Thomas Jefferson has a wonderful list of 10 rules that is above my computer. These same rules can apply to Real Estate today or just our daily lives....
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. - As agents we can easily procrastinate. Make that call, send that email, Blog!!!
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. - This is a call to action. Do not put things off for others if you are the one who is responsible for the outcome. Just take care of business!
Never spend money before you have earned it - Going into debt seems to be the national mantra. These are wise words that we should all take into consideration when pulling out that Visa or Master-card.
Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap. - Just because something is on sale does not mean it is a good deal. There is a reason it is on sale. Goes with homes too, check the area, the schools, the comps....
Pride costs more than hunger, thirst or cold. - Our pride often gets in our way in business and in our personal lives. Consider that there is more at stake than just your pride. Many times it is your families well being.
We seldom repent of having eaten too little. - Well, there is a huge industry trying to get us to loss weight and this is a simple rule.
Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. - I think these words are trying to tell us when you do something, do not make a big deal about it. Do it for the pleasure of doing it.
How much pain the evils cost us that never happen. - This happens to all of us. We worry about our clients our 
families our friends and so often we worry for nothing. I feel that instead of worrying, just ask!
Take things always by the smooth handle. - Well if you take this literally of course if someone hands you a knife. But the deeper meaning is that we should take criticism or comments as if the meaning were not an attack (even if it may turn out to be). This is just a good way to handle oneself.
When angry, count to ten before you speak; if very angry, count a hundred - This is one that I use very often. When we speak before we think, we often regret what is said.
Jefferson wrote these words many years ago and they are still good words to live by!
NOTE: Thomas Jefferson living in Charlotesville at Monticello and founded the University of Virginia.
