MAY 2018 SANTA CLARITA

EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

Sue Kline Executive Agent of the Month

Inside Features: Edgar Ibarra Finance of America Mortgage

Escrow of the West Company Profile

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FIND OUT WHY WE’RE GREAT TO WORK WITH. THERE ARE BENEFITS TO WORKING WITH FAM Variety of loan options for buyers

Local underwriting for convenience

Direct lender with no middleman

Servicing to help buyers choose a loan

Grow your business with co-branding

Educating clients about home-buying

LET’S GET IN TOUCH (661) 510-8076 FOAmortgage.com/SantaClarita Visit our new branch at 25350 Magic Mountain Parkway Suite 300 | Valencia, CA 91355 This is not a commitment to lend. Prices and guidelines are subject to change without notice. Some products may not be available in all states. Subject to review of credit and/ or collateral; not all applicants will qualify for financing. It is important to make an informed decision when selecting and using a loan product; make sure to compare loan types when making a financing decision.©2018 Finance of America Mortgage LLC is licensed nationwide | | NMLS ID #1071 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | AZ Mortgage Banker License #0910184 | Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act

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EXECUTIVE AGENT OF THE MONTH

Sue Kline RE/MAX of Santa Clarita

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Inside Features

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Edgar Ibarra 4

Escrow of the West

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

MAY, 2018 Editorials

E XECUTIVE AGENT

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MAGAZINE

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Fred Arrias Executive Publisher PO Box 73384 San Clemente, CA 92673 Direct: (949) 297-8323 Cell: (949) 702-9577 Fax: (949) 266-8757 FArrias45@gmail.com www.EAMag.net

Happiness as a Priority -Richard Carlson

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You Succeed By Ignoring Reality -Jim Donovan ADVERTISERS’ INDEX - SC City of Hope.......................................................34 Finance of America Mortgage.............................2

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“I Am A Habit” -Jim Di Lemme

iPhotography Studio......................................23 & 36 NAHREP...................................................................8 SRAR.......................................................................14 The Termite Guy......................................................3

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How to Solve Any Problem That Gets in Your Way -Jim Rohn

VAREP.......................................................................9 WCR........................................................................15

Photography: iPhotography Studio, Ian Wiant, Rob Paino Graphic Designer: Garon T. Arrias Editorial Manager: Trudy Van Writers: Ben Angel, John Boe, Haley Freeman, Jim Rohn, Walter Sanford, Dirk Zeller, Zig Ziglar

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A Message to Women: You’ve Got This!

-Margie Warrell

© Copyright 2018 Executive Agent Magazine. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Executive Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

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Investing Yourself -Zig Ziglar

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

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E XECUTIVE AGENT

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MAGAZINE

Written by Haley Freeman

Edgar Ibarra Sales Manager

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dgar Ibarra, Sales Manager at Finance of America Mortgage in Valencia, is in the business of providing more than the industry’s number one home lending experience. He is also

providing opportunities for homeowners and real estate and lending professionals to prosper.

A professional who has dedicated his entire career to banking and finance, Edgar brings a wealth of lending and leadership experience from his managerial roles at several preeminent banking and mortgage institutions. Edgar is a producing manager who consistently ranks among the nation’s top one percent of Loan Consultants, and he is recognized among the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals’ (NAHREP) top 10 Loan Consultants nationally. He joined Branch Manager, Mike Ross, at Finance of America Mortgage this year, with a vision of elevating personal service to both clients and industry colleagues.

“We feel like we’re kind of on the ground floor with a company that is quickly becoming a powerhouse in the lending world,” Edgar says. “It’s still run a lot like a mom-and-pop, and we have the opportunity to have a voice in the changes, the things we see happening out in the field, and ways we can grow the business. My experience has been very corporate at other companies, but here, I see they really do care about the community and providing the products and service that fit their needs.”

Creating Opportunities to Prosper ExecutiveAgent Magazine

In addition to its comprehensive array of down payment assistance programs and competitively priced home loans, Finance of America Mortgage also offers reverse mortgages and commercial loans.

Programs like these create opportunities to save deals, and that’s good not only for homebuyers, but also the real estate agents who represent them. “We do everything we can to make loans work for the consumer, and we have options for when someone doesn’t qualify because they don’t fit in the box.

For instance, we can go to our commercial side for someone buying investment property. If they’re not reporting enough income because they’re selfemployed, we have a rental program based on the property itself and qualified on personal credit, not income. With as little as 20 percent down, we can loan on up to 20 units.”

support where they are. My team and I have done thousands of loans, and we’ve seen all kinds of crazy scenarios. We’ll figure out a way to make something work, as long as it’s there. We have the marketing, guidelines, processing and systems in place to get loans done. We’re also open to hiring inexperienced Loan Consultants who are hungry and willing to learn the business and take coaching to heart.”

