McCourt Real Estate Blog

Most of us need to work for a living. Either it really is essential that we work for us to be able to maintain our current lifestyle or we love what we do.  Either way, it is important that we  at least be happy and content with our place of employment. I personally think that since we dedicate so much time where we do our work or business and with who we associate with there that it is important that we enjoy it!

The reason most people leave where they are at it because they don't feel fulfilled or supported.  How do you know when it's time to go?

1. You have lower self-esteem than ever. Have you ever experienced giving your all to a project and not even receiving at least a compliment from your boss? Then, all your “high-level” tasks are always assigned to another person without being given a reason. Those things would definitely lower someone’s self-esteem. I believe that you should do your best at anything we do, especially at work. But when it feels like our best efforts are not appreciated, then you might actually consider leaving for a place or career that’s more self-fulfilling.

2. You’re compelled to do things against your values. I guess it is okay if you are asked to go a little out of your way for your jobs. You may be asked to meet a client for lunch even if it is your rest day just so the company can close a deal. However, if for example, you are obliged to stretch the truth a little just so you could get that deal, I think that is asking too much. Giving extra effort is okay, but lying (no matter how small that lie is) just so you could get something is a big NO for me. And I can say that it is a clear signal that it's time to leave.

3. Your personal life is getting affected. If your work is getting too much in your family-time’s way, then I guess that only means a red flag for your work.

4. You get sick and always feel tired. Since you stay at work for almost half of the day, I think that it is imperative that your working environment should not be a health hazard for you. First of all, you will not be able to deliver well if you always get sick. Secondly, you wouldn’t want less time for other things just because you got sick working. It is okay to be stressed sometimes about work, but if you feel that you never get well, then I guess it only means you should leave… quick.

5. You’re wishing that weekends never end. I know this may sound shallow, but really, it is a bad sign about your work. If you are getting “Monday sickness” it's time to stop and take notice. When I worked for other people, there even came a point that I dreaded going to work because of a pending issue with a client. If you think about it, you should not be in any way, threatened by your work issues. Life's too short to live it only on the weekends!

If you're looking for a positive agency to work with, or if you're considering making a change in your career, we hope that you'll consider McCourt Real Estate.

Plant

• Cool-season vegetables early in the month: beets, carrots, Swiss chard, collards, lettuces, radish, spinach, mustard, turnips.
• Flower plants:  alyssum, calendula, candytuft, cosmos, marigold, nasturtium, petunia, phlox, pinks, salvia, stock (dwarf), sweet pea, verbena.
• Warm-season annual color plants (marigolds, zinnias, impatiens and others) 2 to 3 weeks after last killing freeze.  More tropical types (pentas, tropical hibiscus, moss rose, lantanas, caladiums and others) should be planted one month after last freeze.
• Color into containers for several-week head start on growing season.  Use lightweight, highly organic potting soil.  Move into protection on cold nights.
• Finish transplanting summer and fall flowering perennials very early in month before new growth emerges.
• Bulbs: agapanthus, amaryllis (in containers), allium, alstroemeria, daylily, society garlic, tulip, rain lily, liriope, monkey grass.
• Roses.  Buy quality, top-grade plants and avoid those that have been indoors.  They will not be acclimated to outdoor conditions. See additional information and pictures for Earthkind Roses at westtexasgardening.org.
• Fruit trees, grapes, pecans, blackberries and other fruit plants.  Our County Extension office has a list of the best varieties to plant for West Texas.  Call 489-4071.
• Onion transplants:  February 20 – March 5.
• Dig and divide summer and fall-flowering perennials such as liriope, daylily, Shasta daisies, mallows, cannas, gloriosa daisies, purple coneflowers, perennial salvias, mums and fall asters before new spring growth begins.
• In heavily shaded parts of the landscape where grass is difficult to maintain, choose one of the well-adapted groundcover plants such as English or Algerian ivy, Asian jasmine, vinca, prostrate juniper or mondograss.
• Don’t plant caladiums yet, wait until the soil temperature reaches at least 70º F.

Prune

• Finish all dormant-season pruning early this month before buds begin to swell.
• Shade trees, before new growth begins.  Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches, then crossing branches.  Make cuts just outside the branch collar, avoiding a flush cut.  Pruning sealant is not needed, except with oak species.
• Trim and reshape tropical plants as you bring them outdoors for the spring.
• Cutback old chrysanthemum plantings to encourage new growth. 
• A severe pruning now of overgrown beds of groundcovers will remove woody stems and induce new, compact growth from the base whereas later pruning will retard growth.
• Do not prune blooms on early-blooming plants like Indian Hawthorne, Texas mountain laurel, climbing roses, spirea, mock orange, forsythia, Carolina Jessamine, wisteria, coral honeysuckle, etc. Wait until after bloom is complete.
• On daffodils, Dutch iris and other low-chill bulbs, leave the foliage until it turns brown and then cut down.  The green leaves are replenishing the bulbs for next year’s blooms.

