The Top 10 Steps to Get The Junk Out of Your Trunk and Rejuvenate Your Business

1. Recycle Your Stuff

Create a library at your office.  Do you have some marketing books that other real estate professionals can use? You may not have time to mentor but everyone has time to donate.  Start a library at your brokerage with CD's, books, and magazines that other real estate professionals can check out. 

Many of these materials may be gathering dust on your bookshelves and in your desk drawers.  These same materials may be costly for some of your colleagues to purchase so while you are saving some space you are giving fellow professionals an opportunity for education.  It's a win-win.

While you're at it, why not repurpose material from some of your best posts and newsletters and create an online library on your website for prospects and past/current clients...current and timeless real estate news and advice included.  It IS a library. 

Checkout can be so easy...all that you require is a simple contact registration before PDF download.

2.  Review Your Business Expenses

There are many alternative solutions to costly marketing tools.  Make a thorough list of everything you are currently paying for on a monthly and annual basis.  Record the ROI you are receiving from these tools- websites, CRM's, email programs, postcard drip, lead generation.  Are these programs working for you?  Do you currently subscribe to services you don't use or don't plan on using in the foreseeable (30 day) future?  Eliminate these programs.  Do you have some tools which aren't suiting your needs?  Take the time to research and find tools that are better suited to your business.

3.   Make A Plan

You can't accurately measure your results without having a business plan in place.  It's never too late to make a plan for your business.  If you already have a business plan it is time to revisit it and assess the results.  If your plan isn't working, time for some tweaking and reassessment.  Markets change, economics change, niches can grow stale if not tended with care.

4.  Back Up Your Work

Everyone will experience the blue screen of death.  Make sure you have a good back up plan for your work.  This is also a good time to check out your website provider's protocol.  Do they have a backup for their servers?  Don't forget your blog.  You invested many hours into creating, editing, proofing and publishing your posts.  Make sure you are backing up a copy of them. 

5.  Shred Your Paper

You can still have paper files but keep a digital copy of your important documents.  Scan legal documents and office records and keep them stored in an online storage system. 

At the very least back up your documents on Google Docs and then you will also be able to access them from any computer.

6.  Make Wise Business Investments

The top priority should be continuing your education and it's not always through the usual suspects.  You can take continuing ed classes offered through your local board associations.  You can attend webinars (many are free) on marketing.  Designate some daily reading time each day to refresh yourself on sales 101, 201, and 301 by reading blog posts, periodicals, books,and newsletters.  Extend your reach beyond the real estate industry and tap into others to rejuvenate your mind and wake up your vitals.

7.  Lighten Your Load with Collaboration

Step away from the television and the negativity.  Collaborate with other like minded individuals for a networking power hour or attend a local meetup , tweetup, social media breakfast, or rebarcamp.  Rejuvenate your spirits by making sleep a priority and exercise a fundamental part of your routine.

8.  Keep Focused

Commit to daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.  Don't get hung up on the exact times you will complete all of your tasks- focus on getting the tasks done.  Post your goals- short and long term, where you can see them everyday.  Write out your daily accomplishments as you achieve them each day for even the most minute task to keep distractions at bay.

9.  Trust Yourself

Everyone has something to offer in this world and in the business of selling real estate xevery dedicated professional has something unique to bring to the table.  Write a list of the qualities and the expertise you bring to the process of home selling, home finding, real estate marketing and real estate closing. Ask past clients for testimonials.  Remind yourself how you bring it each and every transaction.  Become sold on you.

10.  Embrace Free Thinking

There is opportunity in every market if you believe it.  If you believe it you will see it.  Once you start believing you will dream, some of those dreams might seem small and some might be big.  Once you start believing you won't care about what everyone else is doing or not doing...

You will care about what you want to do and what you can do and you will DO IT.

****UPDATE:  If you want a way to keep track of lent books/materials for the Library Idea in Item #1- check out buxfer.com or billmonk.com****

If you enjoyed this post about business, you'll want to read:

• Tough Love Talk~  If Your Business Is Broke It's Time To Fix It
• Tough Love Talk~Are you Taking Advice That Hurts or Heals Your Business? Time For a Check-Up
• A Cure For Time Exhaustion.  The Solution That Business Planning Forgot

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