This is one of the best blogs I have seen about the great debate on what creative people actual do.

Is it design or style. However if off color language offends you, I would refrain from visiting this blog.

The mood still seems to be a bit somber amongst the vast International Builder Show attendees. People are still waiting to hear when is this all going to end. There were a few reports on are we heading into a recession and the economic outlook for the next year did not seem as bleek as expected. To read more about their predictions click here.

After attending may of the sales and marketing seminars, the overall tone was to dig in and weather out the storm. There was great focus on how sales people really needed to get back to the basics and start actually selling for the first time in a long time, the homes are not going to just sell themselves these days. Marketing also seems to be a higher priority as well this year. With more focus on branding and website presence. Thank goodness!!! Here is an article that speaks directly to what some builders are doing  “Builders Priority’s Change as Market Conditions Slip

One final note, Green building is still a very hot topic this year and I predict for years to come as well. It seems that if you are not heading towards at least learning more about building green, you truly might just miss the boat. There were many different tracks that focused solely on this very important topic. Here are a few articles recaps that will help fill you in on what is going on with Green.  Green by Design, Not just Gadgets, by Jenny Sullivan. Survey Reveals Home Buyers Wish for Energy Efficient and Beyond, by Jean Dimeo. NAHB Lays Out Details for Green Building Program, by John Caulfield. Web Tools Support Green Projects, by Jenny Sullivan.

Overall I think the conference was a good chance to get people back on track and reinvigorated about what they love to do, sell more homes. If you are not already planning on attending next year, I would highly suggest you try and fit it in your budget. IBS is going to be held January 20-23, this year in Las Vegas. You always learn something new at this great event.

Lately doesn’t everyone seem to be sending out doom and gloom messages? The government, the media, our entire industry, it doesn’t matter who you are talking to, they are depressed, worried, stressed and down right negative. I look around and life definitely is not perfect right now for most people in our industry, but there are still people who are doing well and I mean really well. They have not let the predictions of a recession or a bad housing market make them even miss a beat. They are revising their plans, making adjustments, and moving forward with full steam and more importantly they are doing it with a positive attitude. I know, you are thinking positive attitude, yeah, yeah, yeah, but maybe there is a little shred of truth to that line of thinking.

If you are feeling like you are suffering from a turn in your mental outlook, here are a few books that might help you through this blip on the radar; “Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude” by Napolean Hill and W. Clement Stone; and “Get Out of Your Own Way” by Mark Goulston, M.D., and Philip Goldberg. These books might not solve all your personal or business problems, but hey, what could they hurt.