Rothacker Reviews

Tampa Mortgage Solutions

There are not too many more important financial decisions that a family or person will have to make in their lifetime, than purchasing a home.  To make this decision even more difficult and perilous, the prospective buyer must navigate around minefields layed out by companies out to maximize their earnings in spite of the buyer's best interests.  Example:  Several mortgage companies advertise low interest rates on their loan packages.  They lure in the prospective buyer like a spider into its web.  Once entangled, the buyer learns, or even worse, doesn't learn about things called points, origination fees, discount points and broker fees.  Suddenly that low interest rate opens the door for a much more expensive loan.

As someone who has always relied on relationships in business, I cannot understand this deceiving approach.  It seems to me when a business places their customer's interests first, both the customer and business benefit.  The customer feels confident that they received the best value and the company will prosper on their client's recommendations. 

Putting her customer's interests first is what Rosemary Rothacker does almost best.  Rosemary will drill down to the essence of her customer's needs by asking pertinent questions.  This exchange of information leads to what Rosemary does best: be a friend in the relationship.  If you've had the pleasure of dealing with Rosemary, you will come away feeling like she is your aunt, sister, niece or best friend.  Customers will approach her in public and give her a hug.  I have even seen people begin to cry as they hug her.  Usually they will say something like, "I can't believe I was able to afford my home.  Thank you so much for helping me!"

If by now you've noticed that Rosemary and I share the same last name, it's because she is my wife.  Am I being a little brazen in promoting Rosemary at my Web site?  Sure.  But the end result that you will have gained by letting her help you with your home loan or refinance is more than worth it to me!

With e-mail, fax and over night delivery, Rosemary is able to provide loan services for folks in the 48 continental United States. 

 

Providing Value

Providing Value.  Ohmygosh!  What an overused, over-diluted and meaningless term floating about in the noise of the world today.  We have become numb to the art of providing value because meaning is equated with "would you like that super-sized sir?"  Super size it and pay more.  Where is the value in that?  Or, under size it to begin with and, then ask the question.  If the customer declines, the deal even goes more toward the opposite direction - it's under valued.

I have read so many definitions of providing value, I've become a bit numb myself.  I have sifted down the meaning to: Providing more than what is expected.  That's it.  No pukey corporate rhetoric.  No psychological mumbo jumbo.  Just give more than what is expected. 

You know, it's kind of interesting to think in terms of what is expected.  What we come to expect is a product of what we experience day in and day out.  Here is a personal example:

One of my jobs in the Rothacker household is to take out the garbage.  I usually decide to do this when I have other things pressing on my time - like getting to work.  So I'll take the plastic bag out of the container and fly out the door.  Guess who is left with the job of placing a new plastic bag in the container?  I'll give you a hint.  She growls at me when she is doing it.  Over the years I have conditioned Rosemary to come to expect my half done job of trash removal.  Lately I have taken the extra minute and put a new plastic bag in the container.  I am trying to give more (to the relationship) than what is expected.

Providing value usually means doing something for someone else.  I gravitate to Web site writers who offer advice, life lessons or information that I find useful.  I am not as prone to visit sites where the writer talks about themselves...unless there is a message behind their story.  Here are examples of writers who transcend what we come to expect at personal and business Web sites. 

Phil Gerbyshak's Make it Great! .  Phil spends time researching sites and gathering useful information, writes a short detail and provides his readers with the Web links.

Skip Reardon's Be Excellent .  Skip's site is the essence of progressive Web site marketing.  The information that Skip provides above, around and in between his company's product is prolific.  By partaking in this sumptuous feast of knowledge one is continuously exposed to the delectable dessert of his product day in and day out.

Lisa Haneberg's Management Craft . Lisa surrounds the art of management with golden pavers of management and leadership wisdom.  Strolling down this path one is continuously taken in by the panoramic view of management effectiveness. 

Can One Provide Too Much Value?

If I give away the farm, how can I sell my crops?  I only have to direct you to the Web site of one extremely successful businesswoman for this answer.  Talking Story .  Rosa Say weaves into her Web site the fiber of her coaching practice at Say Leadership Coaching .  Rosa might be criticized for giving too much free information out at her site.  Those who take advantage however,  come to realize the information is like a life line.  And that Rosa herself is the mechanical pulley that lifts them into the helicopter of success. 

Think about your life and business today.  What can you provide to someone that is more than what they expected?

 

 

Vaporizing Limitations

Imagine walking down the street with a broom, sweeping gravity aside so someone walking behind you can experience a burden-free stroll.  You contemplate, is that not an impossible task? 

Imagine telling one other person about this great accountant who completed your taxes.  She was friendly, caring and offered to analyze your monthly budget for free.  Think of how you just rewarded her diligence by sending her business.

Imagine that associate who reports to you.  He pours out his heart everyday at work.  Your superiors frown upon his performance.  You know guidance and nurturing will get him there.  You redirect the bosses' attention to more pressing matters - like acquiring new customers.

Imagine that distant relative of yours who is forgotten about by family.  You pick up the phone and call her.  "How have you been Aunt June?"

Imagine piloting a spaceship as she screams to the outer edges of the universe.  Not a living person has seen what you see.  Your soul is free, free to play and frolic in boundaryless space.  Nothing constrains your ideas for an improved society within your imagination.

Imagine that quest for personal knowledge.  What will you be when you grow up?  Why are you here on Earth?  What is your purpose?  Accept you for who you are.  Round up some values and begin to live and breathe them everyday.  You'll soon realize that what you've been seeking has been inside of you all along. 

As you walk upon this Earth each day, you have the power to vaporize limitations from those you come in contact with, to vaporize limitations anchored within your mind and to vaporize limitations of that which could be.  Imagine that.

Using Turn Signals in Tampa Bay

I have come to accept drivers exceeding the speed limit by thirty and forty miles per hour.  I have come to accept drivers tailgating.  I have come to accept the cell-phone-talking-driver-from Hades.  I have come to accept drivers running red lights.  Matter of fact, on this last one I believe these drivers think that the law allows one mulligan, one driver gets to run a red light at each light change.  I have come to accept drivers darting in and out of traffic.  Although this group mystifies me, especially on the interstates...when traffic is bumper to bumper.  But the one thing that really annoys me is when drivers fail to use their turn signals.

In the process of coming to accept the driving eventualities of Tampa Bay Drivers I began tuning into to Rick Barry of TBO.com.  Rick writes a column titled Behind The Wheel.  This is most excellent dialog on the traffic scenes in the Tampa Bay area!  Rick wrote a piece the other day on Failing to Signal... and it rekindled my feelings on the turn signal issue.  Of course if I want to rekindle feelings on any sort of driving issues, I've only to remember the last time I was out on the roads. 

One of the interesting notes that Rick brings up is about Heather Derusha.  Heather is a professional driver who is sick and tired of people who fail to use turn signals.  She has attempted to bring an awareness to this type of brain dead idiot driver to no avail.  Check out the article.

Friends, I have no connections in high places, no where with all to mount a media blitz calling attention to those who hold no regard for others on the road, but I can ask you to do one thing today.  Can you please use your turn signals?