Build, Build, Build!
By mid 2006, I knew the direction I was headed. I knew the direction for the companies, now all I had to do was build them. That was easier said than done. Over the next couple of years I spent thousands of hours applying what I had learned the previous 3 years to creating tools, systems, and products for each company. To top it all off, I was elected the 2008 President of the St. Louis Association of REALTORS. My term officially ended 10/31/08. I could probably summarize the time from mid 2006 to the end of 2008 as “all work and no play”. During this time, I worked harder than I think I ever have. But when you are working with a purpose and you are loving what you are doing, it’s not work!
Today we are working on completing projects (and we are almost done)! It seems like I have been at this forever! As of this writing, here’s where we are:
MORE, REALTORS –aka M.O.R.E. (which stands for Missouri Online Real Estate) is a full service, virtual office, real estate brokerage currently serving the St. Louis metropolitan area (with plans to expand). At MORE, REALTORS we provide exceptional service and results for our buyers and sellers. Our company is built around the team concept that allows us to work more efficiently. We use our unique internet marketing advantage to place our sellers’ homes in front of more buyers. Visit www.MO-RE.com If you are an agent considering a change, visit www.JoinMORE.com
eMarketing Design, Inc. – eMarketing Design, Inc. provides branding and lead generation products to real estate and mortgage professionals across North America. As a real estate professional and an emarketer, I know what works (and what doens’t). Besides consulting for brokers, agents, and lenders, we will be offering a lead generation and branding product for real estate and mortgage professionals in the first quarter of 2009. Visit www.eMarketingDesign.com
Information St. Louis, Inc. – Information St. Louis, Inc. is a new media marketing and information company, providing local search marketing and advertising to St. Louis businesses and professionals. I realized back in 2005 that there were many small businesses and professional in St. Louis that needed help marketing their goods and services. As a small business, I know what it’s like. I wanted to create a company that could help them. Visit www.InformationStLouis.com
EMD Hosting, Inc. – EMD Hosting, Inc. provides web hosting, affordable domain registration, and related products. Why did I set this up? I originally thought that I was going to be designing and hosting websites for clients. I created EMD Hosting to allow for that. Today EMD Hosting, Inc provides hosting and discount domain registration. Visit www.FlatFeeDomains.com
Closing Team, Inc. – Closing Team, Inc. provides transaction coordination to real estate professionals through virtual assistants. I originally set this company up to allow for my personal assistant to work as a transaction coordinator for other agents. As this company develops it will provide opportunities to enterprising individuals to become transaction coordinators in their local market. We are currently only serving the St. Louis area. Visit www.ClosingTeam.com
What I learned during this time:
- You can do more than you think you can.
- You don’t have to do everything yourself.
- Early to bed, early to rise, (helps you get it all done)
- The fear of something is often worse than the thing itself.
- There is a time for everything, be patient, just watch for it.