THE LAFAYETTE REPORT: August 2009

2009 Mega Agent Program - Inspiring Music and Story of Tommy Emmanuel

If you haven't seen any of the guest speakers at a Mega Agent Camp, you are really missing out.  These strong and passionate individuals will provoke thought and pull at both your heart and your mind.  After listening to these speakers, there is but one single conclusion - "The only thing holding you back is you."

Meet Tommy Emmanuel

Tommy Emmanuel is a two-time Grammy nominee with a music career that spans almost four decades.  At age 4, he learned to play the guitar without any formal training.  By age 6, he was a professional musician touring his native Australia.  Since then, he has toured the world entertaining crowds with his distinct musical style and sound.  Not bad - considering he never learned how to read music.

Just Do It - Start Today

Tommy Emmanuel entertained the crowd with his music.  However, one comment resonated with me.  He commented on questions often received from parents as to how to get their child started in the music world.  His advice was simple - play and practice.  He also stressed the importance of challenging yourself and developing your own style.  However, he commented further.  He explained that you can't expect to pick up a guitar and play like him when it took him over thirty years to perfect his craft.  From his comments, I took away three tips:

• Set reasonable expectations.
• Practice your skills.
• Challenge yourself by expanding your abilities.

You simply can't say I want to play like him.  You have to practice and build your skills.  Sometimes, it is important to think big but start small.

For more information on Tommy Emmanuel, visit his website:  Tommy Emmanuel.

To view Tommy Emmanuel's performance at the Mega Agent program, click on KW Mega Agent Program.

Interested in joining a new sales team selling homes in St. Louis, Missouri?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

2009 Mega Agent Program - Inspiring Music and Story of Rhett Butler

If you haven't seen any of the guest speakers at a Mega Agent Camp, you are really missing out.  These strong and passionate individuals will provoke thought and pull at both your heart and your mind.  After listening to these speakers, there is but one single conclusion - "The only thing holding you back is you."

Meet Rhett Butler

Rhett Butler as a child found comfort in guitar playing as a child.  His brother suffered from cancer.  Mr. Butler turned inward to his music.  He left home for college to play soccer.  However, he realized his true passion was playing the guitar so he left school and went to the Music School at the University of North Texas.  He then studied his craft.  He was inspired by Billy McLaughlin and set out to find his own technique and sound.  When Billy McLaughlin started to tour again, Mr. Butler doggedly tracked him down.  He wasn't afraid to seek out his mentor and started touring with Billy McLaughlin.

Follow Your Dream

Rhett Butler had a dream and was willing to follow it and to take risks.  He is now known as the compulsive and obsessive guitarist.  He was inspired by Billy McLaughlin and decided to change his course and left college to pursue music training at another university.  He then worked hard to perfect his craft and to develop his own sound.  He never forgot the guitarist who so inspired him.  So, when he heard Billy McLaughlin was touring again, he doggedly tracked down his telephone number and called Billy McLaughlin.  Billy McLaughlin not only took the call but talked with Mr. Butler for over three hours as McLaughlin traveled from Iowa to Texas.  Other people thought he was crazy, but Mr. Butler refused to give up his dream.

For more information (including videos), visit his website:  Rhett Butler - Obsessive Compusive Guitarist.

Interested in joining a new sales team selling homes in St. Louis, Missouri?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

2009 Mega Agent Program - Inspiring Music and Story of Billy McLaughlin

If you haven't seen any of the guest speakers at a Mega Agent Camp, you are really missing out.  These strong and passionate individuals will provoke thought and pull at both your heart and your mind.  After listening to these speakers, there is but one single conclusion - "The only thing holding you back is you."

Meet Billy McLaughlin

Billy McLaughlin built a career as an innovative performer and composer who used unorthodox techniques to create a distinct sound.  In 1995, he signed a major record deal.  Over the next few years, he noticed that his skills started to degrade.  By 2000, he was no longer able to perform and lost his record contract, his home, and his family.  In 2001, he was diagnosed as suffering from a neuromuscular disorder called focal dystonia.  In 2006, he decided to re-learn how to play the guitar with his opposite hand.  By 2007, he has resurrected his career and was recording and touring again.

