Boulder County Real Producers - April 2023

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

AIR CONDITIONING

Squeaks Services (303) 280-5765

www,squeaksservices.com

ARCHITECTURE

Rodwin Architecture

Scott Rodwin

1245 Pearl St. Ste. 202, Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 413-8556

RodwinArch.com

BANK/FINANCE

MidFirst Bank

840 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 376-3820

www.midfirst.com

CLEANING SERVICES

Perkins Detail

Cleaning Service

Denise Perkins (915) 270-3216

nextdoor.com/pages/ perkins-detail-cleaningservice-brighton-co/

CUSTOM BUILDER

Wood Brothers Homes (303) 717-8207

www.woodbrothers homes.com

CUSTOM HOME DESIGN & BUILD

Cooper Building Group

372 W. Elm St. Louisville, CO 80027 (720) 595-9684

www.cooperbuilding group.com

ESTATE SALES

Blue Moon Estate Sales

Dulgunn Lkhagvadorj

390 E Mississippi Ave Denver, CO 80210 (720) 432-2726

www.bluemoonestatesales. com/boulder

FULL SERVICE

PROPERTY CARE

Granite Property Services

Christopher Hardman (720) 483-1037

www.GraniteProperty Service.com

HANDYMAN/ WOOD CRAFTSMAN

Omega Carpentry

Omega Perkins, Jr (915) 249-9020 nextdoor.com/pages/ omega-carpentrybrighton-co

HEATING & COOLING

Meyers Heating & Air, Inc. (303) 442-6640

meyersheatingac.com

HOME INSPECTION

Beagle Home Inspections LLC.

(303) 731-6891 beaglehome inspections.com

Inspections Over Coffee

(303) 500-3378

InspectionsOverCoffee.com

HOME WARRANTY

Home Warranty Inc.

(260) 433-4027

homewarrantyinc.com

INSURANCE

Superior Insurance Agency

Vicki Kupfner (720) 259-0444

www.superiorinsure.com

INTERIOR DECORATING & DESIGN

2212 Design Inc. Property Staging Services

Laura Akahoshi (720) 791-4800

www.2212Design.com

LANDSCAPING/ HANDYMAN/

PRESSURE WASHING

Granite Property Services

Christopher Hardman (720) 483-1037

www.GraniteProperty Service.com

MUSIC SCHOOL

Boulder Symphony Music Academy

Andrew Krimm

4730 Table Mesa Drive Suite I-300

Boulder, CO 80305 (720) 328-8286

www.bouldersymphony musicacademy.org

PRESSURE WASHING

Premier Window Cleaning and Pressure Washing

Nick Casso (303) 564-5574

premierwindow cleaningdenver.org

PRIVATE PRESCHOOL

Boulder Country Day School

Diana Emerson

4820 Nautilus Court North Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 527-4931 x295

bouldercountryday.org

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Peak Property Management at Re/Mex Elevate

Terri Ellerington (303) 974-5477

www.peakpmelevated.com

RESTORATION - WATER, FIRE & MOLD

24-7 Restoration, Inc.

Deb Barone (303) 485-1730

www.247restoration.com

TITLE INSURANCE

First American Title Insurance Company

4940 Pearl East Circle, Ste 104 Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 449-8442

FirstAmColorado.com

EVAN LAM

Article by Barbara Gart

& MEET DENNIS VINH

Evan Lam and Dennis Vinh pride themselves on their unique approach to real estate. The two met in 2016 when they were working for the same brokerage and quickly realized they had a similar business philosophy. After the brokerage they worked for was purchased by a national firm, the focus changed from real estate to recruitment, so Evan and Dennis decided to partner together so they could offer their clients the type of service that came naturally to both of them. In 2019, they founded Colorado Key Properties and haven’t looked back since.

