Inspired Real Estate For Today

I'm reading "When Wynton Met Willie." Wynton...as in Wynton Marsalis and Willie as in Willie Nelson.  A most engaging odd couple musical pairing.  The interview is about their latest project; coupling the two in remarkable synthesis of the blues and jazz during a live recording of two concerts played at Lincoln Center last year..."Two Men With the Blues."

At first glance, you wouldn't put these two legends together.  In all sorts of ways, they are different.  Wynton is 46, Willie 75.  Their onstage presence is also an eclectic compilation. Wynton in stylish elegant suits, a classically trained artist who plays his jazz from sheet music.  And Willie, in worn jeans who improvises as the music moves him.

But improbably, this is what makes the music work.  The way in which the differences fill in the gaps.  Jazz music has a whimsy that pierces the soul.  It speaks a language in which the lyrics and notes weave through a musical caress.  But right now, I'm fascinated by the dialog in the interview as the two discuss the songs they chose and why they were able to work together so well.  It turns out that the similarities are more profound than the initial perception of the differences.

Their responses to a question about how they rehearse:

Marsalis:  "Willie doesn't do two or three takes.  Just once, and then, "That's good gentlemen."  That's how we play.  We record live.

Nelson:  "if you can play, then what the f---do you want to rehearse for?  Just play."

Well, that kind of puts things into a nutshell doesn't it?

When music flows from the spontaneity of the soul in this fashion, it's raw and refreshing, invigorating and moving.  It sparks a passion which digs underneath all the quasi exterior elements that divide us and makes us understand in the place where it counts...our souls, that we all share  a lot more more in common when we let go of the 'stuff' and just...play.

That's why another remarkably improbable pairing which is taking place in Grand Rapids, Michigan is so fascinating.  Radio in Black & White which bills itself as 'the most integrated hour of the week,' is an extraordinary hour of dialog which takes place every week.  The discussion is monitored by Emmy Award Winning Journalist, Rick Wilson & Diversity Management Specialist Skot Welch. 

Grand Rapids, Michigan is a city in which the divisions have sometimes underscored many contentious issues.  But the topics which raise ire and eyebrows in Grand Rapids are also touchy topics across the nation. These topics are discussed with clarity and candor by Skot, Rick and their guests.  The show steers clear of the bitter rancor which can turn examinations like this into accusatory fist fights. 

Topics discussed on the show are fascinating and relevant. This year, Radio in Black & White enters its' third year. Their archives can be downloaded via  iTunes in Black & White or through a download onto your mp3 player. Here is a sampling of some of the downloads.  The show can be accessed LIVE on Monday between 8:00 ~ 9:00 a.m. on Talk Radio  WTKG AM.  The links below will allow you to download the broadcast.

DEFINING PATRIOTISM - 100th show - Focus: We celebrate 100 shows and define patriotism.
April 21, 2008 (40MB mp3)

THINGS WHITE PEOPLE LIKE - 99th show - Focus: We review one of the most popular blogs on the web and other examples of racial satire.
April 14, 2008 (40MB mp3)

WHY KENTWOOD WORKS - 107th show - Focus: Paul Doyl and Jerry DeRuiter talk about Kentwood's assets and challenges as west Michigan's most diverse suburban city.
June 30 , 2008 (50MB mp3)

THE INS AND OUTS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT - 106th show - Focus: Birgit Klohs from the Right Place talks about the value of foreign investment.
June 23 , 2008 (50MB mp3)

DO ALL BLACK PEOPLE THINK THE SAME WAY? - 83rd show - Focus: Can we consider black people one race? Is there a "black vote." We look at Pew research.
December 3, 2007 (40MB mp3)

WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG ABOUT THE CHURCH WE GO TO? - 82nd show - Focus: Should Calvin College Professor Denise Isom be given an exception to the requirement of attending a CRC church?
November 26, 2007 (40MB mp3)

FROM BEANER'S TO BIGGBY'S - 75th show - Focus: What's in a name change? Bob Fish from Beaner's tells us why he changed his company's name.
October 1 , 2007 (40MB mp3)

WHERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD? - 73rd show - Focus: How did west Michigan become so segregated?
September 17 , 2007 (40MB mp3)

