arlington-prospect

APAG 85: Lisa Peters of Vanessa’s Modern Bride Puts “Brides To Be” At Ease… At Their Unique Boutique

On this edition of the podcast, Lisa Peters of Vanessa’s Modern Bride, gives us the red carpet experience all brides deserve when shopping for their wedding dresses. With over 33 years in the bridal dress business, Vanessa’s has the experience and personal touch brides need today to make the big decision.

Located in downtown Arlington Heights, Vanessa’s Modern Bride brings big city boutique shopping to their suburban location. Lisa Peters describes the newly renovated boutique as a little bit of rustic with a whole lot of elegance. Walking into the showroom you are blown away by the beautiful dresses displayed along the exposed brick walls. The late 1890’s building is the perfect environment for brides to sit back relax and pop a bottle of champagne while they plan their fairy tale day.

What separates Vanessa’s Modern Bride, from the big chain dress stores, is their personal touch with their customers. Lisa Peters becomes apart of her clients families. “My name is walking down that isle with you,” Lisa says in our interview. She considers it an honor to be apart of her brides weddings. You can see Lisa’s passion in her work by the amazing service she provides. Stop into the shop today. All the beautiful dresses are on display.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Setting Up A Dress Consultation

Recent Renovations To Vanessa’s Modern Bride Show Room

Lisa Peters Why?

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

12 W. Campbell St. Arlington Heights

(847)818-0480

www.vanessasmdernbride.com

Facebook Page

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

And finally, please leave an honest review for The Arlington-Prospect Advice Givers Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show and I read each and every one of them.

APAG 84: Robert Paddock Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President Of The Daily Herald Shares The Newspapers Historic Journey

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On this edition of the Podcast Robert Paddock Jr., Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President of the Daily Herald, sits down to discuss the rich history of this amazing family business. The Daily Herald was founded by Bob Paddock’s great Grandfather, Josea. The newspaper started as the Palatine Enterprise in 1898 by horse and buggy with a horse named “Dolly”. Josea started selling subscriptions door to door and the Rest is what you call history.

The Paddock family has owned and operated the newspaper for more than a 100 years. Navigating its way through generational changes has been a symbol of the papers resilience and determination in our ever changing times.

(Big Picture. Local Focus) is the Daily Heralds saying on their logo. That saying sums up their contribution to our great community. Serving the North West Suburbs of Chicago, the newspapers team of talented reporters and staff has been delivering the important news that matters most to our local residents.

“The future will be exiting. There will always be a need for good journalism,” says Bob Paddock.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Advice For Aspiring Journalists

Robert Paddock’s Why?

The Daily Herald’s Community Involvement

The Future of The Newspaper Industry

Peter’s Own Journey To Total Body and Mind Transformation

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

http://www.dailyherald.com

Facebook Page

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

APAG 83: Peter Walters AKA “Paleo With Pedro” Owner Of Foca Training and Nutrition Talks About Committing To Your Body

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On this edition of the podcast, Peter “Paleo With Pedro” Walters owner of FOCA Training and Nutrition is my guest. Peter talks about commitment. Commitment to your body, mind, and nutrition. “The time to start is right now,” the fitness expert says in this informative must listen to interview.

After letting himself get to 250 pounds, Peter Walters knew his life needed to change. Feeling his gut hang over his pants wasn’t acceptable. Feeling lethargic by 3 o’clock was not an option in is busy lifestyle. Most importantly, he couldn’t keep up with his 6-year-old son, Mason, anymore. This was what ate at Peter the most. Growing up in an active family he didn’t like the example he was setting for his son. So he made the commitment to himself and his son.

“Making time”, Peter says is step one in your journey. Making time to improve your health and wellness should be at the top of everyone’s priority list. If you don’t have your health, what do you really have? This is what makes training with “Paleo With Pedro” the total training experience. Peter talks about nutrition being the foundation to this journey. It’s why he does the grocery store tour with his clients. This is where Peter will shop with his clients to get them in the right mind frame when it comes to food. Because without nutrition, in place, achieving the results you desire will be difficult.

