I love Toronto. Ok- before you all go ballistic on me pointing out all of the problems this city has - I know. I know we have an absolute goof as a mayor - but it's not forever. I know we have many problems in our city, but when don't we?
My point is this. Toronto has exploded in the past 5 years or so. Immigration is strong, new construction, world class events and we have a definite buzz which is energizing.
I love the confidence this city has for the future. Toronto is world class, drawing attention from all around the world as the place to be.
I am so excited to be living in Toronto - and who wouldn't? My imagination for this city 30 years from now takes me to a city which is still the envy of the world. We have the brilliance of our residents, the strength of our economy and the abundance of our resources.
Sat in on our E-Myth class today facilitated by Cory Silver of our Yonge Street office. For my money, E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber is the best real estate business book ever written. Cory does a sensational job leading the group, encouraging discussion along the way.
Today we talked about entrepreneur behaviour, how to change or alter our way of being from a manager and technician style to a creator style. It's not as easy as one might think. Most of us are natural technicians, doers. We are good at getting "things" done once "things" are laid in front of us.
When asked, most realtors will say the best thing they enjoy about the real estate business is the process of negotiation. Face to face with clients, getting the deal done to the satisfaction of all. It is a real fulfilling experience. But that isn't really what is most important for realtors.
What realtors tend to shy away from most of all is the activity which is most important to our business. Building it. Creating it and implementing ideas. Most of us struggle with the daily processes needed to get us to the most fulfilling part of the work - negotiation.
Building your business each and every day is what matters. E-Myth Revisited presents a great blueprint for every realtor on how to run their business as a business.
Watching an athlete digging down deep when it is most needed is something we all like to see. A pro golfer bearing down, or a hockey player stepping it up when everything is on the line is amazing. There is nothing better.
What about in our business of real estate? How often do we as realtors step it up? For some of us, it might be not enough. Imagine what our business would be like if we were determined to be better at every aspect of our business in a consistent manner. It doesn't take a big stretch to produce exceptional and better results.
Imagine being more engaged with our clients - past and present. Imagine listening more intently and purposefully. Thinking more creatively, following up just a bit better and reacting just a bit less.
The little changes matter and often deliver major returns. Try tweaking your thoughts and your actions just a bit and watch how things turn out differently.
I have never been one to be a "big" investor in stocks and bonds. Don't really know much about this sort of investing, although I do realize the importance it plays in the scheme of things. I suppose I look at the stock market as an quick reference indicator to how things are doing out there in our country and abroad. For me the stock market is so fickle, reacting to so many triggers - it's hard for me to get a handle on it. That's why I primarily stick to real estate investing - preferring long term holds (real estate) over short term. Real estate is something I know and something everyone needs.
Today's stock market is a bit concerning. It seems collectively the markets have decided that the US is headed for a double dip recession. This way of thinking is fueled by terrible job creation rates, the sorry state of the US economy and the continual lack of a plan to get things in financial shape. Europe is in a mess for the most part with talk now of Italy, Spain and Portugal soon needing a Greece like bailout. It doesn't seem good for the short term, BUT what can we - the average consumer and investor do about it all?
We need to think long term rather than reacting to daily news bursts about economies. What little confidence we have in various economies would be shattered if we followed our various news sources with their spin on the negative. Sure we must be aware of how things are, but in the long run - there is nothing much we can do about it.
Keep going about our business. The real estate market will have its ups and down and quite possibly we are heading into a "down period." The down period will consist of fewer sales and a softening on price acceleration. But the need to "own" real estate is strong locally.
In the fall, our real estate markets will continue to be fueled by low mortgage rates, immigration, the local economy, and supply. When the housing supply picks up, turnover will slow down and price acceleration will ease.
So buy those investment properties, people need a place to rent. Buy a principal residence, in the long term your asset will grow, and if you have the need, buy a recreational property - your choices are great.
One other thing - quit watching and listening to negative news spins - it's all done with a purpose.
When I look back at the last three months or so it all seems so confusing and amazing to me. I don't really know what compelled me to want to take a hard look at my health. I wasn't necessarily feeling unusual, or stressed out about any health issues. For many years I had done what I think most of us do, I got a yearly check up with my GP. The usual stuff, some blood work, check for prostate problems, etc. Every year I just continued on with a clean bill of health - pretty routine.
One day I was with a friend of mine who told me his story. He is younger than me and decided to have someone take a serious look at his health. He did and found out he had the beginning of prostate cancer, and because of his proactive stance, he was able to solve his health problem before it got out of hand He told me his medical team saved his life. That was enough for me.
I got in touch with Doctor Elaine Chin of Scienta Medical here in Toronto. Dr. Chin of Scienta specializes in proactive health care - not waiting for something to happen to take action. From the very beginning I was treated professionally and thoroughly. The Scienta staff must of taken a pint of blood out of my system to be analysed in four different labs. I had a stress test (emotionally and physically) nutritional assessment, colonoscopy. I spent a night in the sleep disorder clinic. Than I had an ultra sound on my abdomen.
After the ultra sound, Dr. Chin called me up to tell me they found a tumour on my kidney. She told me not to worry, but for the life of me I found it difficult to comprehend myself having a tumour on any part of my body. Didn't tumours mean cancer, and didn't cancer mean big big problems? Didn't my blood work indicate I was fine? Yes - she said - but very often this type of tumour doesn't show up with blood work. Ok - now what? I was told the chances of having cancer were 50-50 and that they wanted and needed to do a CT right away. Within days I had an appointment at Sunnybrook for the CT, which confirmed the tumour. A couple of weeks later I met with Dr. Nam, urology surgeon and genius at the Odette Cancer Clinic at Sunnybrook. Dr. Nam sat me down, told me I had basically two choices. He could do a biopsy on the tumour which he didn't recommend since the readings are often false and tend to stir up the tumour if it is cancerous or I could get it taken care of through surgery. I chose the surgery.
Within 45 days I was laying on a stretcher outside of operating room 6 at Sunnybrook. It all seemed surreal to me. I was calm, and prepared and certainly in good hands. I remember being wheeled into the operating room and thinking how complex it was. So many lights, people and instruments.
I was told they were going to put me to sleep now, I happened to glance around the room one more time, taking it all in. I noticed the clock on the wall - exactly 9:13.
When Dr. Nam came to visit me in recovery I asked him how the surgery went. Spectacular he said. Spectacular - what an odd word I thought. But it made sense to me coming from Dr. Nam. I asked him if the tumour was cancer - he said it didn't matter. He went in assuming it was and got everything. I was extremely sore, drugged up but relieved.
Three weeks later, on my follow-up visit with Dr. Nam he told me that the tumour was in fact cancerous. Being proactive saved my life or at least saved me from serious health problems in the years to come. The type of tumour I had doesn't really show up as a problem until it is too late. I was very lucky says Dr. Nam.
So - why do I share all of this? I think it is important to tell my story - one person may take action which could help their life - just as I did because of the words of my friend.
I am back now full time at work just four short weeks from major surgery. Last night I actually slept for the first time on the side of my incision without any pain whatsoever. That is big!! My followup with Dr Nam only includes ultrasound every 6 months. Dr. Nam tells me the chance of my type of cancer recurring is less than 5%. I will take those odds any day.