Words to live by

Ever come across something that speaks volumes about  character?

How about something that you are constantly saying in your mind while you read.."yes I totally agree"

Well for me I just came across this and I wanted to share with my loyal readers. I didn't write this, but I could have. I found it, and I like to think I embody what this gentleman has to say.

His name is Mark Sanborn, and here is what he had to write and say...

I work because I need to and because I want to. There is satisfaction in work well done. Good work produces value and isn't just a means to an end but an opportunity to be a productive, contributing member of society. Work helps give life purpose and structure.

I don't like everything about the work I do but understand that is the nature of work. Work often requires that we do what needs to be done as well as what we like to do. Doing great work is a choice I make; to do less cheats not just my employer and customer but myself.

Impediments to work are temporary. If my place of employment blocks my ability to be productive in an honest and ethical way, I will not sell my soul to continue working there. If my boss doesn't understand the concept of a healthy work environment I will actively look for a different boss or organization that does. My current situation may not allow me to switch jobs or employers immediately but I refuse to resign myself to a work life of misery. I will endure for the short term with the goal of prospering in the long term.

How I do my work makes life a heaven or hell for others. How I treat colleagues and customers makes their lives better or worse. Neutrality is a myth as any attempt to disengage will appear to others as indifference, and that indifference is an insult to others.

I will not actively or passively inflict pain. While the bad behavior of others might make it tempting to do so, I will choose to play by a higher standard. I will do what I can to make working with me enjoyable.

I do not control how others act, but I completely control how I act. When others act inappropriately to me, I will respond professionally but will not accept and thereby condone the inappropriate behavior. I will politely but directly address the inappropriateness.

I understand that others come to me for solutions to problems and that is what I am paid for. Therefore problems, as difficult as they can be, are not an impediment to my work but often they are my work itself.

I will take responsibility rather than place blame. If I can't fix it I will either live with it or leave it. There are no other rational options.  I understand there is no perfect workplace, but refuse to make where I work worse by my own apathy or lethargy. I won't let the poor attitudes and behaviors determine my own choices. I know that I often succeed at work not because of but in spite of undesirable circumstances.

In a time when not all who truly desire work have that opportunity, I am grateful for the work I have.

I hope there are some words in there that you can live by. I hope you found value in my latest post.

Have a great Monday.

Is Integrity in todays day and age even worth the effort?

Do you live the way you talk about it? 
Or are you just providing lip service in a way to get another sale or perhaps get in with a crowd?

People won't always believe everything you say, but they will always believe in the example you set for them by your words or your actions. And when you live with integrity, then you can always come through in shining colors for them.

In simpler terms, what we are really talking about here is trust.

On a side note...what is the root word of integrity?

Integer. Which is a whole number for those that are not smarter than a fifth grader haha. couldn't resist there.  So if you are saying one thing and doing another, you are not being whole.

That kind of action is what breaks trust. Trust is what helps you gain support and ultimately further your sales career or any relationship you need to build.

Lets talk briefly here about what the ramifications are of having Integrity.

First of all, lets be clear. Whats in it for me is what everyone always wants to know. Well, whats in it for you is that you feel good about yourself. You can focus on the future. You don't have to worry about what you have done in the past and whether it will rear its ugly head at some point.

Lets be truthful as well here. Some people like to say things are Relative.Which is absolutely ridiculous. You are either right or wrong. There is no in between.

Look at people who have made mistakes in the past. You know they could have been relatively honest about it.They probably didn't lie about everything, just enough to destroy a relationship or a business.

Here's a laugh for ya. When I come home from a weekend away or a trip, not once has my wife asked me if I've been relatively faithful to her?

You either are, or you are not.

Having integrity will allow you to sleep better at night.

It will allow you to hold your head up high when you walk.

It will allow you to grow.

You may not experience the benefits short term, but One can almost guarantee them long term.

Ask yourself this...If you had a top performer in your company and you were making all the personnel decisions, and you knew this individual was getting results based on some underhanded tactics, would you keep him around because he was producing a huge chunk of your income? OR would you rally the team around the fact that you do business in a certain manner and you expect better?

Or would you just turn a blind eye and keep pocketing the money?