In real estate’s increasingly digitized consumer environment, Finance of America Mortgage is meeting the demand for high-tech tools, while maintaining a high-touch service model. “One of the biggest concerns Realtors® have these days is remaining competitive when there are so many companies online offering cheap services. This trend is taking the whole personal aspect of our business away. Our marketing keeps agents right in front of their clients. It keeps them involved and on their clients’ minds. Many consumers don’t realize that getting a ‘good deal’ online doesn’t mean they’re getting the best service. We’re doing all we can to push the personal aspect of our business, instead of the AI aspect, and create more business opportunities for our real estate partners.”

Edgar leads his team in delivering honest and reliable service, ensuring that every transaction is a win-win. “We want to make home ownership available to more people, and at the same time help our real estate partners and sales people grow with better lending products.”

Looking to the future, Edgar and Mike will be developing further opportunities to mentor young people who are interested in a home finance career.

“We’d like to start hiring young talent and give them an opportunity to learn the business from the ground up. By starting them in operations, they’ll know what to do when they get licensed on the sales side.”

Edgar Ibarra NMLS ID 261963 Finance of America Mortgage 25350 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Suite 300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Tel: 818.359.2723 Email: edibarra@financeofamerica.com Web: https://www.foamortgage.com/edibarra

As a manager, Edgar is contributing to new business opportunities for his team of Loan Consultants by providing the ongoing training and support they need to succeed. “I like coaching, sharing ideas, helping with marketing and meeting with individuals to troubleshoot loans. My main focus is to advise individuals looking for opportunity, especially if they’re experienced and feel they don’t have enough ©2018 Finance of America Mortgage LLC is licensed nationwide | NMLS ID #1071 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | 300 Welsh Road, Building 5, Horsham, PA 19044 | (800) 355-5626 | Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

WEALTH & REAL ESTATE C O N F E R E N C E

MAY 7-9, 2018

MIAMI BILTMORE HOTEL CORAL GABLES, FL NAHREP.ORG/WEALTHCONFERENCE

HELPING MILITARY & VETERAN

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WHO WE ARE Established in 2011, the USA Homeownership Foundation, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to increasing sustainable homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities.

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info@VAREP.net | w w w .VAR EP. n e t | 951-444-7363 VAREP IS A 501.C.3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. USA HOMEOWNERSHIP DBA VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS TAX ID: 45-2458485

A Message to Women: You’ve Got This!

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hat would you tell your younger self?

It’s a question I’ve reflected on many times and have asked many women. A common thread weaves through most of the answers: Believe in yourself.

You can do more than you think.

Don’t let others define your worth.

Take the chance!

Do what you want.

Dare to be more ambitious.

Don’t settle!

You are no exception.

You do that by refusing to let the voice of your inner critic dictate your decisions or limit your action. After all, when you buy into your doubts, it amplifies your anxiety about your current challenges and chips away at your confidence to take on new ones. In the process, you miss out on sharpening your talents, and the world misses out on the gifts they hold.

Admittedly, I’m biased, but I believe we women are powerful beyond measure. We excel at multitasking. We are innately compassionate. We are natural bridge builders, peacemakers and cheerleaders. We have nurturing hearts and can move mountains when we set our minds to it.

Yet too often, we sell ourselves short. Way short.

The voice of our inner critic rarely rests. It thrives on pointing out our flaws, focusing on our shortcomings, and dwelling on what we don’t have or haven’t done. It keeps forever striving, never arriving—waiting until “one day” when we finally have it “all together” before we can feel worthy or claim what we yearn for most.

Yet as Kirsten Neff wrote in her book Self-Compassion, “There is nothing to be gained for beating ourselves up for beating ourselves up.” Rather, what serves us is taking a fresh look at where we are unconsciously allowing this well-worn habit of dwelling on what we perceive is missing in us and around us to keep us from taking the very actions that would connect us to our innate sufficiency, and from truly knowing that we are enough already. Always have been; always will be.

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No one is born with an immunity to self-doubt or fear of failure, yet as I wrote in Find Your Courage, each of us has the ability to reclaim the power it can hold in our lives.

So how do you conquer the doubts and find the courage to live the biggest life you are capable of living?

You stop talking yourself down and start embracing the “flawsome” woman that you already are—fabulous and fallible, brilliant and blundering, innately lovable and wholly imperfect—all at the same time.

You stop letting self-doubt call the shots and start acting with the confidence you wish you had.

You stop dwelling about what you don’t have and start making the most of what you’ve got. (Which is plenty!)

You stop punishing yourself for past mistakes and start applying their lessons to live more deeply and choose more wisely.

You stop thinking about what you’d like to say and start having the brave conversations you’ve been putting off.

