Nudging the boundary of complacency in Real Estate Success

Massive change in your Real Estate Business Plan is hardly ever lasting, especially if the new activities are not tackled in small doses over a good period of time - Think 10 to 20 Weeks. Two hours of your business day generate the majority of your new clients; the rest is meant to service, manage, and structure your transactions. Prospect today, Prospect tomorrow, Prospect always, or the Beetlejuice of Failure will get you! - #keyideas

To desire to be successful in your Real Estate Business and not nourish your most important muscle, "your brain", is a contradiction; it shows a lack of true commitment to one's career and more of a 'hope of winning the lottery' type of thinking... You can only become what you think about and it is mostly affected by what you are reading and the people you are surrounding yourself with! - #keyideas

Let me share a Welcome Message to Real Estate Reality: You know you are strong when you deal with failure as an occurrence not as a definer of your character; You know you are humble when you allow your successes to occur and not allow them rush to your head or your ego! - #keyideas

There is an important simple idea in Productivity and Real Estate Transactions: "Do what you are supposed to do without delay; or the longer you delay the more painful the apologies." Think of it this way - you are going to have to face it anyway so why not be proactive, even if you fear the outcome is going to be negative; You will then create room for more opportunities to enter your life. - #keyideas

So many potentially good Real Estate Agents give up too soon due to a complicated deal, lack of patience, but worse because they take the challenges that come with every deal personally - they question whether they have what it takes; they forget at times that Real Estate is a process, and that Patience and Endurance play a bigger role than just knowing what to do on paper... Lou Holtz said it best: "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it!" - #keyideas

This paraphrase of C.S. Lewis on reading says it eloquently: "Nourishing our minds with good books irrigates the deserts that our lives become when new ideas are not watered so we can grow anew." - 2017 is here, commit to selecting at least 4 to 6 books next year and spending time adding new ideas, new strategies, new ways of looking at the world and your business will flourish - you will be glad you did! - #keyideas

There is nothing wrong if you choose not to design your life's plan, goals, ambitions, and Successes - but there is a caveat: you have to accept what others have planned for you, and you are not allowed to complain. This is the best time of the year to start designing your 2017 Real Estate Business Plan - or next year will be a series of exuberant complaints, loud disappointments, and a whole lot of blaming others. - #keyideas

They say Knowledge is Power, but what they fail to say is that the Knowledge you gain deteriorates over time without proper habits. It becomes the illusion of knowing rather than  reality of making things happen... In your Real Estate Career, if you tell me what your daily activities are, I can predict your income - so marry your knowledge with activities and anchor them to sound habits and Results will always follow... #keyideas

As an Entrepreneur your Time equals Income, but many think that time is "Flexible" - this is why their income becomes flexibly challenged... If you learn to control 2 hours of your Business Day and dedicate them to Prospecting, even if you can't control the rest of the day, you will earn more than $100K per year... Those are your seed hours, cherish and protect them daily! - #keyideas

Deep down all of us know what we want out of life - yet we let a handful of bad habits get in the way of our desired business accomplishments. Don't you  dare give up! Fight back by not isolating yourself; fight back by having a business journal; fight back by reading and thinking; and finally fight back because you are happiest when you add value to others, not just yourself! - #keyideas

If you are told that you must become a Multi-Tasker to master your Real Estate Business then you are easily seduced by fluffy ideas; become a "Present Agent" - it means that when you are engaged in a client's conversation it is ok to ignore the pings from your phone. "Be Present and on Task" and your Productivity will soar, especially if your business is the business of people! - #keyideas

The easiest way to destroy your Real Estate Career is by letting Household Chores run your day - if you are married and your husband, wife or partner think you have plenty of time to do the housecleaning, the grocery shopping, the laundry, etc... then they do not respect you as a professional - and it is not their fault - it starts with you planning your week like a true professional! - #keyideas

There are ingredients that rarely show-up in checklists, nor are they expected to appear as line items in your procedures - like: Patience, Sincerity, Integrity, and Composure. They are not quantifiable like money, yet they are the most important attributes to navigate your Real Estate Transactions and turn them into Success stories! - #keyideas

If people don't know you in your Local Market it is not their fault - getting to be known and creating buzz around your name through Personal Marketing is your job. Are you Farming your neighborhoods? Are you holding Open Houses? Are you attending Local Business Events? Are you sending localized mailers? etc... People need to not only know you by name, but also know your face, and your Local Expertise... You are responsible for building your image! - #keyideas

For the Love of God can we stop just being 'Order Takers' in our Real Estate Industry, and start focusing on creating opportunities for our Sellers and Buyers... Opportunity is driven by courage, prospecting, and engagement - our customers not only want that engagement, they value it. Does your Calendar reveal your courage? - #keyideas

