Guest Blogger: Kristin Hutchins
I see good people go from good to great all the time. It’s not magic. It’s passion, purpose, and action.
They find their path, they have a purpose, and if they get knocked down, they get up again. They keep asking better and better questions that get them closer to their goals and they continue to find the people and resources that support them on their journey. They turn resistance into growth and they fully immerse themselves in the experience.
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Find your compelling “why”: Find your one thing. Become a dream machine, turn your dreams loose, and envision the end in mind. Your “why” is your drive and you find your “why” by answering the question, “Why do you do what you do?” To find your compelling, find the answer that connects with your passion and plucks at your heart strings.
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Become a force of one: Get out of your own way and stack yourself for success by channeling your thinking, feeling, and doing. Think the thoughts that serve you, feel the feelings that empower you, and do what you know needs to be done.
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Model the best: The best do it with models. They find the best examples of what they want to accomplish, and they learn from them.
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Give back your best where you have your best to give: This is you unleashed. The best play to their strengths. They spend more time doing the things that make them strong, and less time doing the things that make them weak. This builds energy and momentum and instead of getting drained, you get charged and you grow where you can grow best.
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Find your best arena: Don’t be a fish out of water. Find your element. Going from good to great means finding where you can play your best game. Maybe you’re a mediocre developer, but a great Program Manager. Maybe you’re an OK doctor, but an incredible actor. Take your skills to the job or place where they make the most impact.
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Execute: Taking action is how you make things happen. Throw massive action at whatever you need to do. Even if it seems like you’re only taking baby steps at a time, you’ll eventually hit your stride. When you keep taking action, you learn faster. Each result teaches you another way how to do something, or how not to do something.
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Stick with it: If you fall down six times, stand up seven. Remember The Little Engine That Could? Well, whenever you think you can’t, you’re working against yourself. It starts with belief. Think you can, then prove yourself right.
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Learn and respond: The best take action, learn, and respond. They are always failing forward. The great ones use the feedback to improve their approach. They stay adaptable while they are finding their way forward. Be your own best coach, not your own best critic.
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Let it go: The best let it go and move on. They don’t carry baggage. They focus on the objectives and they measure against effectiveness. Either their approach is working or it’s not. If it’s not working, they let it go, and find a new way forward.
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Team up: The best of the best team up with people that amplify their impact. They also team up with people that provide more deliberate feedback and that help them find their blind spots and get unstuck.
The NeighborWorks Columbus Cottage Program has learned how to do things great. If you are looking to team up with a great organization and program you can contact them to discuss where you could continue to grow towards greatness.
Guest Blogger: Kristin Hutchins
The most famous line from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is quite often misinterpreted. This is due to the differences between the Early Modern English of Shakespeare's time and its next evolution, our Modern English.
In this balcony scene, Juliet is not asking where Romeo is! She instead wants to know why Romeo is a Montague and she a Capulet.
In this sense "wherefore?" is more accurately defined as meaning "for what purpose?"
When I think about affordable housing I end up asking myself, Why don't we have more of it? For what purpose is it hard to find? Or do we have more of it and we are just not aware? This is where NeighborWorks Columbus has opened my eyes and made me completely aware of all that is available to us.
As people age, their need for safe and affordable housing grows more critical. Yet today, approximately 13 million low-income 50+ households in America cannot afford their housing costs and/or live in inadequate housing. Many are paying over 30 percent of their household income to maintain housing that barely meets their physical needs. Many find themselves forced to choose between paying their mortgage or rent and buying groceries or medicine.
High housing costs also make it impossible to perform basic maintenance and add needed modifications like railings or ramps, making things more unsafe as they and their homes age. Many are also victimized by predatory lenders, who seek them out, rob them of their home equity and bury them with debt they cannot afford.
This is not only a need for individuals aged 50+. People buying there very first home are generally young and just starting out. They are a huge target for fraud. This is something that can damage them for years to come and even for the rest of there lives if not taken care of properly.
If you would like to meet with a NeighborWorks associate and discuss affordable homes you should give them a call or attend the very next free home buyer orientation class on May 23rd. I am so greatful to know what I now know since working with them.
As NeighborWorks Columbus says, "The quality of life in our community begins with fit and affordable housing as its foundation."
It's More Than Experience, It's Knowledge!
