Sometimes You Have to Fire the Vampire

I think as agents we sometimes get caught up in working with everyone that will hire us.  Times are tough, right?  We need every commission dollar we can find.  Prices have dropped, we have to work twice as hard for the same income.  When you look at the best of the best you will find one distinct difference.  They choose their clients.  They don't work with every buyer or investor that wants to see property.  They don't take every listing that will sell because maybe it's a not so friendly person.  They don't work with every bank that gives out REO properties (I fired two banks today!)  

You probably say, "Yes, but they can afford to fire people because they are big producers and won't be hurt by missing those commissions."  I say, they are high producers because they walk away from time vampires that force them in to low production.  I believe the top producers started firing people before they became top producers.  The simple truth is you cannot be a top producer until you are obsessively protective of your time.  Time is more valuable than money because not all time is equal.  Every hour you don't spend showing 40 houses to write 1 lowball offer is an hour you can spend with someone who is more realistic and profitable.  Every hour you don't spend serving a bank that pays 1.something % commission is an hour you can spend serving a bank that pays 2.something%.  

You think you will gladly choose those better buyers and sellers whenever they show up and will be happy to drop your time vampires, but I can assure you - they won't show up until after you fire the vampires and are ready to meet them.  When you are busy working on the little things you are blind to the big things.  It's like a joke the universe plays with us.  As long as we stay out of the way of opportunity by filling our time, opportunity will stay out of our way.

Take a risk and fire your vampire.  I think you'll be surprised at the new opportunity that comes your way or was there the whole time but you were too busy to see it.  Fortune favors the bold.