Higher Expectations

What does it mean to you when someone says they expect more out of you? How does that make you feel? Do you shrug your shoulders and go on about your day, or does that sour feeling form in the pit of your stomach, churning and turning as you think about how you never want to disappoint that person again?

I asked myself this question while traveling back from seeing clients today. While driving through the country, I took the time to reflect inward and think about the last time somebody said these words to me. As a child, that one little phrase would rock me to my core. My dad would tell me that he expected more, and I'd just about lose my lunch. I thought about how those words helped me perform better in school and in many ways, live a happier, more productive life.

These are the same words I recently used with one of my children who has been having a hard time behaviorally in school. An otherwise very well-behaved young man, my son is all of the sudden making poor choices and struggling to accept the consequences of those poor choices. People say, "It's a hard age", or ask "is it the group of kids he's hanging out with?" I don't give him that, however. I believe we have a million reasons every day to do or not do what we are supposed to do. The difference is, one little concept; integrity. It's the reason why I feel that the most powerful thing my dad ever said to me was that he expected more. It gave me the power to believe in myself and push forward, even when the odds were against me. Those words made me feel like it was harder not to do the things I was supposed to do than it was to do them. They were my motivation to be the very best I could be, and by all means, not to let him down. In turn, it taught me how not to let myself down. I know they had the intended affect on my son as well because I could see it in his eyes. As harsh as it may sound, the reason why I expect more out of him is that I know that he is capable of far better, and I have every faith that this phase of his life will be short lived as his character continues to strengthen.

As I continued driving and thinking, I thought about how this relates to my business. My clients always tell me how happy they are for what I've done to help them accomplish their dreams, but never anything about what they wish I'd done better. It is my goal to always continue to grow and enhance my clients' experiences far beyond their expectations. The best way I know to experience growth is through feedback. Sure, nobody wants to say something as harsh as, "I expected more out of you" as it relates to a service-based business, but I believe constructive criticism will help me continue to develop into the best version of myself that I can possibly be. Therefore, I've decided to implement another step after the sale...sending out a survey. I want my clients to feel 110% comfortable referring all of the people in their lives my way knowing that I'm going to take great care of them. I hope that the survey will encourage open communication and send the message to my clients that their opinion matters.

What do higher expectations mean to you? Feel free to respond to my post or text me/email me your thoughts.

What Being a Realtor Means to Me

Working hard on behalf of others, ensuring their best interests are met at every turn, takes heart. It takes creativity, ambition and determination, and the utter inability to understand and accept the word "no". It takes the capability to feel others' hopes and desires, dreams and fears, and to literally help them achieve everything good by leveraging my relationships and experience. It also takes the innate ability to deliver a sense of calm during an incredibly intense time in one's life. Being a Realtor represents an opportunity to be a part of a benchmark event in their lives of others, and I take this opportunity very seriously. I treat my clients like they are my family, and build lasting relationships that result in loyalty and countless referrals. In this manner, I have built an incredible business that continues to grow and grow beyond anything I could have ever hoped for.

I've heard it said countless times that good Realtors wear many hats. On top of the obvious ones like negotiators, stagers, etc, we are consultants, advisers, counselors to our clients in their time of need. We handle the brunt of their stress and seamlessly keep the transaction moving forward. All the while, we help our clients to focus on the end game. In the end, they get what they want, and we are on to help the next client. However, we never go away. We are there well after the transaction closes to go to bat for our clients however necessary. I personally have answered questions regarding supplemental tax bills, junk mail, and have called a home warranty company or two in my time. I take care of hosting and catering house warming parties, too. Getting to celebrate my clients' huge accomplishment is an added bonus and something I personally enjoy immensely.

I am beyond grateful that I get to wake up every day and be a part of this amazing time in the lives of others, and I will never take this amazing responsibility for granted. I appreciate each and every person I get to help buy or sell a home. My clients will always be at the center of everything that I do and I will continue to selfishly enjoy every minute of helping others to achieve their wildest dreams.

6 Things Every Seller Should Know BEFORE Listing Their Home

A good Realtor wears many hats. We are educators, mediators, negotiators, etc...the list goes on and on. Our motivator is providing the best possible service we can to you, providing top notch service and helping you reach your goals. We invite your input and keep you updated. We are easily reachable and respond quickly to you when requested or promised. We'll represent you throughout the escrow process with integrity, honesty, and patience.

