I'm Back -- Here at Active Rain!

I signed up for ActiveRain a few years ago, but never really got on board and posted. A buddy reminded me about the site the other day at told me I should sign up again, get serious, and be a RainMaker. So this is my first post!

I am not active as a real estate agent right now, but for the last 2 years I have been full-time coaching agents on effective marketing strategies. In previous jobs I have been heavily involved in the marketing end of business, and when I started selling real estate, I realized that most real estate agents don't know what business they are really in.

For instance, I was chatting with another agent in the office and asked her, "What business are you in?" She looked at me kinda crazy and said, "Real Estate!" I said, "Wrong....You are in the Marketing business. If you aren't marketing yourself, and your properties effectively, what happens?" She looked a little stumped for a second, and said she would, "go broke and out of business."

Here's a mistake that I see a few solid agents making every day - Not having a written plan. It could be as simple as a piece of paper in your desk, or a formal calendar that plans out the next years marketing goals! But the key is having it in writing. I have often quoted the line, "A goal not written is only a wish." Why? Because if you don't take the time to formalize the goal in writing, you aren't taking the goal or yourself serious, therefore the goal has no energy behind it.

Here's a plan that I share with my coaching clients.
Sit down and draw up goals in these 4 areas:
1. Mental goals
2. Spiritual Goals
3. Physical Goals
4. Financial Goals

Noted author and speaker Brian Tracy has said, "All successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose."

Here is the specific technique that will allow you to set effective goals.
1. Write the goal in the present tense. (I have, I am, I enjoy)
2. Describe the goals in specific, clear, and detailed terms.
3. They must be in the positive sense. Don't list what you want to leave behind.
4. Give yourself a honest deadline.
5. List the benefits of achieving your goals - the more, the better!
6. Believe in them!
7. Think Big! Stretch yourself!

Here is on of the most profound statements that will affect your personal and business success: "You become what you think about most of the time." If you are thinking positive thoughts, thinking about your goals, you will achieve them. If you are constantly thinking about how terrible the housing market is, and how nobody is going to buy a house from you anyway...that will be your reality!

To put this in a scriptural context: For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

I have a little sticky note on my computer. It's a quote that I dwell on frequently, because of where it is - in my face every day!

"No one is ready for a thing until he believes he can acquire it. The state of mind must be BELIEF, not mere hope or wish. Open-mindedness is essential for belief. Closed minds do not inspire faith, courage, and belief."
Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich. 1937

How do you develop the faith and belief that you will achieve your goals?
Here's my action plan that you can use today:
1. Follow the above steps and write your goals in the 4 areas
2. Read your goals every morning
3. Carry them with you on a 3"x5" card and read them several times a day!
4. Before you go to bed, visualize your goals as you go to sleep.

When you formalize a set of goals and put them in writing, and read and visualize them every day, you will achieve them!

Next post: Look for more stuff to come - short posts, videos and training on effective online and offline marketing!