Your Certified Mortgage Planner — Michael Eiden, Mortgage Blogger

Q:  How do you use visualization in your everyday life?

Tony:  An extraordinary  life doesn’t just happen.  Visualization is one of the most powerful tools you can incorporate into your everyday life to help maintain the competitive edge you enjoy now or to take you to an even higher plane.  Like watching a move of your life, it’s “seeing” you living out your dreams, your purpose, your values, and your emotions — and it’s ALL in the present, as if it’s happening now.  Just as an extraordinary body requires a ritual in optimal diet and exercise, an extraordinary spirit demands a ritual in optimal emotion.  My emotion is gratitude and my ritual spending an hour each dat to expand my capabilities to not only enjoy life more fully, but to help others to do so as well.

When you devote yourself to practicing this form of visualization daily, you will see your life begin to change in the ways you envisioned.  Your visions will become your reality.  You will connect more deeply with people and you will take on the challenges that each day may bring with clarity, faith and resolve.  You will begin to visualize your best life as you condition your mind, body and spirit for daily success.

Q:  What inspired you  to create the Basket Brigade?

Tony:  Pain — Personal pain!  Lots of us have been in a position when the kindness of a friend or even a stranger lifted and nurtured us out of a challenging situation.  Sometimes this simple act of kindness inspires us to do more and to reciprocate the magical gift that was given to us.

I had an experience like that when I was 11 years old and facing a bleak Thanksgiving.  We weren’t starving, we always found a way, but we certainly weren’t going to have a real holiday dinner with the trimmings.  Then a miracle happened — there was a knock at our door and when I opened it there was this HUGE man standing there with a giant box of food in his arms that was crammed full of everything — stuffing, pies, sweet potatoes — he even had an uncooked turkey in a pan on the ground next to him.  Someone knew my family was in trouble and wanted to help.  This stranger wasn’t looking for appreciation or adoration for this good deed.

That day I had a revelation that changed the course of my entire life.  I’d always believed that no one really cared.  But that day I decided that if a stranger cared enough about me to make sure I had a Thanksgiving feast, then I would return the gift.  Someday I would do well enough to give another family in need a Thanksgiving feast.

When I was 17, I took the little money I had in my pocket and filled two baskets with enough food to give two families a great Thanksgiving.  A the first house, a tiny Latina woman answered the door, her five kids peering  wide-eyed from behind her.  Her husband had just left her two days before with no food.  She looked at me in total disbelief, then she burst into teas and pulled me down to her, kissing me all over my face.  And while I was reeling from that, her kids tackled me, hugging my legs.  She pulled back just enough to look into my eyes and said, “Gift from God. Gift from God.”  It was such a powerful moment pure, undiluted joy and it made me realize that my life had come full circle — a recipient had been blessed enough to become a giver.

The next year I fed four families, then I fed eight families the year after that.  When I founded the Anthony Robbins foundation 20 years ago, our Thanksgiving gifts became the International Basket Brigade.  Last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas we fed nearly two million people in 35 countries.

I invite you to give yourself the gift of giving back.  Find something that ignites your passion and give to others with no strings attached.  When we give like that we step outside of ourselves and contributing to those who can’t give us anything in return is the way we experience  the ultimate reward.  We remember how small our problems really are and from that place of strength and gratitude, we are able to experience a different quality of life and touch the lives of others.  Contribution makes us remember why we were made.

Tony Robbins.

Even if you have no intention of selling your home this year, regular maintenance is essential for preserving your home’s appearance and value. If you do plan to sell, your well maintained home should fetch a higher asking price while avoiding last minute repairs before closing.

This spring, concentrate on these important fix-ups:

• Inspect gutters  and downspouts and check to see that splash blocks are properly positioned. To see if the weight of snow, ice and leaves has twisted your home’s gutters out of shape, pour a large container of water into each one. If water pools in one spot or flows away from the downspout, the gutter may need repair or replacement.
• All homes settle a bit each year, which can stress the foundation. Look carefully for hairline cracks and repair them immediately with the proper sealant.
• If your home is a brick exterior, inspect the bricks and mortar for any signs of wear or damage. If your home has wood or vinyl siding, look for loose panels and trim. Inspect the soffit and facia below the gutters for rot and insects.
• Examine all doors and windows for warping and re-caulk all seams every two years.
• On the roof, look for missing, loose or cracked shingles. Areas of mold or evidence of moisture accumulation may mean that water is not draining properly toward the gutters.
• Decide if your deck needs a fresh coat of stain or preservative and tap in any protruding nails.
• Inspect all visible pipes for leaks, drips or corrosion. Also look for water stains on the ceilings and walls that could indicate roof or window leaks.

Most of this routine maintenance can be done yourself. However, if you find yourself in need of a handyman whether it be lack of expertise or time, send me an email and I get you a referral. You can also use Angie’s List to find a reputable handyman.

Press Release for Portland, OR Farmers’ Market. Can’t wait for all that local, organically grown produce!!! Not to mention are the artisan stuff.  Summer is right around the corner! yeah!

Portland Farmers Market Growing for 2010 Season

Portland Farmers Market doubles footprint at Saturday PSU Market and opens two new farmers’ markets at Pioneer Courthouse Square and NW 23rd Avenue.

Portland, Ore., January 28, 2010 – Portland Farmers Market, the nonprofit 501(c)6 organization operated by a small staff and numerous volunteers, today announced the opening of two new farmers’ market locations as well as the expansion of the Portland Farmers Market – Saturday at PSU. Beginning this summer, the organization will launch and operate farmers markets at Pioneer Courthouse Square and NW 23rd Avenue. The Saturday PSU market will stretch from SW Montgomery Street to SW Hall Street, doubling the footprint of the popular market.

