Marketing Maestro: April 2009

Advice for real estate agents:

One of the first questions he choose to answer was from a new real estate agent.  Read the question and Mr. Trump's answer in Advice For New Real Estate Agents.   I am sure some of you have additional advice for this agent.  If you do, please share you advice by leaving me a comment and I will pass it along.

New contest:

Mr Trump's new book Think Like a Champion is now in stores.  In true Trump fashion Mr. Trump is challenging his readers to think like champions.  To help get people in the right mindset the Trump University team created a new contest.  Read all the details in Donald Trump's post Champion Challenge From Donald J Trump.  Winners will receive a signed first edition copy of the book.  Since I have some connections...I was able to get a singed copy to give-a-way to my Active Rain readers.  If you think you are a champion let me know in the comments below. 

Double your chances of winning by Twittering about the book contest.  Just be sure to use @trumpuniversity and #trumpbook in your twitter messages so we can keep track of the messages. 

Free events:

The following is a list of events and new content available from Trump University this week.

Attend a Free Real Estate Investment Classes at either of the following locations:

San Francisco, CA
Apr 27, 2009 - Apr 30, 2009
Learn More and Register Here »

San Jose, CA
Apr 27, 2009 - Apr 30, 2009
Learn More and Register Here »

Visit the site for a full list of upcoming free real estate investing events.

Sign up for our next Free Webinar: 

Kickstart Your Success

and register early for a webinar on Probate Investing being presented May 6th.

This week in the Wealth Builders Network our members will learn about "Buying HUD Properties: Part II" on Thursday, April 30th at 8pm EST.  The Wealth Builder Network weekly webinars are a premium service but you are welcome to try it out for free.

We are running a 3-day Real Estate Investing Workshop in Los Angeles, CA (call for registration information)

Our 3-day Creative Financing Retreat is being held May 1st-May 3rd  in Orlando,FL. (call for registration information)

New article posted on the Trump University site:
How to Eliminate Risk from Your Real Estate Investing

Have a great week.

This year Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated today April 21, 2009.

Last night was our town’s community wide Holocaust remembrance.  Each year it is held in the town’s high school auditorium and the room is filled.  For the last few years I have taken my kids with me.  It is not an argument (as I remember going with my father) for me to get them to go.  They ask to go and remember last year’s event and ask questions about who will be speaking etc.   It is amazing how they stand and sit in silence completely understanding the importance of the moment.

Esther Terner-Raab was the speaker at this year’s event.

She is a survivor of Sobibor death camp and has an amazing story to tell.  She lived through hell and survived to tell her story.  She has helped bring those responsible to justice by testifying at war crime trials.  Many books, movies and stories have been written about Sobibor and the brave who fought back trying to survive. I scanned her bio from the event handout.  Hopefully you can read it.  The bio does more justice to her story then I can.

This year it was particularly moving.  At one point all the survivors in attendance stood in the darkened and silenced auditorium holding candles for a moment of silence.  It is scary to think that 70 years ago these people had normal and happy lives and it all changed.  As the years go by there are fewer and fewer survivors left to stand holding candles.

The evening ends with the reading of the family names (from community families) of those who were lost. As the names are read 6 groups of 3 generations (survivor, child, grandchild) walk up and stand on stage holding candles commemorating the 6 million lost and celebrating the survival and promise of the future generations.

Why do I go when I can easily find many other activities to fill my time? 
I feel somewhat obligated to go but at the same time proud to be there.  My grandparents were lucky enough to escape the war in Germany before things got bad (not that they had an easy life).  When they arrived in the US they had nothing.  My father grew up never knowing his grandparents, many uncles, aunts or cousins.  My grandparents left everything they had behind and never saw their parents, extended families and most friends again. There are many stories much more dramatic than my father’s family.  I go because I am grateful for his family’s survival and sad for the family I never will know.  I go to remember the millions of people who were killed for what they believed in and for who they were.  I go so my kids will never forget, so they ask questions and so that the atrocities are never repeated.  I go to hear the stories of the survivors which must be told.  I go to remember that nothing good comes from hate. I go to never forget.

This year help the world remember this genocide and prevent future atrocities.  Attend a commemoration, visit a museum, watch one of the documentaries or read one of the many books on the subject.  Most of all never forget.


Here are two key resources (many more exist):
Yad Vashem
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

See below for a list of books recommended at the event.

Sheldon Neal was kind enough to spend some time with me to discuss the role of a real estate buyer's agent.  When we meet we recorded a podcast for the Trump University members titled Real Estate Investing With A Buyer's Agent.
 
