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99 Days to Change

By
Real Estate Agent with Exit Homeplace Realty (Wilmington, NC)

Today is Day 2 of "100 Days to Change" and we have had some great responses to the task of writing down the 5 Things You Will Change.  We've had some great statements of personal affirmation and empowerment statements.  We know that Positive Attitude is a must as we move forward.  We also know that we MUST Persevere.  It is just the begining of the 100 Days but we know that we will be tested along the way.  We know that at sometime we will feel like not doing the proactive activities and will want to do something else less productive.  That is when the group will play the biggest role.  We must Persevere!

As we are in Day 2, it is time to role out the next key element which will lead us to CHANGE.  I'm talking about Proactive Activities.

What are Proactive Activities?

Let me give you some background about me.  About two years ago, I participated in Brian Buffini's "100 Days to Greatness".  If you are unaware of Brian Buffini or his course "100 Days to Greatness" then you owe it to yourself to Google.  To date, Brian Buffini is the most inspiring individual that I have come across.  Brian Buffini came to America from Ireland with nothing, got into Real Estate and never looked back.  He resides in Carlsbad, CA, or at least I think he still does.  I believe his house burned in one of those bad fires last year.  This man is truly amazing.  His course, "100 Days to Greatness" is a very well structured course loaded with materials, software, coaches, mentors and supportive staff that assist you during your "100 Days to Greatness".  It is a great course and I am very pleased that I took it.

"100 Days to Change" is my attempt to create CHANGE for me as well as anyone else who would like to participate.  I have 3 small children, a stay-at-home wife and am the sole income provider in a declining real estate market and failing economy who many think has already slipped into a depression.  I want CHANGE.  "100 Days to Change" is my attempt to take bits and pieces of all the information and training that I have received over the past 2 years and put them to work for me and the like.  Now, having provided that, here are my Proactive Activities:

Blogging:  Nothing new to the bloggers but absolutely new for the blogging challenged.  Blogging is the best way to network with other professionals across the nation and it is probably the least expensive.  Blogging on a regular basis increases your visibility on the web.  The more reputable blogging you do the more Google will see you as an active member in your community and you will be rewarded by more promonent positioning on result pages when people search your area.  Blog often but about relevant material.

Business Cards:  Again another fairly inexpensive way to market yourself.  You should be passing out at least 10 business cards a day to people that you meet.  The best thing about this is that you are already in their face.  You shake their hand and you smile.  In the world we live today with caller ID and emails, 90% of the battle is over because you've already met face to face.

Prioritize Your Database:  You must keep a database of all your contacts/clients.  Brian Buffini states that you should label each contact with either an A, B, or C.  An A, would be someone that will always do business with you.  B's would be someone who will do business with you often but not always. C's would be someone that might do business with you.  This category is for people that you just meet and you're not sure how loyal they would be to you.  The last category is D.  D stands for delete.  Enough said about that one.

Call Your Database:  In order to keep an effective database, you will need to call everyone periodically throughout the year.  You don't want to be overbearing but you do want to let your database know that you have not forgotten about them.

Mail Your Database:  You want to "touch" your database at least every month.  Create a flyer or a newsletter and do a mailout.  You have to stay in front of your database.  If you don't someone else will.

Be Active In Your Community:  Get out and into your community and get your hands dirty.  If you are in your community doing a worthy cause, people will recognize that and want to do business with you.

REOs:  Now is the time to sell REOs.  All banks want to clean their books before the end of the year.  Everyday you should be searching REOs to sell.  Don't drag your feet.  Get those offers in.  The really good deals go extremely fast.

Meet And Greet:  Hit the street, meet people and greet people.  Ask them who they know that is doing real estate right now.  Ask them if you could be their Realtor.  Add them to your database.

Time Blocking:  Time Blocking will provide you a skeleton for your activities.  It will provide you a daily time frame in which you schedule your activities.  Try your best to adhere to it, however, if there are too many conflicts or not enough time, make adjustments.  Make it work.

These are Proactive Activities that I would like each of you to implement into your way of doing business.  They shouldn't be really anything new; just fundamentals with a little light on them.  Work on your Time Blocking.  Decide when you will allocate time to each of these Proactive Activities and what days will you do them.  This is about us.  It is about creating CHANGE.

Let's join together and move forward.

Place your blogs in both the Active Rain community and the "100 Days to Change" group.

If anyone is experiencing problems, feel free to contact me.

 

Anonymous
Mukami Mugo

Great piece, a great summary of what could move an agent (me)into the next level. Thank you very much

Dec 09, 2008 10:26 AM
#1
Gina Zimmerman
North Eastern Group Realty - Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Real Estate

Thanks for the great "pep talk"and words of encouragement.  I love Buffini too and just sent out a Thanksgiving mailing that he suggested that brought a CASH referral the first day it hit the mail.  Selling a home is the easy part -- keeping in touch the BASE is a constant creative effort:-) 

Dec 09, 2008 11:05 AM
Anonymous
JD Terry

This is great stuff Paul.  Not only is it good for Real Estate but any true sales professional.  Personal I do most of this with the exception of handing out 10 business cards a day.  I think that is one that I will work to impliment as soon as tomrrow.

