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WRITING THINGS DOWN IS NOT OPTIONAL

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with people first...then business Ran Right Realty 636943 licensed to thrill

I think back to my youthful years where I had the ability to absorb and then respond as necessary to changes, growth and life in general almost instantly. When it came to having a laundry list, which is daily things to be done, I would just put down a word or two and that would jog me into the day's action. However, as I matured and my challenges became more complex, more detail was required

PUNCH...OR TO DO LISTS

No longer was it sufficient to make a small word note. I had to write down specifics as there were many things to get done. Then, those things triggered other things and if not done added to your to do list further.

NEXT

For years, I would make a daily list. It was in the order of having to get done immediately and or urgent. Then, when handled or completed, it got crossed off the list. The next item stood there blaring and calling to your attention...NEXT!

ACTION PLAN AT WORK

If I didn't finish a daily list and keep in mind that the bottom items were not urgent, then they went on tomorrow list as a first to get done in most cases. Sometimes a simple phone call, a closed file or an update or inquiry for a potential would be addressed and that was my living business plan...It was a living action plan list

MONDAY MONDAY

At all times I tried to have the list knocked out by the end of the week. I never liked taking anything into the weekend if I could help it. I knew Mondays could be like an unplanned roller-coaster ride and going into it with baggage would only complicate matters.

PRODUCTIVELY BUSY

Mondays are predictable for business as they are used to jump start, move along or launch the week and the vitals must get done items. Monday never appears to last long yet if you have a mundane job, they are too long. In Real Estate, I always had busy Mondays right up to the Fridays and then it repeats

Oh...I still write things down...AND...they get done too

 

Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team
Hi Ritchie you sound like us. As we get older, we get more and more into routines.
Sep 14, 2013 02:26 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Richie - I make lists too, so that I don't forget anything important. But what drives me nuts is when I make notes to myself about a future article, blog post, or prospecting letter set. Sometimes the few words I've written DON'T jog my memory enough. I sit here and look at the note and think "What on earth did I have in mind?"

I've been trying to write better notes to myself. 

Sep 14, 2013 02:59 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

RAIN DROPS

 

Travis...knowing yourself is what this is all about..Yes? 

Ruiz/Miller Team...yes, we are all peas in the same pod on this one....I am getting older and some routines are okay with me

 

MARTE RULES

Hit there Marte...Most excellent point made on this subject. I noticed what you write about happening with me a few years ago. I could not even read let alone understand my own scribbling..WHOA. Now, I join you Marte and we both join millions more

Sep 14, 2013 03:48 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I'm with Marte on the short notes. I say to myself what does that mean? So much for good note taking! I've noticed I'm carrying more & more paper as we go into a paperless society?

Sep 14, 2013 04:18 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Lyn...I am with you and Marte. Yes to more paper too. I don't think we will ever eliminate it in my lifetime...A good note

Sep 14, 2013 04:40 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I make a daily, hand-written to-do list and mark off the things I accomplish as I go through the day.  It keeps me on track and allows me to see progress.

Sep 14, 2013 10:04 AM
Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team - Coral Springs, FL
Trust Your Family's Move To Our Expertise!

My level of productivity has always been SUPERIOR. Most people call me a machine when it comes to getting the job done.

Truth be told.

If it is not in my calendar as a Task or Action - it WILL NOT HAPPEN. Way to much on my mind. But if I write it down - it is a DONE DEAL!  Joy

Sep 14, 2013 10:24 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Hello Bryan...That's the idea and it is as simple as you say...

Hello Joy...Joy is not a toy... but a machine..a real.."gonna get done" type person. Write it down, carry it out...Got it Joy

Sep 14, 2013 11:22 AM
Gerard Gilbers
Higher Authority Markeing - Asheboro, NC
Your Marketing Master

When you document the things you need to do you are more likely to complete them. Writing them out by hand embeds the information the best.

Sep 15, 2013 03:19 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Hello Gerard...this is a good science in your commenting to point out and share...It is like a reinforcement of live thought...

Sep 15, 2013 11:56 PM
Karen Deis
ApartmentToolKit.com - Minneapolis, MN
When In-house training is not enough!

thanks for the outline.  It's so awesome to look back at the things checked off the list--with the feeling to total accomplishment and staisfaction. 

Sep 16, 2013 12:58 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Hi there Karen...yes to this most interesting and gratifying little activity...Good comment and thank you Karen

Sep 16, 2013 01:15 AM
Beth and Richard Witt
New York, NY
The best Retired Brokers !!!!

Funny that I got to this today... I had such a long list of todos today that I just now got to checking you out Richie... but I did it... Happy Tomorrow...

Sep 16, 2013 09:13 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Beth...why is it that the value of the post just goes up every-time you visit...WHY?

Sep 16, 2013 09:17 AM
Deleted Account
Fort Myers, FL

I am like Travis (#57), I live off my Google calendar.  No matter how small of a task it is, I put it on my calendar and color dictates how important it is.  Even though my Smart phone only has one color, I can always check it to see if I have something scheduled.  It works wonderfully!

Sep 16, 2013 12:03 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Buddy boy...I did not know about the color aspect of it...thank you for this Buddy

Sep 16, 2013 10:41 PM
Deleted Account
Fort Myers, FL

On my laptop or desktop, when you create an event, you have the option of 12 colors (your main color and 11 others).  But, the calendar on your Smart phone only has the one color.  Glad to help out!

Sep 16, 2013 11:29 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Buddy...your input takes us all to new heights...thank you Buddy

Sep 16, 2013 11:45 PM
Justin Peck
Miller Real Estate - Hastings, MI

The other problem you have to watch out for is rembering where your list is!! ;-).

I am sure you have a nice notebook, system or some other tool for having your list available at all times. I found this out the hard way by writing on post it notes or scraps of paper then loosing this valuable little scrap!

Now I either use my to do list on the cell phone or a nice notebook I carry at all times. For more formal events I use my Outlook Calender which syncs to all my computers, phone and tablet.

Sep 17, 2013 05:44 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Justin...Oh no...the where did I put it crowd still another dynamic...Yes to this Justin. Justin, you rule and rent your picture out for extra revenue...trust me on this

Sep 24, 2013 06:50 AM