Happy weekend, Practice Makes Perfect!

I found the following article in Broker Agent News, thought it would be helpful to you.

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice

by Julia Escobar

I know it's an old line, but it bears repeating. How do you get to the top of your game? How do you take your place center stage in any profession or life's ambition? Practice, practice, practice. Like all of those who have graced the stage of the historical center for performing arts, you must fine-tune your techniques, hone your skills, master your talents and study the subtle nuances to ensure that you not only succeed, but you also stand out for your commitment to excellence.

It's a new year and, in many areas, a turbulent time to earn a living. How will you let that affect you? Will you take the path of least resistance and simply leave the industry to find a "real" job? Or will you reignite your passion for a business that you love and customers who trust you and, like a true Maestro, raise your standards and perform to your highest ability? Make this your year to get to the Carnegie Hall of your profession by implementing these five principals for greatness:

1. Practice. What do great surgeons, craftsmen, musicians and—by the way—salespeople have in common? They practice their skills every day. They build on their strengths, quietly perfecting each one. They overcome their weaknesses by seeking new tools and techniques, learning from mentors and teachers along the way, and truly studying their craft so that they can maintain a system of constant and never-ending improvement.

2. Passion. Rarely will you find successful people in any field who don't fuel their lives or business with passion. They fall in love with what they do each day and seek out ways to better serve their customers, streamline their systems and bring their best selves to the table. A key ingredient in feeding your passion is to count your blessings daily. Another is to keep a crystal-clear vision of your goals in front of you. What do you truly want? Having a mental and physical picture of that goal can help you through a tough day.

3. Persistence. "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." Strong, but true words left to us by our 30th president, Calvin Coolidge. How many of your counterparts have already given up? How many people do you know who have been in a "state of quit" for years? The races in life are won by those willing to stay in them—those who do not let fear, exhaustion, uncertainty or distance paralyze them. Go after your dreams with true grit and persistence!

4. Perspective. How you view your days, yourself, and your job can have everything to do with your success or failure. Do you live abundantly with the knowledge that you deserve the very best that life has to offer? Do you seek first to solve problems as they present themselves, or do you wallow in the dilemma at hand? Are you caught up in the "bad market" speak that is so prevalent around the water cooler, or do you view this market as an opportunity to capture lost market share, share valuable insight with clients, and develop the skills necessary to weather
ANY market?

5. Patience. Oh, my... this is a tough one. I laugh with my youngest daughter when I tell her that patience is a virtue—it's just not one that she has! It is easy in our world that is set at a quicker-than-lightning pace most days to lose patience with the people in our lives, the plan we designed to get us to our goals and even our own abilities. Those are the times when it is vital to slow things down, take a deep breath and remember that nothing lasts—not the good or the bad. Tomorrow will come right on schedule, and the events of today don't necessarily have to bind us for life. Be patient...your turn will come.

If you truly wish this to be your year and want to live an exceptional life on your terms and in your time, mastering these five principles will help you go the distance. From practice, you learn to develop good habits and strong skills that make you a fierce competitor. From passion, you find yourself living and working with purpose, joy, and a love for what you do that brings you both momentum and longevity. Persistence ensures that you are still in the race long after the going gets tough and the weak get going. Perspective allows you to look at each challenge and see opportunity. It allows you to find the good in each day, each thing and each person and stay firmly on your path to success. Patience gives you peace of mind and enables you to better wait out the storms that inevitably move in from time to time….