At a recent leadership conference the speaker, John Maxwell, said that as leaders and organizations we need to make things simple. He explained how there is a difference between simplistic and simple. He went on to explain to us how he had a process for making things simple. The example he gave was the statement, " Experience is the best teacher." He said that this is a simplistic statement. It is shallow statement. When you actually examine it, you will find that it is actually only half true. To really understand this though, you have to move to his second step which is "Complex." He said that complex is deep and slow. It takes time. To really determine if this statement is true you must take the time to evaluation and think about it. In truth, experience is not ALWAYS the best teacher because if that were the case we would all get smarter as we get older...and that is not always the case! From here, the complex, you can then find the simple truth which might be, "Experience provides an great opportunity for learning."
I have found this to be true in my own life and in the organizations where I have been privileged to serve. For instance, when it comes to buying a home, have you ever heard the term "Buyer Beware!" This terms refers to the fact that it is good for the buyer to be aware of certain things when purchasing a home to protect themselves. But how do you know what those things are? Buying a second home is often much easier than buying your first, but this is not always.
So how do you move from a simplistic approach to buying a home, through the complex world of what you should know, to the simple steps it takes to be successful. Education!
Did you know that there are organizations who will help you prepare to purchase a home through home buyer education. They can assist you with the education that you need and often even hold your hand through the process. These organizations have experience and have used that experience as a great opportunity to learn so that you can benefit from their knowledge and wisdom.
In today's economy, I would be remiss if I didn't also mention home retention assistance. Home retention is just another way of saying, "Help me keep my home, I am about to go into foreclosure." If you have been fortunate enough to purchase a home of your own and are now facing losing that home to foreclosure, let me encourage you to seek out those who have experience that they have translated into knowledge. They can often help you keep that home that means so much to you. Foreclosure prevention services by a qualified organization can be the lifeline that you need.
By the way, these services are for all genders, all ages, all incomes levels, all races, and all
educational levels. Homeownership is a dream of almost everyone, foreclosure is an experience for many good people.
Whether you are looking for a home or trying to keep one, make this experience a good teacher by availing yourself of the resources that can guide you through successfully.
Need Downpayment Assistance?
Guest Blogger: Kristin Hutchins
NeighborWorks Columbus does not expect you to know it all. That is why we are here for you.
If you have questions about foreclosure or buying a home we have upcoming workshops that we would love to have you attend.
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!
Guest Blogger: Kristin Hutchins
I was completely inspired this morning while having my usual cup of coffee and watching Good Morning America. The GMA gang introduced these two middle school boys that are both on the wrestling team at there school. They looked like your average middle school boys except one of the boys has severe cerebral palsy. They were congratulating them for touching so many peoples hearts around the world with there great story.
I had missed the introduction so I was unsure of what they had actually done. I went online and googled them and I got this wonderful video that has truly inspired me today and has given me the words for this blog today. Enjoy!
I love when I come across examples of people that give back just because it is the right thing to do. This video is just that!
We are getting close to the NeighborWorks Columbus Cottage #6. I had such a wonderful time while being involved in the 5th Columbus Cottage Program and I am excited to approach the 6th. If you would like to be a part of the 6th Columbus Cottage Program and have a passion for community building please fill out this form and someone will be in touch with you very soon. We would love to have you be a part of this great group of people giving back.
Guest Blogger: Kristin Hutchins
Is homeownership still one of your dreams?
I recently had the pleasure of reading a book called "Now's the Time" by Michael D. Loftin, Executive Director of Homewise, Inc.
It is filled with great articles that explain why now is such an opportune time to buy. It shows the benefits of owning vs renting.
In his book Michael says that "Still, some shy away because they've heard it's difficult to qualify for a mortgage. And yes, it is harder than five years ago, but not impossible. Steady employment, a little money in the bank and decent credit go a long way on a mortgage application. For those who come up short in one area or another, programs are available to help them raise their credit score and tighten their budget."
Michael also says "As house prices have remained soft, the direct cost of owning is cheaper than renting an equivalent home in parts of the country." It sounds to me like now is the time to look at affordable homes that are out there.
"Just like money in the bank, a home can be a real financial asset. And just like the retirement planners recommend, that budgeted mortgage payment is building up your wealth a little bit each month, until a little turns into a lot."
This is where NeighborWorks Columbus can help you tremendously. They provide financial fitness classes to help you in this area. On May 16th they are having there next financial fitness class and would love for all to attend. Click here to find out more information on this amazing class or call Shadonna Woodcock at (706) 324-4663.
One last thing that I liked that Michael said in his book is, "The three most important things in real estate are said to be location, location and location, but timing is everything. And now is the homebuyer's time."
We have just finished our series of blogs on "What Makes A House A Home?" The series was inspired by our Columbus Cottage Program. This program provide a home to a deserving senior who is living in substandard housing in Columbus, GA. This was our 5th cottage and we are already underway with our 6th. The common link with each home is the significance of home to each senior. The current candidate is living is what most of us would consider uninhabitable conditions. The home is falling apart around her.
