MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, AUTHOR & SUCCESS COACH

Author Archives for vandeeb

April 2024 Newsletter Replace fear with BOLDNESS !

March 30, 2024 11:43 am Published by Comments Off on April 2024 Newsletter Replace fear with BOLDNESS !

Replace fear with boldness     Do you feel like something is holding you back from doing what you really want to do?  If so, you’re not alone. Luckily, there is something you can do about it.   When I entered the real estate business at age 23, I was nervous about being on straight commission. To bring in enough money to feed myself and pay my bills, I waited tables part-time. I knew what I wanted to do, but fear was holding me back.   “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” —Dale Carnegie   At that point I made the most important decision of my entire 41-year career: I decided to be bold. I told myself, “I am going to be bold. I’m not going to be scared of being on straight commission. I am going to use that unproductive energy to carry out my mission.”   My mission was—and still is—to be great at whatever I do, especially when it involves real estate. I woke up every morning with the attitude that nothing was going to stop me from reaching my goals. Instead of worrying about challenges that might lie ahead, I overcame my fear and kept going. I am telling you this not to impress you, but to impress upon you that each of us can make a commitment to be bold. You can...


March 2024 Newsletter Think and grow rich

February 29, 2024 2:27 pm Published by Comments Off on March 2024 Newsletter Think and grow rich

Think and grow rich   In today’s world, it’s easy    to find reasons to feel discouraged or down. This usually happens when you start focusing on things you can’t change. The good news is that there will always be one area where you have total control, and that is your outlook on life.   If you need a mood lifter right now, I highly recommend reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It was first published in 1937 and is still the best-selling self-help book ever written. It will teach you how to attain wealth and success through positive thinking, persistence, and focused desire. The author offers practical techniques and inspiring examples of successful people who achieved their dreams by using these same principles.   “You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct, and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” — Napoleon Hill   One of the quotes from this book that I repeat over and over in my speeches is “If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.” That quote from Think and Grow Rich has been deep in my core since I first started selling real estate in 1983. Back then I had no mentors, no one telling me “You can do anything you want to do in life,” or any other form of encouragement, so I decided to create my own motivation by reading positive self-help books.   Reading...


February 2024 Newsletter Show us your greatness

January 31, 2024 12:10 am Published by Comments Off on February 2024 Newsletter Show us your greatness

Show us your greatness!   If you’ve been reading my newsletters for a while, you know that I end each of them by asking, “If not now, then when? And if not you, then who?” My reason for asking you these questions is to create a sense of urgency to accomplish things that are important to you. No matter how small or how big your goal might be, there’s no better time to start working on it than right now!   “Greatness comes by doing a few small and smart things each and every day. Comes from taking little steps, consistently. Comes from making a few small chips against everything in your professional and personal life that is ordinary, so that a day eventually arrives when all that’s left is The Extraordinary.” —Robin S. Sharma   My challenge to you today is to do a self-awareness checkup. If I asked you, “What are you great at?” what would you tell me? It may take a while for you to answer this question, and that is okay. My intention is to make you think. Maybe your answer would be “I am not great at anything” (which I doubt is true). If that’s really how you feel, then I would ask you, “What do you want to be great at?” Everybody wants to be great at something.   If we concentrate on doing what we are great at, we will usually be happy doing it. The wonderful news is that we each...


December 2023 Newsletter Become someone’s miracle

November 29, 2023 10:16 pm Published by Comments Off on December 2023 Newsletter Become someone’s miracle

Become someone’s miracle In December, most of us are making goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. In addition to doing this, why not also make plans that will benefit others?   What would it feel like to become someone’s miracle in 2024? The definition of a miracle will vary for each of us. For me, being someone’s miracle means making a HUGE difference in their life by being intentional and laser-focused on making things happen.   “I know from personal experience how fear and low self-worth can cripple one’s ability to succeed in life. But with a little support, caring, and inspiration, miracles can happen.” —Richard Hatch     If somebody asked me to make a list of ways I could be a miracle to others, my list might look like this:   Find out about a dream or wish of someone I know, and then do my best to help make it a reality.   Help someone with a task that they cannot accomplish alone.   Offer words of encouragement. Sometimes people just need verbal support and resolutions to challenges.   Connect with people who could use my resources and connections to help them advance.   Become deeply involved in a non-profit organization and ask them how I can support their mission.   Help a teacher who is working hard to educate the next generation. One way I could do this is by adopting a classroom or department at a local school.       “Miracles happen every...


November 2023 Newsletter The Capability Gap

October 28, 2023 8:52 pm Published by Comments Off on November 2023 Newsletter The Capability Gap

The capability gap   Nick Sabin, head coach of the University of Alabama’s seven-time national champion football team Crimson Tide, talks about the difference between what we are capable of doing and what we are actually doing. He calls this the capability gap.   When I heard him talk about this topic recently, he asked questions such as “What are we capable of?” and “What are we doing about it?” I am constantly preaching that we all need to use every ounce of our God-given talent while we are still here on this earth.   So let me ask you, what are you doing with the talent you have inside you? Are you using it every day? Do you only use it once in a while? Do you ever tap into it at all? The only person who can answer this question is you, because you alone know what you are capable of. If you aren’t doing what you are capable of doing, then you have a capability gap!   “God does not begin by asking our ability, only our availability, and if we prove our dependability, He will increase our capability.” —Neal A. Maxwell   “You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.” —E.O. Wilson   “If you have...


September 2023 newsletter Choose to be BOLD !

August 25, 2023 1:28 pm Published by Comments Off on September 2023 newsletter Choose to be BOLD !

