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My 4-1-1 in Progress

For the first time in my almost 14 year career I put a business plan in place. It has been 1 week since I started it (I know this isn't a long period of time but everything starts with the 1st day than week) and I am both excited and anxious.

This 4-1-1 is without a doubt a work in progress. When I first sat down with my pencil and paper I wanted to accomplish everything - if you saw the plan you would have laughed. After a couple of days, almost having an anxiety attack trying to meet or bite off all of the weekely activites I placed on the list, I got my first reality slap (felt more like a punch!!) The weekly plan is to be bitten off as equally as possible per day not be done all at once. Being a person that doesn't like the un-done and seeing un-done things kicks in my O.C.D. so pacing myself is my first AHA!!

Then on the 3rd day I noticed my list was so large that there was no way 1 person could complete it all and take care of CURRENT business. So out came the pencil again and some tweaking to my daily tasks. Second AHA!

Now here I am at the end of my first week working on my 2nd week's 4-1-1 and a big bolt of light just went off in my brain. A few of the tasks that I had on my overwhelming yet tweaked task list were not the 20% that MUST be accomplished, they were 80% items. Third AHA!

What I MUST do each and every day to procure new business, contacts and clients is the tasks that go on the 4-1-1 the rest is a daily to-do and if you can get to some, a lot, or most I have had a complete and productive day.

The 20% is the part of my job and my personal life that I Must complete each and every day to advance. It is a difficult thing to determine. What is my 20% and what is my 80%? That's a tough one that I will be tweaking every week.

This is not new..but I did not realize how old it is until I came across this quote:

He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign. - Victor Hugo 1802-1885

WOW!!!

Bobbie Files
Your Bristol and Plymouth County Realtor
508-238-5000 x.296 Office

Visit my website at www.BerkleyMass.com

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Posted by Bobbie Files Realtor® Berkley, Greater Taunton Homes for Sale on 01/18/2009 07:32 AM

Comments (30)

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30 Comments on My 4-1-1 in Progress

JAN

Excellent Bobbie.

I could survive without a business plan. I have revised 3 times in the past 4 years to reflect the changing market.

Watch the market and the real estate industry and be ready and nimble to change in a nanosecond.

Good luck.

Bobbie,

I'm so proud of you! You've had one of the biggest "Aha's" you could possibly have. If you truly run with what you've discovered, the sky is your limit in any market conditions!

You are very wise -- it is amazing how the anwers are already out there! Good luck with you plan -- and have a successful 2009!

We plan everything....you have to know how much you can chew at one time or you will get sick...and throw out the baby with the bath water and give up....be realistic...if you never did a zillion_______start with a quarter zillion...good luck !

Bobbie-

The 4-1-1 setup is one of the better goal setting and planners out there. Before I got in the balloon, I was at KW, and used it. The 4-1-1 is a good system, it'd be great if you could do it with an accountablity partner. Get get some big rocks!

One of the top things on my business plan was to enlist some help. So I have hired an assistant and it is already working. My builder's database has been updated and the client database is next. Frees me up to go out and sell sell sell!

Hi Bobbie - like you, I'd never done a plan before either until this year. And I'm working on it now. I will remember your 'aha moment' of the 20% and 80%, and that it's to be bitten off in bites not huge gulps, which is what one of my issues-to-be-worked-on would have me doing.

Thanks for the 'shoulda been a V-8 moment' reminder!

Ann

I a realtively new to KW so I appreciate this

Bobbi, sounds like writing it the way you first did was a great happy mistake - we usually need to learn from experience to really know a truth - AHA moments are the best internalized lessons in life.

I don't plan enough. I work hard to get so many things done but I need to do what you have done.

Bobbi, can you explain to me what exactly 4-1-1 means to a non-KW agent? Seems like it is a great plan to keep you on track.

Lenn - Thank you!! It is a transition for me to go from "a-fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants" person to a planner. But having a plan will better equip me to change when and hopefully before needed.

Eric - I will be giving it my all to run with all my goals. Thank you very much! :o)

Joan - I am not so wise (but thanks) I just have huge shoulders pushing me up! p.s. thanks Barry!

