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How Does Your Day Begin?

By
Education & Training with Agent Breakthrough Consulting

Close your eyes ...well not yet, finish the paragraph first... remember the way that you started your workday this morning. Were you at the office, in the car or at home? Did you begin with reading emails, making phone calls or reading Active Rain? Did you search for homes for the buyer you just found yesterday or start getting ready for the closing this afternoon? Were you at peace or anxious about the day?

Now close your eyes ...

Creating routines in my life add balance and peace throughout my day. It brings me great joy to see routines and systems thriving under pressure. The way a person begins their day seems like the rudder that navigates a ship. When you have a good handle on the day it is easier to steer around, (or if needed) through the storms and delight in the predictable parts of the day. Here are a few suggestions how to make your first couple hours of work more productive:

Start Your Work Day in the Car: This is probably a no-brainer for agents who spend much of their work day behind the wheel. Use your commute as a sanctuary to your personal and professional growth. Find a good audiobook or podcast that will give you insight into your life. I find that when I give myself a space for growth, my day goes much better and I'm ready to start working once I get into the office.

Create a Plan for Your Day: One of the greatest aspects of a career in real estate is the variety in the workday. With it comes the added pressure of making sure all i's are dotted and t's are crossed. Our team uses Top Producer and I love this Contact Management System because with properly leveraged Action Plans, I start each day with an automatic to-do list. This list then allows me to time block for the day. Starting the day organized and with a plan allows me to work more efficiently. I also like that it doesn't feel like I need to "reinvent the wheel" each morning. Top Producer lets me know the game plan for the day.  Here is a sample Time Block:

7:00-7:30---Commute Listen to Audiobook

7:30-8:00---Plan day & Two Minute Drill

8:00-8:30---Return Emails and V/Ms

9:00-11:00---Lead Generation

11:00-11:30---Return Emails and V/Ms 

Use the Two Minute Drill: I recently came across a YouTube Video from NozBe describing how to utilize the football term in real life. Basically you look at what is on your plate and if you can do it in two minutes, you do it immediately. Your to-do list becomes remarkably shorter if you use this strategy throughout the whole day. Look around your desk and in your "in" box and see how much you can plow through in two minutes or less.  What a great way to start the day accomplishing a bunch of little things before some agents are even in the office.

 Do What You Dislike the Most First: In a dynamic work environment like real estate this is not always possible, but it sure does feel great to be done with a task you don't enjoy. Dig into what you'd prefer to leave for later and give yourself a pat on the back for the rest of the day by not thinking about it.  The phrase "Eat that Frog" came about from this very concept.  In the book Eat That Frog written by Brian Tracy.  Pick your biggest, ugliest frog (task) and eat it first!

Now close your eyes again ... well not yet... what would your day look like if you started the day like the one listed above? Would you be more at peace? Would you be more productive? Would you be more successful?

Okay go ahead and close them now.

 

Comments (12)

Patsy Overton
Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

Good comments.  I, too, like being organized and having a plan for my day, even if I don't follow through with it because of what comes up.  When do you blog?

Apr 07, 2009 01:42 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Good post Travis. A day of peace and productivity? Would love it.  We have a big green frog in our office named Wilbur (don't worry, he's plastic), just to remind us to eat the frog first!  Though some days Travis he is sooo big, he doesn't get eaten til the end.  But we will try your suggestion to eat him first and enjoy the pat on the back all day long.

Good points

Al and Peggy Cunningham

Apr 07, 2009 01:46 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Good post Travis. A day of peace and productivity? Would love it.  We have a big green frog in our office named Wilbur (don't worry, he's plastic), just to remind us to eat the frog first!  Though some days Travis he is sooo big, he doesn't get eaten til the end.  But we will try your suggestion to eat him first and enjoy the pat on the back all day long.

Good points

Al and Peggy Cunningham

Apr 07, 2009 01:46 PM
Bob Foster
Century 21 Lanthorn R. E. Ltd. Belleville, Ontario - Belleville, ON

I'm glad I cheated and opened my eyes even when you said to close them, Travis. Great post. Thanks for giving me the motivation to examine how I use my time more closely.

Apr 07, 2009 01:57 PM
Teral McDowell
Referral Patners LLC - Murphy, TX

Well-said and I really like that two minute rule. I am not a Top Producer user but I certainly do hear much talk about it.

Apr 07, 2009 02:11 PM
Connie Lou Barnett
Real Living/Home Realty - Owensboro, KY
GRI,CRS,CRB,SRMM,ARA,PRS,SFR,QSC

Good Post, I've used Top Producer for years.  I couldn't get along without it.

Apr 07, 2009 02:15 PM
Ron Bridges
ERA Wilder Realty, Inc. - Sumter, SC

Good post.  Sounds like some good habits to get into.  Thanks.

Apr 07, 2009 02:26 PM
Rick Sergison
EXP Realty of Canada Inc., Brokerage - Pickering, ON
Durham Region Real Estate Blog

Very much what The Millionaire Real Estate Agent book and Gary Keller have been preaching for a while.  It's simple!  (It's just never EASY!)

Apr 07, 2009 02:35 PM
Judy Schneider
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

I like it too! I always start the day off with a plan, and leave a little room for the unexpected. The unexpected almost always fills in the little bit of room left.

Apr 07, 2009 03:17 PM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Rick is right - simple but not easy. Peace, Peace, Peace

Apr 08, 2009 12:19 AM
Suma Kakani
Northern IL Realtor - Keller Williams Success Realty - Prairie View, IL

Great post Travis. I always plan to plan my day and it never happended so far except in the beginning. I use outlook. I heared about top producer , but never tried it. SK

Apr 08, 2009 11:29 AM
Ryan Gonch
Keller Williams Realty Capital District - Albany, NY

Great post Travis...I needed to read this tonight...This morning was one of those unproductive mornings...Structure and systems are the way to productivity...Why is it just not as easy to do...as it is to right lol? 

Apr 08, 2009 01:54 PM