Dennis shares, “Evan and I operate in real estate differently than I’ve seen other people; we love customizing how we approach our business to each individual client. We could produce more sales if we had a more systematic way of going about business but we don’t think that’s necessarily the best approach, so we’re always willing to spend extra time and think outside the box to make sure every client has the best result.” Evan agrees, sharing, “We don’t really focus on how much money we can make, which is a huge difference in how we do business. We’re happy with our income, but it’s not the primary driver of what we do. Our focus is on creating a service that people rave about; we believe in quality over quantity. We would both turn down business to avoid overextending ourselves before we’d give up the quality of our service.”

Evan was born in Hawaii and moved to Boulder with his family when he was nine. Dennis grew up in Westminster and moved to Boulder in 2004 to attend the University of Colorado. Evan was inspired by his uncle to get into real estate in 2008. “He was a real estate agent and a

firefighter, and he had a lifestyle that was inspiring to me. I liked the idea of real estate because you can choose your own destiny and you’re not limited by what a company pays or the services you can offer.” Dennis began working in restaurants as a teenager and continued after college, but helping manage his parent’s investment portfolio inspired him to go into real estate in 2015.

Evan and Dennis enjoy showing their clients how real estate can be accessible for everyone. Evan

shares, “I love working with first time buyers, since a lot of people we work with don’t realize home ownership is something they can participate in. I’m also an investor myself, so I enjoy helping people make investor-minded decisions.”

Dennis echoes Evan’s sentiments, “That’s exactly how I feel. I really enjoy doing the first sale for clients, because that’s when they see the reward of their actions and investments and the ability to grow their portfolio and live a better life.”

Photo by Kevin Snyder, Kevin Snyder Photography

Evan Lam

Dennis Vinh

I really enjoy doing the first sale for clients, because that’s when they see the reward of their actions and investments and the ability to grow their portfolio and live a better life.

One of the aspects most important to Evan and Dennis is being able to customize their real estate deals. They both feel strongly that what they do is not a “one size fits all” approach. Recently, Dennis worked with clients on a complicated transaction selling two condos and purchasing a replacement property. The end property was an old 1900s farmhouse in Niwot, which had been owned by one family, so not much was known about the property. Dennis’ clients had grand ideas for what they wanted, which required a lot of extra steps from getting surveys to talking with mineral, oil and gas lawyers to working with the county and city. “Overall, all three deals took about six months, and we didn’t know if everything was going to work out until the week before it went through. It was fun and complicated and completely out of the norm.”

Another unique aspect to their partnership is that even though Evan and Dennis have their own clients, they talk every day and know about each other’s clients. Evan shares, “We’re constantly going back and forth with each other, and it’s nice for our clients because we’re very similar people.” Before they started their own brokerage, Evan

was on a rock-climbing trip to Greece when he got an email from a client. “I began replying and before I could hit send, Dennis responded to the client exactly what I had already typed. At that moment, I knew I could enjoy the rest of my vacation, knowing my clients would be taken care of.” Dennis adds, “Even though Evan and I built our real estate careers independently of one other, we saw teaming up as a benefit to our clients. Every real estate deal is so different and this way they get twice the perspective, resources and contacts.”

When asked what advice they would give to new agents, Evan and Dennis share, “Don’t mistake activity for productivity. It’s easy to have a full day when you’re starting, but new agents often avoid the most important part, which is talking to potential buyers and sellers. They’re often terrified they won’t know what to do or say, so they want to be fully prepared before any opportunity comes across their desk. It’s impossible to do this because you’re never going to have all the answers.” They also share that “Real estate isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. Every conversation could lead to another transaction so you should be willing to have a conversation anywhere because that conversation could lead to your best client for the next decade.”

In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his family, traveling internationally and all of the Colorado outdoor activities, especially rock climbing. He also loves “geeking out” on the MLS and studying the market and can often be found late at night searching properties all over the country. He is passionate about supporting people recovering from addiction and donates time and resources to Phoenix Multi Sport. Dennis enjoys spending time with his wife Heidi and lab mix Charlie and is looking forward to

ing the city through food. He recently served on the board of the Harvey Park Community Organization’s scholarship committee which focused on micro scholarships for kids within the Harvey Park Neighborhood.