If you want to get started today… Start by listening to the Podcast. Then contact Peter Walters for a life changing experience.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Importance of Nutrition

Peter’s Why?

His Plan To Grow His Online Business

Peter’s Own Journey To Total Body and Mind Transformation

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

paleowithpedro.com

Facebook Page

Contact Peter Walters at (773)678-3042

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

APAG 82: Jim Gignac Owner Of The School Of Rock Is Building Kids Confidence, Through Music, One Student At A Time

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On this edition of the podcast, Jim Gignac, owner and operator of The School of Rock Arlington Heights is my guest. Jim discusses the many benefits to joining this great organization. Building foundations for young students goes way beyond the music. The School of Rock builds confidence, promotes teamwork, and puts smiles on kids faces everyday as they broaden their worlds.

In this informative interview, I ask what Jim Gignac’s why is… His response is what we love to hear from all the entrepreneurs out there. Be sure to tune in for his response.

Jim and his staff of professional musicians have created an environment that kids dream about. If it’s hitting that “AC/DC” power cord on the guitar or keeping that perfect “Rush” beat on the drums. The School of Rock Arlington Heights is a perfect place for your kids to blossom into young musicians but more importantly into young adults.

On May 19th-20th The Arlington Heights School of Rock have some cool shows they are putting on. Be sure to check out their website for more info.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Upcoming Shows

Foundation Building For Students

Advice To Aspiring Business Owners

The Team Environment at The School of Rock

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

http://www.arlingtonheights.schoolofrock.com

arlingtonheights@schoolofrock.com

Facebook Page

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

APAG 81: Scott Moriarty Owner/Founder Of Kidz Bedz Talks About Quality Furniture For Our Kidz!

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On this edition of the podcast, Scott Moriarty owner/founder of Kidz Bedz in Arlington Heights is my guest. Scott has been making kidz dreams come true for over thirty years with his custom made quality beds. In a day of online retailers, Scott stresses the importance of seeing and touching the furniture before purchasing it. These pieces of furniture, in the Kidz Bedz showroom, are built to be passed down from one generation to the next. Creating family heirlooms that will have stories for one generation to the next. If quality craftsmanship and love is important to you… Then Kidz Bedz will be your next furniture shopping adventure.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Difference between big retailers and Kidz Bedz

30 Years of business

The quality and craftsmanship of beds at the store

Scott’s involvement with local charities

Upcoming Events:

Store promotions can be found on the website

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

http://kidzbedz.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KidzBedzInArlington/?fref=ts

1306 N. Rand Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL
(p) (847) 259-5200

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

APAG 80: Mike Wenzel Of Advanced Energy Services Discusses Energy EfficiencyIn Our Home

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On this 80th edition of the podcast, Mike Wenzel President/Owner of Advanced Energy Services is our guest. In our discussion we dive deep into how we can transform an “inefficient” home into an “efficient” home. Mike and his staff have been helping thousands of homeowners, for years, solve the issue of living in an, energy, inefficient home. There is no other place we spend more time than at home. Why not make it the safest place possible?

Advanced Energy Services’ (AES) goal is to fully test the performance level of your home and fix the core problems you may or may not be aware of, as opposed to treating only individual symptoms or perceived issues. Being Building Performance Institute certified, gives Mike Wenzel’s company the expertise you, the homeowner, need in the building science of homes. A safe more energy efficient living environment benefits everyone.

I ask Mike in the interview, “What’s his why?” Mike answer should have everyone intrigued about his services,”Every job we do makes our customers home a better more efficient place to live.” Contact Advanced Energy Services for your consultation today.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Four Tips We Can Do On Our Own To Make Our Home More Efficient

In Home Consultation

Mike Wenzel’s Why?

The Need For Proper Air Flow Throughout Our Homes

Certification With The Building Performance Institute

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

Advance Energy Services (AES) Website

(224) 475-0290

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

APAG 79: Arthur Blachno of Compass Mortgage Prepares Home Buyers For 2018 and Beyond

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On this 79th edition of the Podcast, Arthur Blachno of Compass Mortgage is our guest. In our discussion, Arthur prepares home buyers to get the necessary pieces in place to buy their next dream home. Arthur says, “Numbers don’t lie. So setting a budget and getting pre-approved is the first step to success” Buying a house is a huge event in people’s lives. You increase your odds of success by surrounding yourself with the right people.

