No, we didn't strike it rich on the slots, but we did strike it rich in education and networking opportunities! The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) held its first annual convention in Las Vegas and it was unbelievable! This is the first time that all desginations have been able to gather and unite, showing the industry that we can grow together. As one speaker put it, "The rising tide raises all boats."
My favorite highlight was simply networking with all of the stagers whose faces and names I intimately know as AR friends. It was just incredible meeting so many of you - I'm afraid to list names because I don't want to leave anyone out!
My favorite speakers of the week were by far David Avrin, author of "It's not what you know, it's WHO KNOWS YOU!" his discussion on Branding and Social networking was inspiring!
Ashley Whittenberger - somehow Ashley made the boring and difficult topic of pricing fun and entertaining. She started roaring laughter from the beginning and kept us glued to our seats till the end. BTW, the short hair is rockin'!! Tell your kids oh well, there's a new mom in town because ~ LOVE IT!
Mike Robbins talk on Motivation was outstanding! I'm not an emotional person, but he had most of us misty eyed and definately deserved the standing ovation at the end. In addition to David's book, both of Mike's books(Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken - transform your life with the power of Authenticity & Focus on the Good Stuff - the power of appreciation) were ordered from Amazon before I left that day. There was so much great information in his keynote address that I couldn't possibly give it what it deserves, but my favorite was "instead of correcting a compliment, hang out in their good opinion of you, instead of your negative opinion of yourself".... this was on the topic of when someone says something nice to you or about you and you correct them... "Oh, I wasn't really that good, but I did this wrong, etc". When you do that, you are being selfish and rude - it's a skill set that I still have to work on and I appreciated his frankness and good humor while educating us!
the panel of experts - Christine Rae, Jackson West, Audra Slinkey, Joanne Leanart Weary and of course The Stagers' Matthew Finalason. Wow, what to say about this group of experts? They took questions from the floor and we learned some amazing things about the different ways to grow our business. Thank you for all that you do!
Finally - my next favorite highlight was actually a highly enjoyable dinner with my team, Matthew Finalson, Lori Kim Polk, Karen Otto, Charlene Storozok, Michelle Molinari and associates (friends, family & assorted team members who I'm sorry I can't remember all the names of)
thank you Karen Otto for the so much better photo....
So finally.... from all of us here at First Impressions, in Charleston, South Carolina, Thank you to each and every attendee who came for making this possible! Shell has booked reservations for next year and this time the vision board reads 400 attendees!! So - Shell Bell, this is for you! NO MATTER WHAT AFFILIATION YOU ARE WITH, start saving now (a mere $100 a month should be enough) because we want to see you there - LAS VEGAS watch out, ACTIVE RAIN STAGERS will be back in 2011!!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as an instructor for Staging And Resign and regularly speaks at the StagerList Expos and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.822.2622 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
If you would like Marro's team to provide information on staging a property in the state of South Carolina, or the Greater Charleston Area, please visit www.WeStageSC.com, email marro.melissa@gmail.com or call 843.822.2622.
Great post Melissa! It was a fab conference and I am so glad I finally got to meet you in person.
Great to see you again Melissa. You're always so motivating! Is it for sure in LV again next year...I hope it will last a little longer, the time went by so quickly. Time flies when you're having fun!
Annie - Thanks! It was so great to meet you also - next time we'll find a way to talk more - so much to do, so little time!
Patti - I think so, Shell will correct me if I'm wrong though... I agree that we need it longer! We will plan on coming in another day early though to try to network and play a little more!
Melissa it was an honor and a priviledge to meet you, learn from you and spend great quality time with you! I gained so much valuable information and renewed sense of spirit & unity from this event and more importantly a bond and a start of a personal relationship with you.
Great review Melissa!! Last year when we polled everyone about a potential conference I was SHOCKED at the results of only wanting 1 1/2 days. With all the results of the survey people wanted a networking session, and one full day & 1/2 half day. They had a minimum number of speakers they wanted etc. So with all they wanted this was the result. I AGREE 100% we need two full days plus the half day of networking. Also to start later than 7am. But again we gave the people what they wanted.
I am putting together a feedback survey and will be able to point out when we last surveyed this is what you wanted, now that you had that what would you change etc.
I can't agree more with your assessments on the speakers. I am so grateful for Cathy Lee!!!! It was her suggestion for Mike Robbins. At first I was like hmm, Baseball star and women???? But then I watched his demo tapes and I was like SIGN US UP!!
David Avrin- Seldom do I find myself speachless for an AMAZING reason. Talk about a total package!! Amazing personalisty, very gracious, caring, giving, smart, talented, generous and truly wanted us to succeed. (which we did) I LOVE his brain!
I will post more later. Shell
Ladies, did you notice I followed Ribeeze's suggestions for the title of the blog?? See, learned something!!!
Karen - I'm touched and honored. I also look forward to getting to know you better, holding each other to higher standards and learning more about the way we work, play and grow!
Shell - thank you for everything you did for us last week (and so much more). Now, if I could just have had more than 30 minutes - that was tough girl!
Melissa, perfectly summed up - my day was nuts today coming back (expect we all had the same) however today I had a smile on my face that just couldn't be removed. I loved your session - looking forward to the next opportunity to hear the full 90 minutes!
OMG... you are unbelievable, truly, how have you found the time to write this? Melissa, I was so happy to meet you. Conference was magical and I feel truly blessed to have met so many wonderful people. Thank you for what you are doing for this industry Melissa and I hope to hug ya again soon ;))
Melissa - I look forward to meeting you next year. Thanks for sharing about your experience at the conference!
Great summary Melissa! The whole experience was wonderful. The break out sessions were my favorite! You know.. just when you thought you knew what your doing you realize there always more to learn. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise.
Thank you Melissa for sharing - needless to say, I have my money in my hand waiting for the next registration... I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SIGN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karen - thanks for the GREAT updated photo!
James - Thank you for the kind words! It was great meeting you as well. I look forward to seeing you again at the Stagers List Expo in Toronto!
LKP - duh, I don't sleep... lol. Seriously I've been so pumped up, who needs sleep? Sure the crash will come this weekend, but until then, so much to do, so little time!
David - always a fan of your work, I was trying to keep an eye out for you there. Good to know I didn't miss you in the crowd - definately make it a point to be there next year and then come find me!
Margaret - great point! There is always some distinction you can make that will make your career (and life) better.... boy the speakers really honed that in, didn't they?
Randy - I'm holding you to that! See you next year!
Thanks for sharing with those of us who are still mourning the fact that we were not able to be there...I will have to get those books!
Melissa -- I really enjoyed meeting you and attending your workshop at the RESA Conference. As with the Expo you spoke at in NJ in November, I took away a great deal of valuable information to incorporate into my own business. THANK YOU!
Thank you for the awesome re-cap Melissa. I've not had time to do a write up, so I'll just say DITTO to what you and Audra said! :-)
It was such a wonderful conference. I came back with some big takeways, and some smaller, more tactical strategies I can implement. I will definitely not ever miss a RESA Conference in the future!!
Melissa - It was fantastic to finally meet you! I wish you didn't live so far away. Dinner was definitely a highlight - I had so much fun. See you next year?