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Steal everything that isn't nailed down..

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Promo-Plates car nameplates by Ameri-Plates

It doesn't matter if business is good or bad...there's always room for improvement.  One of the best ways improve your game is to find out who the top sales people are in your community.   You may already know who leads the pack in sales every month.

The question you may wish to ask yourself is....What are they doing right....and what are you doing wrong??

This is a question to ask yourself even if you are successful..  As mentioned, there's always room for improvement.

Do a little Sherlock Holmes investigating.  Find out how the top producers market themselves, how they advertise, subscribe to their newsletters, see where they go and with whom they meet.  WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO MAKE THEMSELVES WHO THEY ARE?

After you've discovered all tricks of your successful competitor, STEAL THEM.   Use them yourself and see if they work for you.

Ideas may be a dime a dozen....but good ideas are priceless.

It's important to remember that you're in real estate to WIN.   If you're already winning, you're in real estate to win even bigger.   Steal every good idea that isn't nailed down...  Modify the idea to make it better and then put it into regular practice.

Take a tip from Japanese auto makers.   They copied the very best of the world auto industry's ideas and improved on them.   They analyzed the market and directed their focus to what their customers wanted, rather than their own private agenda.    They studied and learned and when all around them were going broke.......the Japanese flourished.    And they did it with largely stolen ideas.

If there's not a lesson to be learned from this you may have missed the entire point of my blog.  

My message today is....keep that which works for you, but add to your knowledge every day by studying the success of others.

Here I go again with my buzz words.  READ, LEARN, INNOVATE, CHANGE AND ADAPT....then put what you've learned into practice.

Good luck to you.

Thanks. Sincerely, David

www.Tailgatetags.com

 

 

Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi David ~ Super post and super advice.  I've never forgotten my interview with my first manager. I mentioned an agent in town who was successful but was not what you would expect - or emulate - in many ways - definitely an odd bird.

I said to the manager "if that agent is successful I KNOW I will be". He commented that what I had to look at was what that agent was doing *right* because whatever it was it was powerful enough to overcome any perceived negatives.

I've never forgotten that - almost everybody is doing something right - or they wouldn't be in business very long. Figure out what it is and add it to your bag of tricks.

Liz

Jun 17, 2009 02:01 PM
An Marshall
Berkshire Hathaway - St. Augustine - Saint Augustine, FL
Your St Augustine Real Estate Consultant

I also thought the  title indicated the blog would be about the blight of the foreclosed home being ransacked.  But good to keep alive the notion that we can always improve just by being observant and doing some sleuthing.

Jun 17, 2009 02:13 PM
Anonymous
bill carmichael

Liked the blog......

One idea I've borrowed several times in the past is buying leads.  Spent lots of money doing this.

Now I've got a lead generating site that has a robust management system that is working better than anything else I have ever used.

Just wanted to share.

Bill Carmichael

(connectRealty.com #2114)

Jun 17, 2009 02:28 PM
#25
Michael Bergin
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - ABR - SRES - Alexandria, VA
Northern Virginia Real Estate

Interesting.  I'll never compete with the top producers who have been selling for 30 years nor with the large groups.  I'd rather look at the folks who are surviving, even thriving in these tough times and see what they are doing to support their business.  Just another form of continuing education.

Michale

Jun 17, 2009 02:35 PM
Bob Foster
Century 21 Lanthorn R. E. Ltd. Belleville, Ontario - Belleville, ON

I think I just stole one of your ideas ... or was it a gift?

Jun 17, 2009 02:49 PM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Good questions David. I am going to follow your advice. Thanks, Deb

Jun 17, 2009 03:57 PM
Dawn Maloney
RE/MAX Trinity Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist - Hudson, OH
330-990-4236 Hudson & Northeastern Ohio

I learned a lot from top producers at the beginning. I stole these ideas from what they were doing wrong...because:

  • I don't want to lose my family in pursuit of my career.
  • I don't want to become a workaholic with no outside interests.
  • I don't want to become a competitive, shallow person with a closet full of useless plaques.

This pretty much guarantees I won't be in the top, top, top of the heap - but I won't regret it!

Jun 17, 2009 04:01 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

This is such good advice.  I have learned much over the years and so much here on AR in the last year.

Jun 17, 2009 04:05 PM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Echoing Andrea here, for I am not so far away from her and have the same problem - not too many people are actually blogging or using the internet to generate business, so I'm here on AR doing my darnedest to do what no one else is doing in my area (or at least in my office lol).

Jun 17, 2009 04:19 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

Great idea to watch top producers and duplicate their actions.

Jun 17, 2009 04:32 PM
Rhonda Duffy
Duffy Realty of Atlanta & Rainmaker Realty - Milton, GA
#1 Retail Listing Agent in the U.S.

My advice would be to create ideas and take action.  One person said about me - she is no different than us - we all have great ideas - she just takes action and actually does them.  Most people have great ideas on how to change or add to their business.  The problem is that they just don't put the ideas into action. 

Deliver your product as a C and then make it an A.

- Rhonda

Jun 18, 2009 12:36 AM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

David,

Wonderful suggestions! At least when I "steal" all the ideas from fellow AR members such as yourself, I know I'm not risking jail time. Thanks for freely offering...

Jun 18, 2009 12:45 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

it isn't stealing after the third time you use it, it's embellishing. Moral, use it! 

Jun 18, 2009 01:23 AM
Liz Miller
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Lake Havasu City, AZ
Just Call Liz

Ideas may be a dime a dozen....but good ideas are priceless.

Great point, David.  Wonderful post.  You have to find what works for you.

Jun 18, 2009 04:01 AM
Keith Burke
Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors - Belleville, IL

Great post! And I agree w/Cindy.  Set my goals! March to the beat of my own drum!

Jun 18, 2009 04:25 AM
Dan Magstadt
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc - Lake City, FL

Good words David - Just get out there & try something new!!

Jun 18, 2009 05:49 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Great Advice, just make sure nobody takes a restraining order out on you for following them everywhere.

Jun 18, 2009 06:34 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

David, steal every idea that isn't nailed down! lol, funny and I'm going to take your advice. Thanks,

Deb

Jun 18, 2009 08:46 AM
Kerry Jenkins
Prime Properties - Crestline, CA

I work very hard and i know some of the top producers are divorced, lonely, and all they do is work.  I have drawn the line at what and when I will work, because I have a husband and dogs and hobbies.  I love this idea though, and have been slowly implementing it in forms for a while, but will be doing more now that we're trying to start a family!  I can work harder and not have a life for a little bit now so I can relax more later!

Jun 18, 2009 10:01 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Absolutely great advice. Watching those that are successful will create a successful mindset.

Jun 18, 2009 01:34 PM