Remembering D-Day

For anyone not yet 65, relating to something that occurred 65 years ago may not be that easy. However, 65 years ago today, the invasion and ensuing battles that would change the complexion of World War II and lead to the Allied victory in Europe were launched. D-Day, June 6, 1944.

The number of men who participated in that event and survived are becoming fewer and fewer as they are all at least in their 80s. Of course, many did not survive the battle. We are indebted to all of them.

This was a day that represented tremendous planning, strategies, and secrecy. Then it represented tremendous timing and coordination to execute it to perfection. Then it took courage and valor to storm that beach as a storm of gunfire rained down. This was how we were successful in shortening the war and preserving the rights and freedoms we enjoy today.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com  for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings . © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

10 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • June 06 2009 07:46PM

A freedom fighter I met this week

This week while pumping gas I looked over at the car ar the next pump and there was a medalion on the license plate proclaiming that the man driving this car was a member of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry from the Korean War.

I thanked him for his service and we talked briefly about that time in his life. He was 21 in 1951 when he was deployed and served there through its conclusion in 1953 - although it has never really ended.

Unless we have some personal connection with a relative that fought in the Korean War (I had an uncle who did), many people  may not be that aware of this chapter in America's history. America's young men were asked to serve their country and they did.

This weekend, we remember these warriors as well as those from our other battles and conflicts.

A chance meeting with a hero from over a half-century ago.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

8 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • May 22 2009 07:57PM

Happy Loyalty Day

Today is May 1st or May Day - so Happy May Day. Happy Loyalty Day also. Never heard of it - not too surprising.

For years, May Day was celebrated in the former USSR and other countries as a chance to parade their troops, trucks, tanks, rockets, and other military hardware. It's known as Solidarity Day or Labor Day.

So that we wouldn't be left out, President Eisenhower signed a bill in 1958 making May 1st Law Day or Loyalty Day. Law Day is for the lawyers and those in the legal profession. Loyalty Day is for all of us.

Loyalty Day is a little known, little recognized, little promoted day in this country when it should be a big deal.

In contrast to socialism, communism, and totalitarianism, Loyalty Day says we are Americans, proud of and grateful for our heritage, liberties and freedoms.

Happy Loyalty Day my fellow entrepreneurs and American citizens.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

26 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • May 01 2009 03:26PM

Happy Patriot's Day - not to be confused with Patriot Day

Today in New England and a few other places, it's Patriot's Day (possessive) - the official recognition, observance, and celebration of the beginning of American independence. On April 19, 1775, the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired that signaled the beginning of our independence from Great Britain. It's now officially the third Monday in April - today (also the running of the Boston Marathon).

Such an important day in our history, it is right that it be celebrated - and on even a larger scale than it is.

Now, how can we have another important day that is so close in name as to really confuse the issue ? A name so close that if this were a trademark issue, the second name would surely lose.

September 11, 2001 - none of us alive on that day and old enough to understand what happened will ever forget it. Congress passed a resolution on October 25 of that year by a unanimous 407-0 vote declaring September 11 as "Patriot Day" (without the "s"). How remarkable that Congress acted so quickly and decisively, but where were the wordsmiths? Is that the only name they could come up with?

Taking nothing away from either day, I think they deserve their own name - not one that is essentially the same as the other.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

8 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • April 20 2009 12:08PM

Oh, how things might have been different

Today might be a birthday or anniversary for some. Maybe an important appointment is scheduled. To others it may be just another day.

This day, however, marks the 144th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln - the first of what unfortunately would be more over the years.

Maybe it was from growing up in Springfield, Illinois - Lincoln's home before going to Washington - but this date has always been one that I have remembered.

We can all second-guess history and even events in our own lives, but oh, how things might have been different if not for a fateful moment on this day in 1865.

Currier & Ives Sketch of Lincoln Assassination

This sketch by Currier and Ives is considered by Wikipedia to be the finest of this particular event, and it resides in the Library of Congress. It is now part of the public domain.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

18 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • April 14 2009 09:06AM

Wearing of the green

If you meant to wear something green today and you found yourself leaving home this morning without wearing anything green that people might see and notice, don't worry. I have a quick, fun solution for you. Take a dollar bill (or larger denomination if you want to be sporty) and fold it into an interesting shape and pin it to your collar, lapel, placket, or shirt pocket.

What says green more than money?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

34 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • March 17 2009 09:41AM

One observance down, several to go

We often think of the end of the year as the time of holidays and observances - Halloween, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas - but that's over a 2-month-plus-a-day period of time.

Consider February, the month we're in now. For a short month, it's full of occasions.

Groundhog Day was yesterday - of course the guy saw his shadow. How could he help it will all of those TV lights shining on him?

February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. This isn't celebrated everywhere, but it is a State holiday in many places.

Then comes Valentine’s Day on the 14th - don’t you just love this day?

February 16 is President’s Day - the compromise day on the 3rd Monday in February that originally replaced the separate commemoration of Lincoln’s birthday and Washington’s birthday and now includes all 44 Presidents.

February 22 is the traditional date of George Washington’s birthday - but only since 1752. He actually was born on February 11, 1731 but the date changed to February 22, 1732 in 1752.

February also is "Black History Month."

Quite a busy little month for being so 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.

23 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • February 03 2009 06:26PM

A punctuation on Father's Day

Sunday evening as we were getting ready to have a Father's Day dinner that my adult sons were preparing, we heard a commotion coming from the cul-de-sac behind our house. As we walked up to the fence, we observed several police cars, fire trucks, and the bomb disposal unit.

Turns out this was the real deal.

Some disgruntled person apparently attached a homemade pipebomb-type device to the exhaust of a car in the driveway of a home in the next block.

After a few hours everything returned to normal and the device was successfully removed and detonated according to police procedures.

Oh, the dinner was great.

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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.

10 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • June 17 2008 08:56AM

Happy Friday the 13th

For all of the cautious ones or those who like to tell stories about superstitions, today is Friday the 13th.

The news media used to make a lot out of Friday the 13th - sort of like a lunar eclipse - as if it was very rare.

Actually, it happens twice a year - except this year which is a leap year. Any month beginning on a Sunday (the 1st) will have a Friday the 13th in it. Sometimes this is even February and March - in non-leap years.

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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.

4 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • June 13 2008 10:05AM

Memorial Day - for the traditional observance

Before Congress decided that we all needed a 3-day weekend in late May (not that there's anything wrong with that), Memorial Day was observed on May 30th - today.

To all those who still respect the traditional observance, and to those whom we honor - both this past Monday and today - for their service, this post is for you.

This is picture of Camp Butler National Cemetery, near Springfield, Illinois. My dad, Ralph W. Hoffacker, who was awarded the bronze star in World War II as a 1st Lt., U.S. Army, is buried there, and a marker for my grandfather, Harold G. Hoffacker, who was a casualty of World War II as a Capt., U.S. Army, and a silver star recipient, is there also.

2 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies • May 30 2008 12:39PM