It only takes a look at what is happening in Europe these days to understand why it’s crucial that the United States finds a solution to the debt ceiling issue. Not only have eight European banks recently failed a stress test, but last week there was news that Greek, Italian, Portuguese, and French "credit default swaps" (which are insurance policies against default) were trading at record levels. While the European Union is continuing to work to contain Europe’s debt problems and prevent a default in Greece (and elsewhere), these events bode a very important lesson for the US.
Why? Because solving our debt ceiling debate and finding a long-term plan for lowering our deficit and being fiscally sound will raise confidence in our debt and help the US keep its AAA credit rating from the various credit rating firms like Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. This will help investors continue to see the US as the ultra safe haven for their money, which is a key aspect of our continued economic recovery.
Speaking of our economic recovery, there was some good news last week for the housing sector, as June Housing Starts and Building Permits were both reported better than expected.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Thought For The Day !!
Think Before You Speak.
Always contemplate your words. We sometimes tend to speak out of turn – which is entirely not a good thing to do.
“Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.”
Napoleon Hill
Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.”
-William Arthur Ward
Always contemplate your words. We sometimes tend to speak out of turn – which is entirely not a good thing to do.
“Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.”
Napoleon Hill
Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.”
-William Arthur Ward
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thought For The Day !!
An excerpt from
The 100/0 Principle
by Al Ritter
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
• STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
• STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
• STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
• STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families
The 100/0 Principle
by Al Ritter
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
• STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
• STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
• STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
• STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Press Release for Ross Bridge
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2011
Birmingham, Alabama
New Home Community
ROSS BRIDGE RANKS AMONG TOP 20 COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY FOR NEW HOME SALES IN 2010.
2010 has been an extraordinary year for Ross Bridge. The new home community located in Hoover, Alabama ranks among the top 20 master-planned communities nationally for total home sales. Quite an achievement considering the Birmingham market size (49th nationally) relative to the other communities listed in the top 20 who are predominantly located within the largest metropolitan areas throughout the country including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Phoenix, Denver and Orlando.
John Burns Real Estate Consulting developed the national sales report. They are an independent research provider and consulting firm focused on the housing industry compiling and analyzing an unprecedented volume of information.
In addition to this sales achievement, Ross Bridge was also named winner of the 2010 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) receiving the platinum award in the category of best community.
In addition to this prestigious new home community award, Ross Bridge’s Dorothy Tayloe won the Silver Award for Best Sales Manager and the Community won the Gold Award for Best Signage.
Since 2005 Ross Bridge has been Birmingham Alabama’s hottest selling new home community with over 900 families. This past year is an accumulation of outstanding accomplishments and yet, the best has yet to come.
The latest community amenity – Shades Creek Park & Pool opened this past May.
The community features several neighborhoods with a variety of home styles for everyone from first-time homebuyers and basement-style homes to stunning custom homes. The very near future will bring new neighborhoods, new builders with new home styles and price points to meet the market’s demand for what is truly one of the nation’s hottest selling new home communities.
Ross Bridge is jointly developed by USS Real Estate and Daniel Corporation. Reflecting the latest design trends in Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND), Ross Bridge aptly demonstrates that coastal areas and the big cities of the Northeast are no longer the only domain for TND and mixed-use communities. It has taken the decades-old “planned unit development resort community” concept and infused it with the latest in traditional neighborhood development design, creating a walkable community with a unique sense of place and a vibrant community spirit.
The Award Winning Welcome Center and Models are open
Daily 9am-5pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm
For more information, please contact Dorothy Tayloe at the Ross Bridge Sales Center at (205) 443-4663 or visit www.rossbridge.com. 2101 Grand Avenue, Hoover, Alabama 35336
The complete article from John Burns Real Estate Consulting is available online at:
http://www.realestateconsulting.com/blog/tim-sullivan/2010-best-selling-masterplans
July 12, 2011
Birmingham, Alabama
New Home Community
ROSS BRIDGE RANKS AMONG TOP 20 COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY FOR NEW HOME SALES IN 2010.
2010 has been an extraordinary year for Ross Bridge. The new home community located in Hoover, Alabama ranks among the top 20 master-planned communities nationally for total home sales. Quite an achievement considering the Birmingham market size (49th nationally) relative to the other communities listed in the top 20 who are predominantly located within the largest metropolitan areas throughout the country including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Phoenix, Denver and Orlando.
John Burns Real Estate Consulting developed the national sales report. They are an independent research provider and consulting firm focused on the housing industry compiling and analyzing an unprecedented volume of information.
In addition to this sales achievement, Ross Bridge was also named winner of the 2010 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) receiving the platinum award in the category of best community.
In addition to this prestigious new home community award, Ross Bridge’s Dorothy Tayloe won the Silver Award for Best Sales Manager and the Community won the Gold Award for Best Signage.
Since 2005 Ross Bridge has been Birmingham Alabama’s hottest selling new home community with over 900 families. This past year is an accumulation of outstanding accomplishments and yet, the best has yet to come.
The latest community amenity – Shades Creek Park & Pool opened this past May.
The community features several neighborhoods with a variety of home styles for everyone from first-time homebuyers and basement-style homes to stunning custom homes. The very near future will bring new neighborhoods, new builders with new home styles and price points to meet the market’s demand for what is truly one of the nation’s hottest selling new home communities.
Ross Bridge is jointly developed by USS Real Estate and Daniel Corporation. Reflecting the latest design trends in Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND), Ross Bridge aptly demonstrates that coastal areas and the big cities of the Northeast are no longer the only domain for TND and mixed-use communities. It has taken the decades-old “planned unit development resort community” concept and infused it with the latest in traditional neighborhood development design, creating a walkable community with a unique sense of place and a vibrant community spirit.
The Award Winning Welcome Center and Models are open
Daily 9am-5pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm
For more information, please contact Dorothy Tayloe at the Ross Bridge Sales Center at (205) 443-4663 or visit www.rossbridge.com. 2101 Grand Avenue, Hoover, Alabama 35336
The complete article from John Burns Real Estate Consulting is available online at:
http://www.realestateconsulting.com/blog/tim-sullivan/2010-best-selling-masterplans
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Don't be afraid to aim high when choosing your life's goal, for no matter how high you aim, your achievements may fall below it.
Many businesses today advocate “continuous improvement” as part of their quality programs. They have realized that to remain competitive in today’s global economy they must constantly strive to improve every aspect of the business, otherwise they will be overtaken by the competition. The same ethic applies to individuals. All of life is a continuous learning experience. Every success and every temporary setback only serve to prepare you for the time when you will eventually prevail. Your short- and medium-term goals should be realistic and achievable, but your long-term goals should always far exceed your present capabilities. As the Roman poet Virgil said, “Fortune sides with him who dares.”
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
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