Taking time out for professional development

Today I had the honor of teaching some 21 professionals taking a University of Housing course sponsored by the Gold Coast Builders Association in Boynton Beach. The course "Business Management for Building Professionals" covered many aspects of running a successful business and took into account today's economic environment and business climate.

Builders, contractors, remodelers, health care professionals, Realtors, consultants, and others in the building industry from around Florida attended. There were two from neighboring States as well.

Primarily attendees were completing their Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation or beginning their Certified Aging in Place specialist (CAPS) designation.

The balance of the CAPS designation courses (CAPS I and II) are scheduled for February 9 and 10. I will be instructing both of these very informative courses.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

10 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 30 2009 07:56PM

Firefox is still safe

Earlier today, I recommended Google chrome as a browser that you might want to try after I stumbled upon it and noticed better quality photos and text on it.

Well, on second thought, stay with firefox - I am. While I am impressed with the resoultion, brightness and quality of the photos and images on chrome and the way it displays recently viewed pages as snapshots on the history screen, there are a couple of serious shortcomings that neutralize my original enthusiasm for the site.

You can't use a toolbar like Google or any others. There is no spell checker, form fill-in or other features. As a matter of fact (according to the Q+A found in their help section), the Google toolbar specifically is incompatiable with the Google chrome site. Amazing!

There are no title tags visible, so all of the SEO is lost to readers. It's still there, you just can't see it.

Nice try - too bad it came up short.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

18 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 29 2009 06:17PM

Move over firefox

First there was netscape, then internet explorer. I got all the way up to IE7. Then I started having glitches, loading, and resolution issues with IE7 and people here on the Rain suggested Mozilla's firefox. That was a good move. Still some issues with speed. Is that firefox or is that AR - or both?

I had downloaded Google chrome several weeks ago and had never done anything with it, but I have been hearing more and more about it.

Yesterday as I was going through my list of programs, there it was. Why not? So I opened it.

The photos are brighter than firefox. The pages seem to load quicker, and when you close the browser and reopen it, everything comes right back (if you select that option).

So, firefox has better graphics and photo resolution and brightness than IE - and Google chrome beats them both.

The only drawback so far is that there is no toolbar for spellcheck or other features, but I'm overlooking that for now.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

14 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 29 2009 09:48AM

Wordless Wednesday - "Tropical Greetings for a Winter's Day"

Steve Hoffacker's Wordless Wednesday Photography

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved. This is original, copyrighted photography and the property of Steve Hoffacker and may not be copied or reused without permission.

33 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 28 2009 11:38AM

Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities

 

This is a great reminder that opportunities often are what we make of them and very often there are challenges that need to be addressed.

 

Via Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, (Ludwig & Associates):

   

Inspirational Power Quote

 

Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities

 

"Entrepreneurs are simply those

who understand that there is little difference

between obstacle and opportunity

and are able to turn both to their advantage."

 Niccole Machiavelli, Italian renaissance writer

  

As I see it. . . . . . . .

Entrepreneurs see obstacles as the seeds of opportunity, and make the most of any situation.

Obstacles are a fact of life and we do encounter them and they will come in many shapes and sizes. When you are presented with an obstacle step back for a moment and see it from a positive prospective, look for the solution and apply the action and stay focused until you achieve the desired outcome. 

How you handle an obstacles is a choice, and mastering you life and business is part of that choice.

 

2 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 28 2009 08:12AM

Wow, what a ride - 500 and counting

Once you write that first blog on Active Rain, look out. You might eventually find yourself where I do today - at the 500 mark.

Congratulations to the many Rainers who have already surpassed this mark, but I'm just now getting here.

I didn't start out with a goal in mind, and initially I didn't post everyday. Now I do - that's the goal. At least one post a day.

I don't have listings or market statistics to share, so I rely on an irreverent look at national events and happenings of the day, with frequent doses of positive optimism tossed in - and some original photography.

I'm an advocate of the free enterprise system, and those of us who enjoy it as small businesses and entrepreneurs need to shout out - or risk being trampled by the masses.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone I've met on this site along the way. You've made it possible to reach this level, and now the journey continues.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

22 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 27 2009 12:55PM

A new jet is just a necessity - even if you can't afford it

I just heard today that Citigroup is accepting delivery on a new $50 million jet. All I can say is why?

This certainly seems to be an essential purchase - and with our money.

We - you and me - gave Citigroup $45 million last year (roughly the price of this jet). Plus they already have at least 2 jets that they are trying to sell for a total of $27 million. Too bad those won't do anymore.

Here's the real kicker - the jet was ordered 2 years ago, and it could have been canceled - but it wasn't.

Another shining example of fiscal responsibility and leadership by our banking community.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

30 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 26 2009 07:05PM

Motivational Monday - "Even the Tiniest Flowers Are Beautiful"

Steve Hoffacker's Motivational Monday Photography and Inspirational Message

Even very tiny flowers are special. They bloom, show they beauty, give us happiness in looking at them, provide a sweet smell, and signify new growth of their plant. Nothing is insignificant. Size is not a factor when we are doing what we were created for and meant to do.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Photography displayed is original composition and artistic expression of Steve Hoffacker, and as such is copyrighted. Photos are in their original digital image state and have not been cropped, edited, or enhanced in anyway.

22 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 26 2009 09:24AM

Speechless Sundays - "Got Marshmallows?"

Steve Hoffacker's Speechless Sundays Photography

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Photography displayed is original composition and artistic expression of Steve Hoffacker, and as such is copyrighted. Photos are in their original digital image state and have not been cropped, edited, or enhanced in anyway.

32 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 25 2009 10:16AM

Is it just me? AR difficulties

Is it just me or is anyone experiencing this? My pages load full across and then the content shrinks to a normal look. When I do try to type a comment, I get a blue outline around the comment box and start to type. The type starts off big and then gets regular size. Then the page shifts a couple of times and moves - what I type doesn't show up because where I was typing is not where I now should be typing.

I rebooted, but that didn't change anything. Am I alone in this?

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

30 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 24 2009 03:58PM