In almost everything we’ve ever done, we been taught to be prepared . . .

such that, when the time is right, . . .

we can quickly get “set” mentally, physically, and organizationally to . . .

GO! – LAUNCH! – TAKE ACTION!

We know that our odds of success increase precipitously when we do this right.

Athletes, Soldiers, Businesses, and teams “Get” this at a very high level. They spend hours and hours preparing themselves with a strong regimen of physical and mental conditioning and incessant STUDY (Learning) of their specialty.

In this way they (we) stay “on top of our game.”

We know that everything is moving ALWAYS!

Everything might be flowing smoothly as silk now . . . but what happens when market conditions change or a competitor surprises us with a “Game Changing Strategy?”

Note that I say “WHEN market conditions change” because this is a certainty – not just a possibility.

So . . .

• We must be prepared!
• We must EXPECT to be SURPRISED!
• We must MASTER our Specialty!
• We must INNOVATE tirelessly!
• We must COMMIT to perform at the highest possible level consistently!
• We must establish standards and refuse to compromise them.

Lest we snooze and lose our grip on our market.

Tomorrow is December 1, 2015.

This means we have 31 days til 2016.

31 days to consider how we wish to perform in the next year.

That’s 31 days to Get Ready and Get Set such that we can GO on January 1.

I hereby invite you to a “31 Day Challenge” to prepare yourself, your business, and your team so you can LAUNCH (instead of slide) into 2016 with vigor.

We want this year to be better than every year before – “READY – AIM – FIRE!” instead of “READY – FIRE – AIM” . . .

• Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Bound) Goals
• PLAN – Determine what needs to be done when
• STUDY – Do you know HOW to do this? If not, what do you need to learn?
• PEOPLE – WHO do you need at what level “on your bus?” Build your team!
• CALENDAR – Map out the year beginning with personal and family – Then Business development – Then day to day operations
• SYSTEMS – Whether it be physical or virtual, evaluate all current systems and consider new system that will leverage your time, energy, and money better than before
• TOOLS – Which or your current tools are “Functionally obsolete” but you continue to use them because they’re “comfortable?”
• Daily Rhythm – “Time Block” so no day passes without doing the things that MATTER most for your personally and professionally.
• Keep it REAL:
  • SHOW up and BE PRESENT!
  • Follow what has heart and meaning for you!
  • Tell the TRUTH without blame or Judgement
  • Be open to outcome, not attached to outcome – Let go!
  • From The FourFold Way
• Practice “The Law of Two Feet” – If at any time you find yourself in a place where you feel you are neither contributing nor receiving anything of value, it is your responsibility to take yourself to place where you can contribute and/or receive value – Be Useful always and everywhere . . . From Open Space Technology (“Discovered” by my Father Harrison Owen)

So – This 31 day challenge is simple:

Each and every day of December, slice an hour out solely for the purpose of intentionally/purposefully strategizing and creating the BEST 2016 for YOU personally and professionally.

PS: There ARE “Training Wheels” for the above in the form of a workshop I facilitate a couple of times each year. It’s nigh time to schedule the next one, and I am contemplating doing it in the first 1/4 of 2016 depending on probably “demand.” This is a 4 session (2 Hrs) Workshop meeting weekly . . . Please let me know if you would be interested, and if the demand (15 or more participants) is there, I’ll schedule it.

About Barry Owen

Residential Real Estate Principal Broker and Founder of Pareto Realty, LLC. Creating the quintessential real estate firm with emphasis on "Live, Work, & Play" balance . . . and a true Performance Oriented environment for Real Estate Professionals. Serving the Real estate needs of Home Buyers and Sellers in Middle Tennessee.