RADIO IN BLACK AND WHITE - 68th show - Focus: Rick and Bennie Covington talk about diversity through generations.
August 6 , 2007 (38MB mp3)

RADIO IN BLACK AND WHITE - 67th show - Focus: Rick and Skot talk about the recent Supreme Court decision on school choice and its impact on local communities. Ruth Jones and Dr. Bernard Taylor join the program.
July 30, 2007 (13MB mp3

Music which crosses over and integrates different styles creates new blends and nuances.  These are distinct creations which would never emerge from any of the individual genres in it's own right.  A radio show may seem an improbable venue to initiate a different perspective on race, diversity and relationships; but perhaps therein lies it's greatest potential. 

Like Willie Nelson says in the video..."They had to invent the label to SELL the music.  You couldn't SELL  it if you didn't know what to call it.  So, some music you called the blues and some music you called jazz.  But what do you call music that encompasses it all?  That's the music I like to play..."

Cloistered behind the veil of a radio wave, listeners cannot be distracted by the visual aspects of WHO says WHAT when they listen to the discussions on Radio in Black & White.  Instead, we are forced to be consider in our own hearts what we truly know and believe to be True.  If you're ready for a new type of radio which 'encompasses it all', then tune in!  This is real change in the best sense of the word.

promotional picture of Radio in Black & White co-hosts used with permission

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

Most of us emerge on planet earth with all the stridency that our 8 to 9 pounds of flesh can muster.  So much so that the infant who emerges without a lusty yell is promptly  spanked on the rump to produce one.  After all...one has arrived.  Say so!

Sideline living is against the grain of human ego.  A newborn baby in a household quickly demands just about everyones' waking and non-waking moments. 

Babies need to be fed at regular intervals, burped, changed, bathed, soothed, entertained...in short, paid attention to at all times. 

While we relish the joy of observing the expansion of new life in a newborn, this quickly becomes old by the time the child hits the terrible twos.  Who can blame the toddler?  Relinquishing prime real estate territory at 'the center of a universe of ONE' cannot be easy.

But, I suspect that the inclinations of the toddler do not fully disappear.  In most of us, they simply retreat underground; temporarily masked by the need to adhere to social norms but always eager to assume center stage if and when the opportunity arises.  A silent witness to the most debilitating form of human suffering...the deep yearning to be given permission to live life with gusto.

Several years ago, I wrote a devotional which I shared with some staff members at a local church.  The mediation was entitled "Living in the Margins."  At the time, we were attending a church which had gone through a number of significant transitions which had left many feeling somewhat fragmented emotionally and spiritually. It was a feeling of disconnection and disorientation...a struggle to regain ones' footing; to reclaim ones' place.

It was around Easter and I was drawn to the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus from a perspective that I had never considered before.  I began to study the sideline characters in this well known narratives ...the possible stories of individuals  who garnered few eloquent sermons.  These ordinary folks whose contributions remain on the sideline of of the most important titanic drama in human history. 

It was their stories that engaged the imagination of my mind...

I started thinking about what it must have been like to be merely passing through Jerusalem and then suddenly conscripted, without the benefit of hire, to carry the cross of a man who was stumbling to His the death like an ordinary criminal. 

Then there was Pilate's wife, a well to do lady.  She had a nightmare about the man her husband was about to sentence to death.  This nighttime terror haunted her soul's dreams and forced an urgent entreaty to warn Pilate about her apprehension. 

Witness the women who were considered as little more than chattel to be owned by men...following at a distance, and watching the last gasping breath of the Son of God. 

I thought of a rich man who gave up his burial plot for a bruised body to be laid...a body which had been publicly scorned by passersby.

As my thoughts wove around the potential stories of these individuals, I was struck by the remarkable experiences that were only available outside the crowded confines of the scriptural text.  Lives whose contributions emerged within the margins and not on the central stage. 

Women whose minimal status in cultural life was elevated by God to witness this transforming moment in history after all the strong men had bolted in fear. 

A black man who was not paid for his forced labor but allowed to carry the burden of God on earth and be rewarded with eternal glory. 

