Owning a brokerage business puts me in a position of wanting to encourage and inspire my troops, particularly in times like these when adversity is around every corner. We are all bombarded with negative news from every direction these days. Even speeches at industry events can leave you more depressed and wondering when the heck things might start getting better. So today, I thought I would share with you my closing remarks from a speech I gave last night at the Community Bankers Mortgage Forum in Westbury, Long Island. The audience consisted mainly of bankers, appraisers and brokers. After discussing the economy, politics and the current state of the investment sales market in New York City, here is my wrap up:"I believe there has never been a better time to be alive in human history. Today, we have MORE opportunities, to accomplish MORE things, in MORE different ways, utilizing MORE tools than ever existed before.One of the great rules of success states that, 'It doesn't matter where your are coming from - all that really matters is where you are going.'You can make your future bright IF:

IF you resolve to make this coming year the best year of your life

IF you resolve to draw a line under your past and focus on your future

IF you resolve to set goals

IF you resolve to make plans

IF you resolve to take actions, and

IF you resolve to achieve more this year than you ever thougth possible.