In the interview Arthur Blachno shares his families story with us. Arthur remembers leaving Poland at midnight crossing the border into Czechoslovakia. With little to no money his parents had the dream of coming to America to make a better life for their children. Migrating from Poland at the age of 5 taught Arthur a ton of lessons. His mother worked two jobs to support her family working until 8 o’clock every night. Growing up witnessing his Mother’s work ethic has served Arthur well. The clients he represents every day get service and communication they deserve while making one of their biggest financial decisions. Now with his wife, two daughters, and a son on the way Arthur has truly lived the American dream.

Ideas and Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Mortgage Programs “Get Committed”

Getting Prepared To Buy Your Next Home

Why Customer Service Is Important

Links/Resources/Sponsors Mentioned:

Contact Arthur Blachno (847) 912-6580

Email arthurblachno@compmort.com

Sponsors:

Austin-Jarrett Law. If You Are Buying Or Selling A Home And Need Legal Representation Please Contact Shani Jarrett.

Arthur Blachno VP of Compass Mortgage. Reach out to Arthur for all of your mortgage needs at (847)912-6580 or email him at arthurblachno@compmort.com

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for joining me again this week. If you have any tips, suggestions, or comments about this episode, please be sure to leave them in the comment section below.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

Jonny Cash “The Man In Black” Applied To Real Estate

Jonny Cash, “The Man in Black,” Applied to Real Estate

Meet The Clients: Smart, disciplined, and highly capable. But even David and Lilin, knew that the possibility of selling their home for the amount needed to move to California, could be problematic. Raising their family, in the home of their dreams, in Arlington Heights had been nothing but great memories for the couple. With their two kids now living out west, raising families of their own, David and Lilin desperately needed to make the move. The problem? Without a high sale price, they could not move do to the high cost of housing in California. This was not an option. They knew it would be difficult, but they also knew they had to have an active role in their grandchildren’s lives.

That’s where the story begins…

The Situation: To take you all the way back, this story began in 1996. David was in the midst of starting his own business after leaving the corporate world. A place he had achieved much success but felt unfulfilled trying to climb the corporate latter. David felt he could be a problem solver. Starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur/problem solver is something David had always aspired to do. It just never seemed to be the right time to take the plunge. The problem was he had purchased his dream home in a new development in 1994. Taking the risk of going on his own with a mortgage and two kids was daunting. But like most people with conviction, a purpose in life, it’s hard to hold them back from their dreams. When the home was purchased in 1994 it was a custom built to their family’s specifications. With over 4,000 square feet of living space the home had tons of room to grow into. It was in a desirable neighborhood with great schools. But as many things do over time they age. They lose their luster. They become out of date. Being a savvy business owner in the realm of finance and building, David knew the home needed to be updated to get the dollars (profit) he needed to move to and expensive California market. With the desire to be with their grandchildren and the busy schedule of running a business, David didn’t have the time to do the work himself. Running his business is a full time commitment. This is what prompted David to reach out to me after reading my book. David and I started conversing, over a cup of coffee, about the context of the book. He felt a Value Driven Approach was what would be necessary to get him the results needed to move on. Being a disciplined investor, in his own company, David knew the concept of Value investing could go a long way if it were applied to selling his home.

The Options… David and Lilin had a decision to make that would affect their later years in life. Option #1) Time-strapped and stressed, they couldn’t roll the dice, something they did in 2015 putting their home on the market with no updating. And hope to net just enough to make the move out west limiting the search for the neighborhood they wanted to live in. This choice meant sacrificing the profit-potential that updating could bring. Option #2) Don’t sell. Keep the home. Sacrifice not getting to spend precious time with their grandchildren. This option, was not acceptable and was never considered. Option #3) David and Lilin could move forward with the Value-Driven Approach. Meaning they would have to trust Steve and his interior designer’s recommendations, as his team executed the vision laid out. In total, Steve and his contractors estimated the cost at $13,000-congruent, and in line with The Value Driven Approach philosophy-to be able to list the home at $725,000. Which, for that neighborhood, would be a very high sales price. The challenge, of course? Getting the updates and the work completed within 60-days, putting their plan of purchasing their California home in jeopardy.

