My Legacy Online Contest
I joined Active Rain November, 2007 and didn't really know what to expect. I had a lease listing, so I posted it as my first Active Rain post, and I received comments. Now that was a first, I had posted on line before in other forums with NO responses. I started joining groups here on Active Rain, and read, and read, and read, bookmarked posts, commented, and read even more. If there was a tutorial, I followed it to the letter. Wow, I was learning, and every day I still do learn here and am grateful for the wealth of knowledge that I have obtained. I am so grateful for what I have learned here, and that I consider blogging an essential part of my business. I read every day, and comment and blogs and have developed online relationships with other Active Rain members including Debe Maxwell, Gary Woltal, Kim Kelley, Kat DeLong, Mike in Tucson, Irina Netchaev, Kent Simpson and 
Blogging is now an essential part of my business, and I take it very seriously. I like to post information that you my Active Rain family would like to read about, and the consumers would like to read about, and have an opportunity to allow others to get to know me a little better. I ask myself, what would you like to read, and how can I help you?
I have posted Twilight Open Houses, Spell Check and Formatting, and "Living in the OC" a California Adventure.
I wrote about my daughter - Look What My Daughter Brought Home, and Distractions While You Are Blogging which is about my Irish setter who is looking at me even now!!
My legacy online is multi-dimensional.
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On one side, it is to provide quality information to the consumers and clients about real estate, and information about the area. I want provide consumers with excellent and accurate information, while getting to know me at the same time. I love writing about my area, and I research it before I write it. Credibility is huge in this business, and to write something that is not accurate would not reflect well. I also think that presentation is imperative . . . formatting, quality photographs, changing the font colors help to attract attention. And if you look professional on-line, then you will look professional to the clients you are trying to attract! I always have my camera with me because I take a multitude of photographs.
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On another side, it is to continue to develop my relationships with my Active Rain family, to share information with you, come up with new ideas with you. I want to pay it forward to YOU as you have all done so graciously for me.
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Lastly, my legacy online is for my daughters. I love my girls Heather and Morgan more than anything and would move heaven and earth for them. They really are my friends and we have a blast together, and we love to laugh! I share the blogs I write now, and my Mother who lives in La Quinta reads them as well!
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My older daughter Heather is 18 years old now (where did the time go?), and is in her first year at Chapman University. She is still in the process of determining her career; however I recently proposed to her the idea of obtaining her real estate license. Heather has recently told me that she would love to get her real estate license and work with me. She is still going to finish her education at Chapman. I think that is the best legacy I could hope for, to have a business build by design (thanks Tom Ferry), and to have my daughter working with me. I actually came up with this idea at the Tom Ferry Success Summit with Tony Robbins. I actually cannot wait for her to start blogging as she is an excellent writer! (well I am pretty sure she is already on Myspace and Facebook).
I would hope that my younger daughter Morgan (she is soon to be 12) would want to join when she reaches that point in her life. However, whatever career path both my girls choose will be fully supported by me.
When I was a young girl, the greatest gift I received from my Father (God rest his soul - and another post to come) was that no matter what I have set my mind towards, I can achieve it. This has been my inspiration in my life, and it has been how I am raising my daughters - to believe in themselves. Like many others here on Active Rain, I am a positive person who believes the glass is half full 
and there are always opportunities in life,
especially here on the Rain.
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If anything..you have a wonderful view on life, your business and your family. Bottom line is...with your positive attitude you will surely be one that someone reads many years from now and says....that gal is real. Your transparency in your writing is honest and a part of you...thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
Sharon, This is the first post of yours I've read and it is lovely!
Sharon.... this was well done. And great words from your father in regards to what you can achieve in life. Thanks for sharing this...
Sally - thanks for your most positive comment - I greatly appreciate it. I do strive to be real in all aspects and coming from you - it is appreciated!
Carol - thanks for commenting, and I look forward to reading your posts as well.
Jeff - my father shared so much wisdom - and I still miss him so much even so many years later. However, I am grateful for what he taught me that I can do it, and no matter what - I want my kids to think they can do it too. Thanks for your comment!
Sharon - Not too bad, not too bad at all. You have a refreshing take and a very inspired realness that speaks wonders in my book. I look forward to reading more of your contributions going forward, your words seem real and the lay-out of this post is excellent!
Jason - what a very nice compliment and thank you! Thanks for comment about the lay out as well, I learned it all here on the Rain!!!