Toby Davis, Keller Williams Charleston North, Charleston, SC www.TobyDavis.com

The only thing worse than a prospective customer who has not heard about you is one who wanted to buy from you and was ignored (as far as they could tell, you couldn't be bothered to contact them and take their money). When looking at lead generation you need to balance the value of annoyed lost customers against nonacquired customers. MORE is not always better.

ADVERTISE in community newsletters. Usually the cost is low compared to how many homes you read. Remember, all you want is for them to recognize your name. (OK, that is not all you want, but it is a great start). One of the small papers I advertise in is $10 a month and I've had a couple of good buyers come from this as well as a great listing.

PROFITABILITY: My broker (a/k/a Team Leader with Keller Williams) has been mentoring me on profitability. We've come up with a few changes that are saving me quite a bit of money. Review your current advertising and systems. What is working and what isn't? Now is the time to be brutal and cut the expenses that are costing you and not giving you a return on your marketing or systems expense dollar.

PERSONAL MENTORS!: I honestly don't know how I'd survive without my terrific personal mentors. Many of you speak with me on a regular basis, and without naming names, I don't know where I would be on those particularly hard days without the great men and women who are always there to support me. Gather and support great mentors who share your ideals and dreams. Cherish their time and input. Take the time to develop their friendship and always let them know how valuable they are to you, and in return be of value to them. Everyone wins!

POWER PARTNERS! Form an "R" Group: An "R" Group is a group of 3 or 4 that meet regularly to support each other and share thoughts and ideas. My group has been meeting since 2002, we meet at 7 or 8 am on a weekday 2 times a month. Go to www.StarmakerTeam.com and learn how to set up your "R" group and if you need help, write me, I'll tell you all about it. These 3 ladies are like sisters to me and I value and cherish their friendship, advice and their commitment to holding me and all of us accountable to our own greatness. If you have a group that is not functioning smoothly, be sure and give Mike Pallin a call and he will be glad to schedule an "R Group Therapy Call for you." Mike's number is (743) 213-7512.

HIRE A GREAT COACH! I cannot say enough about my great success Coach - Coach Patti, www.CoachPatti.com. A coach is not a 'yes man' who pats you on the back and inspires you, but a strong foundation in a rapidly changing emotionally charged stress wracked career. A great coach holds you accountable to your goals, helps you visualize your greatness, guides you with productive systems and is there to tell you they aren't going to listen to that 'garbage' when you pull a pity party. Both professionally and personally Coach Patti has encouraged, inspired and guided me to higher levels.

MONEY: Money is more than a means to support your life. Money is FREEDOM. FREEDOM to live your life your way. When you want to be inspired, inspire yourself with visuals of the dreams and goals you want to achieve. WRITE down the things you want and know that it is the FREEDOM to do these things that you are working for, not the $$'s (Thank you Coach Patti for these valuable words of wisdom, they have made a difference to me).

Pretend you are a Dog. Do you think I am joking here? Remember playing 'pretend' when you were a child? Just for today treat everyone with the happy excited energy your special dog would treat you with. Be so excited to see them, smile, shake hands, pat them on the back, let them know you truly care and are and will be there for them!

BE NOSY! This great idea is from a sweet young agent in our office. When she speaks to people she probes about their life, who do they know who is making a job change, life change, had a baby, children go to college (moving down or moving up), etc. She calls it "Be Nosy" and it is a great idea.

SCHEDULE AND HONOR YOUR OFF TIME! eMentors, I cannot say enough about this. Schedule and KEEP your off day and don't allow yourself to discuss the business or take calls AT ALL. I read an article the other day that reminded me of this and said this person's business DOUBLED when they decided to take Sunday's off without discussing their business or taking calls. She said for awhile she didn't know what to talk with her husband about and then developed a deeper friendship with him by having to find other interests to discuss besides their work. She even included being 'off' from housework and meal planning by preparing a meal on Saturday for Sunday, mail opening and bill paying were taboo - she and her family truly "honored the Sabbath" and it made a huge difference in her life.

SETTLING FOR LESS: Someone asked me a short time ago if I shouldn't just come down to earth and settle for a bit less? What do you think? If you guessed "NOT a chance!" you are right on target. It isn't about the money, fame or power; it is about "LIFE" - the challenge to be and do more, to fly higher, to care more, give more, be more, feel more and enjoy more and most of all - to LOVE more.. A friend once shared a phrase that I truly liked - "Lord, spare me a mundane existence".

YOUR BEST LIFE: This is copied from the bottom of this newsletter, but speaks from my heart to yours. Give it all you've got eMentors, I truly believe it is worth it!: To me, living your BEST LIFE is about what makes your heart rate kick up a few notches, what gets the adrenaline rushing through your bloodstream. We are pushed in all directions to succeed, and often get caught up in the pursuit of the everyday business of living, not realizing that it is not in alignment with what we really want. We must never lose sight of our dreams and goals. From all I see about life, we get ONE SHOT at this great event and each decision turns you to a different path never to return to the minutes and seconds we gave up by not heading in the other direction. I hope you will pursue your "BEST LIFE" with all your heart and soul because that is all there is; anything less, to me, is cheating yourself.