The Decision (and Results): David and Lilin decided on Option #3. They enlisted Steven Weirich of @properties to execute the Value-Driven Approach. To David’s credit, he was an expert in his own field. So he knew first hand, how hiring an expert could yield a superior outcome. He and his wife, working together to start David’s business knew about the discipline it took to succeed, as many entrepreneurs do. Following the plan, came second nature to them. With the first month, the first stage of the project was completed. At the start of the second stage, the marketing campaign “Coming Soon” kicked in. Building demand prior to launch, is a critical promotion step that many overlook in the renovation process. From beginning to end, the renovation took two months. Leaving David and Lilin in awe of the transformation that took place in their home. “I can’t believe how good it looks.” I can’t believe we didn’t do this last year.” Naturally, David wanted to list for more. However, as Steve explained, that would be a fundamental mistake. Pricing the home aggressively will attract the most amount of buyers. Pricing the home at $725,000 keeps the search range where the highest number of buyers are for this particular neighborhood. When the home when on the market we had 8 showings and two offers within 15 days. A far cry from what had taken place the previous year when they had it listed with another agent. When the negotiations were complete we had an all cash offer of $709,000 with a 30-day close. This outcome surpassed David expectations. With his $13,000 investment, using The Value Driven Approach, he was hoping for $695,000. The book had struck a chord with him while reading it. It’s why he sought out Steven’s expertise in the first place.

The Secret To Making It Happen: To understand one of the principles behind the Value-Driven Approach, it helps to know the story behind Johnny Cash. As a columnist, Scott Broady, recently wrote, “Considered by many to be the most influential artist in the history of country music, Johnny Cash also happened to be a legendary category designer, who spent more than thirty years breaking all the rules of traditional country music, only to emerge as a mythic hero and archetype for the genre that many others have tried to emulate. The same way Elvis became the King of rock and roll by creating something that was not just better, but very different from what came before. Johnny Cash created his own sub-genre of music, by combining the emotional honesty of folk.” In essence, and this is what we do with the Value-Driven Approach, Johnny Cash created his own category. Which, when you do so, our clients can attest. It’s easy to out-compete the other artists (in Johnny Cash’s case). Or the other homes on the market, in our case, to maximize the profit of a home sale. In David and Lilin’s case, that profit amounted to more that $26,000 in just 60 days in preparation work.

Like combining Country music with Rock’n Roll. One design style that we combine with other popular categories—is the work of Chip and Joanna Gaines. The famous HGTV duo is best known for their reality TV show; where they find and transform properties into people’s dream home.

Often in their work, they use a very specific kind of backsplash tile. The tile is extremely cheap, just $.30 per tile. But the return on that small investment can be huge. In this case, by estimate, from analyzing previous sales data, that $750 investment returned near $5,000 in profit. It’s the little, but very important things like that, that is the secret behind our client’s results. And how our client’s properties, often sell quickly for top dollar in your neighborhood.

As we all tell our clients, you can choose to maximize your profit. Or you can choose to sacrifice it. Congrats to David and Lilin, for making the best decision for themselves and their grandchildren! And thank you to my team of experts who execute our Value-Driven Approach with precision. It’s all of your hard work on behalf of our incredible clients and family that make us thrive.

To Maximize Your Profit, Speak to C. Steven Weirich About The Value Driven Approach.

(847) 607-6711 or email Steven stevew@arlington-prospectadvicegivers.com

Houdini’s Secret Applied to Real Estate

Clients Pressure-Filled Escape, Results in $18,00 Extra…

Meet the Clients: Jon and Stacy were in a tough situation. Newly married, ready to start their lives together. There was just one problem, they owned two homes. Normally, you’d just sell one and move into the other. But that wasn’t going to be possible. Jon was referred to me by a friend and past client, Robert. I sold Roberts home this past year on Hickory in Arlington Heights using our approach. Robert knew Jon would need some help, and we’re thankful he referred us.