“Portland Farmers Market wants to build a strong regional food system by ensuring that every city resident has access to high quality, nutritious, locally grown and produced food and appreciates its value in strengthening our local economy,” said Ann Forsthoefel, executive director of Portland Farmers Market.

She added, “We are three huge steps closer to realizing that goal by expanding our Saturday PSU market and opening these two new locations in two of the most vibrant, visited areas of the city.”

More than 450 farmers and food artisans have applied to become vendors at Portland Farmers Market’s six farmers’ market locations for the 2010 season. This is a record number of applications second only to the 2009 season, which is recognized as one of the most successful years for Portland Farmers Market, an independently run organization which receives no ongoing support or funding from government agencies.

Portland Farmers Market – Saturday at PSU: Now Offering More Room to Roam

The Portland Farmers Market – Saturday at PSU, set to open for its 19th season on Saturday, March 20, 2010 – the first day of spring – will expand to include the block directly south of its existing location. Although the Saturday PSU farmers’ market location will double in size, the staff doesn’t plan to double the number of vendor booths. Instead, vendor booths will line up along the perimeter of the South Park Blocks, eliminating the majority of the inner ring of vendors’ stalls formerly packed into the previous market footprint.

Already ranked as one of the world’s best farmers’ markets, the expansion will allow the more than 170 vendors and 16,000 shoppers more space to shop for farm-fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, seafood and more.

“It’s hard to accommodate 16,000 shoppers hungry for great local produce and specialty foods into one city block during a six-hour time span! The expansion of our Saturday PSU market location will allow for better foot traffic flow and make our visitors’ shopping experience even more enjoyable,” said Jaret Foster, senior market manager of Portland Farmers Market.

Portland’s Living Room Will Become Portland’s Kitchen and Dining Room

Starting the first day of summer, the Rose City’s living room will transform into Portland Farmers Market at

Pioneer Courthouse Square, made possible by Portland’s own Alpha Broadcasting. Every Monday from June 21 to October 25, 2010, more than 32 local farmers and food artisans will take root in the heart of downtown Portland from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The more than 26,000 people passing by the Square every Monday will be able enjoy lunch and shop for dinner for 19 consecutive weeks.

“The Square is recognized as the most visited site in Oregon’s most visited city and the ideal community

gathering place. It’s the perfect location for a farmers market!” added Forsthoefel.

Location, Location, Location: NW 23rd Avenue

Noted as one of the prime retail locations in the city, Portland Farmers Market will also open the Portland

Farmers Market at NW 23rd Avenue, on the southeast corner of NW 23rd Avenue and NW Savier Street in a lot generously donated by Con-way Inc. Portland Farmers Market is currently working with the NW Portland community to determine the ideal day and time for this new market. Neighborhood residents will find the bounty of the region right at their doorsteps from June through September.

Forsthoefel shared, “The support and enthusiasm we have received from the NW community has been

tremendous. We are delighted to collaborate with Con-way Inc. in order to bring fresh food to this vibrant area of NW Portland that clearly values the importance of supporting local farmers and food artisans.”

The new locations add to Portland Farmers Market’s three other weekly locations:

• Portland Farmers Market – Wednesday at Shemanski Park, located in the South Park Blocks between SW Park and Salmon
• Portland Farmers Market – Sunday at King Elementary Schoo
• Portland Farmers Market – Thursday at Hinson Church (formerly called Eastbank).

About Portland Farmers Market

Founded in 1992, Portland Farmers Market operates vibrant farmers markets that contribute to the success of local food growers and producers, strengthen the food economy and serve as community gathering places. The local 501(c)6 nonprofit employs five full-time and four part-time employees who manage six weekly farmers’ markets in the Portland area from March until December. The independently-run organization receives no ongoing support from government agencies. More than 26,000 shoppers purchase farm-fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, seafood and other specialty foods from more than 250 vendors at the height of the season. In addition to operating markets, Portland Farmers Market also serves as an incubator for emerging businesses, a leader of the local food movement, a source of education, a culinary focal point in the community, a cultural destination complete with musical entertainment, and a billboard for Portland’s sustainability movement. To learn more about how Portland Farmers Market aims to grow, nourish and inspire the community, become a Twitter follower, Facebook fan and visit www.portlandfarmersmarket.org.

Just a quick post on a cool piece of technology I was introduced to the other day.

So what’s in an email signature? You know… that often neglected sign off to your emails? It’s purpose is to give the reader an easy means to contact you should they have questions. Or, you can use it make a special offer etc… All your info is handy, right in front of them.

Here’s what mine use to look like:

******************************
Michael J. Eiden, CMPS
Certified Mortgage Planner
MORTGAGE EXPRESS
Direct  503.517.2429
Fax      503.517.8548

OR ML#1952 | WA MLO-165229

Useful… but boring. Here’s what my new one looks like:

A little more snazzy right? I thought so too. Even the tabs are clickable right from their email! If you want your own, go to www.emailideas.com and get yours. It’s super easy and best of all free! I would like your thoughts though. Please share below. Which one do you like? Which would you use in your business? Do you use an email signature? Thanks… enjoy your day!

P.S. One side note. If your reader gets text only messages and no html then the new signature will not appear. You will need to add the old text signature underneath your new one, for those that don’t read in html.

It’s always a good idea to watch this speech.  I actually found a copy of it in it’s entirety.  Remember Dr. King’s message today and always.