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