The Situation: Whenever there are a lot of moving parts, the situation instantly gets more complex. Especially when multiple mortgages are involved, where to purchase the new home, the profits from the previous must be used. Then came the challenge “of timing.” Stacy owned a home in Frederick, Maryland, which was acting like a shackle. Prior to Robert referring Jon and Stacy to us, Stacy had listed her home with a traditional agent. It wasn’t long before it came apparent, that the “shackle” holding them back wasn’t Stacy’s condo, but rather the agent she had hired.

The home had been on the market for 120 days. Experiencing, what we call “decay” of buyer interested and profit. Like gum disease and tooth rot, decay is not a good thing. If a happy ending for Jon & Stacy’s story was to be possible, this shackle, the issue of timing, and having multiple mortgages, would have to be solved.

Compounding the problem further was the fact that Jon also had legal obligations to a property, which also, needed to be sold prior to truly starting their lives together. Oh, and Stacy’s house was out-of-state, as if the riddle wasn’t complicated enough.

The Options: Stacy had a decision to make. Option #1) She could renew her contract with her current (out-of-state) Maryland agent, who spoke nothing of nothing but price-reduction, price-reduction, price-reduction. And who had, already, allowed the home to decay on the market for 120 days. Option #2) She could switch to our out-of-state (Maryland) contact, Eric V., who also deploys the Value-Driven Approach as we do. Option #3) She could choose not to sell and keep it, but doing so would prevent Jon and Stacy from purchasing a new home together as planned.

Jon also had a decision to make, regarding his Arlington Heights property. Option #1) The path of least work, he could do nothing to the home, sell it “as-is”, and list it for $275,00. Option #2) He could delay listing it for 2 weeks, which would add a level of complexity to the transaction, due to the 21-day sale contingency deadline with Jon & Stacy’s new purchase contract. But, if he did this and invested $5,000 into the property, the determined minimum to execute the Value-Driven Approach, he could list the property for $300,000. Option #3) Same as Stacy, he could choose not to sell and just keep it, but doing so would prevent the couple from purchasing the new home they had found together.

The Decision (and Results): Jon and Stacy both decided on Option #2. Stacy’s home, after 120 days of decay, from sitting on the market with her previous agent. Our Maryland contact, Eric, on her behalf, with her permission, executed our Value-Driven Approach. Within two weeks, the home was under contract, experiencing no further decay. For an overall win, that was badly needed before moving on to the next step.

Next, it was Jon’s turn.

Since Jon and Stacy had found the perfect new home prior to selling Jon’s property, they had to write a contingent offer. This meant the entire process could take no longer than 21-days, or they’d violate their purchase contract and therefore, it’d be terminated. And, after the 2-week delay for the minimal but important Value-Driven Approach renovation, that left just 7 days to perform. The Result? Jon’s house was listed for $300,000. Within 72 hours, there were seven showings, leading to three competing offers, with the winning contract at: $303,000, with no concessions. This was the 2^nd huge win that needed to happen, in order to finalize the Jon and Stacy success story. To top it off, a huge ROI. (The $5,000 that Jon invested in his property to fascinate The Value-Driven Approach netted him an extra $23,000 vs. Option #1, allowing the two newlyweds to successfully close on their perfect new home and start their lives together.

The Secret To Making It Happen: Harry Houdini, I’m sure you’ve heard of him. The famous performer best known for his incredible feats of escapism. In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from special handcuffs commissioned by London’s Daily Mirror, keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and only just able to claw himself to the surface, emerging in a state of near-breakdown. As Houdini knew, there was no room for error, he trained and was experienced. He knew the exact sequence-of-shackles, which needed to be undone first, second, third. Any miscalculation or departure from his collection of earned wisdom, spelled disaster. Many men died trying to replicate the feat of Houdini.