You stop saying yes to keep people happy and you start saying no to anything that doesn’t align with the boldest vision for your life.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Written By Margie Warrell

You stop waiting for permission or perfection and start putting yourself out there, ready to fail forward and forge a bigger life rich in meaning, connection and contribution.

Because here’s the deal: The only way you can become the woman you most want to start acting like you are that woman already.

Strong. Brave. Resilient. Persistent. Worthy. Bold.

Creative. Focused. Trustworthy. Compassionate.

Respected. Valued. Influential. Unstoppable.

E-N-O-U-G-H. Now before you start second-guessing yourself (that path has is well-worn groove in your brain!), don’t think you need to know precisely what you are doing or exactly where you are going before you take the first step.

As I discovered when I set off on a new path in my second career—with four children under 6, a fire in my belly and not much else—you just have to have faith in yourself that you’ll figure it out as you go along. Be kinder to yourself when you slip up. (Because chances are, that will be often!)

So if you decided right now to “own your enoughness” and to live from the belief that you are capable of more than you’ve given yourself credit for…

What inspiring goals would you take on (however audacious)?

What changes would you make (however hard)?

What chances would you take (however scary)?

at your heart and to take one step (though two is also OK) in that direction.

Then tomorrow, repeat.

If you could time travel ahead 20 years from now, I’ll bet your older self would be whispering in your ear, “Go on, be bold. Take the chance. Trust yourself. You’ve got this!”

Because you know what… you have!

And you know what else? This world needs more women to own their power, embrace their difference and to dare to make their boldest mark on the world like never before.

So get to it!

Margie Warrell is a best-selling author and international speaker who is passionate about helping people be more courageous in work, leadership and life. Margie has learned a lot about courage, resilience and risk since growing up on a small farm in rural Australia. Drawing on her background in business, psychology and coaching, Margie runs “courage building” programs with organizations worldwide, from NASA to Wells Fargo and the UN Foundation. She has also lectured at Columbia, Georgetown and SMU. Her best-selling books—Find Your Courage, Stop Playing Safe and Brave—have been published in seven languages. A mother of four teenagers and ambassador for Women in Global Business, Margie walks her talk when it comes to living bravely. More info at MargieWarrell.com.

Just for today, I challenge you trust that you have all the resources you need within you to do whatever tugs most

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

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How to Solve Any Problem That Gets in Your Way

W

hen you’re faced with a problem, ask yourself these practical questions to solve it.

You know the importance of applying discipline and effort to overcome any problem that stands in your way. But some problems call for more than steely determination—they require you to step back and apply some mental power.

If you’re faced with a roadblock like this, put it all down on paper. When you write a problem down on paper, you take the emotion out of it. With the emotion gone, you can look at the roadblock objectively. You can figure out what you did right. You can figure out what you did wrong. You can figure out how to change it.

Here’s what you do: Pick a problem out of your head and pull out a piece of paper. Draw a line down the middle of the paper. On the left-hand side, jot down the problem in detail.

We’ve got so much going on in our heads that it may just be difficult to isolate this particular problem. Just state it the best you can.

On the other side of this paper, you’re going to write some solutions. There are three questions to ask yourself to generate those solutions, to solve almost any problem.

The first question you need to consider is this: What can I do? You don’t want to go any further than that if you can solve the problem yourself. Start jotting down any options that come to mind. Lay out the alternatives. Then begin analyzing them. “Let’s see, number three… no, that one would take too long. I haven’t got that much time. OK. Number two? Not sure. OK. Let’s look at number one. Maybe the one I thought of first is my best one.”

If that doesn’t seem to work, here’s the second problemsolving question: What could I read? Maybe there’s a book on your problem. Somebody may have spent a lifetime

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trying to figure out this problem. You could receive the instant benefit of this person’s advice if you take the time to look. Maybe it’s concisely written somewhere. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If you do your homework, you just may find the solution.

Start taking notes on what you’re reading. Book number one: This guy’s crazy. Book number two: This guy’s too shallow. Book number three: This guy’s got some interesting things to say about this problem.

If that still doesn’t work, then ask question number three: Who could I ask?

What should you have ready when you ask somebody to help you? You’ve got your notes to show them. You say, “You know, I’ve tried my best to figure it out myself, and it has left me short. Here are some of the books I’ve read.

Here are my notes. I’ve researched this material, and I’m still confused. Could you possibly help me?”

You can’t believe how willing people will be to help you if they know that you’re willing to help yourself.

I promise you, if you try these ideas and ask these questions when you’ve got a problem, you’ll be able to solve just about anything that gets in your way.

Jim Rohn knows the secrets of success - in business and in life. He has devoted his life to a study of the fundamentals of human behavior and personal motivation that affect professional performance. He can awaken the unlimited power of achievement within you! Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine. Copyright© 2006, Jim Rohn. All right reserved. For information about Jim’s keynote presentations and seminars, contact the FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email susie@ FrogPond.com, http://FrogPond.com.