Our goal was to help new investors understand the role a buyer's agent plays in the transaction and why they are an important part of any power team.
 
I learned a few things during our chat that will come in handy the next time I am buying real estate.   I now understand that a buyer's agent:

• works for me, the buyer or investor
• negotiates on my behalf and keeps my best interests at heart (not the sellers)
• does not have the same potential conflict of interest a dual agent might have
• has local market knowledge on home values and comparables
• Understands local trends and what other buyers are looking for in a property and their associated costs

 
Enjoy listening to our podcast and let me know what you think and if you have suggestions for future topics.
 
Related Posts
Investing In Real Estate A Podcast
Tired of Reading and Writing Posts Listen to These

I don't know what this is about but if the AR guys are having fun with it...I am in>

The following is a list of events and new content available from Trump University this week.

Attend one of our Free Real Estate Investment Classes at either of the following locations:

Phoenix, AZ
Apr 13, 2009 - Apr 15, 2009
Learn More and Register Here »

Washington, DC
Apr 13, 2009 - Apr 16, 2009
Learn More and Register Here »

Visit the site for a full list of upcoming free real estate events

This week in the Wealth Builders Network our members will learn about "Buying HUD Properties: Part One" on Thursday, April 16th at 8pm EST.  The Wealth Builder Network weekly webinars are a premium service but you are welcome to try it out for free.

We are running 3-day Real Estate Investing Workshops in the following locations:

1. Houston, TX
2. Oakland / East Bay, CA

(call or comment for registration information)

Our Commercial Real Estate Investing Retreat is being held this weekend in NY on April 17-19, 2009

New - Join us on Facebook and Twitter and be the first to find out what is going on at Trump University.  We Twitter daily personal finance tips.

Bill Gassett always seems to have the latest and greatest tips for blogging, social media and SEO.  Here is a one I thought you might find interesting.

The following is a list of events and new content available from Trump University this week.

Attend one of our Free Real Estate Investment Classes at either of the following locations:

Oakland / East Bay, CA
Apr 6, 2009 - Apr 8, 2009
Learn More and Register Here »

Houston, TX
Apr 6, 2009 - Apr 9, 2009
Learn More and Register Here »

Visit the site for a full list of upcoming free real estate events

Sign up for our next Free Webinar which is titled: 

Commercial Real Estate Investing Strategies

This week in the Wealth Builders Network our members will learn about "Safe Investing with Tax Liens" on Thursday, April 9nd at 8pm EST.  The Wealth Builder Network weekly webinars are a premium service but you are welcome to try it out for free.

We are running 3-day Real Estate Investing Workshops in the following locations:

1. Las Vegas, NV
2. Sacramento, CA

(call or comment for registration information)

New articles posted on the Trump site: 

• Stimulate YOUR Economy in 2009
• How to Maximize Your Tax Deductions
• Take a Bite out of Taxes!
• Commercial Real Estate: What Experienced Investors Don't Want You To Know

A week ago we hinted at the newest feature on the Trump University site.  Well it is now official. We are now live with Ask Mr. Trump!

Have you ever wanted to ask Donald Trump a question?
Now's your chance!

Mr. Trump loves hearing from Trump University friends and members, especially people with great questions! Ask your most interesting and direct questions on any topics you wish to hear Mr Trump's point of view. Twice a month, Mr Trump will answer a few select question. Look for his answers and see if your question was selected when his answers are posted on the Trump Blog. 

Ready to ask a question? 
There are four ways to ask Mr Trump your question.

1. The best way is to post your question directly in the Wealth Builders Network. Note you will need to log into the site or create a free account.
2. Join the Trump University Facebook Fan Page and post a question in the ask Donald Trump Discussion
3. Follow us on Twitter and then Tweet your questions to @trumpuniversity
4. Leave a comment on this post with your questions.

Just a heads up - We started receiving questions last week and the first questions being answered is from a real estate broker/agent.  Check the Trump Blog this week to see the question and answer.

Related posts:
Donald Trump and Trump University Are Getting Social
Facebook Fan Pages Work
Twitting Around

Since I told everyone in my family that I didn't want a party I figured the least I could do was create a virtual celebration of sorts.  So for all you folks out there that want to party but don't have a good excuse feel free to use my special day to have some fun.

No, this is not an April Fools thing; today is really my birthday.  So go out and party on my account. We can all use a good excuse to have some fun.

In addition to this little party on the blog (I hope you all will come and celebrate...) I will be having lunch with some coworkers, dinner with my wife and tomorrow (we can't let the party stop after one day) dinner with the guys.

What are you waiting for, lets have some fun.