Although there is no place like home, I must say I enjoy the time in the classes. In the past week I had the opportunity to teach in Auburn, Alabama, Warwick, R.I., and Worcester, Mass. They say you learn when you travel and I sure did. Just seeing Cape Cod and Federal Hill was a real treat. Great CRS Presidents and leadership teams all help to make this possible. Thanks to everyone I met on the way, the iPad tips, and the great friends we will always be. You guys rock! Now I get to be home...until Sunday.

Over 15 certified CRS instructors attended this years Instructor Certification Workshop. Topics were presented by Mike Selvaggio, Zan Monroe, James Nellis, Gee Dunsten, LeRoy Houser, and Frank Serio. Topics included exploring the Macintosh, iPad, blogging, building a company culture, and the best apps today. These two days provided a wealth of insight and teaching ideas for our CRS instructors to use in classes that reflect the market in which we teach. Great sessions!

In today's market, there is a lot of stress. Added stress from sellers in a short sale position, buyers who need better credit scores than ever. You know how settlement dates in a contract use to really mean THAT was the settlement date. Not so any more. Multiple appraisals, home inspection gunk, and the general clogging of the process with high drama players. Ugh!! What to do when something occurs and you have tried everything you can to avoid issues?

Try this. Ask yourself, "Is this a  problem or a fact?" If it is a "problem", chances are it has a cure. Money is the most popular in a negotiation "problem." But, you say the sellers will not accept less, or the buyers will not pay more? Oh, then the "problem" is that no one will adopt the solution. (Money) The real problem is that no one will implement the cure...in that case it has become...guess what? A FACT!

As we all know, a fact is not a problem, and all though we may not like it, it is not in our control. The only thing that causes stress is not the event, but how we react to it. So. the next time you use the word, "problem" ask yourself if there is a cure? If there is, take it. If no one wants to take it, it is now a fact... and that my friends, we can do nothing about. So just have a little wine and less whine!!!!

Whew...that was quite the tour. In 11 days, 4, two day CRS classes and one CRS quarterly presentation. Kind of interesting and so worthwhile. They say, you grow three ways.the books you read, the people you meet, and the places you go. The tour taught me so much about great agents and this great country. The stops included: Hackensack, New Jersey, Cleavland, Ohio, Santa Ana, California, Al Hambra, California and Santa Barbara, California. As different as these locations are, I learned that CRS agents share the same qualities nationally i.e; generous, kind, and dedicated to the people that they serve. Each was a different and still wonderful event.

So weather you are eating a canole in Cleveland, an abalone in Santa Barbara, a take-your-head-off-with-hot-stuff in Al Hambra, Swordfish in Corona del Rey, or a cheese steak in New Jersey...it is all good when you have CRS folk around!!!

Well, got to get ready for Little Rock Arkansas. Be sure to come to their class on May 4th and 5th. It is a 206 CRS Technology course and it will rock! Hope to see you there.

In the past 10 days I have attended the National Association of REALTORS convention in New Orleans and taught a 4 day Ninja Installation in Davenport, Iowa. What an action packed real estate experience. In case you have not attended the annual convention, you need to do it. As far as Ninja Training, want to learn more, go to  www.NinjaSelling.com. All this leads me to believe that, yes....in the words of Alberrt Einstein, the world is a friendly place.