Coco 's LA Condo Lifestyle Blog

Nearly a third of our lives will be spent in our bedrooms, asleep.  If studies are correct we should all be trying to find ways to increase that percentage in order to lead a longer, happier more productive life.  But sometimes it's hard to get a good night's sleep.  Sometimes you go to bed and your mind just won't quiet down.  Does this sound like you?  If it does it's time to make some changes in your bedroom décor.

The main function of a bedroom is to help you to rest and sleep, don't confuse your senses by having your bedroom perform other functions as well.  Have you moved your home office into the bedroom?  It's time to take it out, and take out anything having to do with work while you are at it. Have you got mirrored closet doors in the bedroom? The mirrors will only magnify the work in your home office area. Any clutter that is in that room must be removed as well. The more peaceful the space the more peaceful your sleep. Ultimately when you walk into your bedroom you want to see clean lines and surfaces.  A candle, an inspirational book and a few photos of those you love.

Take a look at your bedroom colors, they should be calming and soothing. Art work should also reflect themes on tranquility and peace.  Lastly, always invest in the highest quality linens, consider it a present for your old age.  Quality linens will last longer and help you to rest more productively. Besides life is too short to sleep on a low thread count!

When your bedroom is designed to create peace you will be amazed at how differently you will sleep and in turn what a difference it will make in your day.

Azzurra is one of the more recent additions to the Marina del Rey community of condos.  This distinctive residence features 450 beautiful residences with floor-to-ceiling windows designed to capitalize on the panoramic views of ocean, sky, mountains and marina.  The views from this contemporary masterpiece are beyond stunning, they are legendary. 

Not to be outdone by its superlative views Azzurra also offers a wide variety on amenities to assist its residence in creating an ideal seaside home. A full security, full service building with valet parking, concierge and switchboard services, Azzurra also offers superlative recreational facilities replete with swimming pool, sauna, sun deck and exercise room.

Azzurra's Marina del Rey address places it within walking distance of the shopping, biking, dinning and yachting the area are so richly famous for.  Marina del Rey is also within close proximity to LAX and the Los Angeles business district. 

 
Priorities are important.  What you value shapes the way in which you live.  For people who are at the top of their field, who work hard to maintain a level of excellence in their chosen field, there is an unspoken understanding that the home you return to needs to be a haven to refresh your batteries.  You can't work as hard as you do, expend the energy that you do and come home to less than the perfect setting.

It is not only your privilege for the work that you do, it is your right.  Ultimately it is necessary in order to accomplish the amazing feats that you create and complete on a daily basis.

If you are still looking for the perfect setting, you need look no further.  The neighborhoods that comprise Los Angeles' elite Westside are a veritable treasure trove of spectacular homes and awe inspiring views.  The time has come to respect your ultimate priority, your lifestyle, and treat yourself to the ideal setting.

by Coco Clayman-Cook

You've worked a long time to get where you are.  You are proud of your accomplishments.  Your life is good, your business is good, everything is good.  But nothing is great.  So where do you go from here?

Sometimes being in a good place can actually be as or more stressful than being in a bad place.  At least when you are in uncomfortable place it is clear that things have to change.  We are so eager to get out of the uncomfortable place that we will do anything, change anything to get out of it.  When things are relatively good it can be hard to be willing to change.

Start with gratitude.  Be grateful for everything in your life that is, and for everything that is coming.  I do mean everything.  Remember that even your worst problem is someone else's dream situation.  Once you are grateful you will have a clearer picture of where your life needs to change to make it great.  Don't be afraid to let somethings go in order to make your great life a reality.

We are all destined for greatness, but many people settle for good.  Don't be afraid to pursue and win a great life.

With summer quickly approaching it's a great time to enjoy the benefits of luxury condo living in Los Angeles.  As cool ocean breezes waft over lush balconies with divine city nightscape views it's great to acknowledge that all of those hours you spent in the state-of-the-art fitness room have left you bathing suit beach ready. 

While other people are sitting in traffic contemplating the rising price of gas and its effect on their vacation savings, you enjoy a leisurely stroll to work and mull over whether you will spend your vacation in Cannes or if Rio de Janeiro will be this year's destination. 

Until your vacation you will enjoy regular trips to the beach and continue to enjoy the nightlife that is practically right outside your front door.  This is the LA Condo Summer Lifestyle.

by Coco Clayman-Cook
 
One of the most comforting things about luxury vertical living is the ability to lock and leave.  I love my work and think nothing of putting in long hours, but when I have the opportunity to get away and take some time for myself, I take it.  I don't have to worry about who will water my plants or if I will have a break in.  I don't even have to wonder if I left my six burner gourmet stove on.  I can always call the concierge and ask him to check it.  I literally can lock my door and leave.