What was Houdini’s secret? Sequence…

Harry knew he could only hold his breath for X-amount of time. There could be no extensions. A man doesn’t get to take another breath when, for example, he is escaping from underneath water, dropped head-down into his famous “Water Torture Cell.” Multiple handcuffs, and they had to be undone in sequence. With exact precision. Lesser escape artists could never match Houdini, because they often violated one of these premises. We have seen the same in regards to other agents, when they have tried to match the effectiveness of The Value-Driven Approach.

Like Houdini, because of the obvious and known consequences to our clients if we fail to perform to standard, we’ve plotted to eliminate fundamental mistakes in our act.

This is why our Value-Driven Approach clients like Jon and Stacy, and our friends, like Robert, who referred Jon and Stacy to us, continue to recommend our services to others.

As we tell all of our clients, you can choose to maximize your profit. Or you can choose to sacrifice it. Congrats to Jon and Stacy, for making the best decision for their family. And thank you to our Certified Value-Driven Approach Team of Experts, who work tirelessly on behalf of our incredible clients and their family.

To Maximize Your Profit, Contact Me Or Go To www.literature4charity.com To Learn More About Our Approach.

A First Place Trophy Is Earned… Not Given (Weekly Notions…)

(Weekly Notions…)
By: C. Steven Weirich

On your mark… Get set… Boom!! The gun goes off. Eight riders all bunched together jockeying for position out of the starting gate. They are peddling with everything they have in their body to win the first place trophy. Looking like “Robo Cops”, riding in their protective gear, they head for the first berm. Parents are screaming and ringing cowbells to motivate the kids to peddle faster. “Go Ryan go”, a parent screams. Out of the first turn my brother, Greg, is in second place positioned perfectly for the finish. Coming out of the second turn they go over some woopty doos that then go into a succession of three large jumps. Heading out of the final turn my brother digs in deep and peddles his way to a full bicycle tire victory.

My older brother, Greg, is someone who has always worked hard for everything he has. By the age of 13, Greg saved up his money to buy a BMX bike that he had desperately wanted to buy. This wasn’t your average bike either. It was a P.K. Ripper, one of the best BMX bikes on the market. This bike was hand welded and constructed out of titanium, a lighter frame, for racing purposes. Every detail was considered when he purchased the Ripper because he wanted superior results on the BMX track.

Going to work with our Dad, on Saturdays and during the summer months was more than common for us growing up. It was how Greg was able to save the $800 he needed to purchase the Ripper. Now mind you, he purchased this bike in 1980. $800 was a ton of money for a 13-year-old at that time. It still is a lot of money today.

When it came time to purchase the bike my parents asked him, more than once, if he really wanted to spend this much on a bike. Greg had no hesitation when it came time to plunking down the money. The P.K. Ripper was a must have.

I was only four-years-old at the time, but by the time I was six I started to take notice of all the work Greg put into maintaining this bike. He took apart the P.K. Ripper and stripped it down about once a week to the frame. There were WD-40 cans, tools, and grease all laid out on the garage floor so he could do the servicing the bike needed to perform at optimal levels. He was meticulous when it came to taking care of his baby. All this work was done to have the bike ready for the BMX races each weekend. Without his work and dedication, he wouldn’t have won all the first place trophy’s he did.

This brings me to something I have been thinking about.

Have you ever noticed the difference in appreciation you have for something that has been given to you as opposed to something you have worked for?

The difference can be drastic.

By the time my brother turned 17, he really had no use for the P.K. Ripper. Driving to school and hanging out with friends replaced the hours of time he dedicated to maintaining the bike. And our brother Jay, he was 15 at the time so he was following around his older brother trying to be cool.

Being that I was 8 at the time, without a bike of my own, he decided to let me use it for cruising around. I road this bike anywhere and everywhere. I didn’t race it like him so I used the Ripper more as a getting around to my friends’ houses bike.

After three years of me using the Ripper you could start to see the wear and tear on this once pristine bike. I never took the bike apart to service it. I don’t think I even oiled the chain. The three piece shamono cranks, that were the best you could buy, started to strip making an awful sound when I peddled from a starting position. The grips were ripped and tethered. All and all, the bike was a distant memory of its former greatness by the time I was done with it.