I am a firm believer that if you do the right thing, the results take care of themselves.

Hypocrisy does not reign supreme.

Hope you enjoyed today's blog. Had to get that off my chest, just took me a while to get it into words.
My mind can be a scary place sometimes....

Enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

Kevyn

Statistics

I cam across some interesting numbers from the Canadian Real Estate market and I thought I would quickly share the ones that popped out at me.

In no particular order, today's blog will give you some insight into consumer trends and perhaps even an incling into where the market is heading...depending on what you read into it.

- The sales to new listing ratio remains near the threshold between balanced and a somewhat sellers market at 55.2%
- 43% of Canadians would buy a vacation property because it is a good investment. This is down from 64% a year ago.
- currently equity is at 72% of the value of housing in Canada
- In a recent study, young adults and those aged 50 and older prefer smaller apartment condos over other types of housing
- The average National house price is just over $343 K; right here in Richmond and Vancouver it is in excess of $1 Mil.
- 58% of Canadians have their mortgages amortized at 25 years or less, with 12% at 30 years and the remaining 30% are extended to 25 or more.
- 70% of consumers are happy with their current mortgage terms
- 66% of Canadians still opt for a fixed rate in Canada
- 90% of homeowners have at least 10% in equity in their homes, with 81% of those having over 20%
- Did you know that Real estate accounts for only 40% of a homeowners assets?
- Did you know that only 28% of home buyers feel the need to purchase something bigger or better?
- When first time home buyers are looking at homes, 40% intend to purchase a fixer- upper, and of those purchasers, almost all of them intend on staying in that home for at least 10 years.
- Did you know that there are 9.2 Million Echo Boomers living in Canada?

Echo boomers are the children of baby boomers for those who did not know.

- 53% of Canadians depend on Social Media to help them make purchasing decisions.
- 90% of first time buyers are using the Internet to search for mortgage information or options
- Another interesting fact....amongst Canadians, 54% feel the Internet if the most important and influential form of media.
- Compare that to 27% for TV


Some food for thought or maybe water cooler statistics for those with a functioning cooler.

Enjoy your Wednesday, unless you choose otherwise.

Kevyn

What I learned from Steve jobs

An Icon and a true Visionary passed away yesterday.

Most of you know who he was and I am not here to give his life history.What I wanted to blog about today is a speech he gave a few years back to the Graduating class at Stanford University. In the time leading up to the speech he had just survived his First bout with the Pancreatic cancer that eventually took his life yesterday afternoon. Here is but a sample of the 15 minute speech he gave....

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked.
….
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

The tragedy, of course, is that Steve Jobs was cleared away before he was old. He was 56 when he passed yesterday, the exact same age as my Father Jack when he passed. Sadly, both had more to give.

Steve was full of passion and he lived that every day of his life.

When someone come along that changes the way the world thinks and works like he did, you create an almost cult following. Apple aficionados are cult like. They fiercely defend their apple stuff and their culture. I for one, tip my hat to the man that he was and that is how I will remember him

Live each day to the fullest. He sure did.

Here is the link to the full speech from TED.
http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Thanks for the continued reading of my ramblings.


Kevyn

What would you do with $10 K ?

Its Time......Its Time.
Its time to give away some Money !
How about $10,000 ?
What would you do with $10 K?

We here at Aegis Mortgage Services Ltd. want to give away some of our hard earned money.

There is a full set of sweepstakes rules, but here is the gist of it.

We have been lucky to be supported by so many great friends, family and clients over the years that we want to reward one lucky person with an opportunity to walk away with a cheque for $10 K.

Here are some of the ways you can get in:

1) For every continued referral that you send us that funds during the contest dates, we will give you one entry into the sweepstakes

2) for every mortgage you personally have funded through us that meets our simple criteria, you would gain an entry as well.

3) If you happen to need a referral one of our preferred sources, and you do business with them in the time period allotted, you gain an entry into the sweeps as well.

There are many ways to get into the draw.

Refinances, Mortgage Insurance, Construction mortgages, equity take outs, cash back programs, second mortgages, Secured LOC's....

Contest rules are posted at the Office in Richmond.

Unit 201, 3800 Bayview street, Richmond , BC.

