1/29/07

Good Morning MOJO,

Do you know what percent of our body is water? We BEGIN life as a fetus at 99%...when we are born, it drops to about 90%...then the average human body settles in some where around 70%. So, from a simple physical perspective, we are all made up for the most part of water!

Let me ask you a simple question…if you had a choice to drink from a body of water, which would you prefer….a river or a pond? Why?

Water in a river remains pure because it is moving, and it is generally agreed that the quicker it is moving, the more pure it is. When water is stagnating, trapped, or immobile, what happens? It collects a lot of crap and becomes polluted…right?

So, what is the message we all can learn from water? That it is critical for us to be moving fast and forward if we are interested in improving and not becoming polluted and turn into crap. It is interesting to note that as children, we are expected to grow and improve every year mentally, physically and emotionally. That is why we have different grades in school and you must improve each year in order to move on.

Then we graduate and what happens? Most people stop or slow down drastically that growth process…except around the middle. And the unfortunate thing is when we stop growing, we don’t stay the same…we actually start to move backwards year by year. What are you doing to improve every year mentally, physically and emotionally? Are you reacting to life or are you attacking and taking from it? It is a choice…just continue to be a kid…have fun, learn and improve everyday.

Let’s all make a commitment to keep in action, keep moving, changing, flowing; mentally…physically…emotionally. It is going to help purify who we are. Let’s not turn into crap…let’s continue to get more and more pure!!!!

What you see influences your attitude…your attitude influences what you do...what you do determines EXACTLY what you get!!!

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

1/15/07

Good Morning MOJO,

Many years ago in a small village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.

The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter.

Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal.

So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field.

As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers. What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Well, here is what she did..... The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked." Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.

What you see influences your attitude…your attitude influences what you do...what you do determines EXACTLY what you get!!!

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

1/8/07

Good Morning MOJO,

It’s the 2^nd week of the New Year and now is when it starts to get hard to keep those New Years Resolutions. I showed up to the gym last week and was shocked by the number of cars in the parking lot when I left. I’m not sure why I was shocked…I shouldn’t have been…it was the same thing last year. There must have been 10 times the number of people there compared to the week before Christmas. There where gyms all around the world with millions more people in them last week than the week before Christmas. The unfortunate thing is, it’s the same millions more people who where in the gym the first week of January last year….and the year before that…and the year before that…and the year before that.... And by February 1^st it will be back to just us old regulars. So, why can’t they keep it up? Why can’t you keep it up? Whether it is going to the gym, spending more time with your kids and/or spouse, eating healthier, losing weight, whatever it is…what can we do to keep those resolutions and make them changes for a lifetime…not just a week. It is good old discipline and accountability. If you are truly committed to having a better life, tell everyone you know about your resolutions and ask them to help hold you accountable…you have to burn the boats, so to speak, and don’ t give yourself a way back to the old you who hit the snooze bar. Because if you don’t burn the boats so that there is no going back when the going gets tough, you are going to revert back to all your old bad habits.

Now, when you are too tired to keep your commitments, play this video, think of Ben Comen, and ask yourself what advice he would give you: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=ben+comen

Make it a GREAT week!!!!

What you see influences your attitude…your attitude influences what you do...what you do dertermines EXACTLY what you get!!!

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

1/1/07

Happy New Year MOJO,

As we start a New Year today lets all make a commitment to turn up the heat at least one more degree in 2007 and see what happens. So many times in life the gap between what we have and what we want seems so far apart…but most of the time it is not nearly as far apart as we think. Click this link, watch the video and then turn up YOUR heat at least one degree to make 2007 your best year yet!!!!

http://www.walkthetalk.com/the212movie.php?refsource=vm212prairie

Here are 5 Simple Tricks to Achieving Your New Year's Resolutions...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

1. Get specific

A vague goal is as useful as no goal at all…general ideas about what you want give you nothing to work with and nowhere to go. It's only when you get specific about what you want that the path to success is revealed. Take time to narrow down your resolutions into specific ideas and turn your vague goals into crystal-clear goals.

2. Spread the word

Don't keep your goals all to yourself. The more you share your goals with others, the more life you give to those goals. It gives them the chance to grow and gain momentum. So, tell at least two other people about your goals, and be sure not to make the mistake of giving without receiving; spend just as much time listening to ideas as you did in sharing your own.

3. Buddy up

When it comes to living a better life, few things are as powerful or persuasive as a living, breathing human being. Books, tapes, etc. can help you along, but nothing can compare to one-on-one interaction. The buddy system is one of the most effective goal-achievement tools you can use. By partnering with a goal-seeker, you'll have all the support you need to achieve anything you set your mind to.

4. Burn the bridge

While preparing his next book, a famous writer listed his weight at fifty pounds lighter than reality. Not only that, but he did so knowing full well that only months after publication he would be paraded in front of thousands of his biggest fans. Why? To burn the bridge of easy escape. He knew he needed to lose the weight, but he also knew he would give up on the goal without any pressure to follow through. By promising his public a fifty-pound weight loss, he had no choice but to achieve the goal. What steps can you take today to burn the bridge of an easy escape and commit yourself to living a better life?

5. Do something - NOW

As they say, there's no better time than the present, and when it comes to living a better life, they couldn't be more right. The true power of taking one small step comes not in the small step of progress you'll make, but in the act of doing something about the things you want. As you know, getting started is often the most difficult part of the process. Millions of people dream, but few actually ever take action…and that is why it is critical that you do something today. Think of one small step you can take right now that will bring you closer to accomplishing your goal and once you have it in mind, DO IT!!!!!! Don't think about it…don't consider it…JUST DO IT NOW!!!!!!

Happy New Year,

What you see influences your attitude…Your attitude influences what you do...what you do dertermines EXACTLY what you get!!!

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com