School Days Again

I like slow days like today in real estate. On days like this, after all my work is finished, and there is really nothing left to do at the Wichita office, it's time to go to school. Time to take advantage of a little down time and learn something.

Learning is a lifelong process. We start as soon as we are born and we don't ever stop. Experience teaches us, as do our mentors, the books we read, the people we listen to and our environment around us. The process of learning, or experiencing, comes natural, but can be pushed too. We can strive to stuff more information in our brain and make ourselves more knowledgeable and better ourselves and our position in life.

Brian Tracy teaches best time management practices or ways to best use or save time. One way to take advantage of time is what he calls Automobile university. Anytime I have to go somewhere in my car I put in an educational CD. It could be something about a particular topic, a motivational seminar or even just something to refresh a skill set I already possess. Now I'm not wasting the time it takes me to get from one place to another but taking full advantage and furthering my career. Sort of like killing  two birds with one stone. Never do that by the way.

If you think your bored, just the very act of gaining knowledge eliminates the possibility of boredom. There are always books to read. To many in fact and not nearly enough time. The Internet puts educational videos and classrooms literally at our fingertips. Have you ever heard someone, a child perhaps, proclaim that “I'm bored, there's nothing to do”. On the contrary there is to much to do. So much you actually have to make conscious decision as to what you want to make time for.

I happen to be in the real estate business so that is what I like to learn about. By visiting the blogs and websites of more experienced real estate professionals on sites like Active Rain there is much to be learned. How to prospect effectively for instance, or how to handle a difficult client. Lately I've increased my search engine optimization skills and knowledge 100% or more just by reading one mans blog. To many lessons to count or list here.

The best way to learn more about the business you are in or to better your circumstance is to ask the successful people that were there before you. Just ask. Rarely have I come across a successful Realtor who wasn't willing to share his or her knowledge and expertise. The best way to get to where you want to go is to learn from those before you. Then perhaps you can improve from there but don't waste time looking for knowledge when it is right in front of you.

So days like today I'll take advantage of the down time and find something to learn. Someway to improve my business or my mind. Read a book, listen to a seminar or pull up a something on the web. Whatever it is, I won't be wasting my time.