Want to Show Gratitude this Year?

 

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” — Randy Pausch.

Happy Thursday!  

I hope this season finds you safe and well. With one week from Thanksgiving, I wanted to let you know that I am personally Grateful for you, your family, your friendship and as a client.

This has been one of the most challenging years in my own personal life and I know it's been hard on you.  Please know that my team and I are here for you in anyway to support your real estate needs and personal needs.  

As we've experienced this year many of us have had to get creative connecting with friends and family. As we move into the holiday season, I feel that connecting and showing gratitude will go further and will mean more this year than ever. 

Here are a few thoughtful gift ideas that you could send a loved one to show your gratitude. 

When thinking about shopping this season, consider buying local. I sincerely hope you have a wonderful holiday season. If there’s anything that I can do to help you and your family this year, please give me a call.

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God Bless you this holiday season!  

Why Steve Jobs Wanted Space

 

Bringing People To The Center

 

Shortly after being forced out of Apple Computer, Steve Jobs bought a small computer manufacturer named Pixar. In 2000, he relocated the company to an abandoned factory. The original plan called for three buildings, with separate offices for computer scientists, animators, and the Pixar executives.

Jobs immediately scrapped it. Instead of three buildings, he wanted a single vast space with an atrium at its center.

As Pixar’s Ed Catmull explains, “The philosophy behind this design is that it’s good to put the most important function at the heart of the building. Well, what’s our most important function? It’s the interaction of our employees. That’s why Steve put a big empty space there. He wanted to create an open area for people to always be talking to each other.”

Jobs saw separated offices as a design problem. He shifted the mailboxes to the atrium, then moved the meeting rooms, cafeteria, coffee bar, and gift shop to the center of the building. “The atrium initially might seem like a waste of space,” says director Brad Bird. “But Steve realized that when people run into each other, when they make eye contact, things happen.”

Jobs insisted that the best creations occurred when people from disparate fields were connected, especially in an age of intellectual fragmentation.

Steve Jobs knew his team could send a message throughout the Pixar building in a millisecond, but he created an environment that encouraged interaction. Intuitively we know Jobs is right. The content of any message can be sent and delivered around the world instantly. The context of the message is the part that helps people understand each other. For that, we still need the best communication technology ever conceived – human contact.

4 Projects to Knock out This Fall

I know that we’ve all been at home​ quite a bit this year and that you’ve probably had plenty of time to work on a few house projects. I wanted to share a few more projects that you can take care of this fall so that you have a more efficient winter.

With the relatively warm weather going away, replacing windows and your front door is the perfect fall project. New windows are an excellent investment for multiple reasons. They will drastically improve your curb appeal, and new windows are more likely to make your home more efficient. 

If you’ve been holding out on painting your home, fall temperatures are perfect for exterior painting. Plus, it will look beautiful for any holiday guests.

​Fixing your roof is not the most glorious project, but maybe one of the most important ones. Before winter, have your roof inspected and fix any necessary repairs. If you have a small issue, you won’t want it to turn into something much more significant in the middle of winter.

​Fall is also an excellent time to make sure that your home is well insulated. Upgrading your insulation will keep the heat where it needs to be – in your home! Also, it can make your home more efficient and save you some money on heating costs

As you’re planning for your next round of home projects, think about adding these to your list. Fall temperatures are great for last-minute projects. If there’s anything that I can help you with, give me a call.