Just Mike

Social Media Thanks

// December 24th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

I am not a fan of Follow Friday’s on Twitter because anyone you follow should be worthy of a shout out.  At least for me I don’t follow every single person who follows me.  Some are funny, some bring insight, while others are just interesting.  With that said, here is my shout out of people that I feel have impacted me in some way and my way of saying thanks to them.

In order of when I met them (to the best of my recollection),

Ron Ares – Ron is probably the first person that I really connected with online in the real estate world.  His website has great Portland market insights.  Some agents are so competitive that they are afraid to share information or helpful suggestions and he, like any other Realtor on this list, isn’t like that.  He’s been helpful and a great guy to get to know.

Nick Bostic – Nick is a King of all trades when it comes to tech, the web, and social media.  I first met Nick when he gave me an opportunity to be part of a collaboration of local real estate bloggers. The more I have gotten to know him the more I am honored that he would ask for my assistance with any project.   He has continued to impress me with his knowledge and creativity.  He has the ability to cut through the crap and figure out what is useful.

Dale Chumbley – Dale is the definition of social.  Social media was made to give him an outlet. You’ll find him on Facebook and Twitter with videos and pics of funny and interesting stuff.   He has been listed at least twice as a Top Influential in the Real Estate industry lists but the funny thing is that he rarely talks real estate.  He does social media right, just getting to know people and making friends.

Schnik – I have said it before and I will say it again, if Twitter starting charging I would pay for his account to keep him on there.  Though his job is with an MLS he could easily be a comedian.  He comes up with the best quips and comebacks on par with any top comedian.  I swear I almost spit milk out my nose once reading something he wrote.

IanWatt – Ian Watt was one of 20 agents given a digital camcorder to just play with and see what they could do.  He was the only one who did anything with it.  He went from being top 10% in his company of hundreds of agents to top 1%.  He showed me a way that real estate videos could be done which opened a new way for me to communicate and many have said that videos work better for me.

Luckily I have met everyone in real life which makes it even a richer experience.  Social media rocks.

Christmas Card Prank

// December 18th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

UPDATE: What I couldn’t say before was that he was out of town so hopefully he when he comes back today he will have a pile of cards waiting for him at the post office. I will try to get photos or videos of it sometime this week.

I have a friend who doesn’t appreciate one of my fantasy basketball players, Chris Duhon. He was giving me a hard time about playing him while he was struggling and now Chris Duhon has turned it around. I am against my buddy this week and Chris Duhon is killing it for me.

So here’s the plan:
If you have one left over Christmas Card, even if it is mangled, ripped, or whatever, sign it “Merry Christmas, Chris Duhon” and mail it to

Mr. XXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX

Or just put your name on it and write something like, “Hey did you see Chris Duhon’s line last night? Wow! Merry Christmas”

Leave the top left of the envelope empty so he won’t know what’s going on until it’s too late.

If you are feeling very generous do as many Christmas Cards as you want. Draw little basketballs inside the card, write “3 points!” or “wow look at all of those assists or just have fun.

This has the potential to be awesome. I think I can get 40 cards to him but with the help of you and the power of the internet I can’t even guess the potential number of cards he could receive. And if the cards arrive after Christmas it will still be funny so don’t let that stop you.

When it is all over I will make him take a picture with all of the cards and put it on this site as an update. If there are a lot than it will be a video.

Thanks for thinking about it.

Gary Vaynerchuk Visits Powell’s Bookstore

// October 20th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I only learned of Gary Vaynerchuk a few months ago but quickly realized that he is the real deal.  He has accomplished a ton in the business world. He has done it with passion and authenticity.

I have no doubt that Gary is authentic through and through. He drops F-bombs on the Jets quarterback on Twitter, chews dirt on The Ellen Show, and gives you his honest opinion every time.  He also reads his emails while answering many and replies on Twitter. (I have gotten a few replies in both media. He replied to one of my emails within two minutes with an emphatic “Yesss!”)

He has 850,000 followers on Twitter so I know it is like the lottery for him to see my tweets and he has replied.  What you see is what you get.  He admits that he loses new viewers at the beginning of his WineLibraryTv but he isn’t going to change that to try to appeal to more people. But he gets so many more followers by being himself and that is so much easier than trying to be someone else. He says it himself, “Don’t try to me or anyone else, be yourself.”

So what is up with his book Crush It! ?  He gives you what you need most – hope.  He tells you that your passion will lead to success.  We have heard that We see people who may have done it but thought they got lucky, like Keanu Reeves unreal success. In the book (and even more live at a book signing) you see the obvious passion, enthusiasm, and authenticity, and you believe.

As a kid I lived in a small town.  I didn’t know that runners made any money besides maybe marathon runners. All I knew was that you could run in college and possibly the Olympics then it ended.  I didn’t know you could make a living running, cycling, etc. Gary opens your eyes and shows you that it can be done, living a life of passion.

Gary gives you hope that if you aren’t happy with what you are doing for a living that there is way, and it isn’t expensive. But he doesn’t bullshit you into to thinking it is easy. It takes work and he does a ridiculous amount of work.

Are you bitching about your job?  Stop.  Find your passion, stop wasting time, and work your ass off to make a living at what you enjoy.
If you love what you do for a living, congratulations, you are so far ahead of the game.