Yet inside are the treasures that contain the memories of what really makes a house a home.
We loved sharing what our group of college students believed the answer to "What Makes A House Home?" was. We hope that you enjoyed it them. We also want to say thank you to each one of them for their contribution and to our college interm for formatting them and adding the special images we all love to see. We have one more to share. The author of that post is also the winner of or contest and will be announced when we announce the 6th Columbus Cottage recipient so stay tuned.
As I watched the reaction to this series of blogs, I noted that there were several different kinds of readers:
- Those who owned a home.
- Those who wanted to own a home.
- Those who were between homes for various reasons.
Today I want to focus on the group who wants to own a home. Did you know that the biggest barrier to homeownership for many is the down payment?
Did you also know that there are down payment assistance programs in
Georgia? There are many programs that are implemented through many organizations that can help you not only with down payment assistance in Columbus or any part of GA, but with low cost loans, financial education, and home ownership tips and tricks. If you would like to own your own home and the down payment is a barrier for you, do some research in your area and find the program that is right for you. If you live in Columbus, GA, there are wonderful programs that are through public and private partnerships, between our city and non-profit organizations, and more.
Don't let the dream of home ownership pass you by! It is possible to be a homeowner and to turn a house into a home.....that you own.
Guest Blogger: Hannah Williams
Contest Entry: What Makes a House a Home?
This blog is based on one of the many entries in our contest where individuals were asked, "What makes a house a home?"
"A house could be any place where someone lives, but is that all there is to it? I think what makes a house a home is the feeling that you get when something goes wrong and all you have to do is go into the next room and you will find a loving, caring family member waiting to help you with all of your problems."
-Tyler Williams
Age 14, Attends Smiths Station High School
"I always found myself having to choose which home I would spend holidays or family gatherings at. My parents divorced when I was very young. I always knew inside my heart either choice was going to be the right one, because both my mom and dad loved me so much! Looking back now I have come to realize that a home doesn’t have to be one specific place. Instead, it’s anywhere you feel comfort and love."
-Lacey Wise
Age 19, Attends University of Alabama Birmingham
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This contest supports our Columbus Cottage Program.
This campaign is all about community building
and provides a home to a senior citizen living
in substandard housing. We believe there is nothing
more comforting than to provide a safe and secure
home to someone in their twilight years.
If you consider "home" important,
consider donating now by clicking below!
Guest Blogger: Hannah Williams
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Contest Entry: What Makes a House a Home?
This blog is based on one of the many entries in our contest where individuals were asked, "What makes a house a home?"
"A home to me is somewhere I never want to leave! It is where all of my family’s land is, so I can hunt, fish, and ride four wheelers with family and friends. Growing up my parents never had to wonder where I was because my home was where all of my friends wanted to be. That’s where I spent all of my time and made so many great memories! My home is what has molded me into the man I am today."
-Blake Cooper
Age 20, Attends Chattahoochee Valley Community College
"The difference between a house and a home to me is a home isn’t just some building or some piece of land, it’s where your family is. I grew up living in Alabama, off of an old gravel road. My only neighbors were my cousins, and grandparents. Currently I am attending school at the University of Alabama, my dream school. I will admit I am having the time of my life right now but nothing or nowhere could ever give me the amount of comfort and warmth I feel when I go home."
-Ryan Woodall
Age 20, Attends University of Alabama
This contest supports our Columbus Cottage Program.
This campaign is all about community building
and provides a home to a senior citizen living
in substandard housing. We believe there is nothing
more comforting than to provide a safe and secure
home to someone in their twilight years.
If you consider "home" important,
consider donating now by clicking below!
Guest Blogger: Hannah Williams
Contest Entry: What Makes a House a Home?
This blog is based on one of the many entries in our contest where individuals were asked, "What makes a house a home?"
"A home is what you make of it. I am sure there are miserable people living in mansions and happy and content people living in modest homes. Home is where I feel safe and loved no matter how modest it might be. It is the only place that feels mine. Nothing can bring you comfort like the heart-warming feeling you get when you’re home, regardless of how large or small your home might be."
-Lacey MacClellan
Age 20, Attends Chattahoochee Valley Community College
This contest supports our Columbus Cottage Program.
This campaign is all about community building
and provides a home to a senior citizen living
in substandard housing. We believe there is nothing
more comforting than to provide a safe and secure
home to someone in their twilight years.
If you consider "home" important,
consider donating now by clicking below!