On the buyer's side, we help open the market ensuring our clients have many options within their price range. On the seller's side, we market your home to the largest number of qualified buyers possible. We protect investments and look out for your best interest. Doing the best job we possibly can helps put you at ease all the while counselling and educating you on the process.

These principles define a good agent and set them apart in their market. In keeping with this tradition, I'd like to share simple advice for those wishing to sell their home for top dollar in the future. Regardless of whether you list with me or another great agent, I desire for you to have this information. Simply put, knowledge is power! Please follow the link below:

Trulia Pro Blog -- Tips for Sellers




I wish you the best in the sale of your home. Please call me if you have any questions or if I can help you in any way.

Best Regards,

Mitzi De La Cruz
CalBRE 01929064
916-871-8132

"Lighting the path of your future traditions, one family at a time."

Local Woman Reinvents When Challenged by Catastrophe: Melissa Washington's Story

Every now and then, somebody comes along with the power to motivate the masses. They arrive on scene just in time, gaining personal satisfaction at the sight of other people's success. Somebody with a keen eye for seeing the potential in others and helping them to see it within themselves. Somebody who has been there, having to redirect themselves when things didn't go quite as planned. Reaching way down deep to find the strength to keep going, empowering others with their personal testimony of triumph. Melissa Washington is one such somebody, and this is her amazing story.

Melissa's journey of reinvention was born from necessity. As a successful executive in corporate
America, Melissa was on top of the world. The year was 2008, and Ranstad, her current employer, had offered Melissa an attractive opportunity to relocate to and manage the Oracle account out of their Rocklin location. She willingly said yes, packing up her family and moving up North to our region. She was excited at the promise of tomorrow and all the potential for her family to enjoy their new home. They embraced the move and all was well. The Washington's were happily adapting to the move and making Placer County their home. Then came the bomb...one fateful day in October of 2009, Melissa became a statistic of the economic downturn and was laid off.

Although this was awful news for Melissa and her family, she remained optimistic that her experience and skills would land her a position with another company equally as prominent. A Navy veteran, Melissa was resilient by nature and refused to allow the layoff to detour her in the least. Instead, she would regroup and get back into the game without a hiccup, so went her plan. She allowed herself the time to catch her breath and then jumped two feet into her search for the next phenomenal opportunity. Despite her optimism, the reality of the 2009 economy and the impact it was having on the job market soon sent Melissa right back to square one. Instead of getting discouraged, her unwavering resiliency allowed her to shift her focus off of her difficulties and instead use her forward momentum to help others. Her problems would soon work themselves out as she achieved the greatest success of all -- using her talents to help other people solve their problems and make lasting changes for their future.

Melissa was actively interviewing for opportunities that met her background and qualifications using avenues such as LinkedIn without much success. Meanwhile, she found a need within her community for educating other job seekers on ways to leverage the internet. They needed guidance to effectively use tools like LinkedIn to discover job opportunities and network within their fields. Melissa stood up to meet this need. She began to host small workshops within her home to share her knowledge and experience with small groups of people, teaching her audience how to navigate LinkedIn and create a personal brand. Finding value in her workshops, the people she helped would tell others about Melissa and the valuable information shared within her group. Melissa found herself focusing on helping others find work and achieve their career goals through her role as an active Volunteer Director of Active Job Seekers of America, a role which she still holds today.

During that time, Melissa's personal efforts shifted to making meaningful connections and networking. She was reaching out to CEO's of different organizations and gaining recognition within the business world however she could. Her groups grew in size and soon Melissa made a valuable discovery; her personal brand was formed by repetition in helping others achieve success! By focusing on growing others, she had grown herself and set the pace for her new reality. Her hobby would soon become her new career and would bring the golden opportunity of monetizing her talents. Her niche -- the Sacramento job market.

How would Melissa transform her passion into an opportunity to replace her lost income? The answer was simple. She had already laid the foundation for a successful business. Additionally, there was definitely a need within the marketplace for a service she was already providing. Not to mention that her presence within that marketplace had gained her the notoriety she needed to monetize her services. In 2011, she founded her company SmartNet Strategies to provide LinkedIn training to individuals and organizations.