 

Dec 09, 2008 11:10 AM
#3
Anonymous
Michael

Paul, really nice posting!  I am finding that in today's market these are among the most important things that agents need to remember and IMPLEMENT.  The basics, it is a back to basics time and those regular practices will pay dividends.  Have a terrific 2009!

Michael

Dec 09, 2008 11:24 AM
#4
Linda Moran
The Real Estate Shop - Oak Harbor, WA

Paul ,great work and great ideas!  Todays market is challenging to say the least. Your ideas inspire me to be proactive , Here is to a blessed 2009!!!

Linda

Dec 09, 2008 11:42 AM
Bill Mews
RE/MAX Realty 100 - Menomonee Falls, WI

I too have taken the 100 Days to Greatness through RE/MAX.  I actually took it twice and am still working on getting all the ideas implemented.  It's very easy to get started and then fall away when/if nothing happens right away.  Our broker has formed a 100 Days Grad group that is meeting once a month to help keep each other motivated and to also share ideas.  Last week we shared one thing from our listing presentations that we feel help us the most.  In November, we shared "pop-by" ideas.

I've been keeping up pretty well on the notes and pop-bys but not so good with the calls.  That's something that I need to work on in 2009.

Dec 09, 2008 11:54 AM
Laurie Scalf
RE/MAX Victory - Beavercreek, OH

Paul, Thanks for putting me in Check with my business to do list! I have been slacking and just joined your group! I have lots to work on in 2009 and we're off!

Dec 09, 2008 03:48 PM
Anonymous
Kelly Tressler Prudential Burroughs & Chapin

Paul, Your article was exactly what I needed today! Thank you. Thanks for the Brian Buffini tip!

Dec 09, 2008 09:48 PM
#8
Tom Larsen
The Larsen Protection Team - Williamsville, NY
We Shop, You Save!

Paul,

My clients are labeled Platinum, Gold & Silver and they do get treated differently. Platinum clients get to the top of the return call/instant action list and special days we have - appreciation luncheion, wine tasting, jewelry appraisal, defensive driver course - those type of things.

In the past we sent our monthly newsltter to all. Just decided last week to cut out the Silver's from the newsletter's, as they are NOT moving up the loyalty ladder. Maybe they will someday but I am tired of speanding money on them with no appreciable return on my investment.

Keep your clients in categories and watch the 80/20 rule apply!

Dec 09, 2008 10:41 PM
DeAndrea "Dee Dee" Jones
Samson Properties - Manassas, VA
DMVRealEstateChick

I gave a lot of my old business cards away in Xmas cards, I want to order new cards for 09. 

Dec 10, 2008 12:02 AM
Anonymous
Heather Moody Holman

I've been busy preparing some snapshot CMAs because many people want to know where they stand in the new marketplace- even though they may not be selling right away.  Great addition to my field contacts.

 

 

Dec 10, 2008 01:46 AM
#11
Susan Parker
Keller Williams Realty~Points East - Greenville, NC
Broker- Parker Realty Group Greenville, NC

I am a big, big fan of Brian Buffini and his program "Referrals by Design"  That program is what jump started my Real Etate business 4 yrs ago.  Brian Buffini is awesome so I will have to check out the "100 Days to Greatness"  Thanks for the tip.

Dec 10, 2008 04:53 AM
Maui Real Estate - Lisa B. Miller R(S)
Keller Williams Realty Maui - Kihei, HI

Paul, great post!  As we end the year and think about goals for the next one, these are some great points we all need to be reminded about.  I like your enthusiasm and I wish you all the best for 2009!

Dec 10, 2008 06:14 AM
Joeann Fossland
Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ
Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents

Thanks for sharing how this is making a difference for you. Masterminding is certainly a strong support in growing yourself and your effectiveness and that is really what you have instituted here! Good job!

Dec 10, 2008 10:22 AM
Thom Abbott
MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living - Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta GA Condos For Sale

Paul...what a great blog, and great inspiration to all of us! You've earned an honor spot on my blogs to follow ....and look foward to following you fo rthe next 100 days...and then some!

Dec 10, 2008 01:21 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

There are several of these proactive activities in which I need a lot of improvement.

Dec 11, 2008 04:41 PM
Anonymous
Sandi Justice---Coastal Relo Associates-Wilmington, NC

Great reminder of the things we need to be doing to insure our success through these tough times!  Thanks for taking time to post such an informative blog!   You are off to a great 2009 and are inspiring people along the way...

Dec 12, 2008 04:12 AM
#17
Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Paul,  Very encouraging uplifting blog.  Just the way to start my day.  Now I need to put "google 100 days to Greatness" in my list of things do do this week-end.  I will.  I am also bookmarking your blog to read more carefully later.  Thanks.

Dec 12, 2008 10:34 PM
Sandy Gleason
North Pointe Realty - Buhl, ID
Realtor for Southern Idaho-Magic Valley

We need to get back to basic's, good list. I will follow this for the 100 days.

Dec 15, 2008 02:03 PM