Fertilize

• All-nitrogen fertilizer to pecans on 30-day intervals March through May.
• Liquid fertilizer to newly planted flowers and vegetable transplants.
• Use complete water-soluble fertilizer for bougainvilleas growing in the greenhouse.  Bougainvilleas will bloom all winter if they are in a greenhouse or sunny room.  Keep watering and fertilizing.
• Houseplants once a month with diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer.

On the Lookout

• Use broadleafed weedkiller spray to eliminated dandelions, clover, dichondra, dollar weed and other non-grassy weeds.
• Fruit crops require protections from insects, diseases.  Follow “Homeowner Fruit and Nut Spray Schedule,” downloadable online from Texas A&M.
• Use bug baits or dust to eliminate snails, slugs, pillbugs if they are damaging your plants, such as pansies, calendulas and cool-season annuals.
• A wide variety of caterpillars may soon begin appearing throughout the garden.  Check tender foliage on such plants as petunias, kale, lettuce and cabbage.  Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt.) is a biological control that works well on most larvae (worms).
• Cankerworms strip foliage from trees, hang by slender threads from twigs.  Control with Bt. biological worm spray.
• Aphids may cause sticky honeydew drips from tender new foliage, also from tree branches.  New leaves may become puckered from their piercing and feeding.  Control with insecticidal soap, Neem oil spray or general-purpose organic or inorganic pesticides.
• Be careful not to get lawn herbicides too close to trees.  Weed-and-feed type fertilizers are notorious for killing young shade trees.

Odd Jobs

• Repot overgrown, root-bound pot plants.  Keep plants in light shade until reestablished.
• If you plant container-grown trees this month, be sure to make a 6 ft. circle around the tree for mulch which will keep the grass at bay.  Do not add organic material to the planting hole.  The tree needs to root in the soil in which it will live the rest of its life.
• March is a good month for aeration of the lawn.
• Tune up the lawnmower and be sure the blade is very sharp.  Dull blades tear the grass, sharp ones cut it.
• Check out the automatic lawn sprinkler system for leaks, broken pipes or heads or wasteful misting.

Information provided by Permian Basin Master Gardner's

It's frustrating to hear comments like "Why, do we need a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce?" Or, "the ATC (Advanced Technology Center) is just for troubled students?"  Or, "Disney will be opening a new resort area here - they just purchased land!" (How long has THAT rumor been going around?).

The truth is that all these statements can be answered with just a little bit of research and education.  And, as a Realtor, someone who is supposed to KNOW my town - then I believe it to be my duty to know my town so that I'm not passing along misinformation or completely false info (lies) to clients and potential movers to the area.

What can you do to be more informed?

• Tour at least one place a week in your community.  Find out what they really do, what they really house, who they really benefit and bottom-line what they really deliver to your community.  (For example: A Realtor thought that our local Advanced Technology Center was for troubled students when in actuality it houses the finest and most up-to-date courses available to our area at minimal cost. Why bring an outside firm in to charge hundreds more than our local Advanced Technology Center for a class when they can come to the ATC(Advanced Technology Center) and learn hands-on on computers.  This could be a selling point for someone coming to our community.  It's one of those items on people's checklist when they look at a community that fulfills education AND quality of life.
• If you don't know what a group or an association does, then put it on your "RESEARCH to-do list" to find out.  And complete one item from your RESERACH TO DO LIST each week.  In my local community, you would find out that the community wanted the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and that they don't serve "just Hispanics". They actually do an amazing job serving all small business owners and really focus on the needs of the small business owner and entrepreneur.  Isn't that what we Realtors are anyway?  What a great resource for our community!  And, how intelligent (and informed) will you sound when a client looks at upgrading their home and they ask you if you have any idea about some of the local rules and regulations of running a "home based business".
• Become involved in at least one community based organization (if you're not involved in one yet), one non-profit with a local office and attend "state of the city addresses" to stay "in the know".

Knowing your town is a great part of knowing your business as a Realtor.  I challenge you this week to be "in the know"!

Caren McCourt, McCourt Real Estate Services, summarizes it so beautifully when she says she looks for those associations that “move towards the light”.  This applies to your strategic alliances along with the companies and products that you purchase.  You look for those “good” things.  So, how do you get known as a “good” thing?  How DO YOU create buzz?

#1. Have a valid place in the conversation
Consumers talk about brands every day. While it may not be the first place they look, eventually consumers visit a brand or manufacturer’s web site to find information about a product. Be sure to offer information that answers questions.

#2. Use your voice and have an opinion
Think about “voice.” How does your voice tie in with your conventional advertising? What are you doing and saying on the website? Are you reflecting your brand’s personality across your entire communications strategy? Listen to what people are saying about you, and have an opinion.

#3. Be relevant
Understand what’s important to consumers as they talk about your product. Then be relevant when responding to their needs.

#4. Be responsible
You can have all kinds of modes of communication with people, but they’ll only appreciate it if you’re up front about who you are. Be responsible about your identity.

#5. Remember that it’s a social interaction
Always keep in mind that when people make a decision about something, it very seldom happens in isolation.

How’s your personal brand?  Like attracts like….what are you attracting?