Someone once asked auto racing legend Bill Vukovich the secret of his success. "There's no secret," he replied. "You just press the accelerator to the floor and steer left."

That's about as simple as you can get.

Stop for a moment and ask yourself if you can boil down your real estate business to something equally as simple.

Having trouble? Then it's time for a peek under the hood of your business.

• Have things gotten unnecessarily complicated at your office?
• Has bureaucracy crept in and started making your operations messy?
• Do you feel like you've lost focus?

If you're answering yes to any of these, you may have lost touch with the basics. But don't feel bad, it's easy to do these days with all the bells and whistles around.

Nevertheless, repairs are necessary. You need to re-harness those basics and embrace simplicity. If you don't, it could mean plenty of unnecessary headaches and lost business. (Yes, lost business. Consumers don't like red tape any more than you do.)

Here are four areas you can focus on to get things back on track and recapture that sweet purring sound in the engine of your business:

1. Prospecting

Think of prospecting as pushing on the accelerator. This has to be your number one priority to give your business momentum. To generate speed, make time for prospecting every day - for at least an hour (that all-important hour of power).

Also analyze what's working and what's not in your prospecting. Constantly compare year-to-year numbers to see how you're doing. There are plenty of ways to prospect, but if you don't keep track of what's working, you'll be guaranteed to spin your wheels.

2. Know your scripts

Look over your scripts. Has rust started to develop? Are they persuasive for today's market? Do they have the right open-ended questions? Are they exciting? Do they generate interest?

Scripts are so important that I encourage my clients to practice them every day. Oh, but you say, 'Bob, I don't have time. I'm too busy.'

Well, believe me, if you don't know your scripts and they aren't powerful, you'll end up on the roadside waiting for a tow truck to haul your business in for a complete overhaul.

I have a free article called "Scripts - The Key to Success" on my Web site at http://www.corcorancoaching.com/BrokerAgent.php. Please take a minute to look it over. I think you'll find it will help you jump start your scripts.

3. Review your operations

Engines need efficiency (oil). And when they don't get it, they can wear out quickly.

To spot where your office needs oil, take time to analyze all aspects of your operations. Where do you hear metal on metal - those grinding noises?

Is it a problem of reaching goals? If so, have you set expectations? Are you demanding that accountability reports be used?

Is there a communications problem? How often are you meeting with your team or support staff?

Make sure everything in your office matches up to your standards.

4. Think exceptional service

Where the rubber truly meets the road is service. Sadly, Realtors® sometimes lose sight of the fact that real estate is a service business.

Service is the most important basic you have to differentiate yourself from the competition in any market - buyer or seller.

You must make exceptional customer service at all levels of your organization paramount. And it has to be seen clearly through the windshield, the side windows and the rear-view mirror.

You can win the real estate race - but only when your engine is purring on the basics!

Best of luck to you!