Here are some ideas I think will help you with setting goals for 2010:

1) Your goals must be your own. They cannot be dictated by your spouse, your broker or any other individual.
2) Goals must be ambitious yet attainable. The key is to set goals that are realistic yet challenging.
3) Goals must be exciting. It is the excitement that fuels the engine. Simply ask yourself what it is you want, or want to do, that would really wind your clock.
4) If goals are not measurable, they will not work. You must be able to measure progress as you move toward your destination.
5) Your goals must have time limitations. If you don't have a finish line with time constraints, you will procrastinate.

So, what are realistic goals for the average real estate agent? The following are my "minimum" standards  (please note the word minimum):

1) 4-6 listing presentations monthly.
2) 4 listing contracts every month. These listings must be priced and conditioned correctly.
3) 4 opened transactions monthly.
4) At least 95% of all opened transactions should close successfully.
5) At least 15 leads generated by an agent's website monthly.
6) 100% client satisfaction rating.
7) After 24 months in our industry, at least 70% of an agent's success should come from the four "R's"; repeat, referral, recognition and residual sources.

 I can honestly say I have never met an full time agents who is not capable of meeting the minimum goals. And yet, I can also say that only a small percentage of the agents I have met are actually performing to these standards. Why such limited success? I would bet the ranch that a lack of challenging goals, and/or a lack of focus on goals, is a factor.

© drozcorp 2009