The Brief

• Welcome Back - 2016 Are you ready? We have 30 business building ideas for 2016, along with some bonus video content. Get your pens or iPads out. Your best year starts here, read more.
   
• While we are on the subject of 2016, our annual sentiment survey - ie how you are feeling about what lays ahead this year - is now open. We'd love your opinions - click here. (Note FREE subscription or stylus pen for everyone that does!)
   
• Has the market "tide" really turned? Maybe, maybe not - but it's about how you react to your own environment that is more important, says Mark McLeod of Ray White.
   
• It can take anywhere from six months to six years to become known as a trusted real estate advisor (so they say!). Geoff Grist from R&W in the super competitive area of the Lower North Shore of Sydney has some tips on how to become 'almost' famous.
   
• Finding that property hard to lease? It could be your listing that is not attracting enough, or the right type of attention. For 9 of the best tips (based on science) of listing rentals on the internet click here.

Watercooler

• 21 FREE blog or marketing ideas: Wondering what to write about in your first newsletter or blog this year? We have a list of 21 topics for January courtesy of realestatenewsletters.com.au. Click here to go grab them. Send them an email if you want to grab February's (and the rest of the year!). If you want them to write em up and format them ready to go out to your clients it can done from just $79.99 per month. Click here for more info.
   
• While we are on the topic of blogs and newsletters, the New York public library just uploaded an additional 200,000 images (read: really cool images) that you can use for free in your marketing and social media - The Verge.
   
• No matter how 2015 went for you, you can start this year right with 101 Motivational Quotes for 2016. (And you know, if you've had all the motivation you can handle you can use save them to use on your social media too!) - Inc.com
   
• A page set up by NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong over the Christmas break shares more than 150 rental horror stories in it's first week, featuring maggots, mould, asbestos and leaks. If you need proof there is a property manager out there who would probably like to swap places with you, click here.
   
• How long does it take to lose a skill? If there is a habit or a talent that you had that you haven't practiced in a while, can you ever get it back? And how long does it take? Find out - Hopes and Fears.

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