Some Insights Of Me.
A number of years ago I was invited to a dinner meeting at which time I met Dick Butkus, the famous linebacker for the Chicago Bears.
He was the bartender at this dinner. I went up and order my soda (I was the designated driver for the night). We exchanged some side chatter and I left to join the other guest.
But the meeting with him shocked me.
This individual, hard nose line backer that I saw on television was a soft spoken, gentle man. Not the growling, gruff, mean individual that I had seen and imagined he would be.
In conversation with another guest I commented on my reflections and he looked at me and stated “Lucky you did not want to meet him between the lines of a football field.”
I am one of millions that have had a passing interface with Dick Butkus. But he, like some others left with me a reflective lesson.
As a real estate broker, working with clients, it is imperative that I utilize my instincts, recognize patterns, utilize my knowledge and experience, go with the flow and have my clients say that I left my game between the lines or in the ring to satisfy their needs. I made a difference.
Perhaps the following statement from an unknown author will put things into perspective:
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“An old man sees a younger man throwing beached starfish into the ocean. The man asks why he is doing this. The younger man replies, “If the starfish are left on the beach, they will die.” The older man says, “But there are thousands of miles of beach, and millions of starfish. What you are doing couldn’t possibly make much difference.” As he throws another starfish into the ocean, the younger man replies softly, “But I made a difference for that one.”
I work to make that difference for my clients.
Prior to real estate I worked for Lockheed Aircraft Company in the engineering and finance divisions. I also teach at a Junior College (accounting), and I continue to do tax preparation and participate in a community emergency preparation network.
I received a B.S. in Aeronautics from St. Louis University (Parks College) and earned a Master in Business Administration from Pepperdine.
Today I offer my clients a wide range of services from real estate investment consultation, taxes, mortgage consulting and real estate sales. When I am outside of the lines I am easy going. Inside the lines my focus is my client.
To contact me visit my websites at: www.johnduffner.com or www.jdbusinessservices.com or www.VenturaCountyRETalk.com. Most certainly you can always call me at 805-933-1385.
On 11/15/08 I ordered a Portuguese Water Dog. She was born on 1/11/2009, and I picked her up about 8 weeks later.
In this picture she is about 5 weeks old, female and will weigh about 35 pounds when fully grown.
She was the runt of the litter but appeared to be more active and playful then the larger pups. In the litter she displayed some “bullying” in taking things she wanted and standing her ground to keep it. The largest male pup and the larger female of the litter appeared to have decided to fight it out with her but “Calli” stood her ground and would not relent keeping the things she took. So I decided that’s the one for us.
“Calli” has a lot of zip and is quite playful and mischievous. Like a little kid in a candy shop.
In the dog world she falls into the category of a “field” dog and I will be training her (or she me) in that area rather than as a show dog.
Surprisingly she is quite smart and handles the collar and leash quite well. She knows the command “sit” when asked but hasn’t been able to stay. Just too much energy.
She loves people and other dogs. Within the next few weeks we will be going to the ocean so I can see the “water dog” part.
What I have observed of she (and this appears to be in the breed) is that her expression is steady, penetrating, and attentive.
Portuguese Water dogs are a working dog and their historical purpose was to assist fisherman. It has an incessant retrieving instinct and they need something in their month constantly.
In bygone time the breed basically lived on working boats and were taught to herd fish into nets, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and to act as a courier from ship to ship or ship to shore.
These dogs are capable of diving underwater to retrieve fishing gear and to prevent the escape of fish from nets.
I have already experience the fact that she loves water because she will stand over the sprinklers when on and splash away.
It is said that the breed has unending stamina. It is (and she is an example of it) an active, energetic, extremely bright and creative breed. They are not a dog that will lay by the fireplace and sleep.
They do well with children over the age of five and love to walk and play. Obedience training is practically mandatory and its continuation is recommended.
The Portuguese is low shedding and needs grooming. It has a single coat of hair (most dogs have double coats) that will keep on growing (like humans) therefore Calli will need periodic hair cuts. Since they shed very little it is a good animal for people with allergies more so than other breeds.
We shall see how she trains me.
John Duffner
Selling Ventura County One Yard At A Time
