Lesley's Life

May 31 2013

Inspirational Books…What is Your Favorite?

Lao Tzu, traditionally the author of the Tao T... — Lao Tzu, traditionally the author of the Tao Te Ching (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am currently reading “The Kaizen Way”, which was recommended by Brian Buffini in a training that I am taking at Park Square Realty. It is an easy read with lots of great actionable steps that I think will help me improve my skills as a real estate professional, but it is not a real estate book.

From the Amazon page:

“Introducing the practical and inspirational guide to incorporating Kaizen and its powerful principles into one’s daily life. Rooted in the two thousand-year-old wisdom of the Tao Te Ching–“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”–Kaizen is the art of making great and lasting change through small, steady increments. Kaizen is the tortoise versus the hare. Kaizen is the eleven Fortune 500 companies that significantly outperformed the market through moderate, step-by-step actions. Kaizen is losing weight not by a crash diet (which more often than not crashes) but by eating one bite less at each meal–then, a month later, eating two bites less. Kaizen is starting a life-changing exercise program by standing–just standing–on a treadmill for one minute a day.

Written by an expert on Kaizen–Dr. Robert Maurer, a psychologist on the staff at the UCLA medical school who speaks and consults nationally–One Small Step is the gentle but potent way to effect change. Beginning by outlining the all-important role that fear plays in all types of change–and Kaizen’s ability to circumvent it–Dr. Maurer then explains the 7 Small Steps: how to Think Small Thoughts, Take Small Actions, Solve Small Problems, and more. He shows how to perform mind sculpture–visualizing virtual change so that real change comes more naturally. Why small rewards motivate better than big rewards. How great discoveries are made by paying attention to the little details most of us overlook. Hundreds of examples of Kaizen at work grace the book, as well as quotes from W. Edwards Deming (who brought Kaizen to Japanese industry), Peter Drucker, coach John Wooden, and others.”

I made my Abouthom.es Girls video this week a book report on “The Kaizen Way” and I also want to know what books inspire you…I want to add them to my reading list!

May 23 2013

Client Appreciation Party

On Sunday May 19, 2013 I held my first ever Client Appreciation Party. It was an open house style event held at Blossoming Acres / Putnam Farms in Southwick, MA.

My associate, Claire, and I co-hosted the event and invited our clients to stop by for some fresh baked goodies, hay rides, games, conversation and a free plant! While the weather wasn’t overly cooperative (rained most of the time), many of our clients still came by and we loved visiting with them.

I will be making this an annual event and hope that those that couldn’t make it this time will be able to join me next time!

In the meantime, who do you know that I could help with their real estate needs? Give me a shout out!

Lesley Lambert / Park Square Realty, Westfield, MA 413-575-3611 (call or text)

Apr 30 2013

Happy National Dance Week from Your Dancing REALTOR in Western MA!

Lesley Lambert: Tap dancing REALTOR (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

The week of April 29, 2013 marks the beginning of National Dance Week.

I have been dancing my whole life and dance is a huge part of who I am. Dance has been a hobby, sport, job, creative outlet, family bonding and friendship building experience for me. Most all, dance has been my outlet.

I am so grateful to have dance in my life now and love sharing the joy of dance with my daughters and my students at New England Dance Centers. I appreciate spending time with these kids and really enjoy that they crave my experience and input. There is something so wonderful about sharing a passion with the next generation. It is very empowering to know that what I teach these young people will impact and help to shape who they become.

Dance is also a large part of why I am such a good (if I do say so myself) real estate agent for my clients and customers in Western MA. Dance taught me to set goals and take steps towards achieving those goals, dance taught me that determination and spirit will lead to success, dance gave me the strength and confidence to back up my thoughts, dance gave me the ability to gracefully accept constructive criticism

Dance pictures (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

and dance gave me a quiet space inside to help find answers to questions. These are leadership skills that I may not have learned, or learned as well, another way.

So, while I am a full time (60 to 80 hours a week is full time, right?) REALTOR, a job that I truly love, I am glad to still have dance in my life. Some people spend their “down time” at the gym or playing poker or doing crafts. I spend mine at the dance studio with my daughters.

Below are some videos I have created about dance. There is one very short (and pretty crappy quality) video of me tap dancing and there is a video I made for the Abouthom.es Girls talking about why I love dance (in which I tap dance again).

If you want a REALTOR who learned important leadership skills at an early age and who loves dance, but never gives a song and dance in her real estate work then call Lesley Lambert, Dancing REALTOR at Park Square Realty in Westfield, MA.

Mar 22 2013

Lesley Lambert on why dance is so important to her

My Abouthom.es Girls friend, Lisa Oden, asked in her recent video what we love to share with our community. She suspected that tap shoes might be involved and she was right!

I started dancing at the age of two. At the age of 11 I joined a competitive dance team and that was the beginning of a life long passion. I have been dancing all the time ever since and have loved every moment of it! In 1982 I became a student at New England Dance Centers, where I remain as an instructor and choreographer to this day. My daughters (ages 11 and 8) are both competitive dancers at the studio and it is a great thrill to have this shared love of dance with them.

My real estate career is heading into it’s 25th year and is my full-time profession. I work at it way more than 40 hours a week and give top priority to my clients and customers. That being said, it can be a hectic and stressful business. Dance is my therapy. Other people leave work and go to the gym, out for drinks with friends or play sports. Me? I head to the dance studio to sing, dance and play with some kids that share a love of music and dance. What could be more rejuvenating to mind, spirit and body?

Here is a very short (2minute) video in which I discuss my passion for dance and even show you a little tap dancing:

Feb 25 2013

The Abouthom.es Girls are BACK!

Years ago my good friend, Diane Guercio, and I had a video channel on YouTube, the Abouthom.es Girls, where we would send each other videos each week. The format was casual, but informative and most of all REAL. To keep things interesting, we made some rules about the videos: no longer than 3 minutes in length, have to respond if a question or topic was brought forward, must post by midnight on our assigned day and have to end the video with “peace out homescouts”.

We volleyed succesfully for a long time, but changes happened and we stopped doing our videos. In discussion with some other dear friends, it came out that we all shared the desire to do more video, but weren’t for one reason or another. We decided that we would re-start the Abouthom.es Girls channel to hold each other accountable and get going on video. Here is my video introducing the new talent:

I am excited to have Diane Haley Brooks, Amy Cesario, Debbie Kirkland, Lisa Oden and Chris Griffith join Diane Guercio and I in this endeavor. We hope to enchant, educate and entertain you as we discuss real estate with our own fabulous flair!

PEACE OUT HOMESCOUTS!

Lesley's Life

In the meantime, who do you know that I could help with their real estate needs? Give me a shout out!

Lesley Lambert / Park Square Realty, Westfield, MA 413-575-3611 (call or text)

The week of April 29, 2013 marks the beginning of National Dance Week.

My Abouthom.es Girls friend, Lisa Oden, asked in her recent video what we love to share with our community. She suspected that tap shoes might be involved and she was right!

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