How "Bad Andy" has made me a better agent

When you play the Nintendo Wii video game, you start by setting up a "Mii" which is your character you'll use to play many of the games.  I first set mine up as a cute blonde with blue eyes... "Andy".  The problem with "Andy" was she kept losing to "Tim" at all the sports games!  So I went back in and set up a new Mii... "Bad Andy".  Black hair, black clothes and cat's eye glasses-she's a gothic alter ego to "Andy" and she's waaayyy better at sports!  Something about stepping into a different persona makes you think, feel, and act differently.

This phenomenon can also allow a shy person to be outgoing, a scared person to face their fears or an aggressive person to tone down when talking to a client.  It's really a lot like acting.  Actors have to step into their roles each time and make us believe the character - even though it might be 180 degrees different then the last role we saw them in.

W.W.B.A.D?  What would "Bad Andy" do?

Any time I'm facing a challenge on a deal or with a client I take a deep breath and think about the situation and how it might be handled.  I once heard a trainer say that if you're in a situation that you don't know what to do about, ask yourself "If I DID know what to do...what would it be?"  Sometimes just asking the question a different way will show you the answer!

One way I've been using theses techniques lately is in my new role as partner at my brokerage firm.  I'm being faced with lots of new tasks and challenges that I've never had before, such as now being involved in the property management side of the business and the hiring of new agents.  Anytime I go into a new situation I just ask myself; "what would an experienced property manager do in this situation?" and usually the answer becomes clear.

Try this technique the next time you're in a pickle and let me know if it helps!

P.S.  "Bad Andy" will take you on at Wii anytime...but "Andy" will beat you at Trivial Pursuit!