Mike Parker

Mike Parker mparker@theblackwatercg.com Does Wells Fargo ring a bell? You'll find this cloying bureaucracy in most major institutions, however. It is a scandal. A scandal that no Presidential candidate or office holder has addressed and that most of the American public remain blissfully ignorant about. In another Century, these "bankers" would be facing the Guillotine.

Mike Parker mparker@theblackwatercg.com I can't help but be reminded of one of the three biggest lies in the world: "Everything will be the same after the merger." In time, all that will be "the same" is that the former Prudential offices will continue to sell and list real estate. Consolidation is a fact of life, but things will definitely never be the same after the transaction closes. They never are. Brookfield has a great reputation, though, so maybe that will be a good thing. Good luck to everyone involved.

Mike Parker mparker@theblackwatercg.com Hi, Bernice; Another article that hits the mark. I take particular notice of your very brave statement that social networking may not be "it" and that certain "old-school" methods are in a virtual tie for effectiveness. I have shared that view for years and have endured much vitriol because of it. However,just this morning I received one of those wonderful calls from a client in the mid west that began "I know I never tell you how important you are to my business, but..... (those are so rare and welcome!) since I have been using you, my market share has gone from 19% to 71% of all local transactions. Thank you so much!" This client uses our most basic product, which got me to thinking that I, too, may have fallen into the tech trap a bit as I really have not emphasized that product for a long time. Perhaps this story will help others recognize that they, too, need to really think about where their sales come from and to not exclude those simple things that continue to stand the test of time! Best regards, Mike Parker