Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado

My obsession to-date for 2012: tackling the three-headed giant of Goal, Task and Time Management. Like so many I’m searching for the elusive 25th hour in the day. I’ve always suspected it’s hiding somewhere behind the email backlog, office interruptions, and my general responsibilities as wife, mom and career woman in the tech industry. As luck would have it, “Time Bandits” was the topic of the Fort Collins Internet Professionals (FCIP) meet-up I attended last week, how apropos. Not only did I pick up some great new tech tools to help me in my quest, but I was delighted to learn I’m not the only one that adds completed tasks to my list just so I can see them crossed off.

Here is my new strategy:

Goal-setting with the 4-1-1: I’ve used the 4-1-1 method for years to manage my business and personal goals. In short, every Monday I set weekly goals that support my monthly goals that in turn support my annual goals. Keller Williams offers a slick online 4-1-1 that I update weekly, but you can also download a version at www.productivitywarrior.com.

Task Management with Wunderlist: I realized recently I developed a bad habit of co-mingling my goals and tasks. These two require separate management techniques. After reviewing different options I settled on Wunderlist to manage my tasks. Using Wunderlist, I’ve separated and categorized business and personal tasks. Lastly, per great advice from the FCIP meet-up, I’m maintaining a Top 6 list of the six tasks I must get done today.

• Here is a great article I came across when researching task management tools – “14 Online Task Management Tools.”

“Time…You Ain’t No Friend of Mine:” I’ve heard it over and over again, TIMEBLOCK. This is the year I embrace time blocking. A few techniques I recently implemented:

• I started with the worst offender – EMAIL. I now do a 10 minute check first thing in the morning followed by a mid-day check and one check in the afternoon. Email isn’t instant messenger so I need to stop treating it like that.
• Gmail Snooze – thanks to Patrick Quinn (@IamSigmund) I installed Gmail Snooze. This allows me to time-delay emails from appearing in my Inbox until I need to deal with them.
• Small pockets of time are a goldmine – good reminder last week from Ron Zasadzinski (@ron_z). Now that my tasks are organized it’s easy for me to check-in and find tasks I can accomplish within the small gaps of time that present themselves throughout the day.
• Lastly, I’m a morning person so when possible I’m moving meetings to the pm, dedicating my prime time to the Top 6.

I would love to hear what approach and tools you use to manage your goals, tasks and time. Please leave your comments below. I’m off now to cross this blog post off my task list [insert satisfied smile].

Kelli Wallace
Director of Technology
Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado
http://about.me/kellinwallace
@knwtech

NASA – Colorado Association for Manufacturing & Technology (CAMT) project a game-changer
by Kelli Wallace, Director of Technology

I’m a compulsive note taker. Knowing that, imagine my anxiety as I sat at my luncheon table watching leading economists click through slide after slide of facts and data. Not that I didn’t come prepared – on the contrary I was well-equipped with my brand new tablet, trusty smartphone, and even good old-fashioned pen and paper. But my technology arsenal wouldn’t save me; I couldn’t type fast enough.

It was the 2011 Northern Colorado Economic Development (NCEDC) Annual Luncheon last week, and we were all there for the same reason – to learn about the latest developments surrounding the Aerospace Clean Energy Innovation & Manufacturing Park, commonly abbreviated to just “ACE.” It was my job to blog about the event, and I was just as excited as everyone else when I arrived. 15 minutes later, as job growth rates, unemployment numbers and 2012 projections flew across the screen, I felt like the kid in elementary school that couldn’t keep up with dictation. Then Elaine Thorndike and Diana Hoyt took the stage and I suddenly realized I had almost missed the ENTIRE POINT!
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As the daughter of a life-long educator it is no surprise I gravitated toward a company that at its very core is dedicated to coaching and training associates. Keller Williams Realty is that company. In my role as Director of Technology, I get to teach classes as well as attend top-notch Keller Williams training events. Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend Ben Kinney’s class “Generating & Converting Online Leads.” Amongst other things, those of us attending now know what kind of Craigslist ads work, the best platforms and strategies for video marketing, optimal capture and conversion rates, and how the time of day for peak engagement varies per social media platform.

Last month I posted up my Top Five Takeaways from Social Media Mastery with @Liz_Landry. I am still working through pages of notes from her class. Of course I am only highlighting technology training, which is one segment of the Keller Williams curriculum. To plug-in to the complete suite of training opportunities at Keller Williams check out the links below:

• Northern Colorado Training Calendar
• Northern Colorado Productivity Coaching
• Colorado Region Training & Events. Click here to register for our upcoming 2011 Rocky Mountain Summit!
• Keller Williams International Training & Events. Breaking news: MAPS is launching a large Technology Division. For an overview of the division check out Liz Landry’s blog post Waking Up in Vegas with MAPS Technology.
• KWConnect – multimedia training offered 24/7 online.