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UPCOMING EVENTS & CLASSES FOR MEMBERS • March 07, 2018 Commercial Class: Deferring Capital Gains Through 1031 Exchange

• March 13, 2018 Wake Up YPN • March 13, 2018 Code of Ethics Course • March 14, 2018 Contracts Class (Ft. the Residential Purchase Agreement) • March 15, 2018 Lunch & Learn: Facebook Advertising • March 26, 2018 REALTOR® Property Resource Class

• April 10, 2018 Wake Up YPN • April 11, 2018 Commercial Class: Effective Commercial Purchase Agreement • April 19, 2018 YPN Mixer @ Royce’s Arcade Warehouse • April 25, 2018 MLS Rules Class “How to Avoid Paying Assessments” • April 26-27, 2018 Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Designation Course

Visit www.SRAR.com for more information on all events and classes!

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Benefiting Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission & Bridge To Home Sign up on www.SRAR.com or call Yvonne Cuevas at 818-947-2298

Thank you our Strategic Partners!

Thank you toto our Strategic Partners!

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EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

Nomination Form Nominate a fellow REALTORÂŽ to be featured in one of our feature stories; on the cover as Executive Agent of the Month, or as a special feature story. All candidates must be nominated by a real estate professional. The selection process includes a questionnaire, personal interview, reference check and final approval by the Advisory Council. Candidates are evaluated based upon professionalism, length of service and uniqueness of story, as well as industry and community involvement.

I Nominate: Name_______________________________ Company___________________________ Address____________________________ _____________________________________ City, State, Zip_____________________ _____________________________________ Phone______________________________ Email_______________________________ Submitted By: Fax/Email nomination to: Executive Agent Magazine PO Box 73384 San Clemente, CA 92673 Fax: 949.266.8757 Email: Info@eamag.net Tel: 949.297.8323

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Cover Story

Sue Kline Executive Agent of the Month

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Written by Haley Freeman - Photography by Ian Wiant

ue Kline is a top-producing agent at RE/MAX of Valencia, whose experience, market savvy and personal care ensure that the buyers and sellers she represents enjoy a seamless real estate experience. She is known among both clients and peers for maintaining a standard of service unsurpassed in the industry.

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had a hunger to do better by me and for my children,” Sue says. “I took a job at Prudential, which was in the same building where I already worked. I would run up and down the back stairs between offices, burning the candle at both ends. My first year, I sold 20 homes. I worked 24/7, but I wanted this.”

In 2002, Sue was a hard-working single mother of two who was struggling to provide for her family. Home ownership was out of reach. So she decided to apply her tenacity and business smarts to a career in real estate and create abundance for her family while doing good for others. She began by working in the industry part time to supplement her regular income at Princess Cruises. “I

She eventually transitioned to real estate full time, and in 2009 she joined RE/MAX, where she has maintained her ranking among the top 25 agents in an office of market leaders. “I had been the top agent at Prudential for some time, so it was humbling to come here and know I had competition. It’s been great, though, because I get to work with some of the best people in the business.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

As demand for Sue’s representation increased, she began building a team designed to assist her in maintaining her high service standards. Today, she is simultaneously creating opportunities for other young women to thrive in real estate. She is joined by Kristan Linehan and Christina Wright, both young wives and moms who are enthusiastic about serving families in the Santa Clarita Valley with the same professionalism and heart. “I am passionate about helping women to be powerful and grow in a business setting. I want to see these women succeed the way I have and feel the independence I’ve felt. And when they get there, I want them to be able to pay it forward.”

Sue is committed to ongoing personal and professional growth, and she provides a respectful and uplifting environment for her team. She has long engaged with transformational coach and speaker David Keesee, and

now he is training her team along with her. “He cares about his clients the way I care about mine. He has your back, and he has definitely shown me a different side to coaching. He helps us keep an eye on our goals and holds us accountable so we can continue making sure our clients’ transactions go as smoothly as possible.”

The Sue Kline Team creates value by always being reachable and responsive, ready to answer their clients’ questions and eliminate their worries about the real estate process. “Who you work with matters,” Sue says. “So many people think they’re getting a good deal by going online and hiring a discount Realtor®. But you get what you pay for in terms of expertise and service. My team and I give 100 percent of us, and our service is nothing less than top notch.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

An Unsurpassed Standard of Service Sue is also highly conscientious about her peer relationships, which smooths the way for clients in a difficult transaction. “When I’m in escrow with a fellow agent, I want them to know I’m working my hardest to make sure everything is done properly for everybody - not just my clients, but their clients, too. They are never kept in the dark about anything. I love it when a fellow agent I’ve worked with says, ‘That was an amazing transaction!’

