“Putting it Together,” a song written by Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, carries a worthy message for today: how can we use our time, talents, and resources to prepare for the weeks and months ahead? “Every moment makes a contribution. Every little detail plays a part.” This “get ready” philosophy is so essential to what’s happening in our world today, whether we are talking about a company, a team, or our personal lives. When we started this pandemic interregnum many moons ago, we gathered up all the canned food, toilet paper, and reading materials we thought we would need for a long winter’s night. Little did we know it was going…

Travel planning pre-COVID seems like a lifetime ago – Be aware of Hurricane season; when is the best time to travel to Europe, Australia or anywhere you were thinking of going.  Many people planned big trips 6 to 18 months in advance in order to secure the best lodging or cruise cabin. Travel insurance was always recommended but not everyone took it or understood what it covered.  When the world came to a screeching halt, we all had to navigate it.  In the travel industry it meant a lot of watching and waiting because if the flight or cruise cancelled, our clients could receive a refund but if you cancelled…

“Putting it Together,” a song written by Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, carries a worthy message for today: how can we use our time, talents, and resources to prepare for the weeks and months ahead? “Every moment makes a contribution. Every little detail plays a part.” This “get ready” philosophy is so essential to what’s happening in our world today, whether we are talking about a company, a team, or our personal lives. When we started this pandemic interregnum many moons ago, we gathered up all the canned food, toilet paper, and reading materials we thought we would need for a long winter’s night. Little did we know it was going…

The dinner meeting is off to a good start. You reserved the executive meeting room in your restaurant on your property. You know the one — dark wood-grained conference table, plush high-back chairs, and sleek, modern art adorn the walls. You check in to make sure everything is going well. Amy, one of your top waitstaff, walks around the table and pours wine for everyone. And that’s when it happens. She accidentally knocks over a full glass into the CEO’s lap. Red wine is on his shirt, pants, and Italian leather jacket. You and Amy rush over to help clean up the spill and apologize to Mike, the CEO. You…

Here we are again—still. Another day, week, month of suiting up to go grocery shopping, drooling as we drive past our favorite restaurants, proudly wearing our colorful, personalized PPE, and social distancing from our friends and colleagues. (One interesting side note: I just read that deodorant sales our down!) Still, we carry on, persevere, press ahead. Actually, we seem to do more than just merely survive; we acknowledge our current situation and fearlessly face forward with an Attitude of Gratitude. When asked how they are surviving, some people talk about being thankful while others use the word grateful. I like both, and I’m sure I have used both. But somehow,…

Clouds drift and light falls through leafy trees onto the porch of a secluded home. We suspend the viewer in time and space, capturing for a moment the essence and beauty of this place. They quickly envision their kids playing in the yard, their family taking walks through the neighborhood, and the feelings of what life might be like in this new home. Aerial photography is about so much more than just showing details of a home, itʼs about evoking an emotional connection with the viewer and building a relationship between them and the property. As a listing agent, you provide the solution to a buyerʼs one explicit problem: “Where…

If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else. —Yogi Berra One of the most critical factors in determining your ultimate success is that you know where you’re heading—where you want to end up. To do that, you need goals, realistic goals, short-term and long-term goals designed to get you where you want to go. They’ll act as your signposts, keeping you headed down the right road, in the right direction. And the sooner you set that direction, the less wandering around in circles you’re going to do. Like Wisconsin’s state motto, your goals will keep you moving—“forward.” What are the benefits of a clearly defined…

When asked why a homeowner should invest in a home warranty, a few reasons that benefit both buyers and sellers come to mind. First, a home warranty fills the “wear and tear” gap created by exclusions to their homeowner’s insurance coverage.  Many items not covered by an insurance policy are often covered by a home warranty. And although Home Warranty, Inc. has a network of preferred technicians, homeowners have the flexibility to choose their own. When service for a covered item is needed, the homeowner pays one low service fee per repair, and that helps provide budget protection. Knowing that many common appliance or mechanical system failures will be taken…

I’ve been simplifying my life since 2006. I didn’t know that’s what was happening in the beginning. At first, I was only focused on eliminating as much stress as I could so I could feel better, so I could live well with multiple sclerosis. Even when I finally saw the simplicity path I was on, I knew the finish line wasn’t a simple life. With all of the focus around minimalism, simplicity, decluttering, and capsule wardrobes, it’s easy to believe that a simple life is the dream, but a simple life is not the end goal. We don’t remove clutter, reduce stress, and boycott busyness to have a simple life.…