"Culture Matters"

Ok, I read another book, and some of you may be surprised by what it is!

The book isn’t written to leaders, or “baby boomers”.  Neither is it written to business leaders.   There aren’t big name endorsements on the cover, nor is there a preface or introduction.  The book, however, is written by a very smart ambitious person, Sophia Amoruso. 

The name of the book is #GIRLBOSS.  Ms. Amoruso is up-front, straightforward the founder and CEO of Nasty Gal.com, an online clothing store. (I may never purchase from the website, but I’ll bet my granddaughter has and may even be a regular patron!)

My daughter- in-law, Lori recommended I read the book, and I am glad she did.

Sophia started with nothing and has built her $100 million dollar on line fashion retailer with more than 350 employees company in just eight years.  She’s smart!  She’s a no nonsense industrious woman. She did not understand that what she achieved wasn't possible according to business statistics! 

She has no college degree.  She didn't inherit a bunch of money, in fact by her own admission she’s lucky to be alive. None the less Sophia has created a culture that works. 

  

On page 224 of the book she says, “The heartbeat of Nasty Gal doesn't exist in one style trend, or article of clothing.  It’s in the way we talk, the way we carry ourselves and the way we see the world.”

I stopped and reread this sentence over and over.  She’s talking about culture!

Without having personally met her I am proud of her. Her book and the culture she demonstrates to today’s generation is to be applauded.  I wish  I had understood culture 30 years ago.

Life lessons have taught me culture, but it’s not been easy!  Very simply put culture matters.  It matters a lot!

There is family culture, education culture, business culture, social culture the list could go on and on.

Wikipedia has the following to say about culture:

“Culture is a word for people's 'way of life', meaning the way groups do things. Different groups of people may have different cultures. A culture is passed on to the next generation by learning”.

Culture counts!  People matter, all people matter.  What we say, the way we deal with one another, simply how we live counts!

This week’s challenge is simple, set time aside and think about your personal culture---what does your culture look like?

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Our New Fall Direction

I love Arizona. The summer heat  has always fascinated me.  As a kid I tried to fry an egg on the sidewalk –  it didn’t work.  To this day, I love sitting on the patio and smelling the monsoon rain. I also look forward annually to picking fresh citrus.   

That’s why fall is my favorite time of the year even here in Arizona.   While other parts of  North America, explode with the vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange as the autumn leaves fall, we experience a magical transformation of our own.

October brings Halloween (The Valley of the Sun is the only spot I know, where in the 1960’s grown ups actually dressed up and  went “trick-or-treating”).  I remember one year Mother created costumes from hotel bed sheets and we went on the hunt for candy in a Tucson neighborhood she simply picked out (we did not live in Arizona at the time).

November hails, Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving means lunch with Great American Title Agency on Thursday, November 20^th.  This year between 11:00am and 1:00pm.
RSVP TO: GivingThanks@azgat.com

Christmas day is always a perfect picnic/hot tub day.

Best of all fall means no more 105 degree days, at least not for a few months!

Fall is romantic and quixotic.

Fall is also a perfect time to chart direction and implement change.  As I posted last week Great American Title (GAT) is growing and expanding---we’re both excited and  thankful. GAT’s administration is forward thinking—working here is a grand adventure!

Yes, GAT Park Plaza and Stapley are now partnered together.  We’re one collective whole.  We’re fortunate to have three dynamic account executives aka strategic relationship specialists, to service REALTORS®  and Lenders alike.  Today I simply want to introduce  or maybe just reintroduce them: 

Leslie Griffeth  (602) 538-6770  lgriffeth@azgat.com

Leslie Griffeth is the marketing specialist for Great American Title at the Park Plaza office in Mesa, AZ. With years of marketing experience as well as being a REALTOR® having specialized in new homes and resale transactions, she understands the important role marketing plays for today’s agents. Whether a new agent or a seasoned veteran she is passionate in providing the tools and services to bring your business to the next level.

Her dedication to helping agents is the foundation in achieving success for the REALTORS®  she has the privilege to work with.

Lori Amberson  (602) 524-0302  lamberson@azgat.com

Since graduating from Arizona State University, Lori has gained over ten years’ of experience in both sales and marketing. Her focus on database management, lead generation including direct mail, seminars, and websites, as well as customer relations management (CRM) has provided an excellent background for business development in the Housing Industry.