That’s the best kind of compliment.”

Sue’s colleagues seek opportunities to work with her, and past clients frequently return and refer their friends and family. Clients are also eager to share their thoughts about their real estate experience with Sue. Known as “Your Trusted 5-Star Real Estate Team,” The Sue Kline Team enjoys nearly 100 five-star reviews on Zillow. Here is what their clients are saying: “Sue was amazing! We are a military family currently

living in NC. She took on the task to help us sell our home. The house needed work and she took on the task to help us get all of that done as well. She was always available to answer questions and even kept us updated while she was on vacation. Once the house was on market we received an offer within three days. We look forward to working with her when we return to California and are ready to buy our forever home.”

“We can’t speak highly enough of Susan Kline. She is intelligent, professional and client-focused. From our initial phone query on, she was incredibly responsive.

Sue was truly ‘on call’ and made us feel valued as clients.

She listened to our goals, then negotiated a deal that most would have run from. Later, when our mortgage lender became difficult to deal with, Sue steered us through to ensure a timely closing. She handled the whole process with grace and humor. My husband and I can’t thank her enough. Susan Kline will be our ‘Realtor® for Life.’”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Sue Kline and her team are your trusted 5 star real estate team!!!

“Who you work with matters” Sue is now remarried to her husband, Pete Jones, who works in the music industry. The kids are grown and out pursuing their own paths, but she and Pete still have a full house with a dog and two cats. Sue and Pete enjoy spending time dining out with friends and occasional trips to Mexico. In order to give her family and clients her very best, Sue takes care of herself by going to the gym, listening to motivational books and journaling.

Sue has never forgotten what it was like to be a firsttime homebuyer, and she still feels a kinship with single moms who dream of providing a home for their children.

She comments, “Where I’ve felt the best in my career is when I’ve helped a single mom who was told she can’t do this. I don’t give up on them.”

Sue was there making calls - she wasn’t going to give up.

And I got my house. I couldn’t have done it without her.

Thank you!”

While Sue has a proven track record of delivering unparalleled real estate service for more than 15 years, she acknowledges that her service excellence is made possible by the support she receives from her many trusted colleagues and affiliates, including her transaction coordinator; home inspector; and lending, title and escrow professionals.

“The people I surround myself with are bright, competent people who have been in the industry for years and will do whatever is needed to get the job done. If I don’t know something, they do. My team and I make sure buyers and sellers have nothing to worry about.”

A recent client described her experience this way: “Being a first-time buyer, I was very nervous. Sue was there for me every step of the way. When I was ready to give up, ExecutiveAgent Magazine

SUE KLINE

RE/MAX of Santa Clarita 27720 Dickason Dr., Valencia, CA 91355 Tel: 818.642.8620 - Email: sklinerealtor@aol.com Web: sueklinehomesearch.com - CalBRE #01352901 ExecutiveAgent Magazine

“I Am A Habit”

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-A-B-I-T…When 95% of people hear this word,

a negative thought pops up in their minds.

Typically, most people think of a habit being negative. The secret to your future lies in your daily habits so ask yourself right now, “Are my habits today going to help me achieve my WHY in life?” This is a life-empowering question if you truly ask it and listen for the answer.

I received the following excerpt from a very dear friend of mine and felt that it is definitely the best explanation of a habit that I have ever heard: The Habit Poem I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.

And, alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.

Plus, the intelligence of a man.

You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.

Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.

Who am I? I am a HABIT! One of my daily habits that is the foundation of my life is spending 45-60 minutes each and every morning feeding my body physically by exercising and feeding my mental spirit by reading or listening

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to a motivational message. This habit warms me up for the day ahead. Everyone washes their physical body and feeds their body every morning, but 95% of people will find an excuse about why they can not find the “TIME” to invest in a habit of feeding their MINDS! This parallels the statistic that 95% of people are dead or dead broke by the age 65. I consider this particular daily habit of mine to be the driving force behind my ability to consistently maintain my intense focus on the journey of success and living a dream life.

Is it easy all the time? Of course not, but when it becomes a habit – you will do it! If you commit today to begin each morning warming yourself up for the day ahead by feeding your mental spirit, your entire life will change in a positive fashion very quickly. It is like driving a race car with the emergency brake on and you try to go ahead, but you can’t move. You stay in the same location with your wheels spinning, burning up, making a lot of noise, but not going anywhere!

All it takes is to release the brake and you will fly towards your WHY in life!! You need to review what your habits are and ask yourself…“Would I recommend MY habits to someone I truly love and care about?” Your entire future lies in your daily habits—positive or negative. You have the most powerful force right now in your hands, the ability to decide what your habits will begin to be.

Find Your WHY & FLY!!

