Every once in a while, I get a book that cuts right through the marketing BS and gets to the point. Tom Ferry is one of those new authors and high engaging, motivational speakers that tells us what's wrong with a lot of our thinking patterns.
Including me. I loved his book. I loved the packaging. I loved the ideas he covered. It was spot on.
During a free webinar in June, I had one Dallas REALTOR who just went on and on about how happy she'll be when the market comes back. She whined about why she refuses to learn Facebook and blogging and how her website dropped in ranking to page 4 on Google.
Several other REALTORs including one from Prudential California properties was getting perturbed at the Dallas agent.
He just blurted out, " Geez lady, do you even know it's 2010? "
The phone went eerily quiet for a few seconds. It was a bit awkward.
I found myself scrambling for a politically correct way to defuse what I thought was going to become a huge train wreck. Then she made it easy: She hangs up the phone.
This is a real life illustrated lesson for a lot of REALTORS just like her.
A lot of us are holding onto the past.
"I'm waiting the for market to come back. Then I'll make a new webiste. Then, I'll learn Facebook."
There's just one thing wrong with this kind of thinking: The market is never coming back. Ever.
It's a new market now. We can still call it Buyers' Market or Sellers' Market but so many things have changed.
Buyers getting a new home using their "Stated Income," doesn't work anymore like it used to. Higher minimum FICO scores are needed now.
The way our websites used to rank on Google without us having to learn how to blog. Or posting links into Facebook. Or before people starting to Chirp on Twitter.
Yes -- life as a REALTOR was very different even three years ago. It was very different just five years ago. And the problem for too many agents and brokers is their thinking. Many of them are still holding onto the past. The way it USED to be in Real Estate sales.
Tom Ferry is the CEO of YourCoach and the author of the book: Life by Design. He's getting a lot of hoopla as this is how things work. We tend to gravitate to the shiny new things. Then they fade away as we embrace the next, new thing.
The laggards and those who cannot change are the ones missing the boat. These are the same REALTORS with an Advanced Access Website with the flaming logo that hasn't changed in seven years.
Yesterday, we were spellbound with adding IDX to our websites. We can add searchable listings to your broker and agent websites. But "yesterday," was ten years ago. Things are different now.
Tom Ferry's story isn't a new one. It's just like bell bottom jeans. It's come back. Because another book called, "Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life," by Brian Tracy sort of opened us all up to this idea a long time ago. A book that was written and published seven years ago. (2003).
So why is Tom Ferry all of a sudden the "golden boy," for this same idea?
- Facebook.
- Video.
- Video blogging and regular blogging.
*That's* the reasons why.
The blogosphere wasn't really around in 2003. It was just getting started.
Success and failure are all around you. Pay attention. The success of others in real estate means you can take advantage of the same tools to catapult you to the top of the real estate food chain, if you want. But it takes work. It means: Change.
Being successful means you have to start thinking different. You can't keep your Advanced Access website anymore. You have to built a website from scratch. You have to build a Facebook fan page and add to it every few days.
Changing your life, getting more commissions means you have to do something to get you from here to there. Your phone isn't going to ring until you do some things to your business to MAKE it ring.
Your broker isn't going to pop into your office and say, "Hey Bob, would you like a commission advance?" You have to go to your broker and ask. Google isn't going to GIVE you a top ranking website. You have to work at it for months. And if you're really really good at SEO, then one day you'll see your website pop onto page one, position #10. Then the real fun begins as you claw your way to a comfortable page one #3 or #2 position.
Change hurts, but this is life and too many of us are still thinking like we did three or seven years ago. We're addicted to managing chaos. Too many people like being "Drama Queens."
The words of wisdom spoken by Brian are the same being spoken by Tom.
Your personal and business life revolve around the importance of your ability (and speed) of setting goals, adjusting what you do until you achieve that goal.
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