"A new year, a new beginning"... never have these words been more true for The Ellipse Group than 2009 will prove to be. This year Ellipse will celebrate 10 years as industry leaders in technology for multifamily, and there's no shortage of excitement around the office.

"Aside from our always fresh and constantly evolving design, Ellipse plans to enhance its online technologies, customer support, market research and its image," says Ellipse COO Lee O'Conner. "We're even launching a new website February 16th that will really show our updated outlook on business for this year." While the technology business is always evolving, it is the goal for Ellipse to bring these changes into the world of multifamily.

"It seems sometimes that we all get stuck in a repetitive muck of procedure and it really slows down business and leads to corporate failure. It is our goal to not only stop this cycle in our own company but to give other companies the tools and ideas to stop this from happening to them as well," says Ellipse CEO Lisa Benson.

Don't forget that even in a recession your communities need updated marketing ideas, and your companies need newer more efficient ways of doing business.

Did you know that on shiny flooring people feel unstable? Or that sitting with your back to an entrance makes you feel vulnerable? Do you ever wonder why certain apartment layouts have higher turnover rates than others?

Westerners have gone from treating Feng Shui as a voodoo science, to accepting it as ultra trendy, to now discarding it as a little passé. But it does seem quite evident that our environment has an impact on our psychology. Feng Shui literally translates to wind/water and is the Chinese practice of creating harmonious surroundings. The way a prospect feels in your leasing center will influence his/her buying decision and the way a resident fells in his/her home will impact the renewal decision.

Let's start with the leasing center. If you have offices, make sure your back is not to the doorway and you are slightly askew from the entrance. Frosted glass is better than clear and plants/flowers are always good. Lamp lighting also makes the space feel conversational in comparison to overhead lighting which can make the space feel interrogational. Placing a receptionist/greeter/concierge right in the path of the main entrance will evoke a feeling of confrontation in the prospect. Immediately he/she is uncomfortable or nervous. Place your initial person of contact slightly to the left (if possible) of the entrance. This way he/she is still visible and available but not intimidating. Why on the left side and not the right? Well, in the Western world we read from left to right so we tend to look to the left first.

It's a good idea to keep spatial concepts in mind with your advertising as well. For instance "dead center" is always the strongest place whether working on a flyer, a website, or a business card. The second strongest place would be the top left corner again because that's how we are trained to read, thus the weakest spot is the bottom right corner. Make sure you are placing the most important information in the most impactful places.

People feel most comfortable in spaces that mirror natural settings. For instance in terms of gradient color, the ceiling should be the lightest, the walls should be of a medium palette, and the floor should be the darkest. When the walls are darker than the floor we feel ungrounded. Shiny or glossy floors make people feel unstable. It is too reminiscent of water or something slippery and people will actually walk differently on these surfaces. With long and narrow spaces such as hallways, lighting is very important. Soft lighting that bends, like that achieved with sconces, allows people to comfortably walk at an easy pace and gaze from side to side. Strong overhead lighting will actually encourage people to walk quickly in a straight line looking straight ahead.

Using complimentary colors is another easy way to balance the energy of a room. Examples of complimentary colors would be red and green, yellow and purple, orange and blue. For instance if a room is all yellow, the eye will continually look for something purple for balance. A good example of this is in the health care profession. You'll notice that most operating rooms are green because it balances the strong red color of blood.

Improving the balance and the flow of energy in your work space not only improves your sales, but it also makes the employees feel more comfortable. This leads to better attitudes, more friendly interactions, and fewer turnovers.

1. Be Grateful for What You Have – Much can be said for giving thanks, acknowledging what is right and letting go of what is wrong in your life. If we are grateful for the small pleasures in life we will find in them simplicity, order, beauty, harmony and joy.
2. Talk Directly - Our lives are filled with a greater variety of ways to communicate than ever before. Undoubtedly, the most honest, fulfilling, direct and satisfying communication will always be face to face. Next in line is speaking over the phone, hearing the tone and emotion each other’s voices. Go against the current norm and resist the temptation to email, text, instant message or otherwise communicate through electronic means. Simply pick up the phone or make time to meet with those who really matter in your life.
3. Plan Ahead – Making a plan means you care about yourself, your family and friends. Gaining a clear vision of the life you want means getting and staying organized. Having a plan for your commitments for the next week, month, or year reduces the stress in your life. Once plans are made, be accepting of and open to the unexpected variances that are inevitable.
4. Be Present – This would seem a contradiction to the "Plan Ahead" guideline but both are important. Being fully awake and present for the whole experience of life means living in the moment – the good, the bad, the highs and the lows, the parts you love and parts you hate. Be in your life 100 percent. In our FISH! Program Ellipse employees learned it is vital to be engaged and present for customers, team members, friends, family and yourself.
5. Use Time Wisely – If your schedule is packed with appointments, meetings and tasks, try to schedule less, which means getting out of less important commitments. Leave space to breathe. Instead of trying to do everything at once and multitasking, learn to focus on one task at a time. It is less stressful and more effective. Whether it’s pursuing something you’re passionate about or just taking some quiet time, schedule the extra space for what is really important to you.
6. Choose Your Attitude and Change Your Thoughts – Our minds are our most powerful tool. You have the control and the freedom to choose. Getting stuck in certain ways of thinking can hinder our ability to enjoy and respond effectively to new situations. Choose a positive attitude by changing your thoughts about yourself and the world around you.
7. Give of Yourself and to Yourself – Doing good and living the good life areintertwined. Take a vow of kindness. Take ownership of life and be kinder to yourself and to others. You have the wisdom within you to find the place where you can be your best self. Then giving that best self to others, whether it is money, things or your time, returns it all back to you in the fulfillment of making a difference.
8. Unclutter Your Life – Clutter and lack of organization creates stress and can be overwhelming and paralyzing. You want a fresh start down a new and healthier road, but you need to clear out the old stuff first. Organize your work and personal spaces so that you have the peace and sense of focus you need. Overcome feeling overwhelmed by enlisting the help of friends, family or even a trained professional to deal with the clutter so that your environment reflects the life you want.
9. Nourish Your Spirit – A day at the spa, a walk in the forest, an exciting new hobby – whatever it is for you, find it and do it. Celebrating your spirit is often simply accepting where life takes you, relaxing into the mystery of life as it is happening. You can feed your spirit by merely taking ten minutes to just sit, breathe deeply and relax. Call it "me time" or meditation, what matters is that you follow the instinct that we are more than our mind and body. It yields huge results.
10. Plug in to Your Own Power Grid – Regular exercise not only alleviates fatigue but is invigorating. Look forward to the renewed vitality you’ll gain by expending the effort. Try walking just 30 minutes three times a week even if you’re a die-hard exercise hater. The increased metabolism, energy and stress relieving benefits will be a noticeable life improvement.

The Fourth Quarter 2008 Net Mystery Shopper^SM Benchmark Report is now available to view - click here. The 2008 fourth quarter report is based on 52 management companies and 427 communities. During the fourth quarter, Ellipse found that onsite teams are responding more than ever to leads that come to them from their property website at a praiseworthy 73.77%. This is up nearly 5% from 2007's fourth quarter at 68.82%. Now more than ever the marketing tools and contact features of your website are key to successful leasing.