Down to 3.8 Golds…poo

August 20, 2008

How does that happen overnight—I was stripped of 1.2 golds because when I woke up this morning, after working out yesterday morning, walking in the afternoon and playing tennis last night—I gained 1.2 pounds!  Who are the weight fairies?

Well, it does not surprise me because business always seems that way too.  You work so hard, achieve something great, and then, sometimes, you have to go back and tweek  a marketing plan or tweek a negotiation—that is what life is about—not letting your eye off the ball and keeping at it in order to achieve success.

So, that is why I am up again at 5:30—to regain my golds with a  workout this morning. 

I don’t give up when I want something, whether it is personal or business, and I don’t think you should either!

Have an awesome day!

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money faster  and have more fun at www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


Gold For Me

August 19, 2008

I decided that from now on, I would reward myself a gold medal for each pound I lose—and so far, I have lost 5!  This workout and weight loss stuff is not easy, I mean skinny Trista is kicking my rear!

As I was complaining to Pete about it (who, by the way, has yet to notice the weight loss—so I will be “removing” a gold medal from him…) he said, “big deal, it is no different than working hard in a challenging economy.” Oh.  I guess I never put it together, but the truth is that to get what you want you have to work hard. It does not matter if you are in real estate investing, staging, marketing…whatever it is, it all requires some hard work, and that is just what we are doing. 

Besides, now that you all know about my quest (see PS), I guess I can’t complain about the hard work. 

Okay, okay, off to win another gold medal.

Have an awesome day!

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


I fell off the ball

August 15, 2008

Yesterday, I was working out with my trainer, Trista, and we were doing exercises on the ball because my back was really hurting again—so I was all about the low impact.

So much for that idea when I fell right off the ball!  So, then Trista—she is sooo skinny—says to me “it is really important to balance everyday.”  Well, obviously, especially when I am trying to roll around on concrete atop an oversize ball!

Later, when I came to my senses though, I thought about what she said.  This summer has been a hectic one for me.  I have had too many visitors, big projects, lots of travel and very little time.  I was out of balance and what I realized was that just by taking small steps every day for everything that I need in my life, I can always achieve balance. 

Make some choices—achieve balance in your life too.

Have an awesome day!

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


I skipped out

August 12, 2008

Maybe it is my Catholic upbringing, or just years of practiced guilt, but I feel so guilty that I did not go to Idaho with Pete yesterday.  We were both supposed to be on a plane yesterday for a meeting (one that Pete could handle on his own) and when I got home from Boston on Friday night—he just looked at me and said “why don’t you just stay home.”  Thank you thank you thank you! 

Truth be told, I am exhausted and behind, neither of which I like.  I needed to be at home to catch up and rest up as I have a really hectic season ahead of me.  And, well, with the fire, we have the remediation being done today and tomorrow and one of us really needed to be here. 

I had to cancel my trip and a meeting in order to look at the big picture.  And, that is what I did.  I think sometimes it is okay to say, I need to take care of myself (and in this instance, my house ) in order to better perform in the future.  Which leads me to the question—“Do you think that  we are always given what we need—was the fire given to me to give me a travel break…interesting!”

Here is my suggestion, take your breaks when you need them so you don’t have to be given a fire in order to be forced into one.  I am feeling better already!

Have an awesome day!

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.OnLineStagingTraining.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


It is 4:39am and I am in my office

August 5, 2008

Is that a little crazy or what?  I think that there is so much on my mind lately that I just can’t sleep, plus my sister and her family are here (love them soooo much) so my schedule is really thrown off kilter!  It seems as though the entire month of July was spent having guests, which is wonderful, but boy can it be tough on your schedule, then we had the fire this weekend …hence 4:39am.  My mind is not my own.

Many of you will be realizing at this point, that I am crazy.  Well, a little bit maybe…but the truth is, I have a few goals; promises that I made to myself and to all of you that requires me to get it done.  Dan Kennedy always says that successful entrepreneurs do work hard, contrary to popular belief and they do what it takes to get to the goal.  That is what I am doing this morning. 

What is your “done” number?  That is what I work toward—the number (amount of money) that I need to make in order to be “done.”  Some of you know my number, I don’t always share it, but I encourage you to have one—that way, we can all retire together in 3 years.  So, if you are up at 4:39am reading this, don’t worry about it—as long as you are working toward your “done” number too.

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


Fire at 3:30am in my office

August 4, 2008

As many of you know, my sister Paula and her 4 children are visiting with us right now and we are having a wonderful time. Paula is my best friend and I love her children as if they were my own. 

We had been to Estes Park for 3 nights, camping and I was looking forward to getting home, off the floor and into my nice and cozy bed.  But, someone had a different plan for me.  Alexis, my niece had fallen asleep on the camping mats in the living room that I put out for her and her brother, Burhan.  So, I sat down next to her to wait for “Han” and he decided to go upstairs and sleep in his mom’s room. I knew that Alexis would not stay down there at night by herself…so much for my comfy bed. 

As usual though, God and the Universe had things under control. About 3:30 in the morning, I heard a distant smoke alarm.  I could not figure out where it was coming from, but I had already been awake anyway thinking that I should turn off the fans.  So, I went upstairs and by the time I got there, I smelled something funny—still thinking it was the fan, I turned it off.  Now, another smoke alarm went off, so I went to wake up Pete (he used to be a fireman) and as soon as he got up, he said “Everybody OUT!”—The 2 older kids got up, Paula and I each grabbed a younger kid and all headed out the front door—still not sure what was happening.  I could hear Pete on the phone, calling 911 and then we stood outside and watched our home fill with smoke in a matter of 10 seconds.

