www.joestiles.com
 
 
Welcome  
The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to inform, motivate, educate and offer a little humor into our hectic lives.
 
If you have a favorite subject or article you would like to share with others, please let me hear from you for a future month's newsletter opportunity.
In JANUARY 2009 Issue
The Leadership Puzzle
I Resolve To...
Are You LinkedIN?
To REFI or Not to REFI...
A Billion Here and a Billion There
A Woman's Place...
Kids Say The Funniest Things...

The Leadership Puzzle

This is the first of a four-part series on Leadership
 
Are your resolutions made? Are they big enough to be broken?
 
Our resolutions are often so large that we neglect to put the foundation in place to achieve them. Achieving a goal can be likened to solving a jigsaw puzzle. It always works best when we start with the  four corners in place to give us structure and boundaries for success.
 
Becoming a better leader has often been on my resolution list. This is a rather lofty goal and in today's business world we are often dropped into a leadership role without the advantage of having all the corners of our leadership puzzle in place.  The nice thing about the leadership puzzle, you can always go back and put the missing corner in place. 
The first corner of the leadership puzzle is the personal habit corner. We must first be able to lead ourselves on a daily basis before we can lead others. That is not to say we will have the same challenges or take the same approach to a challenge as our followers, but being able to recognize when someone is experiencing a challenge is light years ahead of most leaders.
 
Understanding through introspection goes a long way to leading others to success. Who would ultimately benefit from this personal realization?

My special thanks to Linda Stiles 
www.lindastiles.com

I Resolve To...

 
 
Keep a tight rein on my tongue.  How I say something counts for far more than what I say. 
 
Be careful what I promise to others If I intend to make promises, I had better be prepared to keep them, no matter what the cost.  The easiest way to lose the respect of others is by guaranteeing things that I am either unable or unwilling to deliver. 
 
Be kind and encouraging to others.  Never let an opportunity to show kindness or encouragement to others to pass you by.  Praise good work, regardless of who did it. 
 
Take an interest in other people.  Learn about others' interests, their homes and families, and even their problems.  Gaining the confidence of fellow workers is made much easier when I  demonstrate that I have a caring attitude.  When others are joyful, rejoice with them; when troubled or in mourning, be sympathetic. 
 
Be cheerful.  We all carry a load of some sort, and although the old saying "misery loves company" is still widely held up as truth, keep in mind that making others miserable is truly a disservice.  Don't dwell on my minor aches and pains and small disappointments.  Maintaining a cheerful attitude at all times will not only make others more comfortable in my presence
 
Keep an open mind.  Don't allow me to get into arguments.  Discuss things with people rather than argue.  Being disagreeable is likely to put others off; they will much prefer to deal with those who have a calm and reasoned approach.  When confronted with a situation that you either disapprove of, or dislike, keep this in mind: it is the mark of a superior mind that can disagree without being disagreeable.  
 
Be mindful of only my own vices and virtues. Refuse to discuss others' vices or problems.  Don't allow gossip to rule my life.  Tearing down another to prop yourself up is an extraordinary waste of time; furthermore, it can be very destructive. 
 
Be careful of others' feelings.  Humor at another's expense is rarely worth the trouble.  Not only that, the hurt and pain felt by that person will often come when least expected.  Take into account another person's feelings before you poke fun. 
 
Pay no attention to what others say about me. Remember, the person making snide or rude comments about me may not be well informed.  Live in such a way that what is said about me cannot be taken to heart.  Let my own actions determine how others see me, and that they will not believe the negative things said. 
 
Don't worry about accolades and credit which is due me.  I will do my best...because it's the best I can do.  Concerning myself about how much credit I receive will only burden me with more stress.  Let others see my work ethic, and I will be able to take pride and pleasure in a job well done


A special THANK YOU to my friend Johnny Munoz for these great 2009 resolutions.

 "Are You LinkedIN?" 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
Please join me as my personal guest at the HWCOC's Business Over Breakfast meeting on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month. 
 
Our breakfast meeting is held in the 3rd floor conference room at the LeTourneau University 
10370 Richmond Ave. (at Beltway 8) 
 
 
We begin our netweaving and breakfast meeting at 07:00 A.M. and finish at 08:30 A.M.  
 
Be sure to say THANK YOU to those responsible for sponsoring the fabulous breakfast. 
 
The next meeting is
 JANUARY 21ST   
The theme for this month's program for chamber members is:
 
"Are You LinkedIN?"
 
This program highlights the dynamics of LinkedIN as a viable tool for new business.  This presentation ny Eric Standlee will boggle your mind with the options.
 