                                                    Choose to be BOLD!     When you think about it, most of what happens in life involves choices or decisions. When you wake up in the morning, you have an opportunity to decide whether to be the best possible version of yourself or to be average and just make it through the day. You can also choose to inspire someone through your actions or not to do this. Either way, the choice is up to you.   If you have heard my motivational speeches or listened to my podcasts in the past, you know that my choice is always to be the best version of myself every day of my life, even when I don’t feel like it. I also make up my mind to be a bright light in someone’s life and to inspire them through my actions. Why do I make these choices? Because when I do this, life is much better for me and for everyone around me!   When you choose to be bold and daring, you also become unforgettable.   When I started DEEB Realty (currently Nebraska Realty), I used my creativity to develop ideas and processes that were considered unconventional at the time. My innovations were unprecedented in the real estate industry, and they brought great results. Within 16 years the company grew from just myself to...


August 2023 Newsletter Follow your intuition

July 27, 2023 11:41 am Published by Comments Off on August 2023 Newsletter Follow your intuition

Follow Your Intuition     How many times have you said to yourself, “I wish I had followed my intuition” or “I should have trusted my gut”? This has happened to me so many times that I’ve lost count, and 99 percent of those times I would have made the right decision if I had trusted my intuition.   When you are thinking about doing something and you have a gut feeling about whether you should back off or move ahead, pay attention. Some people may call it intuition, and if something happens the way you wanted it to, they may say it’s just a coincidence.   “I believe in intuitions and inspirations… I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am.” – Albert Einstein   I have made many mistakes because I did not listen to my gut, but I am grateful to the good Lord that none of those mistakes turned out to be fatal.   Life is a journey. We will never have answers to all of our questions. When you are making monumental decisions, there will be many times when you have to trust your gut.     This may sound crazy, but I’ve always thought that I have a special gift of being intuitive. Many times I have thought about a client that I should be calling or a prospect that I have not had a conversation with in a long time, and that same day they have called me....


July 2023 Newsletter Root for the underdog

July 1, 2023 12:49 am Published by Comments Off on July 2023 Newsletter Root for the underdog

Root for the underdog   I am the guy who roots for the underdog. No matter whether I’m watching an NCAA basketball tournament, a college football game between a high-ranking team and a lower-division team, or a professional football game, I love it when the underdog pulls out a win. When a highly favored team wins, that’s just a normal day at the office. However, when an underdog wins, I know that it could be a life-changing event for everyone involved… not just for the institution, the organization, or the school, but most of all for the individual players.     Never underestimate the POWER of an underdog     Why do I love underdogs so much? Because I AM ONE, dating back to my childhood. I grew up in a very loving family, even though my parents divorced when I was three years old. I was fortunate to acquire a wonderful, loving stepdad at the age of six. He worked extremely hard, helping to raise a family of five kids. I am the youngest in the group. Actually, I am the youngest by many years. (I think some people might call that a mistake.) I do not recall having had a lot of direction while I was growing up. I can count on one hand the number of times I played catch or talked about the future with my parents. I’m pretty confident it was mostly my fault because I was non-conforming, rebellious, and definitely a rule breaker with...


What People in the Audience are Saying…

With Van's passion, humor and experience you can be assured of one thing- your audience is going to get fired-up, built-up, and fully charged –up. As an entrepreneur at the top of his game Van is in the unique position of being able to "talk the talk" because he has "walked the walk". Over the years he has been a great inspiration to me and my staff. Van is a speaker with charisma, humility and impact and he's a difference maker in the lives of the people he touches…"

—George Akers // President, First Mortgage Corp.

I wanted to thank you for coming and speaking with our company today. I thought your presentation was awesome! I was really motivated and inspired by your thoughts and ideas. I will use this motivation to grow my business and my personal life.”

—Justin Pauls // Realtor, Tampa, Florida

We are delighted you will be accepting the award for Omaha’s Top 25 fastest growing companies. Congratulations on your outstanding growth and we wish you continued success.”

—Tracey Fortina // Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for running such a class act company. It is an honor and a pleasure to be associated with someone such as yourself. I know you are probably one of the most respected businessmen in the region.”

—Dustin Talacko // Realtor, Omaha, Nebraska

Congratulations on writing “Selling from the heart” and thank you for sharing a copy with me. Your class has been one of the most enjoyable classes I’ve ever taken. Your enthusiasm and passion for your work are awesome. But the most refreshing part of the class was your delightful sense of humor. Thank you again for being a fantastic teacher.”

—Linda Reismeiler // Student at Randall School of Real Estate, Omaha, Nebraska

Kudos to you, Van, for reaching a major goal. But more than that...For successfully building one of Omaha’s best companies from scratch and making it thrive even in less than ideal market conditions. You have realized the American Dream...And brought it home to many, many others. My best to you!”

—Todd Andrews, Anchor and Producer, KETV Omaha

Having you here again was such a blessing to so many! As I looked at the pictures, I could see just how interested each and every person was in what you had to say!

This has been such a gift to our agents when they need it the most. The fact that you come, you are so genuine and caring, you are so honest, you are not trying to sell anything and your passion to help each and every person believe in themselves and become the best they can be is HUGE! The timing is perfect for us all helping and caring about each other, so, thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving of yourself to help all of us!”

—Carolyn Summerton // First Mortgage Company of Idaho

I enjoyed your seminar and its focus. I was on the fence whether or not to attend and decided why not? I could have sat through an all day session if there was one, usually I end up at the seminars that start with a focus and quickly go astray. I found with yours time flew by too fast and it was already time to go but I wasn’t ready to go.”

—Scott Asbill, CDPE // Associate Broker, Realtor