See… I didn’t put in the hours of work to purchase this bike. I was given the bike with no effort put forth on my part. You can say it was a character flaw on my part, not to care for the bike, but I was only 8. Which in hindsight isn’t an excuse but I will use it in this case to make myself look better. LOL!

By the time I was done with the bike, at the age of 15, it was in a sad state compared to what it once was. I had neglected to give the bike the love that my brother once gave it.

However, I learned a valuable lesson from my brother when I was done with the bike. My brother sat me down and said, “remember that hard work is what gives you appreciation. You have worked hard to achieve many things that you appreciate. From here on out be sure to appreciate everything anyone gives you. Because appreciating what someone gives you will make you better.” This statement pretty much stopped me in my tracks. He was right.

If you study any of the great entrepreneurs in the world today, you will notice a recurring theme. Their work ethic and appreciation for the work they put into their life’s passion is mesmerizing. They truly put their blood, sweat, and tears into their companies. But they also appreciate help from outside investors. Just watch an episode of Shark Tank, all these innovators rely on the capital the Shark’s invest in them.

I know this better than most because I interview entrepreneurs on my Podcast every week. And it is true, they work endless hours to make their dream of running successful businesses come true.

I recently interviewed Robb Zbierski, the founder of Beers For Gears on The Arlington-Prospect Advice Givers ® Podcast. If only I had Robb in my neighborhood growing up to service, the P.K. Ripper. I may not have been able to trade him beer for servicing the Ripper, being that I was only 10 and so was he, but maybe some baseball cards would have been good enough to keep the bike in tip top shape.

If you have a bike that needs a tune up, servicing, or pretty much anything maintenance related call Robb or go to his website. Then offer him some good beer and a little bit of cash, and your bike will be running like my brother had the P.K. Ripper running.

Robb’s passion is working on bikes. So he figured out a way to do, what he calls his “Side Hustle” by opening Beers For Gears. Tune into episode 77 of the Podcast. Robb is not only a cool guy, he is someone you will find really interesting.

If winning the first place BMX trophy or providing the best service for a client is something you strive for you must be willing to put in the work. When we watch a game, a race, or doctor on TV performing at the highest level, we don’t get to see the hours of work and preparation they put in to mastering their craft. The commitment to achieve the results they do is a testament to their character.

Greg spent hours and hours, each week, preparing his bike for the next race each week. Would he have had the results he did without the preparation, probably not.

In my real estate business this holds true when selling your home. You achieve superior results by putting in the necessary work and preparation to a house to achieve the highest profit possible. Not just relying on what a neighbor sold their home for, that is a less sophisticated price driven approach. My Value Driven Approach is a way for the home seller to manipulate the value of their investment. This is why my real estate clients go through an extensive diagnosis when selling their homes. From interior design consultations, contractor consultations, pre-home inspections, and professional photography. It’s why we (as a team) maximize the profits for our clients.

So remember, to win the first place trophy, you must put in the work to achieve the desired result. Also, if something is given to you, make it better with your own personal touch. Appreciate it. And most importantly be thankful for it.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I am thankful for having the best big brother in the world. He has taught me many lessons over the years. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have the work ethic and success I have today.

But most importantly the lost of our brother, Jay, in a tragic car accident 19 years ago, has taught us to be thankful for the most precious gift… Life.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Here’s to a good week!
C Steven Weirich

Steven Weirich is the Founder & Host of Arlington-Prospect Advice Givers™ www.arlington-prospectadvicegivers.com

Co-Creator of ‘The Value Driven Approach to Sell Real Estate’
We have seen the traditional real estate approach disappoint
many of our clients. This is why we’ve taken to studying
the World’s greatest investor, Warren Buffett, and his investment philosophy,
to develop a unique approach to selling our clients homes.
We’ve discovered, by treating your home as an investment,
like a business with a “stock”-price – through a
Value-driven Approach – there is a unique way to extract up to
$30,000 or more of additional profit from any home
on the market.

For a copy of the book go to www.literature4charity.com
@properties

Call or Text 847-607-6711
cstevenweirich.com