John Di Lemme was a 24-year-old stutterer working in his family art gallery that dreamed of becoming a world-renowned motivational speaker. Over a sevenyear period of hardships, challenges and obstacles, John remained focused on his dream and ultimately built a massive marketing team of over 25,000 representatives in 10 countries and earned the financial freedom that he had always dreamed of.

Visit John Di Lemme’s website.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

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You Succeed By

L

istening to the reports about what’s presently going on in the economy I’m reminded of a time, a number of years ago, when we were going through what many people are going through now.

The end of the month was approaching and we were experiencing a cash flow challenge. It was, in all honesty, one of the greatest tests of faith I had experienced in a very long time.

Interestingly enough, I stayed positive throughout, knowing somehow that it would all work out for the best.

During the last week or two of the month my resolve was tested several times.

Using everything I have learned about the law of attraction, and staying focused on what I wanted, I managed to stay “locked on,” to borrow a phase from Lynn Grayborne.

The tricky part and where I believe many people get tripped up, is holding your attention on what you want, while ignoring the “reality” of what is.

Visualizing what you desire while being careful not to notice what has not yet happened.

Let me explain.

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When facing challenging times, a drop-off in revenue for example, most people devote a lot of time and energy noticing the lack of business.

This is generally the opposite of what they want. What they want is lots of business.

The law of attraction, a universal law as valid as any other law, like gravity, tells us essentially “we attract of what we focus on.”

The subtlety here is that if we are noticing the lack of revenue, we will attract that. In other words, we will attract more lack of revenue.

The challenge and I believe the real test of ones faith, is to ignore reality and only look at what we want.

We then let go and trust in the Divine Power, that it will appear in the perfect way in the perfect time. The only way it cannot is if we block it by holding our attention, our power as a co-creator, on less than what we want.

During my recent challenge, I knew deep within my being, at the cellular level, that everything would work out. I went about my business taking appropriate actions, holding my attention on what I wanted, being appreciative for everything I already have (counting my blessings) and yes, ignoring reality.

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Ignoring Reality I know that there people who will say I was crazy or foolish and that we have to “be realistic!” There was a time when I might have tried to convince them I was right.

Now all I do is smile for I know better.

A few days before the end of the month, in the middle of a phone call with a friend, I went on-line to check my bank balance and see what was happening, to see what checks had cleared and what yet had not cleared. When I looked at the screen I almost fell over, because what I saw there was a very large deposit sitting in my business account.

A small part of me still thought it might be a mistake, but I rejoiced in what could only be described as a miracle. I realized right then and there that all of our positive focus and refusal to accept lack had in fact produced a significant result.

Step 2 – Know what you DO want.

Write it down.

Then, here’s the “secret”, spend some time each day feeling the feelings that you will experience when you have what you want. See and feel yourself as you would if you already had your desire.

For example, if what you want is more money, you probably don’t want little pieces of paper with numbers on them. You most likely want some feeling associated with having the money. Maybe it’s joy, freedom, security or some other good feeling.

I believe this was a “sign” that our faith was not in vain.

Focus on this feeling and recreate it in your body.

Imagine you already have the money and are feeling the feelings it brings. Experience all of the good feelings that will come with your desires.

“What so ever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be given unto you.” This quotation from the Bible explains it all.

Give no attention to the fact that you do not yet have it.

Ignore reality during this “Feel good” time. Do this simple exercise for a few minutes each day.

Activity Step: In your journal complete the steps below: Step 1 – Know what you DON’T want.

Write it down.

Jim Donovan is the author of the International bestsellers, Handbook To A Happier Life and This Is Your Life, Not A Dress Rehearsal. You can visit his website at JimDonovan.com.

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E XECUTIVE AGENT

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MAGAZINE

Written by Haley Freeman

Setting a New Standard of Excellence and Service

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personal escrow experience. This is what the dynamic team of professionals at Escrow of the West promise every client who walks through their doors. This dynamic company was founded by Principal

and Director of Sales, are equally committed to ensuring that Escrow of the West clientele - from consumers to real estate and lending professionals enjoy the same professional standard of service excellence.

Tracy explains, “My favorite quote is: ‘Perseverance and trust are a potent combination.’ The most important thing in our industry is to find people you trust and will trust you in return. We earn trust by our integrity, honesty and going above and beyond to meet professional expectation. We go a step above regular customer service, and we want every client we serve to feel like they are our only client. I have an amazing ‘wingman,’ Ciara, and together, we work hard for every person we meet.”

and CEO Galit Ofengart, a successful escrow officer whose passion for real estate and uncompromising client service has made Escrow of the West a Premier leading Independent Escrow Company. Galit remains a practicing escrow officer who leads by example, radiating positivity and proficiency through every tier of her robust organization.

