There are so many good posts on Active Rain on a daily basis! I feel as though I have grown by leaps and bounds just from reading posts over the past 2 weeks! Anyone who is in the Real Estate Industry should be required to be here-actually do you think we could turn in our hours on AR for CEU Credit?

As I promised as Moderator of the "Rookies Turning Pro" Group, as I find outstanding posts that are, at least in my opinion, VITAL to the Rookie agent, I will repost them specifically in the rookie groups.

Rookies who want to survive in the ups & downs of the Real Estate Industry need to work hard and focus on their life in 2 distinct areas:

1) Self-

You must continually work on GROWTH. Don't just take the classes you HAVE to take-take a variety of classes-LEARN your trade, understand market conditions and changes, understand the mechanics of your job to do it consistently and effectively. 

You must eat daily to survive! How long can you go without a meal? Well you mind is somewhat the same way-for it to grow you must constantly feed it good food! Good food for the mind is a positve book-a positve tape-a positive post!

Check out Lola Auda and her post "A Play on Expectations" You should have seen it since it was a featured post, but it is SO GOOD that it bears repeating again and again. Are you the guy across the desk that already knows bad things are going to happen? You could be if you constantly feed your mind with the negative input. Read this post a few times, it will change your perspective on the importance of your thoughts

Working on self includes how you see and treat other people. Think about the last time you were asked to do something outside of the scope of your work-as a friend, or kind gesture. What did you do? Did you say you would then get "too busy" or just blow it off. Think about Steve Mun and his post this morning "The Sin of Wasting Time" 

When you give your indication to another that you will handle something or do something that has no apparent benefit for you-Do you handle it? OR do you forget about it? That person may be depending on you so that they may complete a project or maybe its just something that would help in their business. Think about the last time you were let down by someone.....did it bother you, hurt you, or hinder your business activity. Keep in mind to most productive activities there are at least 2 people involved-when one doesn't perform-more than 1 suffers!

2 Business-

Along with working on your personal growth, you must work on your business daily. Have your to do list, prioritze your tasks and do something that is going to cause future business. I post several items that are geared toward low-tech, low-dollar ways to build a successful business. I am certainly no expert but post from experience that which has worked for me.

Darin Persinger posted this morning "Contacting your Sphere, Pt 4" An outstanding post on professionalism in our business when contacting your sphere. A few items posted actually disagreed directly with a post I did last night-Jumpstart your career Part 2. I made a recommendation in the mailings to mail recipe cards or something nice just to get another contact with the client or potential client. Darin's post made sense as to keeping your professional look by sending industry related information along with a personal note. Thanks Darin for the correction and Growth tip!

I ran across one of Darins older posts as well that I think bears repeating for Rookie Agents-"Eleven Things New Agents Do Wrong" This should be a must read for Rookie Agents! If you have a true mentor or a Good Manager that holds you accountable for growth-Print this off and give it to them-Tell them to hold you accountable so that you may grow and become the next office Top-Producer