A  man of immense wealth and privilege who went against the grain of society and gave up his own burial place not knowing that his body would one day occupy the space in which a Resurrection took place.  Wow!

It was their position at the sidelines which afforded them the benefit of these unique and extraordinary moments.  But, why is it that so often we yearn for the extraordinary but strive to find it within the crowded confines of the norm?  The middle place, the popular position, the cursed bane of compromise which robs us our uniqueness while promising us safety in numbers?

It is in this place of false security that we pay with hands outstretched the price required for our soul. Unaware that it is the one thing for which there is no earthly compensation is large enough to ransom. 

In this trade, the devil laughs at our naivete, knowing that we have not outgrown the proclivities of that tempestuous toddler, we have merely traded the newborns scream for a dull, blunted roar. 

A harsh return for an immortal life which entered the world unfettered, knowing that the cry which brought it here was never meant to be imprisoned within the limiting confines of mediocrity and conformity.

And inside, the scream continues unabated...unheard by human ears, reeling with staggered desperation within the human heart.  For it knows that it was sent on a unique mission; one which has now been traded for a pittance of pottage.  The scream bears silent witness to the inner desire to complete our unique mission in life with integrity, knowing that we enter into this life alone...and we we are all destined to leave it in the same fashion.

Picture of baby courtesy of jessicafm's photostream on flickr.com

Mouth picture courtesy of Phineas H's photostream on flickr.com

This entry is part of a larger series entitled..."What it Means..."

The story of the Crucifixion can be found in the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke & John

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

There's a reason why prudent folks don't put foxes into hen houses.  It's common knowledge that foxes like to eat chickens even when they're inaccessible behind wired cages. 

So, if a farmer chose to experiment with this theorem by testing the goodwill of a fox, he would be wise to get some insurance.  That's because in short order he's going to be missing a number of chickens.  Common sense?

Well, that little story describes in a somewhat simplistic fashion what I got out of watching this BBC News Report today about Credit Default Swaps.  Ever heard of them?  I hadn't.  But, be sure of this...these Financial Instruments are some of the most scary looking foxes in the investment hen house right now.

If the world was sane, we'd all be transfixed by this story.  But then again, common sense has never been common and sanity often debunked in favor of bizarrely wild emotional exuberance.  You might benefit from watching the video LINK to the BBC News story first and then watching the embedded video below; making sure to read the commentary. 

This is serious stuff folks and has the potential to affect all of us in tangible ways.  The fox is already in the hen house and some major money is betting that he'll eat the chickens.  Go figure... Problem is that the winner only benefits if the house of card collapses.  The Loser is hoping against hope that the fox exercises extreme discipline.  An unlikely scenario and doubly tempting proposition for betting in favor of the foxes wouldn't you say?

WATCH THIS LINK FIRST....BBC NEWS STORY ON CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS

Picture of African Fox @ the Cleveland Zoo is courtesy of: Yvonne in Willowick Ohio's photostream on flickr.com

Audu Real Estate is pleased to announce that Ed Vogt, a licensed Real Estate Agent and Residential Property Specialist has successfully completed the 'On Track For Success' Mentor Training Program. 

Ed Vogt graduates from the Mentor Training Program after 2 years of enrollment in which she has successfully completed over 24 Transactions and received more than 200 hours of Formal Classroom instruction and training.  This was in addition to the mandatory 6 hours of Continuing Education per year for real estate agents required by the State of Michigan.

The Mentor Training Program offered through Audu Real Estate is a unique, one of a kind experience  that  provides real estate agents with intense and in depth real estate training in all areas of the real estate transaction, negotiation, lead management, technology including blogging, short sales and foreclosures and business management. Agents also benefit from Life Management Coaching which is incorporated into various aspects of the training process.

The program was created by Lola Audu, Owner and Broker of Audu Real Estate to deliver a comprehensive well rounded training experience for new agents. It has also assisted long term agents to refine their goals and upgrade their business and professional skills.

Participants in the program receive weekly assignments and have the opportunity to 'shadow' an experienced agent in a variety of real life situations.  Agents are also eligible to receive company leads to bolster their entry into the profession while growing their own personal business portfolio.

Audu Real Estate Congratulates Ed Vogt on her significant accomplishments and wishes her all the best as she continues her career as a Full Agent.

 Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

To View Articles by Ed Vogt about Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate...click here.

Home Staging has become a popular buzzword in the Grand Rapids, Michigan real estate community.  In a competitive and challenging real estate market, every advantage must be considered to secure a sale.  However, my experience in touring homes indicates that many in the real estate community have not fully embraced the concept.

Another nagging  and continually debated issue is what constitues good staging. As this post by Craig Schiller points out, opinions and methods often differ amongst the professionals themselves.  Witness, this discussion on a blog post by Laura Evans of Simply Staged LLC, a emerging tour de force in the staging community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Laura's blog post "Too Much of a Good Thing" is instructive.  However the discussion that ensues is even more enlightening.  As I looked at the two pictures that were provided as 'before & after'examples, some questions came to mind about WHY certain things were a part of the staging effort.  Sometimes, it is difficult to capture the actual results via the limitations of a camera angle, but since most viewers will pre-view homes online before making a decision to move forward, it's important to understand WHAT constitutes good presentation and what distracts.

As a real estate professional, I tend to sell the 'warm fuzzies' when a buyer decides on a home.  It's much easier to sell a home which feels welcoming to a buyer than one which is vacant.  But, I wholeheartedly agree that it is a big challenge to sell a home which is so cluttered, prospective buyers can hardly find the space to imagine themselves in it. My question is this...What's the Win Win Medium?  What's the look which attracts yet avoids distraction?  Is it possible to combine the two?

Touring the Parade of Homes over the years also reveals the tendency of many designers to create 'living spaces' as opposed to highlighting the homes best featuresas Laura indicates in her blog.  Very few home designers would feature an upscale Home Design WITHOUT draperies.  But Laura makes a valid point when she points out that often the focus of the tour is on admiring the accessories and she feels that it detracts from the home itself.

I'm curious as to your thoughts on this topic.  Are stagers more able to increase the saleability of the home by neutralizing in a fashion which certified home designers may not?  As real estate agents or brokers, what do your clients find most appealing as they tour homes...What actually makes it easier for you to SELL the home?

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

Another entry in the Lola's Favorite Restaurants series...

If you're in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, I'd suggest you work in a trip to visit one of the areas' most interesting and unique new dining options...Reds on the River. 

 Located approximately 10 ~ 15 minutes north of Grand Rapids in Rockford, Michigan, Reds...which sits astride the banks of the picturesque Rogue River is quickly becoming a much loved dining hot spot.

My interest in Reds on the River was peaked by a blog post by a colleague & fellow Grand Rapids broker,  Eric Webster.  Although it took me some time to head over to check things out for myself, I recollected his enthusiastic, yet balanced description of how much he and his wife enjoyed their dining experience.

Yesterday evening, on a whim, we decided to head 'up north.'  The restaurant is located in the quaint, historic Rockford Village downtown area.  It's a huge building with a Tuscany inspired architecture.  Walking up to the door, I marveled at how large the place seemed to be. Well, that's because there's more to this restaurant than the main dining room.  Included in the complex are a very well stocked wine shop, banquet and catering facilities, business offices in the upstairs area and a patio dining area which runs the entire length of the building; providing an unrivaled view of the riverfront.

We choose outdoor seating as it was a beautiful summer evening.  The service was superb.  From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, the wait staff were attentive, prompt and well informed about the menu. 

Now let's talk food...The menu presents an interesting and somewhat eclectic mix of options.  Reds prides itself on it's extensive array of wines...particularly the red wines, and the steak and seafood selections.  According to their site, the seafood is flown in fresh daily. 

Our waiter informed us about the fact that their steaks are aged on site for approximately 3 weeks.  In addition, the restaurant works with local farms to provide fresh produce of a seasonal variety.  The bread which was also from a local Grand Rapids, Michigan bakery was deliciously warm, moist and hearty.  I, in particular appreciate a restaurant which cooperates with local farms to benefit it's patrons and our community. 

For starters, we ordered the chicken empanadas which were served on a bed of lettuce greens trickled over with a seasoned mayonnaise.  An inventive touch to the empanadas was the addition of raisins...a nice complement to the savory blend of spices in the filling.  My husband had a crock of  French Onion Soup. 