Many People Fail Because They Quit Too Soon

In 2001, Billy McLaughlin taped a fortune cookie saying to the dashboard of his car and, to this day, it remains as a daily source of inspiration.  It read "Many people fail because they quit too soon."  Drawing upon his faith, he taught himself how to pay the guitar with his other hand.  He was determined to succeed.  So, each day he made strides.  As real estate agents, we are often called upon to adjust our business models and re-invent our niche markets.  When you see someone overcome a debilitating disease, it becomes easier to understand that we need to focus on what we need to do succeed as opposed to the fact that we have failed in the past.  He didn't just hope to get better playing with his left hand.  He practiced hard and often.  If you have ever played a musical instrument, you will understand what it took to re-learn the instrument with the other hand.  It boils down to one phrase - sheer willpower to succeed.

For more information (including videos), visit his websites:  Billy McLaughlin.

Interested in joining a new sales team selling homes in St. Louis, Missouri?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

2009 Mega Agent Program - Inspiring Words from Liz Murray

If you haven't seen any of the guest speakers at a Mega Agent Camp, you are really missing out.  These strong and passionate individuals will provoke thought and pull at both your heart and your mind.  After listening to these speakers, there is but one single conclusion - "The only thing holding you back is you."

Meet Liz Murray

Liz Murray is no ordinary young woman.  She was born into a loving family.  However, her parents were addicted to drugs and at age 15 she found herself homeless.  She ended up sleeping in subways.  Without a strong (or any) family support system, she was able to finish high school and enter Harvard on a full scholarship from the New York Times. 

Stop Waiting for Change to Come to You

Liz Murray has a compelling story.  She understood that that you have to stop waiting for change to come to you.  She created a personal vision of where she wanted to be and set out to reach her goal.  She saw with great clarity that education mattered and summoned the courage to achieve her goal of going to Harvard.  In her speech, she described how she tackled what seemed like an insurmountable goal with small steps.  In the end, she refused to be a victim of her environment and took control of her life.  It wasn't easy and it wasn't without sacrifice.  Her message can be boiled down to one simple word - perseverance.

For more information (including videos), visit her websites:  Lead the Life You Envision - Homeless to Harvard.

Interested in joining a new sales team selling homes in St. Louis, Missouri?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

2009 Mega Agent Program - Inspiring Words from Nick Jujicic

If you haven't seen any of the guest speakers at a Mega Agent Camp, you are really missing out.  These strong and passionate individuals will provoke thought and pull at both your heart and your mind.  After listening to these speakers, there is but one single conclusion - "The only thing holding you back is you."

Meet Nick Jujicic

Nick Jujicic is no ordinary young man.  He was born with no hands and no legs.  Before he was born,  doctors told his parents that their baby had severe birth defects and that the pregnancy should be terminated.  They refused.  His parents were told that he should be institutionalized.  He refused.  From an early age, he and his parents challenged limiting assumptions starting with basic decisions such as attending regular schools. 

Dream Big and Never Give Up

Mr. Jujicic is a truly remarkable individual and explains in simple terms how he approached his physical limitations.  He used his religious beliefs to strengthen his resolve.  His mantra is pretty simple - "Attitude Determines Altitude."  In his speech, he explained how he views obstacles as opportunities and how fear of unknown can be self-limiting.  He further explained how he came to understand that fear was really "false evidence appearing real."  Although the video was not from the Mega Agent program, elements of the story shown in the video were certainly a part of his speech and give a pretty good insight into the individual and his philosophy. 

For more information (including videos), visit his websites:  Life without Limbs and Attitude is Altitude.

Interested in joining a new sales team selling homes in St. Louis, Missouri?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.