“Bringing Tracy and Scott on board was a vital piece of my expansion plans. With their sterling reputation in the industry, we set our sights on them from the beginning, now that we have them on board, I feel very comfortable in handing them the reigns and watching this new office provide the community with the highest level of escrow service available and taking our business to new heights,” stated Galit Ofengart.

Tracy Standridge, Senior Escrow Officer and Westlake Village Branch Manager, and Scott Mazza, Vice President

“Trust is what this business is all about,” Scott adds. “We appreciate the trust real estate agents place in us when they send us their clients, and we want to do our part to reciprocate on that trust by not only providing excellent service, but also being a force in the community. We want

to entrench ourselves in every aspect, so consumers will also recognize who we are and choose to use our service each and every time.”

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Giving back is a hallmark of Escrow of the West’s culture. The company is widely known for its philanthropic work in the community. The team regularly gives back through hands-on participation in events that support local business and community causes, and they frequently head up charitable initiatives of their own.

You have only to walk into Escrow of the West’s business offices to feel the cheerful warmth of the people who work there. Every office is an inviting space, where people can conduct one of the most important transactions of their lives in beauty and comfort, surrounded by people who exude a spirit of welcome and professionalism.

Tracy says, “Everybody who visits our office says it has a great aura. Escrow of the West recognizes the need to be proactive when helping a client with what is typically the most important financial transaction of their life.”

“We work well as a team,” Scott comments. “We’re like a family, and I think consumers and agents see our positive attitude and how happy and excited we are to do business with them.”

new standard of excellence and service. Their sizable staff of top professionals is ready with the resources to serve every need. Tracy says, “It flows from our working CEO, to our beautiful offices and the atmosphere we create when agents entrust us with their clients, to our investment in the community. We want to be known as upbeat, caring professionals who are eager to make your next escrow your best-ever experience.”

Tracy Standridge, Senior Escrow Officer Westlake Village Branch Manager Scott Mazza, Vice President, Director of Sales Escrow of the West, Westlake Village 2659 Townsgate Rd., Suite 200 Westlake Village, CA 91361 Phone: (805) 410-1400 Email: tracy@escrowofthewest.com Email: Scott@escrowofthewest.com Web: www.escrowofthewest.com

Accuracy and security are also vital to delivering the industry’s finest escrow services. Escrow of the West utilizes state-of-the-art cybersecurity and aggressively trains its professionals to safeguard their clients’ most valuable assets.

The experts at Escrow of the West are truly setting a ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Investing Yourself ne of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever heard comes out of Holland. The citizens in the little village of Ida in Holland were astonished when Hans Bergen died because he left an estate of $40,000 to a young girl named Anne Martin. She, of all people, was the most surprised villager of all, for she had never spoken to Hans Bergen. How could such a thing happen to her?

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avoided him like the plague. Perhaps Anne Martin saw the extreme loneliness in Hans and gave him the only thing she could—a smile. It’s amazing how much we can do for others when we invest a little of ourselves in them.

That builds winning relationships because people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care—about them.

Well, Hans Bergen’s will told the story. It seems that one day Anne Martin smiled at him. It was the only smile he had ever received in his lifetime. Grotesquely ugly, Hans had lived a lonely, affection-starved life. His ugliness frightened and repulsed the villagers and they

Zig Ziglar is a beloved author and America’s motivator.

He is the author of 25 books and offers training and consulting to organizations all across the globe. To learn more about Zig and his business visit his website at www. ziglar.com.

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Happiness as a Priority

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t’s always been interesting to me that the average person (go ahead and ask them), spends ten times (or more) the amount of time watching television than he or she does even considering happiness.

In fact, in one pole that I conducted, not a single person out of more than 30 people admitted to spending even one second thinking about how they might go about becoming happier!

Some of these people spent anywhere from 2-7 hours a day in front of a television set, yet not one minute contemplating what could amount to the most important question of one’s life—how can I be happier?

One of the first rules of any venture is that in order to get somewhere, you need at least a general idea of how to get there and, at the very least, where you are going!

We’re really lucky in a way as learning to be happy is a very easy thing to do. In fact, happiness is our natural state.

If left to our devices and if we could find a way to stop interfering with the flow, we’d be extremely happy right now. So while life did not come with a instruction book on happiness, it really didn’t have to. By following some really simple principles and also knowing how to get out of our own way, we can become extremely happy, regardless of our present circumstances.

Most people would agree with the notion that when a baby is born, he or she is a fairly clean slate. In other words, they aren’t vicious, reactive, judgmental, dissatisfied, prejudice, jealous, or angry. Instead, they are simply little beings who are curious and open to learning. Unfortunately, most of the time they eventually learn some pretty negative thinking which leads to some pretty unhappy times.