The act of Thinking is a muscle that needs to be exercised; one of the best ways is 'Active Reading' followed by 'Active Writing.' Active Reading simply means selecting a good business book, sitting down at your desk daily, and for 15 minutes focusing on what you reading and letting your thoughts emerge - then chronicling them in a journal for 5 minutes. Being this Deliberate will transform your day and your business. - #keyideas

As a Real Estate Professional being Responsive to your clients' Needs is very important; which will cause you to become more reactive. Yet a true Entrepreneur protects two hours a day and uses them on Prospecting for new opportunities. You can be both Responsive and Proactive by focusing on Abundance. - #keyideas

Your mind is like a secluded backyard with your own selection of plants and flowers, and it must be guarded by a gate. If you do not attend to it weeds and thorns will take over. The type of information you let in and the type of people you allow to influence your thinking will shape your thoughts, and affect your desired ambitions. - #keyideas

Awaken your body this morning with a Promise and Covenant to be 'You' today; and not to be shackled by your 'past' you. You are not defined by your past - you may have to make amends, but you should not be beholden to old mistakes... Learn to forgive others and find the courage to include yourself in the 'others!' - #keyideas

The fear of not letting others down will drag you kicking and screaming towards avoiding proper Delegation to other professionals; and even get you to micromanage every aspect of your business, team, or brokerage... Until you allow yourself to delegate to others and interact with them so they can win within your business, you will place a lid on your potential... a heavy lid keeping you from growth, creativity, and success beauty! - #keyideas

When you choose to reject the insanity of trying to remember everything - which I call using your mind as storage; and embrace calendaring your major events, and check-listing all your important procedures - you will find that you will remember everything; your creativity will increase; and your confidence will expand dramatically - even if you rarely refer to said lists. - #keyideas

Your Real Estate Success is revealed by the deals you close; yet Success is truly measured by the Prospecting Activities you undertake on a daily basis. You will encounter Opposition, Struggle, and Difficulties - and through them you will find your true calling and your courage. Stephen King eloquently said: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” - #keyideas

Protect an Hour of Selfish Business Work Daily and try to make it your first hour. An hour with no calls; no emails; no noise or with soft gentle music; and with no one. Work on Planning; Tough Projects that require Thinking and Concentration; Strategies for better Farming and Prospecting. Don't be afraid to steal that hour from TV the night before and give it to yourself the next morning... #keyideas

Years after you have been a Real Estate Practitioner you will understand this statement: "My Success is guaranteed because I do not need anyone to create my deals; and I need many many people to make my deals happen and for my Success to continue!" - This is the concept of Interdependence and Responsibility - very few ever get to enjoy this way of Thinking or Being! - #keyideas

What is your Motivation beyond yourself to succeed in your Real Estate Career? The financial rewards of your career will only carry you so far - How you conjure a future of success that involves others will light a bright ember in your soul, and keep you coming back when the tough gets going... and the going will get tough in Real Estate! - #keyideas

The perfectionists rarely progress and become quite adept at "Excuse Making..." The Grounded Entrepreneurs take punches daily and keep coming back stronger, learning at each stage and keeping their Objectives and Goals clear. Perseverance is more courageous than Perfectionism - Break down your goals into manageable daily tasks and go about knocking them off one at the time! - #keyideas

To participate properly in your Real Estate Business you will have to confront how much time you will dedicate to "Reacting" to circumstances and clients?; while simultaneously how much time you dedicate to "Creating" Success Strategies and Prospecting Results? Remember, you are in charge of your Destiny - how you balance these two important forces will reveal your Courage and Character. - #keyideas

The Fallacy that we control the outside forces of Real Estate Needs and Clients' Behavior can lead many to stop Prospecting... We do not control the forces of our Local Market - We participate in them. Think of it this way, Real Estate Transactions are going to happen with or without you - so why not jump in and be part of the mix and claim your share of Success?! - #keyideas

One strong indication that you are maturing as a Leader, Broker, and Motivator is the lesson shared by Jim Rohn - "Learn to work with the people who Deserve it, not the people who need it!" - Those agents who deserve your focus and encouragement have good soil in which you can plant good ideas and strategies; which in time will flourish - they are not quitters! - #keyideas

We must accept that some of our Real Estate Agents, at this stage of their career, wish to work at 30% Strength, others at 50%; and yet a very few others at near 100% of their ability. We must realize we cannot make them work or prosper at a higher rate - we must show them the lid they have created for themselves, and then let them lift it when they are good and ready. - #keyideas