After working for a mortgage lender for several years, Lori entered the Title Industry as an Account Executive in 2003. Lori's previous experience in lending coupled with her extensive knowledge of real estate has given Lori a unique awareness and sensitivity to the needs of her customers and the tools that are needed to successfully close transactions. Lori is a member of the Southeast Valley Regional Association of REALTORS® (SEVRAR).

Lori is excited to be a part of the Great American Title team and is motivated to help agents and lenders alike with their marketing needs. “Partnering for Profit” is a realistic objective and a founding principal of Lori's marketing strategy.

Marc Lemaire  (480) 242-2230  Marc@azgat.com

Marc Lemaire is the Strategic Relationship Specialist at Great American Title Agency based out of Mesa, Arizona. As an Arizona native, Marc has witnessed the growth and changes to the Valley and the real estate industry over the years. Having been in title and escrow industry since 2002, one of Marc’s many achievements is the development of new and innovative strategic marketing tools and systems for Great American Title Agency.

A primary goal of Marc’s is to bring added value to REALTORS® and mortgage professionals to grow their business through education, marketing resources, and exceptional title and escrow services. His professionalism and dedication to customer service makes him a standout in the title and escrow industry. Marc also enjoys community outreach through the Tempe Exchange Club and the SEVRAR Community Outreach Committee.

So, that’s GAT Park Plaza/Stapley!  It is my belief  that coupled with your nine escrow officers and our four support personnel this marketing team cannot be matched. 

It’s our entire  team mission to “provide Arizona  REALTORS® and Lenders cutting edge marketing and educational opportunities…. While providing them the most effective and efficient escrow closing process achievable. “ 

Simply stated, we’re HERE and we WANT to SERVE! 

(Reminder:  Thanksgiving Lunch, November 20^th , 11-1)

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Do you practice disciplined development?

Discipline is tough---It is much easier to simply go with the flow.  However not fighting for what counts could get you killed early!

Have you ever seen a salmon run?  I have!  Salmon fight! They spring into the air, swim against the current and battle their fellow salmon.  They leap, and fall against rocks and wrestle to stay in the middle of the stream --- they row against all the odds, nothing stops them.  They pour all their life blood into getting upstream to spawn (which by the way is where a salmon dies).

To use human terms salmon are all in.  They are motivated and passionate, disciplined and accountable.  They know what they want.  They want their species survive and thrive.

Often I wish I could help REALTORS® swim like salmon.  I know that intellectually I cannot --- each individual must make life work for themselves.  Many people think all they need to do is show up.

In my 62 years of living simply showing up has never worked for me.

With that being said, let me tell you about this last month.  It has been CRAZY at the office(s). 
Yes you read that correctly, offices. 

You see a month ago, Great American Title Agency- Stapley joined forces with Great American Title Agency- ParkPlaza to bring the East Valley Real Estate Market the same outstanding service that Stapley is known for.  We have remodeled and re-staged offices.  Moved staff around, cleaned and cleared out, all in an effort to simply serve you better. 

We've gained some new ideas, new opportunities, and even some additional staff.  Stop by one of the offices and see for yourself.  (Oh yeah, there’s a drawing for November Cardinal Tickets, but you have drop a card off at either office to enter to win, drawing November 1st)

Like the salmon swimming in a torrent we like you, want to thrive and survive.

Recently, I was reminded there is a crew of us.  That is people with the same mindset.  Let me just name three of them I personal spoke to this last week.

The first person is Jeff Fisher with VisualShows.com. VisualShows.com has been around for years, and is not exclusive to Great American Title Agency.  However there’s a new twist.  Now you can get clients to call you before you speak to them---it’s automated, and nobody else has it yet! 
(One of the keys to success is still---be the first to get your phone to ring.)

The second person I’ll mention is a friend, DeanNaughton.  Dean is currently teaching his 6-week coaching classes to Valley REALTORS®.  (Maybe you were lucky enough to be in one of his original groups---I know an agent who made a business decision to begin working with Dean again and he’s had instant results).

The third gentleman I would bring to mind is Michael Maher,author of the book 7 Levels of Communication.  I had the opportunity to meet Michael last month, and we’re sponsoring his October 30^th Scottsdale event (The Event Link is GenGenArizona.com)  Michael believes in giving before getting, and he is going to teach some of his remarkable systems at this Scottsdale event.

Do you see a parallel in the above named men, Great American Title Agency and salmon?

We’re all in.   We are motivated and passionate, disciplined. We know it takes a specific, maintainable, articulate, real, and date specific (by when) plans. 

So I go back to today’s question, “Do you practice disciplined development?”