An agent's success is such a personal subject. Some define "success" as being the top producing agent in a brokerage, city, county, state, country, world ... universe ... whatever! Others define it as having enough business to pay the bills, maybe to travel, to save a certain amount of money each year. The one constant behind the definition of this term is that it's different for everyone.
So, how can you find success in your business/life? Well, it's easier said than done BUT ... it all starts with goal setting.
Goal setting, like success, is different for everyone. We are all working to achieve different things in this life. You need to set your goals, determine how much you'd like to make, how many hours each week you expect to work, how much time you'd like for yourself and so on.
Success is easily defined by you the individual. You are always your own competition. You are working toward (or against, depending on your personality type) your own goals.
I recently asked a question on AR:
You have 30 minutes each with 5 top producing agents from anywhere in the country/world. You can ask them any questions you'd like. What 3-5 questions would you ask?
Let's assume that no matter who the agent is you have to ask each one the same questions.
While I certainly find some of the answers to be more useful for my purposes than others, I noticed some folks almost rejecting to ask a question if given the opportunity because they either don't look up to these "top producers" or they have no desire to sacrifice all of their family time, personal time, life, etc.
I guess the funny part to me is that there is a presumption that you'd have to give up so much of your life to be that successful. So, this now brings up another question. Is it true that in order to be a top producter, one has to give up their family time or the things they value most? Is being a "top producer" the biggest definition of success? Can you actually be your own definition of success, have a life and still be a top producer?
In case you are wondering, the answer is "yes." Don't get me wrong, there are certainly a whole bunch of the highest production agents who have dedicated their life to real estate ... with no time for anything else ... that may have been their preference. That said, I speak with many high production and top producing agents that have not had to sacrifice the world to get to where they are.
So, what's the secret you ask?
Get ready, the answer is easier than you think. Are you ready to change your world? This one tip could be the secret to your big break. No need to write it down ... it's not a big long story or anything ... but don't come back to me with any excuses because you can't unknow what I am about to tell you.
The most common denominator is DISCIPLINE ... specifically, they are disciplined at SETTING EXPECTATIONS with their clients.
That's right, setting expectations. Well, that's not so bad ... is it? Can you think of a time when setting your client's expectations would have had a positive impact on your working relationship with them? I certainly can.
Is there more to the story than just that? Of course there is. You need to market. You need to socialize. You need to grind and prospect and all kinds of fun ... but setting expectations HUGE. It is a HUGE factor in being able to make your clients understand that they are important to you and so is your family or personal time that you do ... whatever it is that you do.
So, the end message? The stigma that all successful agents give up the world is untrue because you don't have to be the number one agent to be successful. That's defined by you and ONLY you. And, to be a top producing agent (whatever that is) you also don't have to give up the world, neglect your spouse or significant other, forget about the kids, never take a vacation, answer your phone 24/7/365. You can have a life ... you can have a great life. Start setting expectations for yourself and your clients and stick to them. Your world will change in ways that you can't imagine.
So, now that you know that you don't have to give up the world to be successful at your job ... if you could interview other successful agents and get a few tips ... what few questions would you ask them that could benefit you the most?
You can read more about me and what I've been up to at www.JamesHoffCA.com 
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