Out and About Yukon and OKC

Again, like every year, the Holidays are sneaking up on me. I am not ready for a house full of guests. My turkey is still flying somewhere, cranberries are still growing, house needs some sprucing up, shopping is not done and I need a serious chunk of time for cooking!

My Mother asks me how come I get caught by a surprise. She says that Thanksgiving and Christmas come every year on the same day and year after year they don't change! She is so right!

I thought I need more time, if only I had more time... Excuses, apologies, explanations etc and you know I can hear my Mother again! She says that all of us have the same amount of time. That time doesn't change and you cannot make more of it. The only difference is how you plan to use it!

Wow, she is so right again!

I am tired of these surprises. Usually I am a very patient person but I have had it! I need a change and this time I am going to listen to my Mother! So today is the day that I declared war! There won't be any more surprises sneaking up on me. War on time and I am gonna win it!

 Here is my WAR STRATEGY:

• Plan
• Organize
• Prioritize                           

Plan - what do I need to do? What do I want to accomplish? My vision-get the firm grasp of the big picture. Decide what is important. How am I going to do it? Write time frame or deadline. Do it for every day in my weekly day planner. I love technology but pencil and two calendar pages still work best for me (and pencil is so forgiving). Add activities and note birthdays, holidays and romantic dates with my honey. Plan for my "sanity time" - things I want to do, books I want to read and get rid of cobwebs onmy mind by exercising  daily (walking and bike riding).  

Organize - schedule best possible ways to accomplish what I planned, get rid of destructions which take time and accomplish nothing, relentlessly stick to the plan by blocking time for each task, respect my time by letting others know that I am busy and need their support and understanding - learn to say NO, get rid of the clutter, delegate some responsibilities to others.

Prioritize - first things first. Focus on things benefiting me and my pocket in other words lead generate and walk my talk. What is important is getting done first (according to my plan).  Emails can wait.  Close the door and window blinds and JUST DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Having a clear picture in mind will give me a map to where and how to get there. What a satisfaction to give myself the power to take control of my time. What about you? What would you add to your war strategy?

 

I am going to win this war!

 

"IT IS NOT THE WAY THE WIND BLOWS, IT IS HOW YOU SET YOUR SAILS"  Unknown

With my war declaration (I declared a war today!) which by the way is going just fine, meaning that I am still winning the battles...LOL I was thinking about the New Year's resolutions and read few posts about them here on Active Rain. There are a lot of questions about what to do, what to cut and how to "get leaner" with budgets etc...To expand or not to expand? Uncertainty...

The saying that only the strong survive is probably very accurat for the time. All of us need to adjust and adapt to the current economic mess. Regroup and focus on the future. This is a perfect time to get seriously into "the game" - investing in additional education, planning your tasks and putting all of it into action. And that is exactly what I inted to do. As a matter of fact my war started everything! :)

Gary Keller gave me an amazing tool to deal with the hard times - the book SHIFT. It is an absolute gold mine and a must read. A blue print on how to survive and thrive.

He says:

Success never comes to a chosen few, but the few who choose. These can be the worst of times; these can be the best of times. You get to choose! Isn't it wickedly simple?

Another thing most of us complained about is lack of time. Well, I was in the same camp for a while.

But lately I "discovered" (after my Mother told me this a thousand times) that all of us get the same amount of time every day. It cannot be bought or stretched ...but it definitely can be controlled.  

Michael Masterson says: If I want to be a captain of my soul and the master of my future, I have to be in charge of my time. And the best way to be in charge of my time is to structure my day around a task list that I, and only I , create.

So shift happens! Invest in yourself and buy the book.  Think of unnecessary expenses this way - "When you are in the hole stop digging" - and set your sails.  Move at the speed of your need!

What is your take on it?

Bo

We were leaving our vacation resort in Bandera, TX last fall and while driving I heard this lound squawking noise ... It was a hawk which was either glad or sad about our departure ...

I chose to believe that he was waiving his wings to say good-bye ...  It was one of those striking scenes which lasts for a short moment and I was glad that I got to my camera in time ...

 

Speak your email -- Dragon Dictation --cool and useful iPhone app

If you’ve ever spent too much time composing an email on your iPhone’s tiny keyboard you are going to LOVE this!

Dragon Dictation is an amazing, free, dictation app for your iPhone.

I have tried it myself and I like it very much...it is very accurate. It's user friendly and simple. iPhone's little keyboard is really small and many times I have to back up and correct the mistakes.

Speaking my email - made my life easier and I can use it while 'on the run'. Being mobile is awesome...I LOVE MY iPhone!

Dragon Dictation lets you record speech, edit , and send via SMS, email, or clipboard.

