Double Your Time - No Magic Required! - 10/29/08 02:02 PM
Is there anyone who doesn't wish they had more time? Whether it's showing houses, networking to build your business, nurturing your children, or even (what a concept!) finding time for your own relaxation, there never seems to be enough to go around. We all get the same ration – 24 hours a day.
But what if you could take some of those hours and double them by accomplishing twice as much? It is possible, you know. You don't need a magic wand or a time machine. All you need is the discipline to delegate. I'm not saying that it's easy – … (1 comments)

Contest Winners Today...And a Dynamic Download! - 10/27/08 09:47 AM
 

I'd like to keep you updated on the very cool things Justin Zimmerman is doing at GoodMorningRealEstate. Here is a post from my dear friend and colleague, Joeann Fossland. I'm reblogging much of it with her permission.
Today, Justin will be announcing the FIVE winners in his story contest that ended last night. Each will win a 365-day pass to his web video site, worth at least $2,500! He rounded up a pedigreed 30+ coaches (yes, I'm one of the coaches!), top agents and NAR speakers who every week will virtually share their blueprints with you on "going big" in this … (1 comments)

Taming the Wild Telephone - 10/23/08 10:46 AM
Are you ruled by the telephone? Does that small packet of electronics hanging on your belt demand your attention – and do you give it – constantly? If so, you could be under the control of a wild telephone. Time to tame it!
You might consider the phone a drain on your time and your single greatest source of disruption. However, the phone can be your ally if you will follow a few simple guidelines.
Take Control Through Preparation. Whenever possible, do the majority of your phone work in advance, making more outgoing calls on your time frame and taking fewer … (5 comments)

Need More? Start by Having More! - 10/20/08 02:41 PM
"Almost out" is not a happy place to be: almost out of time, almost out of gas, almost out of money. Suddenly, you can't think of anything else. You're in a meeting with a client but your mind is fretting about what you’ll do if your car can't make it to your next appointment. Now where was that gas station?
Your attention is compromised because you're focused on what’s missing instead of what you’re doing right now. Guess what? You can fix this problem. The solution is to create a reserve—extra time, extra money—so that there's always a little cushion between … (4 comments)

Seven Keys to Survival for Today's Reality - 10/17/08 01:18 PM
 
I talked with an agent the other day who was excited to tell me that her business is flourishing, that this year is one of her best ever. How is she doing it? Mental toughness, knowledge of the industry, and always doing the basics. She knows, and practices the seven key steps to surviving and thriving in this market.
To be ready for everything, to benefit from the worst markets as well as from the best, start here:
The first key is to create a schedule. It should encompass your whole life, factoring in your personal life to create … (10 comments)

Chicken Little or FDR…Which are You? - 10/14/08 08:42 PM
We all know the story of Chicken Little who ran around saying the sky was falling, and eventually became Foxy Loxy's lunch. There's no question that the entire global economy is in facing challenges as never before, and that many people are fearful almost to the point of paralysis. When the only thing we can count on is uncertainty, fear starts to rule us and keep us from acting.
75 years ago things were also looking grim when Franklin Roosevelt gave his first inaugural address. He spoke of the need for action as the way to overcome the paralysis, saying famously, … (3 comments)

Have You Seen That Look? - 10/11/08 03:34 PM
You know, the deer-in-the-headlights look? These days you don't have to look very far to see real estate agents who are frozen, paralyzed, and panic-stricken. It's perfectly understandable with the worldwide financial crisis, and an important presidential and congressional election less than a month away. Whether man-made or natural, catastrophes affect people deeply.
The thing is, catastrophes happen. Hurricanes like Katrina and Ike, earthquakes and mudslides, tsunamis, and stock market slides. A catastrophe can be a divorce, an unexpected death, a serious illness, or a business failure. They happen. We cannot control them, we can only choose how to respond.
You've … (5 comments)

Victim or Victor? The Choice is Up to You - 10/08/08 12:57 PM
 
Is there anyone who likes being around a "Victim?" It's certainly not an appealing personality trait. And yet, in a down-turning market, you'd think that Victim was the name of a hot new perfume; everywhere you turn, you get a whiff of it.
You know the clues: the "poor me" stories, the blaming, the counting and recounting of bad things that have happened to the speaker, the anticipation of problems to come. And you know the effect it has on listeners: the glazed eyes, the wandering mind, the rising desire to take the speaker by the shoulders and give him … (8 comments)

Are You Outstanding in Your Field, or Just Wandering in the Weeds? - 10/05/08 07:38 PM
Have you ever stopped in the middle of the day and wondered, "What am I doing?" It's not that you don't understand some paperwork, or don't recognize your surroundings. But a feeling comes over you that where you are, and what you are doing in life, is not bringing the rewards and satisfaction you want.
That's your wake-up call that it may be time to step back and evaluate how you are running your business. Start with these two questions:
Do you accept every client who comes your way? Do you take every listing you can get no matter what or … (7 comments)

Boundaries: Build a Fence to Help You Grow - 10/02/08 08:58 AM
Building your referrals business starts with priming the pump and finding ways to build relationships. As you reach out to people, though, stay mindful of protecting your own boundaries.
That sounds like I'm telling you to be a cuddly porcupine, doesn't it? But while you're building trust and relationships, it can be easy to give so much, or be so willing to help, that you end up doing things that are not right for you. Part of building a successful business is knowing and playing to your own particular strengths.
Everyone has a niche – that place where you function best, … (6 comments)