This guy spoke this year Inman Connect in NYC. I’ve written about him before, called him “Professor Doom”, I guess everyone else just calls him “Mr. Doom”.
His real name is Nouriel Roubini. Great article, but pretty bleak. For instance he predicts “This might be the beginning of the end of the American empire.”
He should move to California, get himself a prescription and buy himself a bong waterpipe.
Vendors, NO SOUP FOR YOU!
I was asked today to list 3 value propositions about CMLS from a vendor’s perspective. Here’s what I came up with..
1. CMLS is a great way for me to stay informed about the issues effecting the MLS industry.
2. CMLS is a perfect networking environment for me to meet the decision makers of the MLS industry.
3. CMLS has created an environment where vendors engage and become part of the conversation about the MLS industry.
The third point is really the distiction between CMLS and Connection. CMLS engages vendors, Connection forbids vendors.
Sad.
It also reminded me about this cartoon….
If only the Consultant Custers of Connection would see that mabye, just maybe, those pesky sales people might be able to add something to the equation.
If not, no worries. CMLS 2008 is being held in Minneapolis this October. Hosted by John Mosey and Northstar MLS. Check out www.CMLS2008.com for more details, and, of course, vendors are welcome.
I believe that CMLS realizes something that Connection doesn’t…
We’re in this together.
I wrote about this guy before. His real name is Professor Nouriel Roubini. Warning, if you’re trying to start your day off right, don’t watch this video.
Here’s a submission from Andy Woolley.
Stuart Wolf
former CEO of HomeStore.com
David Schwimmer
aka Ross Geller from “Friends”
Personally I think Andy got it wrong, here’s my take on Stuart’s dopelganger…
ohhhhh snap!!
Keep them coming…
If you’re in South Florida later this month send me an email (vendor.alley at gmail dot com) and I’ll add you to the list.
Deadline for entry is this Friday, January 18th.
1st Annual Vendor Alley Golf Tourney
Saturday, January 26th
TPC at Heron Bay
11801 Heron Bay Blvd.
Coral Springs, FL 33076
954-340-9160
“This magnificent course and facility opened in March of 1996 and has become the site of the Honda Classic. Mark McCumber says that “there are eighteen signature holes on this course.” On a flat site with no topographical relief, McCumber moved one million cubic yards of dirt to create this solid test for professionals and novices alike. The fairways are generous, but the driving zones are pinched by sizable bunkers. The large greens are slightly undulating and well protected by sand. Water comes into play on only three holes, and there are 109 bunkers in the design.”
Cost:
$120 per person
Club rental: $50
The Prize:
The golfer with the lowest score will be able to keep the “Vendor Cup” until the next tournament.
Each year the winner of the Vendor Cup will be inscribed upon the cup.
Another sign budgets are tightening. Looks like Marketlinx (always one of the great industry parties) are saying no to outside vendors. A lot of us were sent invites to their annual “Customer Hospitality Event”, then when we dutifully RSVPed to the event an email reply came back stating….
“Because the party is for our customers and event sponsors only, and the fact that the event is officially full, I am unable to extend tickets to other vendors. Passes will not be available under your name. Sorry.”
So as a service to Marketlinx we are going to help them keep all other real estate vendors away from their party.
Here’s the location of the party so you know to KEEP AWAY! Do not under any circumstances crash this party!!!
*****Party Address removed 11/11/07 per GL’s request.*******
So right around the corner we have the 2007 NAR EXPO in Las Vegas, Nevada. Of course Las Vegas wasn’t NAR’s first choice, they ran into venue problems in Chicago and Las Vegas was the only town that could cover them. There have been some minor changes, mostly the Expo runs in the middle of the week instead of over a weekend. Which is fine by me, especially in Vegas, hell we pay too much for rooms as is. So the big question in my mind is—-Will the REALTORS come?
Will they come to Vegas? NAR says “YES! They will come” “It’s Vegas, of course they will come!” In fact they tell me that pre-attendance is way up over last year. When I remind them that last year was a post-Katrina New Orleans I get nothing but silence over the phone (cue crickets).
So I’ve got some questions, you can comment back or email me your responses….
Any budget cut backs this year?
Where are the demo suites this year?
Parties?
Also, anything you want to plug about your company, feel free!
Those who post might even get the secret password to the “Backstage Pass” link up on the top right hand of this page. Secret cool stuff can be found for those with an ALL ACCESS password.
Yesterday, Tom Phillips announced at CMLS that TREND was hosting the Connection 2008 conference. He announced it from the podium. Right before he left the stage I asked him if Vendors were going to be allowed to participate this year. After a short pause he said “no”. His excuses were pretty lame (Not enough meeting space? Come on???!) So much for the city of brotherly love.