Smart move! LinkedIn needed someone with Melissa's skill set and keen business sense to coordinate an upcoming 1,500 person event from the bottom up. She rose to the occasion and soon found herself flying to Ireland, Monterey, and ultimately Singapore to handle the logistics of LinkedIn's rapidly expanding events. Although initially on a temporary contract, Melissa would find herself working with LinkedIn long after the term of her initial agreement. Through effective personal branding and consistent effort, Melissa would realize success once more. Her story became a testimony to others solidifying the need to use her strategies to reach their dreams as well. She began to offer a checklist which covered those strategies that  naturally evolved into a book, "Get Back To Work, Smart and Savvy Real-World Strategies To Make Your Next Career Move". (GetBackToWork) She intentionally kept the book short and sweet so as to appeal to the busy reader while ensuring they would get the valuable information within.

How does Melissa make sure she is maximizing her efforts while remaining deliberate with her time? She visualizes where she wants to be, schedules her day in a manner that is well organized, and routinely exercises self accountability. "It's all covered in my book", says Melissa with a smile. "I set out to inspire, educate, and motivate." Get Back To Work is a great avenue to promote these principles as it covers strategies on how to do this within your life. She also gets calls on a regular basis to speak publicly about "defining your own success". Melissa tells others to find their passion and then figure out a way to meet a need through that passion. Her passion -- helping others achieve their dreams. "Assist others in achieving their dreams and your dreams will come true," states Melissa. As her success continues to make a positive impact on our community, one can only imagine where she'll go from here!

To support a local entrepreneur and learn how you can use her strategies to gain personal success, pick up a copy of "Get Back To Work" at amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles in Roseville, Avid Reader at Tower in Sacramento, or RIGHT HERE IN LINCOLN at our UPS STORE! You know I'm all about keeping the revenue right here when possible.

Also, be sure to check her out at: http://melissawashington.net/. Be sure to get a copy of "Get Back To Work" for your library and help support Melissa's dream as she's done for so many others! In addition, you can sign up for her free job-seeker's newsletter right there on her website!

Melissa is an amazing woman; kind and genuine, she's always willing to use her talents to help others achieve their goals.

Feel free to leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. :)

Mitzi De La Cruz
CalBRE 01929064
916-871-8132

On Rusted Wings -- A Lincoln Treasure Takes Flight

​ Every good story starts with a dream, a vision, a hope for something more; a promise of turning a passion into reality, where dreaming ends and success begins. For Noel Hairrell and her husband Marc, that dream began right here in historic Downtown Lincoln, soaring highly On Rusted Wings. Originally named Les Bricolages which translates from French to "do it yourself", On Rusted Wings speaks to the success that can surely be achieved when one goes all in, as they say. The Hairrell's are certainly "all in" with the support of our happy little community behind them. They are excited to have found Lincoln as the setting for their story.

Located at 660 5th Street close to other Lincoln landmarks such as the Whistle Stop Cafe and Foto's Market, On Rusted Wings offers furniture restoration and modern art with a focus on recycled, upcycled, and refurbished items. Quaintly nestled within an historic brick building that's been standing for over a hundred years, On Rusted Wings is complemented by the variety of successful businesses all around them. The Hairrell's discovered this location accidentally, in part, as they were searching for a place to house their dreams. The lease was being offered at a reasonable price and they jumped on it. The old brick building, rich with history and a story of it's own, was the perfect locale for the store to plant it's roots. Once planted, On Rusted Wings began to take flight.

​Upon finding their canvass, it was time to fill that canvass with color. Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint was their medium of choice. Choosing milk paint as an alternative to traditional latex and chalk paints was an easy decision. Milk Paint is an all natural paint that is comprised of milk casein and minerals. Milk paint is the oldest paint medium in the world, used 1000's of years ago (think "cave man" era). Another appealing quality factor of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint is the finishes; the waxes and hemp seed oils are all-natural and food safe, making this an ideal paint line for people with autoimmune disorders and environmental concerns. Noel and Marc are conscientious about the chemicals contained in paint, as they routinely paint pieces within their home. Additionally, milk paint is amazingly diverse, allowing staining effects, textures, chippy, solid, and rustic finishes.  The Miss Mustard Seed line offers colors that would become strokes of imagination, fondly decorating antiques and items once discarded as junk into conversation pieces for any space. On Rusted Wings is a certified Miss Mustard Seed Retailer and Noel is certified for Miss Mustard Seed Workshops.

 

On Rusted Wings ties together the story of the old with the new in a way that allows the piece to tell it's story to a new audience, ready to embrace "shabby chic" with an Indie twist. Noel enthusiastically and appropriately describes the look they provide as "Indie Chic". She happily works with her customers to capture their vision.   ​ 

 For some, their visions are painted with stripes in sharp contrasts.