Ann- Any help that I can give you from my humungous amount of mistakes I would be happy to share! The 411 form I use is a big help. Let me know if you need one!

Janice - My O.P. really is an amazing coach, consultant, person, and motivator (Barry Papagno) I owe him sooooo much credit for helping me!

David - 4-1-1 stands for 4 weeks; 1 month; 1 year. You start with your "Big Rocks" and work backwards. What reach (not wish) of an income goal GCI would you like to earn by Dec. 31, 2009? That is your 1st Big Rock and the list goes from there. Start with 3-4 BIG Rocks, than break it to the month, than divided it down to the action steps that need to be completed each week to make that month to make that year. It is a consistent work in progress!

Be sure to go to www.productivitywarrior.com, a KW site to get some different 4-1-1- templates. This works if you can develop the habbit. Good luck!

Hi Bobbie, I'm also new to KW and getting ready to start 36:12:3 next week. :) We haven't had the 4:1:1 yet (we are a newly launced KW office!) but I'm looking forward to all the classes. They really work. I do know about time-blocking and I have done it and it works - I just have to get into my good habits again. I'm glad to know that others also tweak as they go.

Thanks Bobbi, seems like the way to go. I appreciate the clarification.

Hi Bobbi, I admire your time management skills ! My planning has been hit-or-miss and then abandoned ! Good luck !

Bobbie: A 4-1-1 can be a huge benifit and once you get the hang of it and used to using the 4-1-1 you will be off and running.

perhaps I should try and do this...I usually plan day by day...

You are off to a great start, Bobbie! I am still struggling with mine as well, so do not feel alone in this! Be sure to have at least one Big Rock that is for YOU in there.This could be self care, trips or treats, family, rewards along the way if that works for you. I know it IS a business plan, but without You, the plan is worthless. You do not want to try to be running on an empty tank! One of imne this year is the KW Family Reunion next month in Orlando. I attended last year in Atlanta and it was awesome!

Bobbie what a great AHA for you! If you think you have too many items on the 4-1-1, then break it down to no more than 5 items (the 5 mosti mportant) t maintain your focus and the rest will come. Understanding the 20% tasks is critical, great job!

Bobbie, I like how you introduced the business plan in such simple words...usually people think about making one but feel overwhelmed...I am tweaking and turning mine...it is a definite work in progress...planning is so important and I as Alice in Wonderland says: If you don't know where you are going it doesn't matter where you end up! So true....have a great 2$$9! Bo

Bobbie,

Great post - simplified so to understand the merit of a business plan. It's hard to operate without one! Especially in today's market.

Now there is a dedicated KW agent. Whether 411 or whatever, the key is focus...focus...focus on short term first. What is someone going to do this week to get a sale?

Bobbie,

Thanks for explaining the 4-1-1 plan. I've read Gary Keller's books (actually in the middle of SHIFT- which is EXCELLENT!) and will now re-read his Millionaire....book to review the many things that I'm not doing because I've forgotten them!

Would you be willing to share your business plan in February after you have it "tweaked"??

Kathy Opatka, Re/Max, OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

Great post Bobbie! I'm in your shoes! Figuratively of course. :)

Good info and something to think about.

JAN

have you been rated on ratemyrealestateagent.blogspot.com ? lots of daily traffic. google some names on the site. you will see my page appears near the top of most google searches.

Great comments , I am also new to Keller Williams. Have had my license a year but recently transferred from GMAC to Keller when GMAC closed their doors locally. What a difference in philosophy. Must relearn entire business, but it does make sense and I know it will work. Hard for a 61 year old retired cop to learned new tricks. Heck when I was in college the computer class used punch cards. Appreciate any help and advice I can get.

good luck! I sometimes have a hard time sticking to my plan but I do my best to follow it thru

For anyone who is still in the process of completing their business plan I would recommed a free, online and interactive business planning tool created by Jim Droz national trainer and Mike Bearden, President of HouseHunt.com The business planning tool can be found at http://www.househuntnetwork.com/abcbusinessplan

Mike Bearden

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