I decided to try the Torch Lake Chicken for my main entree and my husband opted for a Cuban inspired dish, the Ropa Veija.  I wondered if the pristine, upper mid-Michigan lake was the inspiration.  The cherry glaze was the hint.  The chicken was succulent and the cherry glaze was not overly sweet.  A bed of whipped Yukon potatoes served as a robust base atop which curly crisp onion rings added a whimsical touch. 

Saving room for dessert is highly recommended as the sweets selections are prepared on site.  There were many options, but I decided on the Tres Leches Cake one of my favorites.  Reds on the Rivers' twist on Tres Leches included a fruit compote (in red syrup of course) and a raspberry sorbet. 

As the sun began to work it's way down and the evening cooled, the Meijer White Pine Trail allowed walkers, joggers and cyclists to enjoy the view too.  After dinner, we strolled around the building along the river...a perfect way to end a lovely evening.

photo courtesy of mandj98's photostream on flickr.com

"I am not bound to win

but I am bound to be true.

I am not bound to succeed

but I am bound to live up to

what light I have"

By Abraham Lincoln.

In his deeply insightful allegorical tale, 'The Laws of Spirit' author Dan Millman initiates the chapter on 'Integrity...Living Our Truth' with the above statement by Abraham Lincoln.  In this section Millman explores how humans live outside their true being. And how at odds this artifice remains within the norms of nature.

"Unlike the creatures of the natural world, humans are surrounded by social artifice, cut off from their own true natures." (The Laws of Spirit by Dan Millman)

Can you imagine how incongruous it would be if our dogs insisted on meowing like cats and our cats fancied barking like dogs?  What if birds neglected the glory of flight and chose to hop around on twig legs instead? Or if the sun decided that darkness was more comfortable than the brilliance of light? What if fish determined that being submerged by all that water was simply stifling?

Totally reprehensible?  Absolutely! 

So is Incongruity.

Living in Congruity

Requires that I simply strive

To Be Only  Exactly Who I am.

photo courtesy of robbie jim's photostream

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

This post is a part of the What It Means Series...

Lenn Harley always warns us when we are about to be challenged by HARD CORE REAL ESTATE TALK.  I've never been sure if this is Lenn's way of re-directing lazy commentators or a smart way to attract intelligent conversation.  Anyway, taking the cue from the reigning queen of the Active Rain Blogosphere, I warn you that the video embedded below is HARD CORE FINANCIAL TALK. 

I had taped the show on Charlie Rose earlier about the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, Jamie Dimon.  It's one of the most fascinating interviews I've ever watched; revealing and remarkable insights by one of the most formidable thought leaders on Wall Street today. 

If real estate brokers and agents have learned anything from the current market crisis, it should be that we need to understand and be aware of financial markets.  Our business is inextricably intertwined at every level.

There are many nuggets of wisdom in this interview.  Dimon is known for being 'quotable.'  But, it's a little piece of paper which he carries around which struck me as curiously intriguing.  It his 'You Owe Me List.'  Apparently, on a regular basis, Dimon writes down what HE OWES other people... i.e. things he has said he would do and follow-through on AND what others OWE him. 

He regularly checks this list to make sure that people keep their word and that he keeps his.  Integrity and Truth are high priorities for Dimon according to this indepth conversation with Charlie Rose.  Let's pray that these principles continue to guide the helm of an outfit which has just undertaken one of the riskiest financial buyouts in financial history with the purchase of Bear Stearns.

If an increasingly foreboding dark blue sky could have spoken this past Wednesday, it may have said... 'Run for Cover!'  As I sat in my office, I watched with increasing concern as the wind picked up and lightning sparked a pre 4th of July show.  The forecast was for severe thunderstorms.  I wondered...

As my appointment continued, the rain started to fall with such ferocity, it was difficult to see outside.  The lights flickered, came on again and flickered twice more before going off for good.  We moved into the interior of the building to wait out the storm.  I stopped the meeting to pray.  Situations like this are unpredictable.  I've been in them before.