Customer service and always going above and beyond are at the heart of what Evan and Dennis do best. “We are very accessible, extremely flexible and have a hard time saying no to things, which is part of what makes us so good.” They’ve helped clients move, gone on the roof to wash windows and shoveled snow, amongst other things.

“So much of what we do isn’t just to get a sale. We truly enjoy time spent with our clients, and once they’re our clients, they become our family.”

To contact Evan or Dennis, please call Evan at 303-775-1594, Dennis at 303-667-3287 or email evsrealestate@ gmail.com or dennisvinh@icloud.com. Or reach out on Instagram at @rockclimbing_realtor or @vinhdustries.

partner profile

Article by Caitlin Berve, Ignited Ink Writing

Meet

BEN SPILGER

and The Junkluggers

As a real estate agent, you will inevitably be asked to sell a home that is filled with items the owners don’t want to see just thrown away. Maybe your sellers have lived in their home for decades and are downsizing or maybe they need to move quickly out of state and have to part with items that are still in good condition. Or maybe they just don’t want to add more stuff to a landfill. That’s when you should call a company like The Junkluggers.

What sets The Junkluggers apart from other businesses that help people declutter is their sorting capabilities and commitment to staying green. They work closely with many local donation partners to keep as much stuff out of landfills as they can. One of their biggest partnerships is with the ARC Thrift Stores. Many of the gently used items The Junkluggers remove are donated to local ARC chapters. They also work closely with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations to get items in the hands of people who need them.

When it comes to items that are beyond repair, The Junkluggers do their best to recycle what they can. Mattress go to Spring Back Colorado (a second chance employer). Electronics, cables and batteries go to 3R Technology Solutions. Tires go to Go Green Tires, and metals go to a variety of local metal recyclers. They even recycle paint by taking it to GreenSheen Paint. The Junkluggers recycle everything they can.

Before starting his Colorado Junkluggers franchise, Ben Spilger spent about 18 years doing third-party logistics for corporate America. As that company grew, he realized they had less need for an intrapreneur like Ben, so he started thinking about a second career. After earning his MBA, Ben looked for a company he could buy or start in Denver that had the potential to grow quickly. He

went to a Junkluggers event with a friend, spoke with the founder of the company and decided The Junkluggers was the right business for him. He believed they had a solid franchise model and that Denver needed a “junk” company committed to reusing and recycling.

When not at work, Ben spends most of his time with his wife and kids skiing, hiking and traveling both in and out of Colorado. His wife is from Belgium, so they’ve explored quite a bit of Europe and have taken the kids to Mexico twice. Ben is also an avid reader—for business and pleasure.

Ben comes from a career where it was difficult to make everyone happy, so his absolute favorite part of The Junkluggers is the customers—and making them happy. Through The Junkluggers, Ben gets to help solve his customers’ problems. “The average customer just doesn’t know what to with their stuff or how to move it,” Ben says, “They are happy with our service and differentiation.” Ben and The Junkluggers understand they live in an eco-conscious area and value their community.

The work days start the same for Ben’s team with a morning meeting at the warehouse where everyone gets their assignments for the day. A team could have 1-2 big jobs or up to 25 smaller tasks to complete throughout their shift. They might be going to assess items and locations, providing estimates, sorting items to donate and recycle or loading trucks.

Ben says, “There’s no such thing as a typical day in this business,” but he did share one of his most memorable junk-lugging experiences. When a former Bronco called The Junkluggers, Ben and his crew got to help the football player sort through his memorabilia. The Bronco wanted his items to go to fans, not just family, and even gifted The Junkluggers some of his pieces. That day Ben got to help make sure historical items were saved and found homes that would appreciate them. “That’s the importance of working locally,” he says because he knows how valuable Bronco’s memorabilia is to local fans.

Ben’s Junkluggers franchise is based in Denver and serves about a 25-mile radius; however they do go to Fort Collins and Colorado Springs and are hoping to open satellite locations to better serve the I25 corridor. If you look them up on Google, you’ll see they have over 200 5-star reviews that say things like “The individuals who work for the company are truly professional. James came out to do an estimate and was a very personable, respectful, individual. I felt comfortable with him in my home . . .” and “. . . I got more done in that one hour than I would have in several months without their help. I will definitely be using [The Junklugges] again. They even cut down some deck debris I had to make it fit into the truck for the best pricing available. In these crazy hard times, they were a true breath of fresh air!”

If you have clients who need to get rid of stuff and wish to keep as many items out of landfills as possible, then you should call The Junkluggers. They would love to schedule a time to meet

up at your listing property and talk through the details. To give your clients the best service, they need to understand the situation and make it clear that your clients should remove the items they want to keep first. They can also work around estate sales. The Junkluggers will provide a no-obligation estimate—although most people sign up on the spot—that includes timing, resources needed, staff, dates and more.

The individuals who work for the company are truly professional.

THE ASHLEY HOME

5 BED | 3 BATH | 5,092 SQFT

This incredible 140 acre, legacy estate features world-class craftsmanship alongside unobstructed views of the mountains.

Situated in Gold Hill, this spectacular property has been featured in Log Houses of the World and exhibits extraordinary attention to detail while offering the ultimate privacy, access to enjoy diverse wildlife and captivating views of Long’s Peak and the entire Continental Divide mountain range.

With a single owner, The Ashley Home promises unrivaled attention to detail from any property on market. This stunning 5,092 sqft modern mountain retreat features Yellowstone spruce logs, 17th-century English fireplaces, welcoming country kitchen hearth, antique French provincial doors and a Thomas Jefferson tin roof design.

The home was designed in the 1990s by engineer and architect David Ashley for his family, and built by master log-home craftsman Ed Shure of Timmerhus, Inc. David, the son of Bernard and Laura Ashley of the world-renown apparel and home furnishing company, having grown up around great design, brought a valuable edge to the thought process and design of the Ashley family house. On every level of design and construction, David resolved that the home would be a personal and finely crafted expression.

Ed Shure is widely known in the world’s log-building industry. Shure’s innovative log-construction methods and frequent use of reclaimed salvage materials have resulted in his becoming influential throughout the log-building world.

David’s wife, Caroline Ashley, was instrumental in the selection of the highly sophisticated furnishings and overall decorative scheme for the interiors.

The Ashley Home’s incredible mountain setting, the thoughtful and delib

selections of the building materials, the fine and detailed construction process, and the tasteful and complementary furnishings all combine to make this home a true work of high art.

The Ashely Home is located at 1050 Pine Street, Gold Hill, CO and listed by Tyler Martini and the Hyphen Real Estate Group. To enquire about the property, call (303) 358-9988 or email tyler@hyphenrealestate.com.

At the time this issue went to print, The Ashley Home was on the market.

realtor to know

Article by Caitlin Berve, Ignited Ink Writing

MEET BRIAN

MARGOLIS

Photo by Liv Berger, The Headshot Gal

Brian is an active member of the Boulder Valley Rotary, which gives dictionaries to local third graders in the Boulder Valley School District and raises most of its money by hosting the Superior Fall Beer Festival. He has coached lacrosse for Boulder Valley for over 5 years, even though his own kids have long outgrown the league, and helped start the Broomfield lacrosse league. To foster goodwill and understanding among people from difficult countries and cultures, Brian and his family host foreign exchange students; their current student is from the Czech Republic.

With three kids, Brian is acutely aware of the dangers teenagers face in Boulder like the rise in fentanyl and suicide deaths. Having such a large network means he knows people who have been personally affected. To spread awareness and raise funds to help prevent such tragedies, Brian volunteers and participates in the Mental Health Partners’ annual Boulder Skyline Traverse Challenge. This trail run is 19+ miles of terrain rated as difficult that traverses the five peaks forming Boulder’s iconic backdrop. The difficulty of the race symbolizes the challenges of life.

Even his work as a real estate agent is a way for Brian to give back to his community. Not only does he build community by getting people into homes, a portion of every closing in his office goes to Children’s Hospital. Plus, he hosts a holiday party every year with “Santa Clause”—a former client.

One of the draws to real estate for many people is the flexible schedule, but as any experienced Realtor® or self-employed person can tell you, a flexible schedule can easily mean working 12 hours a day 7 days a week. Brian Margolis has found the right work/life balance to allow him to be there for his clients while still having plenty of time for his family and community.

Brian came to Boulder as a wine salesman for a local distributor in the early 1990s after graduating from the University of Denver and returned multiple times before making it his home in 2016. In his 20s, he absolutely loved working in the wine and spirits industry, especially when he won trips like an all-expenses-paid vacation to wine country in Italy. However, watching some of his most intelligent friends leave engineering for real estate, Brian became intrigued. He learned many of his friends from his University of Denver lacrosse team had gone into real estate and was drawn to their success and lifestyle. After learning more about the industry, he was hooked.

Now Brian loves the relationship aspect of real estate. He prides himself on having good relationships with both clients and other Realtors® for 23 years. He loves it when other real estate agents choose his clients’ offer because of his industry reputation for getting the job done and being an excellent communicator. He shares his success with his long-time assistant Veronika, who makes sure his i’s are dotted and his t’s are

crossed. Brian likes to say they work the B-line: Boulder to Broomfield to Brighten. Living in Superior, he always particularly enjoys working in Superior and Broomfield but specializes in all of Boulder Valley. He has also done a lot of work in horse and mountain properties and helps real estate investors gain wealth. His relationships with industry vendors such as stagers and general contractors make sure every home he represents shines.

Brian has settled at eXp Realty and loves it. He has worked for Keller Williams Realty, Coldwell Banker and RE/MAX (he’s in the RE/MAX agent hall of fame), but loves the ways eXp has changed how they support their agents with options like their agent

equity program that allows agents to become shareholders. eXp is a publicly traded company. Because of their online training program, collaborative culture and other training opportunities, Brian believes eXp is a particularly good choice for new agents and teams. “I wish I’d found it earlier in my career,” he said. Brian is happy to answer any questions other Realtors® have about eXp Realty. He has trained dozens of new real estate agents and is happy to report they now have thriving careers making 6 figures.

When asked about trends in the market and the future of real estate, Brian said, “I represented a lot of banks during the last recession. Everyone thinks another one is coming, but we have an inventory shortage right now. Prices in Boulder haven’t fallen, so we won’t see anywhere near the amount of foreclosures.” Basically, people have enough equity in their homes that they will just sell if they need to.

The end of 2022 was some of the hardest months in the real estate industry. 2022 had some of the largest increases and decreases in home values. “I highly doubt it [the real estate market] will ever be as crazy as 2021 and the start of 2022,” Brian said, “However since the new year, consumer confidence has increased and people are ready to buy again.” So if you are a seller, Brian believes now is a great time to get on the market because inventory is still well below buyers’ demand.

To wind down, Brian likes to walk his dogs and hike, even when that means ice and crampons are required to explore Green Mountain in February. He is currently a frustrated Eagles fan but looking forward to next season. With his wife and three kids, he enjoys skiing, water skiing, taking their RV to Lake Powell, golfing and travel. The Margolis family took a trip to Italy and Sicily last year, and Brian is extra appreciative of not having to pay for anything on that wine trip he won now that he has paid for his whole family to travel overseas.

You can reach Brian at yournewhome@ themargolisteam.com or (720) 352-0454.

that sells HOME STYLING

A stunning and enduring impression will ensure your listing stands above the competition. Our staging designs highlight the best features of the home and help potential buyers see themselves living in the space. This emotional connection is often the difference between a good offer and a great offer.

At 2212 Design Inc, we don’t just furnish homes, WE

www.2212design.com

720.791.4800

Style2Sell@2212Design.com

 VACANT HOME STAGING

 LUXURY AND MODEL HOME STAGING

 SHORT TERM / EXECUTIVE RENTAL STYLING

 OCCUPIED HOME CONSULTATION

 PROJECT MANAGEMENT (RENOVATIONS/REPAIRS)

 RE-DESIGN (STYLE-TO-STAY)

Take Control of Your Business in 2023

Article by Carrie Nash

The real estate and mortgage industries have undergone significant changes in the recent past, such as the 2008 credit crisis and the shift in market conditions during and after the pandemic. While change can be scary, expe rienced real estate professionals have seen shifts like these before and know how to handle them. To remain successful in the industry, it is important to empower agents with knowledge, confidence and new ideas. This can be achieved through training from successful real estate coaches, market forecasts from experienced CEOs and by staying up-to-date with new loan products.

A recent market shift has resulted in increased interest rates and slowed down buyer participation. As a result, sellers must price their homes accordingly. To help buyers navigate this new market, new loan products have been introduced to make payments more manageable. Products such as temporary buy downs and lower interest rates on jumbo loans are becoming increasingly popular. Additionally, working with a seasoned loan officer provides a variety of options for the buyer.

To learn how to handle market shifts, local real estate agents attended a training by real estate coach, author and international speaker Clara Capano. She shared attributes of a CEO mindset, how to work on a budget and how to maintain control of your business. Her wisdom, energy and direct approach was well received by the audience and agents left empowered with knowledge and confidence. To further enhance their careers, real estate agents should convey their personal brand and story through effective marketing strategies, such as those taught by James Clark.

While the market has shifted, Barry Habib, CEO of MBS Highway, offered positive insight on declining interest rates in the second half of the year. Real estate agents

should feel encouraged by this market forecast and ready to tackle this shift in the market by educating themselves through events sponsored by Carrie Nash and Highlands Residential Mortgage.

learn about real estate educational events in your area, contact Carrie Nash at (303) 478-7696 or cnash@cnash.com.

top producer

ZANA MEET

LEIFERMAN

by Liv Berger , The Headshot Gal

Article by Caitlin Berve , Ignited

Many people come to Boulder for the mountains, but not many people come for the thrilling, grueling experience of competing in triathlons. Zana Leiferman did. A Colorado native, she was raised by her grandparents in Lakewood and attended Colorado State University with a swimming scholarship. There, she discovered triathlons and, within a year, was a professional triathlete. She moved to Boulder because it’s a triathlon mecca.

Zana met her husband, Chris, through triathlons and they competed together until back issues from a car accident made Zana give up triathlons. However her husband still races professionally, and she still loves to cycle and run. She has a bit of a love/hate relationship with swimming, which most people who were encouraged (or required) to compete in a specific sport as a child can relate to.

Even though she doesn’t do triathlons anymore, Zana does compete in run and cycling races. She sponsors the Ride or Die Collective, a Boulder women-only cycling team.

The last trail race she competed in was 50k in San Francisco. She loves travelling to races or watching her husband compete at triathlons on the international triathlete team BMC (Bicycle Manufacturing Company). Last year, Chris raced around the world and Zana went to his races in Spain, Hawaii and St. George, UT. Zana often brings her bike to tour the places they travel to and says, “I love sports, being outside and the meaningful relationships I get to build, but I do not miss triathlon training.”

Becoming a triathlete takes hard work, consistency, persistence and a compounding effect. Zana knows a failure isn’t a failure if you keep going. She brings those traits and more to her career as a real estate agent.

Like in her races, Zana thrives on connecting with people. She knows any real estate agent’s clients will be the people who know, like and trust that Realtor®. “The coolest part about real estate is getting to meet new clients,” she says, “It feels like people are pulled together for a reason.” She puts everything she has, which is sometimes too much, into her clients.

