None of us have enough time or mental energy to think carefully through every decision we make. Some decisions are worth a lot of thought – like whether or not to invest $1000 into your marketing. Some decisions are not – like whether to wear the red shirt or the blue one. Knowing the difference is a key to success.
You may be thinking that I’m being silly – no one wastes time on what color their shirt should be. (Oh, but we do…) But I’m making a broader point. Having appropriate systems is essential for success. Systems that automate what can be automated and leave you time – and energy – for the places that your personal touch matters.
Here are some specific ways that Realtors® can create systems for success.
Have a Daily and Weekly Routine
It can’t be emphasized enough how important routine is when it comes to handling the mundane portions of your life. When you go to bed, when you get up, how you prepare your family in the morning, and much more can be made easier when you develop a routine.
When you have a routine, you know that certain things are going to happen without fail. You don’t have to think about it, and you can easily tell others that specific times are booked. Some of the things to include in your routine could be:
- Going to bed at the same time every night, and getting up at the same time every morning. This routine alone will give you tons of energy and help your body be ready for the day’s challenges.
- Preparing for the week on Sunday night, and preparing for each day the night before. Whether you lay out clothes, check for key appointments, or prepare your breakfast or lunch ahead, you’re positioning yourself for a much more successful day.
- Realtors® seem to always be on the go, and yet we rarely get real exercise. Scheduling specific time in the calendar for exercise is a key part of success – it will keep you healthier, help you burn off stress, and improve your focus.
- As Realtors®, we don’t get vacation days very often. But we can schedule specific downtime into our days and weeks. Put it on the calendar and protect it as strongly as a client appointment. You need to refresh in order to be your best.
Use Technology That Solves Specific Problems as Part of Your System
It’s easy to buy technology that promises to make you better, faster, and more efficient, but do you have a specific problem that you’re solving? Does it fit into your existing work system? If not, the money is better used elsewhere.
When you buy technology, be clear on what problem it’s solving and exactly how – and when – you’ll implement it. Add the technology to your existing systems. When you have a clear goal and plan, you’ll be much more likely to reap the rewards of your investment.
Too many Realtors® spend a lot of money on tools to become more effective, and then never implement the tools. Obviously, this won’t make anyone more successful. Technology is an amazing boon to the real estate industry, but only if it’s the right technology for your specific practice and way of doing business. Invest wisely, and then implement promptly!
Automate Lead Follow-up
Speaking of technology… the tools we have available that allow us to do personalized, automated follow-up are unbelievable. As you know, I personally use Infusionsoft and have seen my lead follow-up reach 100% and my business growth explode as a result. I invite you to give it a try yourself. But even if you don’t use Infusionsoft, you need to create a system to automate lead follow-up.
Remember that follow-up can be automated without being impersonal. A referral from a friend shouldn’t be treated the same way as a lead from the internet, but both can be automated. It’s just a matter of personalizing your system in the right way, and using different email campaigns for different types of leads.
You can’t afford to have leads fall through – a fail-safe system will make sure that you stay in contact with everyone you meet, whether it was yesterday or three years ago. You never know when someone will be ready to buy or sell.
Systems are an amazing way to reduce the drain of certain types of decision making. You can create routines and habits that make your daily and weekly tasks easy to execute. You can adopt specific technologies that fit your work systems. And you can automate your lead follow-up to make sure you’re not leaving any money on the table. These systems will help set you up for tremendous success.
What systems do you use that contribute to your success? Share in the comments!
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