We are taught that our thoughts are real and that we should pay attention to them. Problem is, they aren’t real,

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they are just thoughts.

Think of a time when you were, say, driving home from a baseball game and on the last play of the game, your favorite player, dropped an easy ball and blew the game and the season for your team and all the fans, you being one of them. You’re now in the comfort of your own home and the outcome of the game is brought up by other members of your family. You start to think about the dropped ball and you start to get depressed. You launch into a lecture about how the team needs new outfielders!

Yikes, it’s happening all over again!

It’s as if the dropped ball is happening all over again in your living room. As you think about it, you get more and more distressed, after all, you rationalize, he “did” drop the ball!

That’s true he did drop the ball. But let me show you how easy it is to dismiss that thought now that the event is over. You’re about to see that while the unfortunate event did occur, it’s now only a harmless thought with no power over you other than that which you give it. And once you realize this, happiness will be moments away.

Have you ever been driving and some other driver nearly knocks you off the road—maybe even comes within a foot or two of killing you? It’s happened to me a few times in the almost 30 years that I’ve been driving.

Whether it has ever happened to you or not, pretend for a minute that it did.

Imagine the thoughts that would be running through your mind while you were still heated. I can imagine the thought “I should kill that guy,” being one of your thoughts, or something similar, relating to some sort of revenge. Now the question becomes, “would you do it?” I mean it. Would you kill the driver? Of course you wouldn’t.

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And other than the fact that it’s against the law and that you’re a moral person, why wouldn’t you act on that thought? The reason is simple: The thought was just a thought—like the thousands of other thoughts that run through your mind every single day. You realize it was just a thought and you promptly dismiss it.

This doesn’t mean you aren’t a little spooked or that you don’t care—of course you do. But by dismissing the thought, you put the event behind you, opening the door for you to move into the present moment and be happy in this moment instead of caught up in a thought that is just a thought, like all other thoughts—including the thought of the baseball player dropping the ball.

Today, as we live our life, that event is merely a thought carried through time, via our own thinking As long as you see it, not as a reality to contend with, but as a simple thought, you are free to live right now, in this moment.

Because thoughts are just thoughts (all of them) you have the power to drop any thought, at any time. You are absolutely in charge and have the last say! This is the ultimate in taking responsibility for your own thoughts and feelings.

Here’s a little more food for thought. Let me ask you a funny question. Would you ever, even for a moment, consider writing yourself a nasty, mean-spirited letter and then mailing that letter to yourself? Then, when you get the letter you open it and you’re immediately offended by the mean and obnoxious content! You storm around the room and act all out of sorts!

Of course this would never happen in a million years, but why? The reason is that you would be aware that it was you who wrote the letter. How silly would it be to write a letter and then become upset by that very letter?

thinking. Think about it carefully. Why would you ever have a thought—any thought, no matter how negative or scary—and then become nervous, reactive, angry or in some other way bothered by it? Remember, it’s just a thought you’re having, just like all the others. And what’s more important, you’re the one who produced the thought to begin with.

Being upset by your own thoughts is a little like smashing your head against a wall and wondering why your head hurts. Remember, you wouldn’t act on a scary thought like killing another driver, no matter how bad he or she was—why? Because it was just a thought. The secret to a happy life is to realize that all of our thoughts are just thoughts. True things happen all the time, but once they are over—or if they haven’t happened yet, they are just thoughts.

Before I close, take one last look at that ball player who dropped the ball. Regardless of how high the stakes were, it’s now, today, right now, nothing more than a thought— no more or less important than any others! Try applying this logic to all of the thoughts that run through your mind and, pretty soon, you’ll be dropping any negativity you’ve been burdening yourself with—and what you’ll be left with is, you’ve got it—happiness!!

Richard Carlson, PhD, was considered one of the world’s foremost experts on happiness and stress reduction. As the author of thirty popular books, which have sold more than 26 million copies worldwide, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, he showed millions of people how to not let the small things get the best of them.

Well that’s the exact same logic we can apply to our

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Our bone marrow transplant reunion is now standing room only.

Each year, City of Hope invites bone marrow transplant recipients and their families to attend the “Celebration of Life” event. It’s a joyous time during which survivors of blood cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma embrace their health, their life and each other. It began more than 35 years ago when City of Hope created what is now one of the largest and most successful bone marrow transplant programs in the world. In fact, we’ve completed over 11,000 transplants and, according to national reports, our outcomes are among the best in the nation. The goal of curing cancer isn’t just something we work at. It’s what we live for.

If you have cancer, make us your first call. Or ask your doctor for a referral. We accept most insurance.

800-826-HOPE

COH-0726_BMT_Hem_fp_4c_ExecAgt.indd 1

WE LIVE TO CURE CANCER. Science saving lives. cityofhope.org/bmt

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