If you want more information or want to enter, call us now @ 604.272.1784 anytime!
If you want the rules emailed let me know,  dlcaegis@gmail.com

Contest runs from October 1st 2011 and the last entrant will be entered on April 30th 2012. The draw will be made in May at a Party hosted by the 2 of us here.

Good Luck and thank you for the continued support!

Kevyn

What if you took that extra moment in time...

A few days ago I answered the phone like I always do.

"Hello Kevyn Speaking."

 As I have come to expect, the person on the other end did not pay attention and asked if Kevyn was available.

So like normal I said "speaking" and proceeded with the conversation.

But it got me thinking about how nobody pays attention anymore to what is happening around them. We are so wound up in all that encompasses our lives that we forget to listen to people when talking and or look them in the eye when in front of them.

Are we all that self absorbed that the common courtesy that our parents taught us has been thrown out the window to save us a few minutes in time?

Well like the way alot of my blogs start out, I got to thinking.

Needless to say the person on the other end realized their mistake...

“Oh, duh – Kevyn. You just answered the phone with your name didn't you?. I'm  Sorry.”

This happens to me all the time.

Sometimes I am sure people feel embarrassed.
Sometimes people say oh, ok .
Other times people just laugh and proceed with the conversation.
And most, just like this person, don't even realize what they are doing until it's too late.

But I always smile. And I never bust andbody's chops about it.
I just wish people would pay more attention to their customers or people they run in to.
I just wish employees would notice opportunities to take a moment and listen to that person like it was their last woirds on this planet.

What if we all just slowed down a notch or two and paid attention that much more?

Would we end world hunger...probably not.
But we would make each person we meet feel like their time and question/point is important to us.

That would be worth repeating to a family member. That would be worth telling a friend about. That would be worth remembering next time someone needed a service I could provide.

Instead of reaching for another scripted response about how important someone’s call is, say something that is in the moment.

Stay in the moment and people will repsect you that much more.

Keep up to date in the ever changing Mortgage landscape by checking out my website once in a while www.kevynoyhenart.ca

Until next time.

Kevyn

Like a good Marriage...

I've been to enough weddings this summer to last a lifetime, but all was not lost on me....

After the last one on Vancouver Island, I got to thinking about how each couple had vows that were similar.
All the words spoken were of meaning and purpose. They had the same undertone and were fashioned to convey the way they felt about each other and the promise they were undertaking. It is special to be a part of union's like that, and to those that I had the honor to do so, I thank you.

But it got me thinking...

And for those that know me, that can take me to some strange places indeed.

But this time it was hyper-focused which was a nice change and saved me a few hours...haha

I was comparing the relationship that a Mortgage Broker has with a new and or existing client to that of one of Marriage between 2 loved ones.

So let me give you my thoughts...

As a Mortgage Broker we should almost be taking vows each time we meet a client for the first time.

Perhaps something like this....

"I Kevyn, take you Frederick Hampton III, to be my new client."

"I promise to love, honor and obey all of your wishes and commands as long as they make sense to do so"

"I promise to be honest, up front and explain all of the things I will be acting for and doing on your behalf"

"I will not forget that I am a guide and teacher, and will do my best to make sure you understand everything to the level that you can make an informed decision."

"I will never forsake our relationship. I will return your calls and emails in a timely fashion, and will answer all your questions with the patience that a new Mother shows her brand new baby"

"I will provide ongoing service to you once our deal has funded. I will keep in touch regularly, and continue to be available when you need me"

"By the power vested in me by FICOM and under the MBA, I now pronounce us, Client and acting Mortgage Broker."

Those are the feelings I try to convey each time I sit across the table with a new or ongoing client.

Those are the things my late Father Jack has instilled in both Chad and I, and we will continue to practice until our time is up as well.
We were taught well, and will continue to surround ourselves with Brokers who fit the same model and can contribute to our Happy Family.

Until next time, now you know. And as G.I. Joe used to say...

"knowing is half the battle"   (they also used to say..."got to get tough"...but I didn't know where I could fit that in.)

check out my website if you have a chance for anything new to do with the Mortgage Brokers Act or upcoming changes.
www.kevynoyhenart.ca

Kevyn