 For others, using bright and happy colors such as this desk that I simply love! There's something here for every taste.
​

 

 

 

 Keeping the vision of their store to provide a venue in which their dreams would equal success, the Hairrell's hope to positively impact others as well. They offer a place for other artists and quality craftsmen to showcase and sell their wares. Holding true to old timeless philosophies, first introduced in the Bible and referenced in the message of speakers such as Zig Ziglar, the Hairrell's believe in "helping others get what they want and incidentally getting what they want in in return." What do the Hairrell's want? To reduce the amount of items senselessly filling up our precious land, while providing a unique product within a community they care about. Additionally, providing an opportunity for others to discover and develop the artist within themselves while they're at it. There's nothing more powerful than what they're proposing. Noel and Marc are truly fulfilled when they are able to offer others a place from which they can achieve their dreams simultaneously.

 

Keeping the customer at the forefront of their business decisions, quality is prevalent in any item up for sale within On Rusted Wings. To them, that is what it is all about. That was their vision when they opened Les Bricolages with their business partner and dear friend, Anna, back in March of 2014. That vision is still their motivation now as they've recently transitioned their name to On Rusted Wings. That will still be their vision tomorrow, as they continue to grow and strengthen within our community. 

 Helping On Rusted Wings to grow as a business strengthens our local community and helps Lincoln to be an attractive setting for other small business. It's a win-win for everybody involved!
​ 

​Noel is so passionate about her modern approach to the Indie Chic look and her revitalization of ​the pieces she creates that she teaches technique workshops to others who are eager to learn. Just this weekend, Noel arranged a Create and Sip at Pescatore Winery in Newcastle. The event consisted of using milk paint, stencil art, and raw wood; creating artwork to enjoy for years to come. Recounting the fun that everyone had with this workshop, Noel explained that the event was a success and that they had a great time. Personally, I am looking forward to the next one myself! If you'd like to learn more about attending a Create and Sip or simply would like to see for yourself what an amazing little shop On Rusted Wings is, go to www.onrustedwings.com or call the store at 916-253-9928. You can also check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onrustedwings

Hours of operation are as follows:

Sun - Tues Closed

Wed - Fri 9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Sat-- 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Mitzi De La Cruz

CalBRE License 01929064

Real Estate Professional

Lyon Real Estate

cell~(916) 871-8132

e-fax (916) 746-7593 private fax no cover sheet required

email: mdelacruz@golyon.com

www.mdelacruz.golyon.com

Autism Awareness

April is Autism Awareness Month, and chances are, you are aware of Autism Spectrum Disorder. At least to some degree. You've either got someone in your family afflicted with Autism, or you know of someone. Either way, with 1 in 68 births resulting in a child diagnosed with the disability, you have a higher chance of knowing someone with Autism than you do knowing someone with identical twins (3 in 1,000 births). MUCH higher.



So, what is Autism Spectrum Disorder? It's an umbrella term used to classify a group of developmental disorders such as Autism Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - not otherwise specified including atypical Autism (afflicted - NOS), and Asperger's. The spectrum is so broad that these kiddos can present with a variety of different symptoms, at different ages, to parents who may or may not see and address them. The numbers are staggering, and early intervention is key. Hence the need for awareness of the disorder, parent advocacy, and most of all, arrangement of services to support and educate the entire family. 

I know first hand -- my son was diagnosed with Autism Disorder the day before his third birthday. I knew something was amiss with him developmentally and called Alta Regional to self-refer for testing because his doctor's office was taking too long, in my opinion, to arrange the appointment. I asked for my son to get testing for Autism or other developmental disorders. He initiated and maintained eye contact well, so I wasn't personally convinced he'd receive a diagnosis of Autism. I was hoping there was another explanation for what I was seeing; his absence of consistent speech could be caused by a problem with his hearing, or maybe it was simply easier to grab my hand and pull me to the refrigerator, pointing at the gallon of milk instead of using his words. As I sat quietly watching him fail test after test for three hours, I realized my little boy was definitely on the spectrum. 

My heart felt as through it were literally ripping apart. As the psychologist confirmed my fears, I mourned for my child as though his life would be cut short. "Cry", the psychologist advised. "Allow yourself to get it out. It hurts", she acknowledged. "Process this, then it's time to focus. Your little boy needs your help. Now the real work begins."