Zana enjoys the challenge of knowing a little but about everything in real estate because each deal is unique. Every day she gets to ask different questions to guide her clients in the direction they choose. Her motto is “real people, real advice,” meaning she really listens to her clients’ needs and desires to give them the best advice for their situation and goals, not something generic or sugar-coated. This is the motto for all of

I THINK WE ARE IN A NORMALIZED, LEVELED MARKET THAT IS FINALLY BALANCED.

the agents at Real Realty Colorado and why Zana created the boutique real estate firm. They all give the advice they would want to receive.

In order to offer such great advice, Zana does a lot of market research, listens to economists and reads statistics. She arms her clients with this information and lets them make decisions from there. When asked about the current market (in February), she said, “I think we are in a normalized, leveled market that is finally balanced.” She likes to challenge herself to think about what could happen and make predictions. “The one thing that could change everything is the unemployment rate, which could lead to a mild recession,” she says, “Not a housing market crash but a small correction.”

Zana is forever grateful for her previous boss Mark Hochhauser at Homestead Real Estate. After earning her license, he allowed her to learn both the buying and selling sides of real estate at the same time. He let her run with her new knowledge, setting her own (fast) pace as a real estate agent under his guidance. Mark later encouraged Zana to start her own firm, knowing she had always been a leader and had already earned her managing broker’s license. Being Mark’s assistant gave Zana the experience and knowledge she needed to start Real Realty.

Because of her experience with Mark, Zana likes to hire new, freshly-licensed real estate agents and teach them both the buying and selling sides of the business through things like ride-alongs and her office manual. She looks for people who are compatible with her and her team and that she has the bandwidth to guide and give the attention they deserve. In particular, she looks for a new hire to have the drive to be successful—something that can’t be taught.

While Zana raced in triathlons and before real estate, she taught early childhood education for 7 years. That inspired her to create the nonprofit Real Realty Colorado Cares. Her organization raises money for classroom supplies, field

trips and more for classrooms that are underfunded. A portion of all Real Realty Colorado commissions are donated to Real Realty Colorado Cares. Zana and her team also donate to local nonprofits like Harvest for Hope and the Community Food Bank, and her husband volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

As you can see, Zana is the type of person who likes to be busy. “I will create projects to keep busy,” she says. Right now, she is renovating her house in-between Niwot and Haystack Mountain and a stone’s throw from her mentor Mark. The house hasn’t been updated since it was built in 1973, so it was a complete gut job. Zana and Chris have been living in the home throughout the renovation process and even had to build a temporary kitchen in another room while they updated the kitchen. Zana and Chris are going for a classic-meets-modern style and built an office with a bathroom above their two car garage for Real Realty Colorado agents to work from if they choose.

At their house, Zana and Chris tend to their 2.5 year-old child, Cruz, chickens, a 3.5 year-old toy Aussie, Stevie, and a vegetable and herb garden. Zana comes from a Latin background, so she loves making spicy food and salsa and uses her garden to destress and decompress. She feels lucky to have such an amazing home and family as well as the hard-word ethic, determination and integrity to be in the top 20 Boulder County real estate agents.

Real Producers in Boulder County for 2022!

Article

STRESS

The Upside

health and wellness

For centuries physicists have used the word stress to describe force applied to materials. It was not until the 1930s that Hans Selye, a Hungarian-born endocrinologist, began using it for live beings after doing research and experiments on animals in stressful situations. He found that after all sorts of mistreatment, they lost muscle tone, developed stomach ulcers, and suffered immune-system failure. Selye began using the word stress to describe the health effects. Then it started to be used for psychological suffering as well.

Today, the Oxford English Dictionary defines stress as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or

demanding circumstances”. The causes vary enormously: One person may be stressed by exams but happily swim with great white sharks. Another may have to take sedatives before flying but enjoy speaking to a crowd. This makes stress hard to measure.

Selye later came to distinguish between good stress caused by positive experiences, such as falling in love, and distress—the bad sort. Other scientists explained it metaphorically: just as many materials can withstand stress until a certain breaking point, it was thought that humans could cope with stress that was not too severe. The idea took hold that moderate stress might be a good thing. Some described it as a “human function curve” meaning that a moderate amount of stress, such as a deadline or race, was beneficial. But above

by Dr. Felicia Santelli

a certain stress threshold, humans, like metal bars, would break down.