Please call me at 281/381-1414 for directions OR go to www.hwcoc.org for more information and the monthly calendar of events.
 

To REFI or Not to REFI...

 
With mortgage rates fallen to historic levels, the question for homeowners now whether to consider refinancing or buying.
 
Here are some ideas to apply to your specif circumstance. 
 
To consider refinancing your present home loan, the first question to ask is "how long will I be living in this house."  If the answer is less than (about) 5 years, refinancing for a short term may cost more than the savings can save.
 
One of the fundamental calculations is to compare the present P&I with the new, lower P&I and divide that number into the cost of the refinance.
 
Here is one hypothetical example:
  • $5,000 = cost of the refinance
  • $100 = savings in the monthly P&I
  • 5,000/100 = 50 months (4 years - 2 months) to recapture the cost of the refinance 
In this example, if plans include a movein 4 years or less, it may not be prudent to refinance for such a short time.
 
With rates at historic low levels, it may be worthwhile to consider moving up the future home purchase plans.

The above simple exercise will serve as a general guide to help homeowners to make the proper decision on whether to refinance or buy.

 With any questions or for a referral to a host of really great real estate agents, please feel free to call on me as a resource.
 
Joe
 
 
 
 

A Billion Here and a Billion There

 Let me share a perspective of how much a BILLION is in the context of time:
  • A BILLION seconds ago was 1959
  • A BILLION minutes ago, Jesus was alive
  • A BILLION hours ago, our ancestors were living in the Stone Age
  • A BILLION days ago, no one walked on earth on two feet.
  • A BILLION dollars ago was 8 hours and 20 minutes at the current spending levels by the government

If you have an opinion about our federal spending, let your Congressman and Senators know your thoughts.

A Woman's Place is...

Joe Flag-Suit 2 
 
 The title of one of my speaking programs is "A Woman's Place is...in the Home."
 
 
 
Ladies, please don't get tooooo excited at the chauvinistic headline as I attempt to explain below.
 
This interactive program is focused on the largest growing demographic group of homebuyers - the single professional female. 
 
I want to emphasize the point, again, that if anyone is not focused on marketing to the single professional female, regardless of their business, they are missing a large segment of the buying public.
 
Here are two marketing test questions to emphasize the point of the impact the single professional female has on the economy:
  • What percent of the homebuyers is comprised of the single professional female?
    • 22%
  • What percent of the homebuyers is comprised of the single professional males?
    • 9%

NOW...where is your smartest marketing focus?

Is your group or company needs a guest speaker, let me hear from you.  I will be glad to send a listing of a dozen really great topics that I offer.

  •  JOE STILES

    281/381-1414 

    joe@joestiles.com

     

    This link will take you to a listing of local firms and/or groups that I have addressed.   Local Companies List

  • KIDS SAY THE FUNNIEST THINGS..
     
     
    I'm being haive!" -- 2 year old son, when his mother told him told to behave

    "I'm not an oxymoron!" -- 7 year old

    "I have a rock in my nose." -- 2 year old son, greeting his mother after preschool, a full hour after recess was over.
     
    "There's no one in there." -- 6 year old son, in response to seeing his father hanging pictures and tapping on the walls to find the support beams.
     
    "How will that help?" -- Kindergarten student, when the class was instructed to hold up two fingers if any of them had to go to the bathroom
     
    "They didn't see it -- it was all cut off!" -- 2 year old son, when his mother was asked how his grandparents liked his new haircut

     "Tell me when you're asleep, ok?" -- 7 year old son, overheard talking to his 5 year old brother.
     
    "I had a fraction in my neck and had to go to the hospital for a long time." -- Fifth grader, to his class.

     
    If you have a favorite and/or inspiring quote, please share it with me.

     
    JOE STILES
     
    281/381-1414
     
     
     
     
    Does your business have a coupon that you would like to offer to my readers? 
     
    This is a great opportunity to share your expertise with many others.
    JANUARY 2009
    Joe Casual

     I invite you to take a moment to be inspired, motivated, informed and entertained by this month's newsletter.  Please take a moment to share your comments and suggestions for furture articles and/or topics.
    America's Veterans
    America's military veterans have a very special place in my heart. 
     
    As my personal "THANK YOU" for every veteran who finances their VA loan through JOE STILES, 
    I am offering a FREE appraisal (a value of $400). 
     
    I am honored to serve our country's veterans in this small way as my personal gratitude of your service to the United States of America.
     
    NO TIME LIMIT
     
    Joe Stiles
    (USAF Veteran)
     
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