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.
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