When it was safe to venture out, we left.  My last appointment canceled.  She called indicating that she couldn't see through the storm.  As I traveled back home, the extent of the damage became increasingly clear.  Trees covered partial or entire portions of the roadway.  A nearby street in my neighborhood was hit hard.  Some lawns were literally blanketed by tree limbs.  Utility poles snapped like match sticks cutting off power to tens of thousands of homes including my own.

So, with lights out at my home office and corporate office what do you do?  Well, make the best of it and thank God that no one was seriously injured in the storm.  We were also grateful that the sweltering hot weather that usually accompanies July in Michigan was remarkably temperate this year.

The recording on the Consumers Energy hotline indicated that the wait would be substantial.  Estimates predicated that restoration would be Saturday around midnight.  I'm thankful to say that our lights were turned on today just after noon and that the rain which could have created catastrophic flooding ceased after about 6 hours.

So on the 4th of July, we headed out for a drive through the West Michigan countryside.  We drove to Holland State Park and Grand Haven; stopping to stroll on the pier and pick up an ice cream cone.  We also stopped at one of our favorite Farmer's Markets to pick up the best Strawberry Rhubarb Jam I've ever tasted. 

As we passed crews working through the holiday to restore power to so many, we were simply grateful that we live in a nation which sacrifices for the welfare of others. 

These men and women gave up their vacation to serve and do a massive clean up.  Earlier this afternoon, a representative from Consumers Energy called to ask if we'd got our power back.  Wow! 

We live in a great nation.  This 4th of July weekend affords us another opportunity to be thankful and reflect on the blessings we have received and once again reaffirm our commitment to love and uphold the values of freedom that we all hold dear.

 Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

Click Here To Read Part 1 of a Better Than Delicious Morsel...

Like the venerable broadcaster Paul Harvey likes to say..."And now for the rest of the story..."

Today, I picked up the phone to call Stahl's Bakery.  By, a stroke of amazing coincidence, the bakery line was busy, so I decided to try the alternate office line.  The phone was answered by a gentleman and I inquired about if I could order some cookies. In the course of the conversation, I told him how I had discovered his cookies at Papa Joe's Market and was going to write a blog post about them.

Imagine my surprise to find myself talking to the owner  of Stahl's Bakery, Mr. Joe Stabile.  Joe Stabile gave me some wonderful insights into the history of the bakery and the famous Belly Button Cookies.  Stahl's Bakery originated in Detroit about 78 years ago. 

Today, the bakery is located in New Baltimore Michigan which is about 30 miles from Detroit and 7 miles from Mt. Clemens in a building which is 140 years old. The most delightful  part of the conversation was when Joe told me about the history of the Belly Button cookies.  Apparently, these delicious cookies were 'discovered' somewhat by accident. 

As the story goes...a batch of cookies was made which did not turn out well. In fact, the batch turned out so poorly that all the cookies were being thrown out when the boss walked in and asked what was going on.  Tasting the cookies, he remarked on how good they were.  Everyone had assumed that they were beyond salvaging.  No one knew exactly how the 'mistake' had been created, so thus ensued a vigorous search to replicate the error.  Finally, they perfected the cookie which is enjoyed by people from all over Michigan and the United States...the best selling Belly Button Cookie!

So, what's the moral of the story?  Well, there are probably several, however, the most endearing may be about the nature of our mistakes.  Sometimes, we are so overcome by what seems to be a disappointment that we throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water.  Imagine what would have happened if the boss hadn't tasted the cookies which had just been tossed out? Today, people across the country would not be enjoying the Famous Belly Button Cookies!

Sometimes, what seems to be a lost cause or a wrong turn can unveil a discovery which opens up a world of new possibilities.  Our response determines the nature of a failure.  If we choose to learn the lessons afforded by our mistakes, we stand to benefit.  If we give up and throw our hands up in frustration, we may risk loosing the insight which is about to bring us to the threshold of a most profitable venture like Stahl's Bakery discovered.  So here's to you Stahl's Bakery for many, many more years of baking delicious cookies & thanks for sharing a wonderful life lesson!

images courtesy of Stahl's bakery

Update:  I thank Dorthy Stabile of Stahl's Bakery for her corrections regarding the history and current location of Stahl's Bakery 7/2/08.

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved