As complicated as we may try to make it, there are only a few basic thoughts and behaviors that produce health, energy, creativity, and success.  In football, we focused on basic strength, quickness / stamina, knowledge of the offensive/defensive scheme, and self-care / nutritional intake.  When we become excellent in the foundational skills, we will find results come easily.

I think these four football qualities may come in handy in the real estate arena as well.

1.  Basic Strength  -  The core of any business is strategy and execution.  Your strength is in having a pragmatic, functional system and working it as planned.  Maintaining focus on a well-designed plan is one of the hardest and one of the easiest things to do in business.  Your core strength in business is your direction and your determination.

2.  Quickness / Stamina  -  Are you utilizing technology and pre-planning to maximize your response time to clients and a consistently productive mindset?  Technology allows you to respond quickly, with relevant information.  A productive mindset keeps you in the game when others slack off.

3.  Knowledge of the Scheme  -  We all know that we must KNOW the market (Kinetics of the Market, Net Values of the Market, Opportunities in the Market, and Waves of the Future in the Market).  However, to what degree are we experts on the current market in our local region?  Do you perform market research at least once per month?  Have you asked your broker or a colleague to mentor you in market research?  Do you read on real estate issues?  Do you review the local MLS often?  Can you describe your business plan in detail to another Realtor?

4.  Self-care / Nutrition  -  Obviously, if we don't take care of the body and mind that make business possible, we will not enjoy long-term satisfaction or success.  Get the sleep you need.  Exercise daily (yes, daily).  Eat reasonably well.  Maintain good, solid, meaningful relationships outside of real estate.

Take care of yourself.  Help a few others take care of themselves.  Work your business with a plan in mind.  I wish you success.