Some scientists concluded that what matters is not just the level of stress, but how it is thought about. The same stress, perceived differently, can trigger different physical responses with differing consequences for both performance and health.

Recognizing that stress can be beneficial is an important concept. People who have a more positive view of stress are more likely to behave in a constructive way. A study by Alia Crum of Stanford University’s Mind and Body Lab found that students who believed stress enhances performance were more likely to ask for feedback after an uncomfortable public-speaking exercise. Plus, seeing stressors as challenges rather than threats affects how one responds, causing less effects on health.

Humans can respond to stress in several ways. The best-known is the “fight or flight” response. This is the response to sudden danger, which increases the heart rate, constricts the veins to limit bleeding, sends more blood to the muscles and makes the brain focus on survival.

On the other hand, in less extreme situations, the body and brain react differently. When people perceive they are being challenged rather than threatened, the heart still beats faster and adrenalin still increases, but the brain is focused on the challenges and the body releases a different mix of stress hormones, which help in recovery and learning. The blood vessels remain more open, and the immune system reacts more positively.

Sometimes, the wrong response is triggered. People taking exams, giving a speech or pitching a business plan can react as if they are in a life-threatening situation with negative consequences to both their performance and their long-term health.

In an earlier study, Ms. Crum and Shawn Achor, the author of The Happiness Advantage, visited UBS, an investment bank, at the height of the financial crisis in 2008. They divided 400 bankers into three groups. The first watched a video that reinforced notions of stress as toxic; the second watched one highlighting that stress could enhance performance; and the third watched no video clip at all. A week later the second group reported greater focus, higher engagement and fewer health problems than before. The other two groups reported no changes.

Other studies have shown that recognizing the benefits of stress can cause improvements in performance. In one experiment Jeremy Jamieson, a psychology professor at the University of Rochester, gathered college students preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), an entrance test for postgraduate courses. He then divided them into two groups. One group was told that stress during practice exams was natural and can boost performance; the other received no such pep talk. The students who received the mindset intervention went on to score higher on a GRE practice test than those who did not.

We all have different views of stress. If you Google images of stress, you’ll see a guy with his hair on fire. We’ve internalized the negative image of stress. Instead, compare stress to going to the gym. You get stronger if you push yourself beyond what feels easy, but afterwards you need to recover. The analogy suggests that stress at

work may be performance-enhancing but should be followed by periods of relaxation. That may mean not checking e-mails on weekends, taking more holidays or going for a stroll in the middle of the day.

Certain patterns of thinking can turn a short-term dip in vitality or emotional well-being into longer periods of anxiety, stress, unhappiness and exhaustion. A moment of sadness, anger or anxiety can end up tipping you into a ‘bad mood’ that colors a whole day or longer.

But studies have revealed the path to becoming a happier and more centered person recognizes that the effort of trying to free yourself from a bad mood or bout of unhappiness often makes things worse. It’s like being trapped in quicksand. The more you struggle to be free, the deeper you sink.

This raises some interesting issues which could affect long-term health. Can we learn from what life is showing us? And is there something for me to learn from this situation or experience?

Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist at Stanford University and the author of The Upside of Stress, helps people rethink stress by explaining it is what we feel when something we care about is at stake. She asks them to make a list of things that stress them and a second list of things that matter to them. “People realized that if they eliminated all stress, their lives would have little meaning,” she says. “We need to give up the fantasy that you can have everything you want, without stress.”

Since stress is unavoidable, learning how to harness it is wiser than fruitless attempts to eliminate it.

References:

http://www.economist.com/news/ international/21702463-new-researchshows-even-severe-stress-can-haveupside-what-makes-us-stronger help-desk@truthaboutabs.com via mailing-truthaboutabs.com

Williams, Mark and Penman, Danny. Mindfulness. Rodale Publishing; 2013.