All of the sudden, I saw  a computer flying out the basement door, then an office chair, files…you get the idea—all in flames. Pete was taking trying to save our home from going up in flames. 

I know you don’t have an hour today to read the entire saga, but let me tell you that because of my quick thinking husband, he saved our home.  The fire and police department were dispatched t o the wrong address and it took then 15 minutes to arrive.   We are all safe and sound—and we will now start to restore our home office and rebuild our basement.  I don’t recommend you try to do this yourself as Pete did, but as I said, he used to be a fireman, so it was a bit safer than your average Joe.

Ultimately, the hard drive in one of our laptops overheated and caught on fire.  The flames jumped to files, the desk, an office chair and then the carpet. I have never seen anything happen so fast. 

Thankfully, I slept one more night on the floor, so I heard the downstairs alarm early and thankfully, Pete is such a quick thinker. Don’t know how long it will be before Paula and the kids visit again…

What is the moral of the story? There are quite a few.  The first is to back up your computers often.  The second is to pay attention to what is plugged in and on and what is not.  The third is to be sooooo grateful for who and what you have because it can go up in flames  in about 10 seconds.

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


Coffee on the Rocks

August 1, 2008

That is actually the name of the place I am sitting this morning-still in Estes Park—still froze my tail off last night.  It was so funny,  Pete, me  and our niece Alexis,  were in the tent, my sister took the cabin with her 3 boys (there is a heater in there!) and at some point throughout the night, Alexis rolls over to me, tells me she is freezing and scoots in so that she is 1 inch away from my face-then she starts this quiet little snore.  Well, that is all Pete needed, he is on my other side and starts to snore as well!  Great—just what I needed—stereo snoring!  Needless to say, I am a bit cranky this morning.

To top it off—I got an email saying  “don’t charge my card” from someone that owes me $8,000—their timing was not good!  I think in business it is so important to keep your commitments.  What if I did not keep mine to others?  What if I only delivered something half way because I was tired and did not feel like it (like today—zzzzzz)—but I don’t do that because I believe in integrity.  If you are running a good business, you must learn to act with extreme integrity as well as being flexible.  That is the name of the game—just make sure you are working it in both directions!

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


MM POWER

August 1, 2008

I know on first glance you all think I am going to talk to you about the power of M&M candies.  No, even though you can now customize them, I still don’t think they are as powerful as an amazing Master Mind.  Obviously, I just came back from my Master Mind VIP group in Baltimore with Bill Glazer and the amazing team of fellow entrepreneurs. 

 

What did I learn?  One of the best ways that I could possibly position myself in a whole new market place that brings the promoter 50% more attendees and 50% more income.  WOW.

 

 In addition to that, I was given the idea for a “refugee” program that we are going to implement immediately and signed up 4 JV’s for our new affiliate program as well as booked several speaking engagements.

 

Finally, I figured out how to open up our company to a whole new thirsty market that makes so much sense.  It has been biting me on the nose for so long—I can’t believe I have not seen it before. 

 

These are just a few of the things that will happen in our business in the next 30 days.  I love to mastermind—it makes me grow beyond what I can even see. 

 

If you want to check out the possibility of being a part of my local mastermind group—shoot me an email at Karen@NoBSColorado.com and I will let you know if you would be a good fit.


3 hours at home and gone!

August 1, 2008

Wow, this has been a whirlwind of a travel period.  We started in Denver (about 90 minutes from my home) on the 24th thru the 26th, stayed there and left for Baltimore on the 27th, returned to Colorado on the 30th (landed at 3am!)  slept for 3 hours, flew home then back to Denver airport at 2pm to pick up my sister and her family and drove straight to Estes Park for 3 days of camping.  That is where I am now, typing from the coffee shop.   All of this travel always makes me realize the speed at which we run our businesses and our lives. 

Keep in mind, this is my choice.  Next year, I am taking my work schedule to 4 days a week ( I will work 10 hour days and of course special events will require additional hours) but this year, I was willing to do what it takes to fit in my life and explode my business—so that next year, I could do 4 days a week. 

I realize this is all about choices –and having a really incredibly supportive spouse! 

I am off to get my nieces and nephews so we can enjoy the rest of the day together—seeking out herds of elk.

You gotta love having your own business—talk about freedom of choice.

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

Founder Simple Appeal, Inc. APSD

 

PS PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!


Still jazzed with major joint pain

July 24, 2008

Last night’s On Line Staging Training call was so great.  We had a ton of fantastic people on the call and so many awesome photos of the property.  Many of which were done during our Property Designer Training.   Vey cool—anyway, I am so proud of them and of the great VIP+ group we have that I just jumped out of bed at 5am this morning, still excited from the night before—and realized that I could not stand up right without some effort.  Oh, these workouts are getting the better of me.  Sore back, sore legs, sore arms—am I actually paying for this?  Yep, and I just signed up for more!  What can I say—I have a goal—and I am still working on the motivation for the goal, but I will get there. 

Anyway, it is good to know that the muscles are there and that it all still moves, although more slowly!

To your growth and success (and lots and lots of money),

Karen Schaefer

www.SimpleAppeal.com

www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PS—Join me on my quest to make more money and have more fun at www.1dollarstagingcoach.com

 

PPS—Have a question about Staging, Marketing, Buying or Selling—or even a deal you have?  Go to my website, www.SimpleAppeal.com and post a comment on my Blog. You might just sell a house!