Daily Intent

6000 minutes on the phone.  1000 text messages sent and received.  500 emails read and/or responded to.  15 Twitter updates.  5 LinkedIn changes.  3 evening talks.  10 coffees.  15 lunches.  And 20 client meetings.

All within 1 month of work.

For a stay at home mother or father it may look more like: 25 meals prepared.  5 trips to the grocery store.  10 loads of laundry.  15 nights of homework help.  20  sports/music/dance practices.  5 vacuum sessions.  15 dishwasher cycles.  3 sheets of baked cookies.  2000 minutes on the phone.  1 trip to the Vet.   And 4 blog updates.

Our lives are American.  Society asks us to be excellent and available.  In turn we ask ourselves to be of the highest utility and efficiency.

A good friend reminded me last week, as I continue to seek out opportunities for greater achievement, “Jeff, you need to see yourself as your greatest client.  You need to calendar in time for you.”

During a time when home lending has never been busier for me, it has been hard to stomach.  We don’t know how long interest rates will remain low.  Clients need to refinance now.  Multiple offers demand timely responses to clients.  Tomorrow’s opportunities may be gone.   The industry may dry up.  Working long days and weekends is necessary.

Having said that, I’m not going to be the man my clients need and want if I’m not taking care of my number one client, me.  I need to be healthy and well.  My mind needs rest along with exercise.  My body, the same.

I, thus, move forward scheduling in appropriate times for my greatest client, me, in order to be of the highest use to my current and future clients.

Buzzword: Baby Bills
“A nickname given to the hypothetical companies that would have formed if the Justice Department had broken up Microsoft Corporation. Using the first name of Microsoft’s founder, Bill Gates, the term is a takeoff on the ‘Baby Bells’ created by the breakup of AT&T.” -Investopedia.com

  Six Points to Ponder:

   1. Home resales nationwide in April were up 2.9% from March, while prices declined 15% year-over-year.  Mortgage applications were down 14% last week.
   2. Markets levels are flat over the past week. The Dow rests at 8454, S&P 500 at 909 and the Nasdaq at 1758.  Oil is up to $62 / bbl.
   3. GM is expected to declare bankruptcy Monday as bondholders vote against a stock repurchasing plan.
   4. 305 “Problem” banks in US.  The highest since the early 90s.  21 bank collapses in 2009.  And 36 lenders have been taken over by the FDIC.
   5. Facebook is owned by the Russians! Or at least partly, as 2% stake taken.
   6. NBA Playoffs: Where Amazing Happens.  Multiple overtimes, heroic efforts and buzzer beaters, have David Stern and the fans loving life.  Nuggets - Lakers: 2 to 2.  Magic - Cavs: 3 to 1.

Positives:

    * The Affordability Index for homeowners continues to rise as home prices fall alongside interest rates.  In Santa Barbara County in 2005 the Affordability Index was at 5% now it is at 65%.  Condos can be found in the $200Ks.  Houses in the $400Ks.
    * Consistency in the Markets allows for confidence to rise.
    * Superman is using Magic to overcome King James.
    * The Lakers are going to dominate the Nuggets tonight.

Negatives:

    * GM going bankrupt.  Many will lose their jobs.  Creditors won’t be fully repaid.  Taxpayers will be on the hook for many more billions.
    * Banks continue to suffer.  Commercial lending losses are expected to be the next weight upon their shoulders.  Many securities tied to commercial paper are expected to be downgraded as buildings occupancies rise and rents lower.
    * A social networking company, Facebook, that has yet to figure out fully how to make revenues is worth $10 Billion.

Services: Game Plan
It may be time to get a game plan together.  Do you want to buy a home some day?  Have you sat down and planned out how you are going to get there?  Just like planning to run a marathon, bike a century ride, or take on a lengthy hike, it’s necessary to lay out a daily path to ensure efficient progress.  I help people daily with game plans.  Please feel free to give me a call and line up a time to meet in person.

Local:

Dealing with Emotionally Charged Situations / People.  Sean Mason.
Where: My Office, 21 E Victoria St, 3rd Floor
When: Monday, June 1st.  6pm
Cost: Free
Why:  To understand oneself more clearly in such situations.  Sean Mason is effective in his presentation and interaction with the audience.

Live and Be Well,

Jeff Bochsler