And two states away at the California Association of REALTORS(r) Expo and Conference C.A.R. leadership were confiscating a white paper, written by our friends at Clareity Consulting, being distributed from the hands of their Board of Directors. The paper presented new ideas of for their state wide MLS initiative (I won’t even get started about how they already have a great solution)
I was reminded by Greg Swann’s post about the 50 year anniversary of Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged. Although I preferred her earlier novel, The Fountainhead, both books had an effect on me. What I was reminded about was the storyline of Atlas Shrugged, the idea that the movers of business, the engineers, the entrepreneurs, the designers, the artists all went “on strike.” Swann’s quotes the Wall Street Journal article written by David Kelly…
“The central action of “Atlas” is the strike of the producers, their withdrawal from a society that depends on them to sustain itself and yet denounces them as morally inferior.”
If the folks behind Connection 2008 and C.A.R. would like a copy of the book, I’d be happy to lend them mine.
Imagine this, you’re a real estate vendor working with a large real estate company. Once a year, “to show our appreciation” (an exact quote!) for all the help you (the Vendor) give their members/associates, they host a golf tournament.
At not just at any golf course, but according to Golf Digest Magazine one of the best of the Top 100 Courses in the United States. Did I mention that lunch is served? Complimentary drinks on the course, and an open bar waiting for you after the 18th hole? All to show “our appreciation.”
Dreaming? Green with envy? Or just can’t believe that an organziation like this exists in real estate??
This is exactly what happened last week in Sedailia, CO at the Sanctuary Golf Course.
Who would be the brain child behind this spectacular event? Her name is Kristi Graning. Kristi happens to be the Senior Vice President, Information Technology and eBusiness for RE/MAX International. Kristi wanted to put on an event that shows that RE/MAX understands and appreciates all the things their technology partners do for RE/MAX International and their associates.
In a world where many organizations restrict vendors, it’s refreshing to see a company treat their vendors partners with not only respect, but appreciation. This makes Kristi and RE/MAX one class act.
First off, kudos to Brad for putting together another great show. Yeah, I know Connect can be full of fringe companies and topics but you gotta love the amount of respect Brad gives these entrepreneurs. Coming from a guy who started his business in a garage I can appreciate it.
You also gotta love the city of San Francisco. The restaurants, the bars, the bums, the people, the everything. I grew up in the Mission District on 21st Street and it always feels like coming home when I drive in to the city.
The Palace Hotel, decent. The ballroom has a great vibe but the service wasn’t the greatest. The lobby bar, with its picture of the “The Pied Piper”, has a great vibe too, it was a shame someone reserved half the bar seats one night- the place is small enough already! Rooms were small but nice. Wish they had more private meeting space just too sit down. It was hard to sit down with someone without being in the open and everyone saying hi or waving.
But all the heavies were there. I caught Errol Samuelson, President of Realtor.com, and Move’s skunk works developer Curt Beardsley and the House of Shields one night. (Gotta love House of Shields, a vendor’s dream, a bar within stumbling distance when the lobby bar closes) Alan Dalton was nowhere to be seen and assumed to be in his basement with his soldering gun building the new super secret weapon for MOVE.
The Clareity boys were in full force. Someone told me that they all got black matching tailored suits from a clothing story next door to The Palace- So my nickname for Gregg (Mr. Brown), Troy (Mr. White) and Kevin (Mr. Pink) is going to be The New Reservoir Dogs.
I did see Marty Frame and John Hensley from FRNRES, along with Larry “fingers” Ross, but oddly nobody from FNRES’ MLS group. Word is that management scheduled a sales training session the same days as the conference. Must be contagious for MLS vendors because Wurzer from FBS was busy “…working on stuff our clients need”. Way to go Mike!
Jim Secord from MostHome showed up, hope he didn’t use his personal credit card to get there. And of course all the heavies from Dominion Enterprises, Andy Woolley (eN), Bob Morse (eN), Michael Hayes (eN), Jamie Clymer (Homes.com) and Dave Meyer (eN). What a bar bill!
Speaking of bar bills, for those of you who made it to the eNeighborhoods Inman After Party at Black Magic Voodoo Lounge you know what I mean when I say “OFFFF DA HOOOK!” Michael was slinging drinks like Tom Cruise in Cocktails, only without the spinning bottles and weird grin. Later even Andy “Elephant Hunter” Woolley got it to the act, mixing one of the best Tanqueray and Tonics in the city. Way to grab the right bottle Andy!
The bar was even graced by Inman’s very own Alice Myerhoff. Alice is the Sales Director for Inman News and sells advertising and conference sponsorships. Even more lovely ladies showed up as the RE/MAX International’s very own Fatima and Amy came and showed us all how RE/MAX rolls.
Plus I gotta give a big shout out to Brad Tertell from MLSNI, he loaded the jukebox with serious coin and picked out an awesome mix of tunes for the evening- Brad you might have a career as DJ if this MLSNI thing doesn’t work out!
Most of the other stories I can’t mention or don’t remember.
Even with all this we did manage to get some work done, that’s the great thing about Inman Connect, just mix and stir.