We need to keep Sowing (Prospecting) - obsessing over No's or Rejections makes us weaker; we move forward in the face of No's because Yes's are now closer than ever before. Study your accomplishments, they leave clues behind - these clues will help you create new seeds to sow for a bountiful harvest! - #keyideas

You may be tempted to run your Real Estate Career wishing to avoid problems and challenges - such is not reality; strive to run your business by being competent, knowledgeable, and grounded to handle all the challenges that come your way - we call that being a "Courageous Entrepreneur!" - #keyideas

For the Ordinary to become Extraordinary use this simple recipe - add a dollop of a few Good Habits and run through them daily. The Habits your nurture will nurture you back - so as an Entrepreneur or Real Estate Practitioner what are your few Daily Prospecting Habits? Answer that and you will guarantee your Success! - #keyideas

If you are going to learn Real Estate Negotiation you must learn the concept of "Transference" - Let me share a simple definition of it: "The Redirection of Feelings and Manipulations in order to retain control over shame of those who you wish to give you what you want for free!" - #keyideas

What if Happiness needed a Tango Partner to dance with, and it was NOT Wealth, but rather 'Purpose'? When you are filled with Purpose you create Meaning that drags you out of your doldrums, and pulls you towards making a Difference. This quote by Denis Waitley says it best: “Happy people plan actions, they don’t plan results.” - #keyideas

There are few arenas in which competition is silly, and the "Wisdom" arena is one of them - Wisdom must be shared; Wisdom should be freely disseminated; Wisdom can never be a selfish act or it isn't Wisdom; Wisdom is the humility to learn from others as much as you are willing to Share it with others... Strive to nourish your mind and your experiences, and become a teacher to me and all the others around you! - #keyideas

Will you be criticized? Will you will feel disoriented? Yes, especially when you start doing well in your career. Are you less than perfect? We all are - Put your make-up on, Brush your bold head, Roll up your sleeves, and get to Work - that is what matters most... the rest is pure psychological hogwash. 'Showing Up' in the arena of business is Job 1 towards your Success. - #keyideas

Yes, it is ok to breakup with "Stress!" - Expect and Accept that your Real Estate Career comes with Ups and Downs and Affirm that you can handle it! Those who handle the pressure are not necessarily smarter than you - they ride the waves by avoiding to add too much meaning to the negative. Start with this tip: Do something for yourself when you first wake up and avoid jumping into checking emails immediately. - #keyideas

We should refuse to accept to ever feel helpless in the face of our Business Challenges, Progress, or Results. Somewhere, deep down, we must have the courage to keep a little flame lit as a symbol of our courage to keep persevering, and not let anyone extinguishing it - not even ourselves. We are never without options to get back on track towards Achievement. - #keyideas

What is "Real Estate Courage?" - The ability to ask for business, day in and day out, without clinging to negative interpretations! If you are waiting to be asked for business you will probably become discouraged - if you strive to go to them and ask to help them with buying and selling you will get deals! - Ponder this: Your office is a place for paperwork not the main place for Prospecting! - #keyideas

Not only is Perfection the enemy of Progress it is the destroyer of Joy! Perfection drives many to create daily to-do lists that contains 20 or more items; Yet for Successful Progress to occur you only need 3 to 5 items on said to-do lists. Trust or Learn to do what you need to do, act on a few daily actions, and you will be wildly Successful! - #keyideas

If you Prospect regularly and often enough, patterns and statistics will emerge; in baseball we call them batting average - for you it could be: 'Talk to 20 people get a Yes!' or 'Follow up with 10 people daily get a weekly sale!', etc... It is the repetition over a long period of time that reveals those patterns. Are you stopping too short before revealing them? - #keyideas

You can have every technique and every trick to make a great living in Real Estate - but it is not sufficient;  the way you think of yourself and how you hold yourself in esteem will affect you more than your knowledge... Choose to affirm that you will not only work hard, but also, that you deserve to thrive and succeed! - #keyideas

Don't be afraid of selecting Business Coaches who you cannot manipulate - Why would you want them to agree with you? It defeats the purpose of pursuing your passion and career in an authentic way; stop looking for "Yes" Coaches. Work with those who understand your vision and nudge you past complacency! - #keyideas

This quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower inspires me, especially since Freedom demands that we step up - "There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure." - Happy Fourth of July! - #keyideas

As a Real Estate Industry we may not be spending enough time on "tomorrow" thinking - and may wallow too much on "lost yesterday" opportunities. Thinking and Planning ahead is a weekly endeavor - even if you have to spend 10 to 15 minutes a week reviewing your Plan, Tweaking it just a little could be a good start - but never disengage from it. - #keyideas