People who know me know that I tend not to “you should” people. Generally speaking people don’t like to be told what to do. However, this is an instance where I can say with confidence you should take advantage of the phenomenal coaching and training offered by Keller Williams. As a Team Leader of ours said several times, “it’s a gold mine and all you have to do is bring a shovel.”

Liz Landry teaches "Social Media Mastery"

Marcus Valdez teaches Camp 4-4-3

Kelli Wallace
Director of Technology
Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado
http://about.me/kellinwallace
@knwtech

J.D. Power and Associates names company highest in customer satisfaction for second year in a row

AUSTIN, TEXAS (September 2, 2009) —According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller Study, Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the third largest real estate company in North America, received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full service real estate firms for the second year in a row. The company also ranked second-highest among home sellers in the study.

“We couldn’t be prouder. This is an achievement our associates have truly earned. It is the face-to-face  interaction and the relationships they build daily that has impacted this study and elevated Keller Williams Realty to another level in customer service,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty. “Knowing that this study was conducted during the toughest times the market has seen shows that spirit and dedication can make an impact.”

The study was produced by J.D. Power and Associates to measure home buyers’ and sellers’ customer satisfaction. The results of the home-buying experience were determined by three factors including the agent, office and the package of additional services.

“I am absolutely beaming with pride that our agents have been honored in such a fantastic way,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “We are lucky to be in business with such incredible business people, who have shown incredible resolve over the past two years. If there was a time to build their business, it is now.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently ranked Fort Collins third for mid-sized cities on its “Smarter Cities” sustainability list. Cities were evaluated based on their efforts to use sustainable and alternative energy, use of green space and for encouragement of energy efficient transportation. Fort Collins was compared against other cities with a population of 100,000 to 250,000. On Fort Collins’ city profile, the NRDC highlighted the collaboration between Colorado State University and the City of Fort Collins, known as UniverCity Connections. This partnership has lead to projects like FortZED, a planned zero-energy district in Old Town. Denver was the only other Colorado city that made the list, ranking ninth among large cities. You can see the complete list at: http://www.smartercities.nrdc.org.

You can also view Fort Collins’ Smarter City Profile at: http://www.smartercities.nrdc.org/cities/fort-collins-co

Source: Coloradoan, “Fort Collins ranks third on nationwide Smarter Cities list” by Bobby Macgill, 719/09
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090719/NEWS01/907190314/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02

Last Thursday over 30 volunteers from Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado joined students at Putnam Elementary for reading time. Serving as morning mentors to the young readers, the brokers, administrators, and team leaders from Keller Williams enhanced the weekly program already started by bringing out more volunteers for literacy.

Red Day is a traditional day of community volunteerism for Keller Williams, now the third largest and fastest growing real estate company in the US. In honor of Mo Anderson, Vice Chairman of the Board, this great event reaches out to help the communities Keller Williams serves across the country. From area clean-ups to food drives to educational outreach, Keller agents from around the country donate their days to the effort.

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FORT COLLINS, CO—Sept. 3, 2008—Two of the fastest growing real estate firms in Northern Colorado have joined forces. Fort Collins Real Estate and Keller Williams of Northern Colorado today announced their merger, according to Keller Williams Operating Principal JoAnn Johnston.

Established in 1999, Keller Williams of Northern Colorado has offices in Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley, focusing primarily on residential real estate sales. Fort Collins Real Estate, established in 1988 and owned by Michael L. Jensen since 2003, has specialized in commercial, investment and residential real estate since Jensen has been in charge of the company. Last week, Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI) launched its commercial division; KW Commercial and Jensen will now take the opportunity to head up and help launch that division for the Northern Colorado offices of Keller Williams with the completion of the merger and the formation of this new partnership.
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AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 2, 2009) — Keller Williams® Realty Inc., announced last week at its annual convention in Orlando, Fla. that it is now the third-largest real estate franchise in the United States, surpassing RE/MAX® International. According to Steve Murray of REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry, the Austin, Texas-based company claimed the number three spot with 72,794 U.S. associates at the end of 2008.

“The success of Keller Williams Realty can be directly attributed to the hard work and perseverance of our associates and the soundness of our economic and organizational models,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. “While others might be looking at this market and seeing fear and uncertainty, we have always approached it as our opportunity to shine and grow. And that mindset has paid off.”
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