Happy Days

Did you hear an icon died on October 30^th?   

Al of “Happy Days” is gone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Molinaro

“Happy Days” was a favorite TV show of mine.  Yes, it was predictable and impractical, but it painted a very romantic picture of the 1950’s, my kid - decade.

As a kid I remember dreaming of being an adult:

I would make my own decisions.  No one would tell me “Go, pick up your room.” “Carolyn, stop talking, listen!”  Remember, “Yes, ma’am or no, ma’am”.  “You may play in your own yard.”  “No snacks before dinner.” 

There would be diners where I’d sit and share hamburgers with all my friends.  We would eat all the french-fries we could hold, and drink chocolate milk shakes anytime of the day. 

We could dance all day and talk all night. Our clothes would stay clean and our shoes would never wear out.  It was going to be a perfect world!  After all, I would be an adult.  I’d be entitled.

Unfortunately as a child I didn’t understand King Solomon’s words, in Proverbs 4:26-27:  “Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.  Don’t get sidetracked”.

As an adult, I lead others. 

Our team is a collective whole and we have a vision:

“We exist as an Escrow Team to provide Arizona Realtors and Lenders cutting edge marketing and educational opportunities.  In turn providing them the most effective and efficient escrow closing process achievable while maintaining a high standard for Great American Title Agency, Inc.”

So, I will admit I do not live in the wonderful world of the 1950’s, however I love what I do.  I love who we serve.

As 2015 draws to a conclusion we are once again looking forward to serving you on November 19^th at the 9^th annual Thanksgiving Lunch at the Stapley Center.  Please mark you calendar for lunch with us between 11 and 1 on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, as we will again celebrate some very happy days!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u6zl5x8r9Bs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's That Time of Year!

I’m devoted to fall---it my favorite time of the year!

Did you feel the change this past week?  That last monsoon rain changed everything, no more 100 degree days, at least not till May. 

I adore the Arizona winter!  The evenings, for me, are reminiscent of a slower pace of life.  Quiet evenings beside the fire pit, beautiful sunsets, light jackets and a hot toddy.  Oh, and let’s not forget fresh citrus right off the tree.   

We experience a magical transformation!  Right now it’s the perfect time to plant a fall garden and the roses are bursting with color.

It’s hard to believe that we’re in the last quarter of 2015. 

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”). 

In case you forgot, October holds one of my fondest childhood memories.  Mother simply created costumes from hotel bed sheets and we went on the hunt for candy in a Tucson neighborhood - I’m sure the hotel never forgave her for ruining their sheets.

November hails Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving means lunch on November 19^th - our 9^th annual event.  Thanks to our administration, this GAT tradition has become one of my favorite adult memories. We all crowd into the office standing shoulder to shoulder or sit on the floor with plates full of food. You, our friends, help us be so successful.  This year lunch is between 11am and 1pm.  As my old tee shirt says, “it’s not about me!”

Christmas day this year is going to be a very special one for Ken and I - not only will it be perfect picnic/hot tub weather, it’s just a week before our son Cory and his wife, Lori fly in from Alaska for New Year’s. Guess what! I’m looking for the perfect New Year’s Eve Celebration - let me know if you have a spot in mind.

Yes, I have a weakness for fall. However, fall is also my best bi-annual planning time. 

I enjoy stopping and taking the time to reflect on what worked and what needs to change. This year I am strategically planning for 2016. 

Over the years I’ve learned some of us see more than others do. We need to look at what worked and plan for what needs to change. 

Sometimes I find myself so busy in today’s tasks I fail to plan for where we need to be down the road. 

So, enjoy this last quarter - but take the time to really think about 2016.  

What memories will you hold onto?

Who will you impact?

How will you change?

THANK YOU!

I heard Christmas music in the grocery store today.  It is hard to believe its November, 2014.  

This marks my 17^th year in the valley escrow industry. 

Wow, for a kid who moved 18 times before she graduated from high school, and went to 3 different 1^st grades, I’ve been here a long time.

November 20^th is special for our staff. It is our 8^th Annual Thanksgiving Lunch and we get to thank you for belonging to our office family.  

You’ll find a traditional Texas Thanksgiving, something my Mom would have enjoyed serving.  Cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, and turkey; Mother taught me no one should go away hungry.

We’re not entitled to be in business. We know you have choices.  We are grateful that you believe in us, we believe in you!

2013-2014 saw major changes.  We added Park Plaza, remodeled Stapley and our staff size has grown. 

Lately I was reminded in a small way just how much my personal cheese work has moved. 

I am an introvert and really do enjoy sitting behind an escrow desk.  There is a great reward in being able to answer the phone, listen to the question, answer it, sign the customer, send the file back to the lender for funding, release the file, and call the Realtor when the recording is complete.  At least for me there is. 

Interesting as that is, it is not where I am needed right now.  I’ve learned I must let go of control and allow others to grow in their job. The team is smart, capable, and believes in each other. (It’s kind of like when you drop the first child off at college, while driving home and realize he can do this!)

So, here’s the story: An Escrow Officer was out sick.  She feared coming back to work. Unknown to her, the team members simply stepped in and completed all her needed file work. There were notes and documents in her files so she was caught up.  No big deal, they simply did what they needed to do. She was elated and emailed them to say “thanks”.

Here’s the response back to her: “Hey, Carolyn says, this is what we do (our job) and not who we are (our humanity)”.  However in this case, “This IS who we are!!!”  The team is one collective whole.  No big fan fare!  No need to make a big deal, they simply and collectively did what was needed to serve a teammate. 

Kind of like Superman - able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. 

Yes we work hard; it is a part of our culture.  There are systems, and we are trained and cross trained. We study, read, CANI, and work SMART.However, without you (our friends), everything we do would be in vain.  We’re not entitled to stay open.  We know that.  So this time of the year we stop and simply thank you.

John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”. 

Please stop by the office on November 20^th between 11 and 1 for lunch on us.  We belong to you and you belong to us!