? After getting over your initial surprise, you'd help them! I bet if you were the one asking the question, they'd help you!
If you have more FUN in 2012, it's likely the year will bring surprising moments worth remembering long after you forget the challenges you dealt with and moved beyond. BTW, in the process of trying different flavors to increase your FUN, you'll develop skills at trying different solutions to challenges too and that sounds almost like a resolution.
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