Why Are You Always Smiling?

Yesterday after a rather dry meeting around a conference room table at the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the chairman of the committee spoke to me.

He said, "Why are you always smiling? You must know something nobody else does, 'cause you are always smiling."

My reply was "I am just a happy person. Thank you for saying that." He said, "No really, every time I see you you have a smile on your face."

That made me think of many years ago when as I walked to the unit where I worked, people would stop and ask me why I was smiling. It happened almost everyday.

In truth, the circumstances of life at the time were not "smile inducing", however at the very core I was a "happy" person, and it just showed up on my face.

There was a point when I realized that no one was asking me "why are you smiling?" It was kind of like when no one asks you where you get your hair done anymore -you know it's time for a change!

That is what I did back then - I made a change. Out of a career that was not keeping a smile on my face, and into a way of making a living that is part and parcel of my life.

As Confucius first, and then later Harvey McKay said "Find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life."

So yesterday, I was reminded of that time, and realized what a fortunate person I really am. Years ago as I left for work on Perdido Key - selling real estate along the beach on Florida's Gulf Coast - it occurred to me that I was humming, and almost skipping to get to work. That is when I thought " I love what I do and it shows!" Which became my business slogan.

No truer words have ever been spoken.

The photo above is of my daughter and our puppy Katie nine years ago right here on Perdido Key, Florida. It became the first advertisement for my real estate brokerage company with the slogan "We love what we do and it shows!"

Mike in Paradise

Over the course of the last week a listing client of mine has moved his 30-something son, Mike to the area to oversee a construction project.

Mike, who works with the family business is an energetic, confident and obviously adventurous sort. His respect and affection for his parents is evident, and they must be very proud of him. Apparently he enlisted in the Marine Corps straight out of high school and spent his four years in Japan and other far away places.

It was quite enjoyable to hear him share his "stories" with my husband, a Marine aviator of Vietnam vintage, and at the end of their exchange to hear the young fellow say "Semper Fi". Wow, what a brotherhood Marines share.

What is especially fun for me is to see how the everyday life of Perdido Key living is "taking hold" of Mike. He came prepared with fishing gear, his motorcycle, and his curiosity.

His recently acquired barbeque grill has been getting a workout while he enjoys the views across the intracoastal waterway to the north side of Perdido Key.

He says he has been tossing a line in the water on a regular basis, and catching fish right and left! Ah, the island life!

Since Mike likes to cook, I told him about Perdido Bay Seafood, right under the bridge near Publix. For extra adventure, I gave him directions to Joe Patti Seafood - what an eye opener that will be!

One day while picking up his mail at my office, Mike said, "you know after you are here for a while you realize everywhere you look there is water!" I told him my favorite sight is topping the Theo Baars' Bridge just before sunset. The intracoastal waterway looks like a river of fire glowing with the reflection of the sky. The gorgeous National Seashore - Johnson Beach stretches to the east and Perdido Key lies ahead to be explored.

I expect Mike will find it hard to go back to the center of Florida when his work is completed here. Perdido Key grows on you, and in you. Hopefully soon Mike will call this wonderful place "home". (pictured above is the view from Mike's digs, click on the photo for details)

Playing With Tigers in Gulf Shores, Alabama!

Lovingly Referred to as "The Little Zoo that Could" The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is in a class all it's own!

On a recent crisp December afternoon several friends from Ideaworks of Pensacola, Florida joined Bill Stromquist of the Board of Directors, Davenport Properties, Inc. Broker Alison Davenport and her daughter Austin to meet many of the newest members of the zoo family.

Pictured here is Austin feeding a one year old "snowey" bingal tiger that was raised by head zookeeper Cindi Johnson.

The AGCZ is the only zoo in the country that is home to all four types of bingal tigers - the snowey, golden tabby, golden and white.

Ms. Johnson has raised many tigers over the course of her tenure. Some have gone on to other zoos, some have even become entertainers with Sigfried and Roy in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Currently she is raising Sita, a six week old white tiger who was her mother's first offspring and was rejected by her. Once she reaches a safe age, she will be transferred to a different facility. This is to protect the tigers from inbreeding that would undermine their health over time.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is located at 1204 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, Alabama and they can be reached at (251) 968-5732. When visiting the area, be it Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key or Pensacola, you owe it to yourself to make a trip to what Animal Planet calls "the little zoo that could". They even created a 13 part reality tv series about it!

Real Ideas for Real Estate Salespeople Impacted By the BP Oil Spill

Proposed Method for Calculating Income Losses
For Real Estate Agents, Brokers, Brokerages in Directly Impacted Locations



There exists irrefutable evidence that the BP oil spill disaster absolutely and directly impacted the ability of Real Estate agents, brokers and brokerages from selling properties along the gulf coast.

These agents, brokers and brokerages have historical data to prove that their incomes have been derived through sales activity on these impacted shores, yet they are to date denied the ability to receive appropriate compensation for their losses.

This is in direct conflict with the $93M advertising campaign that BP has funded stating that they will “make it right”, “make you whole”.

If these businesses are not appropriately and adequately assisted, they will perish. That will be as a result of inaction on the part of BP and now the Gulf Coast Claims Facility.

Please consider this approach to calculating lost income due to agents/brokers and brokerages:

• Compare 2008, 2009 and 2010 income.

• Determine what percentage of income is derived from real estate sales commissions.

• Establish what percentage of the real estate commissions are from property sales in DIRECTLY impacted areas.

• Use this factor to determine loss of income due to lost sales POSSIBILITY in the DIRECTLY impacted area.


If my income is 100% derived from real estate commission sales, and historically 50% of those sales were in the DI area, then it would stand to reason that 50% of the income that I would have made in 2010 would have also been derived from that area. That would mean that whatever my 2010 projected income should have been would be 50% attributable to real estate commission sales that I would have made on the DI area.

Shouldn’t I then be eligible to receive compensation for that loss based on the proportionate part of my income that is dependent on sales in that area?

Proximity, and Dependency on the Gulf – Check, Check.

42% of Perdido Key Listings Have Price Reductions!

Saavy buyers are checking out gulf front and resort properties hoping to take advantage of the seasonal adjustments as the third quarter of the year approaches.

The current inventory of residential properties on Perdido Key stands at a moderate level of just 267 units. This includes single family, attached homes and condominiums, and is far from excessive.

Still between April and September a little more than 40% of sellers have reduced their prices.

Search available listings in Perdido Key, Pensacola and Pensacola Beach and see for yourself!

Interested in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores or Fort Morgan, Alabama? Search here for available properties.

Perdido Key pursuing Pepsi Refresh Prize!

Perdido Key is vying for the opportunity to "give away the keys" to the island with help from the Pepsi Refresh program.

A 15 mile long barrier island that lies west of Pensacola Beach and east of Gulf Shores, AL and Orange Beach, AL, Perdido Key is Florida's 'first beach'.

Thanks to the BP oil spill this hamlet by the sea has suffered tremendous loss of business this summer, though the actual physical affects of the spill have been minimal.

In an effort to reignite the public to visit the area, the Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea of providing about 200 FREE condominium stays that would be paid for by $250,000 grant by the Pepsi Refresh program.

By providing free accommodations the traveler can enjoy the island activities 'risk free'. The Chamber requests that you vote now and everyday until the voting closes on August 31. Log on now!



http://gulf.refresheverything.com/keystothekey

Send this link to all of your friends and encourage them to vote daily!

Pepsi is "doing Good on the Gulf" you can too!