She couldn't have been more right. The next year was the hardest I'd ever experienced as a mother, and even hearing or seeing the word Autism made me cry. This made educating myself pretty difficult, but I managed somehow. I researched different diets, therapies, and looked to other parents who were going through the same issues for support. I arranged for my son to attend a preschool program for developmentally disabled children immediately, requested in-home therapy services and even equestrian therapy for my little boy, all the while working with the most compassionate service worker with Alta Regional to facilitate my son receiving these services. As a family, we worked hard to understand what he was going through. Amazingly, my son excelled before our eyes. He quickly exceeded the diagnosing psychologist's expectations, and graduated from in-home therapy services way ahead of schedule. 

Today, he is an extremely bright, very vocal, totally well-adjusted 9 year old who displays very few symptoms. He recently told me, "Mom, I used to be Autism, but now I'm not." I thought to myself, you were never Autism. You were always way more than that. All the kiddos who are afflicted are way more than that, and we all have to remember that. I always tell people, my son is not Autistic, he HAS Autism. He's so much more than that. He's a happy little jokester who enjoys playing video games, is fascinated with Earth Science, and who's amazing with electronics. He enjoys researching topics that interest him, and is extremely independent. He builds lasting friendships, and has empathy when appropriate. He's simply amazing.

We are fortunate as a family to have learned how to support and understand him. Not ever family is so fortunate, however, and that's why awareness is so important. We have the most amazing Alta worker who's proactive, patient, and genuinely cares about my son and my family. We were blessed with in-home therapy services administered up to 3 times a week for 3 hours a day with regular meetings to check and assess his progress, and with friends and family who also educated themselves to help support us. In my opinion, we've overcome Autism. If there's someone in your life who's been diagnosed, do everything you can to help that child overcome Autism as well. And if you have any questions or need support along the way, don't forget there are other parents going through the same. Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions, and remember, you are not alone!

Mitzi De La Cruz

CalBRE License 01929064

Real Estate Professional

Lyon Real Estate

cell~(916) 871-8132

e-fax (916) 746-7593 private fax no cover sheet required

email: mdelacruz@golyon.com

www.mdelacruz.golyon.com

To List With Me Or Not to List With Me?

I AM A REALTOR. One of hundreds in Lincoln, CA and surrounding. I have the same access to the MLS, other online real estate sites, and have access to the same buyer pool as any of the other hundreds of agents. My objective is similar to other agents -- I bring buyers and sellers together in real estate transactions, performing my fiduciary duty to whomever I represent to the best of my ability. I've worked with many people to identify their real estate needs and to satisfy them, regardless of whether they are ready to make a move that I can personally facilitate. Real estate fascinates and consumes me, and I enjoy every single aspect of it. To me, it's not just a career, but a deep seeded calling vested in real interest.

On top of having a true calling regarding real estate, I also have an intense need to help others. Seeing other people reach their goals is so rewarding for me that I will go to great lengths to be a part of their success. Sometimes, this can be achieved by motivating and inspiring others to want to do more. Other times, it's as simple as helping them come up with a game plan to make it happen. Even simply listening to someone talk about their future dreams can help them to visualize them and turn them into measurable goals. Whatever it takes, the result is well worth the cost when helping someone move their lives forward. I believe in doing this, I am fulfilled within my professional and personal lives by so doing.

So if I can perform the same as other agents and have access to all of the same systems, what sets me apart? What helps me excel? Sure, I'm motivated to help others, but I'm not the only agent who lives by this philosophy. There are many good agents who do their very best for their buyers and sellers, and are emotionally rewarded when they're doing a good job. They apply their individual strengths and talents to get the job done. We are all set apart by our individual strengths, and I leverage mine to ensure the people around me are able to reach their goals. I do this not only as a road-map to success, but also as a way to ensure that at the end of the day, I know I've treated people exactly the way I'd want my family to be treated and therefore gained a friend for life. Not a customer, but a friend. Someone who trusts me and knows I'd go to any length for them.

If you're interested in listing with someone dedicated, intuitive, and driven to perform consistently and effectively, call me today. You'll be so glad you did! :)

Mitzi De La Cruz

CalBRE License 01929064

Real Estate Professional

Lyon Real Estate

cell~(916) 871-8132

e-fax (916) 746-7593 private fax no cover sheet required

email: mdelacruz@golyon.com

www.mdelacruz.golyon.com