When dictating you need to remember to say 'comma', 'period', 'question mark' or 'cap' (when needing to capitalize the word) in order for the app to recognize punctuation. The app gets used to your voice after a few times if you know what I mean...

Here is a short vide posted by Michael Thompson, Senior Vice President & General Manager with Nuance Mobile

 

RainCamp - real estate marketing super event in Dallas, TX need to be logged in as a total success. Great facility, excellent organization, topnotch information and delivery by outstanding speakers.

RAINCAMP ROCKS!

I loved every minute of it...especially meeting my RainFriends. It was fun matching real faces to online  names, making new friends and conversing 'belly to belly' for a change.

I definitely experienced 'input overload'!

All of us learned a lot.

Even Brad Andersohn learned how to say in pure Texan 'ya'll'... LOL...

We know now why Debe Maxwell is so successful - she doesn't sleep for one and secondly she carries a taser (even through the customs) so don't tango with this lady.

Ben Kinney is a techie who can entertain the audience and deliver a punch line with Buster Keaton's stone face.

Bob Stewart knows everything! J

ason Crouch is taller than Dallas overpasses or Eiffel Tower for that matter.

ETC, ETC...

RainCamp - thank you for a job well done! Fantastic event!

Brad Andersohn and I ... Brad gives great hugs...LOL...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Crouch, Lori Cain from Tulsa on left

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auditorium and Cindie Stewart in right corner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brad Andersohn was 'memorizing' every moment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debe Maxwell and I at lunch time on 42nd floor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Daugherty, I, Karen Otto and Loreena Yeo at lunch...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loreena Yeo and her 'other half'...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen Otto, Jason Crouch and I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Kinney on the big screen...

Well my friends if you have a chance...you know what to do.

The Passing of a Legend...Jim Rohn-century's inspiration, motivation and leadership...Rest in Peace

I just learned about this sad, sad event. Jim Rohn, no doubt the greatest philosopher, teacher and mentor to millions left us today to be with our Lord

Here is the link to the tribute:

THE PASSING OF A LEGEND

 

With heavy heart,

Bo in Yukon

 

Formal education will make you a living;

self-education will make you a fortune.

- Jim Rohn -

Yukon's Community Education Goes Green!

Traditionally Yukon's community used to receive a catalog through the mail. Not anymore. Starting this October the Fall Course Catalog in now available online at:

www.YukonCommunityEd.com

Hope you will enjoy this change and an easy access to what is offered.

With smiles,

Bo in Yukon

 

PS. If you want to receive a printed copy you may request one by calling: 405-354-2579

President Obama signed the Extended Homebuyer Tax Credit into law today. It is official!

In my previous blog First-time Homebuyers Credit and a provision to Extend for Move -up Buyers I mentioned that I will gather more details for you...

More people are now eligible to take advantage of the law, which includes a $6,500 tax credit for buyers who are current home owners and have lived in their home for five of the past eight years.

 

For more information and complete list of definitions for eligibility please email your request to: Bo@Okla-OK.com or you may call me direct: 405-812-1572 to discuss your eligibility.

With smiles,

Bo in Yukon

Welcome 'Eat mor chikin' aka Chick-fil-A to our community! 

One more new neighbor on Garth Brooks Blvd. The restaurant offers delicious chicken sandwiches.

The Grand Opening was yesterday Thursday Nov. 5th...

Here is a few picks of people really excited about their coming.

That's how it started...I took the picture on Thursday in the morning.

It was full of campers after few hours. Driving back from dinner I couldn't resist to stop by and take few snaps with my camera. I asked why are they camping? What are they waiting for? Well, the answer was that the restaurant was giving away free sandwiches to first, I belive, 100 customers for a year. I said, well I think you must be very hungry...LOL...

There was music, laughter, games and lots of fun going on for hours to come...

I do not own any of the camping gear, so I wasn't there till the next morning to find out who were the lucky winners...LOL...

WELCOME CHICK-FIL-A TO YUKON COMMUNITY!

With smiles,

Bo in Yukon

 

 

 

 

Today the legislation passes 85-2 to extend the first-time home buyers tax credit and a provision to extend the credit to move-up buyers! 

Such high voting makes it virtually certain that the legislation will reach President Obama for his signature this week.

The bill calls for credit to be extended by 7 months and to expire on April 30, 2010. So the first-time home buyers do not have to worry about closing on the house after the November 30th date which was the original deadline. 

The $8,000 maximum first-timer credit will continue and will be now available to couples with income up to $225,000, a nearly $55,000 increase above the level in existing law.  A new $6,500 maximum credit would also be available to move-up homeowners who have lived in their current residence for five of the prior eight years.

More details to follow ...

With smiles,

Bo in Yukon