For me this is peace of mind.  For some of my clients it is a way to enjoy stability.  I have one client who conducts business in 5 major cities around the world.  He might spend a total of three months out of the year in Los Angeles, but when he is here he wants to enjoy the comforts of home while conducting light speed business deals.  A luxury condominium was the perfect answer for this global entrepreneur.  When he is in Los Angeles, he can entertain, work, dine and shop all within walking distance of his home and when he leaves he has no other responsibility than to walk out his door.

The LA times did a great article in February of this year about the power of blogging within the real estate community.  I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I am thrilled to hear a third party acknowledge the power of this medium to reach our desired audience on a previously inconceivable scale.

I frequently see people discussing the point system here on AR.  I love the points because they are a lovely reinforcement for practicing a craft that is new, exciting and essential to all of our ongoing success.

I still hear realtors saying, I don't really understand how my blog is going to help me sell real estate.  Blogging give us all the opportunity to demonstrate our expertise; to clearly show our prospective clients our focus, our professionalism and our passion for this business.  Buying and selling homes are deeply emotional activities, no on wants to entrust that level of intimacy to a total stranger when they have the opportunity to have a qualified alternative.  Blogging gives our clients the opportunity to get to know us on their own terms.

Blogging is still in its infant stages.  We who blog are on the cutting edge of history;   every day we are learning more about this amazing tool.  If you are new to the revolution, welcome aboard, have a seat and start blogging.  You'll be amazed where it will take your business.

Imagine a giant billboard over your head that says, "I am fabulously successful and everything I do is brilliant!"  Imagine that people can read your billboard.  Do you think it would change how they behave towards you?  Do you think it would change how you behave towards the world?

Now imagine the opposite.  A giant billboard rests over your head that says, "I am a loser, nothing ever works out for me."  Imagine people reading that message.  Would it affect how they treat you? Would it affect your behavior?

Which scenario do you prefer?  Obviously we would all choose the first scenario if we had the choice.

The truth is we do have a choice.  And whether we realize it or not there is a billboard over our heads projecting our thoughts toward ourselves and others.Don't we all know some one who walks into a room and literally brightens it?  What is written on their billboard? What kind of energy do they project out in to the world. Do you want to be the person who walks into a room and creates an aura of confidence, happiness and success?  You can.

Change your mind and change your life.  Change the message on your billboard and see what happens. There are many books on the Law of Attraction all of which I have had the pleasure of studying going on seven years now and to me it has changed my life.

When you are trying to create a presence on the web it's important that you think in terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).  We all want to work smarter not harder, and our efforts to create a web presence should be no less strategic. 

Whenever you post content to the web, whether it is a web site or a blog you almost always have the opportunity to tag it with keywords.  There are lots of schools of thoughts about how to effectively tag your content so that the right consumers get your information when doing an internet search.

I think it's important to remember what your goals are.  For those of us in real estate, our goal with a web presence has to be to cultivate quality leads.  A lot of people will tell you that listing your city and the words real estate are important keywords.  I agree, but I would argue that you need to take it one step further.  Listing your city and real estate will get you leads, but is that all you want?  Aren't we all looking for quality leads, people who are ready to sell or buy within our market?  By taking the time to add additional keywords creating a "long tail" you can be assured that the right clients will find you.

I specialize in luxury condos on the Westside of Los Angeles, so when I tag a blog I tag it with the key words Westside Los Angeles Luxury Condos and Westside Los Angeles Luxury Condominiums.  It takes a few seconds longer, but it insures that the time I spend blogging is productive and reaches the audience that I want to be available to.

Are you optimizing your time on the web?  Work smarter, not harder.

At the end of the day staying power is the skill that often seals the deal. It is important to accept that no matter how good you are at your chosen profession, no matter how positive you train your mind to be, challenges will come your way.  The question is how will you handle those challenges?

Many people give up.  We are watching as many realtors are leaving the market to find other jobs now that the flip festivals are no longer the order of the day.  Other people are staying, but are consumed by the drama of how difficult everything is.  You know the kind of person I'm talking about, the one who can't wait to talk about how dire everything is.  Don't make the mistake of getting sucked into this pity party.

Finally there are those who embrace what is.  They don't give up.  They don't get stuck in the problem.  They look for ways to find an advantage within the current challenge.  They look for the silver lining until they find it. These are the people who triumph no matter what the circumstances.  Do you have staying power?