To YOUR Greatness and Success ~
Toby

My mission is to have our website and our newsletters be a source of answers and strength to the newcomer and old timer alike.

If you have great ideas or thoughts to share, please email them to me and we will share them with the group. We truly "get by giving".

Please share this newsletter with a friend and ask them to join. The more we grow the more we'll know! You can join our group at www.eMentorConnection.com and if you cannot remember the name, think STARVING AGENT and log onto www.StarvingAgent.com. ~ Toby Davis

Below are our eMentor Connection sponsors, the fine women and men that make our on-line presence possible. I hope you will visit their websites and use their services as much as possible. On behalf of all of us - "Thank You" for making our sharing and caring possible. - Toby

Are you ready to face the changing economy in 2007?

Coach Patti is eMentor Connection's personal Success Coach, supporter and contributor to our newsletters. Her clients achieve outstanding results in their career and personal lives.

Thinking of Coaching? Want to reach the next level of performance and find out just how great you can be? Call Coach Patti today for a no charge consultation on how Coaching can change your life - (818) 341- 9751.

Patti Kouri, (Coach Patti) GRI, is a professional success coach, trained through Coach University and the Coach Training Institute. She has held her California Real Estate License since 1987 and has focused on life coaching for more then 11 years, logging in more than 10,000 coaching hours with more then 550 clients. In her practice, Coach Patti works closely with Realtors, people in sales, and people that want to make a difference or change in their life. Visit Coach Patti's website at www.CoachPatti.net.

Floyd Wickman StarMaker Team:

Now, through a new trilogy of opportunity called The Floyd Wickman StarMaker Team S.M.A.R.T Program, Floyd continues his legacy: meeting the needs of a changing industry; teaching real estate salespeople his Success Performance System; fueled by a system of Core Values joined to the principles of giving exceptional service.

With The 101 Greatest Dialogues of Floyd Wickman, Floyd invites you to “see what he’s saying” and increase your production and income, maximize your efficiency and bring your career to a new level. In his own unique, plainspoken, no-nonsense style, Floyd demonstrates not only the words, but the crucial delivery methods that will mark a new, more powerful chapter in your personal and professional growth. Mastery of Floyd’s dialogues virtually guarantees that you’ll become more persuasive while staying true to the principles of giving exceptional service.

Are you aware that KBS Marketing has 'hands free' mailing at fabulous prices that will keep you in touch and on top! Visit their website and give Beth or Linda a call today for an evaluation of your marketing needs (800) 624- 5012.

Testimonial: I have been using KBS for a couple of years now, adding new names as I meet new customers. A simple email to KBS and the names are added. It is simple and so effective! My business has been terrific and I know a big part of the increase in personal referrals has been because my customers are reminded each and every month that "I care about them and I am here to help." KBS makes it simple for me. ~ Toby

Virtual Assistance at it's BEST!

Outsourcing your work requirements saves you:time, effort and money!

Imagine the benefits of a full professional staff that can facilitate all of your advertising, contact management, personal promotions, and office support with the ease of a Virtual Assistant at your finger tips.All this without having the expense of office space, desk and office supplies. Additionally - no payroll or employee benefits to pay!

~Let Real Resource Work For You~
Simply put - you get what you pay for. With Real Resource that means you only pay for the amount and type of work you need on a contract basis. Whether its administrative, accounting, personal or product marketing or time management. Real Resource - Real Solutions, Real Easy!

Formerly Personal House Site, Debra Agliano has created a wonderful affordable service for marketing your listings. Take a look and see how this service can make you stand out in your marketplace. - Toby

Be unique in your market. Give each house its own website. "List and Shout is really helping me get my listings. Everyone is impressed and it gives me a professional edge not a lot of other agents have." Steve Mortell, ERA Andrew Realty

Meet Toby Davis ~ Creator and Coordinator of the eMentors and eMentor connection. Toby Davis has been a Realtor for over 30 years, and resides in Charleston, SC. where she is part of the great Keller Williams Real Estate group. Creator of Master-E-Mentors and coordinator of eMentor Connection, Toby's mission has been to serve her fellow agents through her newsletters, personal phone calls, group meetings at events and email with inspiration to educate, enlighten, encourage and empower all of us to live ~ as Toby says ~ "Our BEST LIFE!"

From ME to You - LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE!

To me, living your BEST LIFE is about what makes your heart rate kick up a few notches, what gets the adrenaline rushing through your bloodstream. We are pushed in all directions to succeed, and often get caught up in the pursuit of the everyday business of living, not realizing that it is not in alignment with what we really want. We must never lose sight of our dreams and goals. From all I see about life, we get ONE SHOT at this great event and each decision turns you to a different path never to return to the minutes and seconds we gave up by not heading in the other direction. I hope you will pursue your "BEST LIFE" with all your heart and soul because that is all there is; anything less, to me, is cheating yourself.

Toby Davis
Ask me about Keller Williams! color>
Keller Williams Charleston
Charleston, SC
(843) 224-5979

email: tobydavis@tobydavis.com

phone: 843 414-1814

web: http://www.tobydavis.com