Thoughts From Michael

My business partner, Michael Lushing, has been in the commercial real estate business for over 27 years. As a retail broker, he’s worked for all of the major mall developers including Westfield and General Growth. He is not only my business partner, but my mentor. There is no one better to learn my business from than him.

A couple of weeks ago in our 2011 Kick Off Team Meeting at BRC Advisors, Michael presented us these “Thoughts” for the New Year:

1. KEEP YOUR FOCUS; DON’T DEVIATE FROM “THE PLAN”

2. ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR COLD CALLING. MAKE A MINIMUM OF 10 NEW CONTACTS PER WEEK.

3. READ A BOOK ON SALES, REAL ESTATE OR MOTIVATION. “THINK AND GROW RICH” BY NAPOLEON HILL IS THE GRAND DADDY OF THE GENRE.

4. TAKE AT LEAST ONE NEW PROSPECTIVE CLIENT, GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PERSON, OR COMPETING BROKER TO LUNCH EVERY MONTH.

5. JOIN A NETWORKING GROUP.

6. JOIN THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE CITY WHERE YOU WANT TO BE THE DOMINANT BROKER.

7. BE PROACTIVE WITH EXISTING CLIENTS. ALWAYS BE THE ONE INITIATING THE UPDATE CALLS, EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SPECIFIC REASON TO CALL. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN BEING ON THE DEFENSIVE WHEN YOUR CLIENT CALLS YOU BECAUSE HE HASN’T HEARD FROM YOU IN WEEKS. YOUR CLIENT KNOWS THE MARKET IS SOFT BUT HE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT YOU’RE OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR DEALS ON HIS BEHALF.

8. SMILE MORE!

9. REACH OUT TO A MEMBER OF “THE TEAM” THAT YOU HAVEN’T WORKED WITH BEFORE.

10. EXERCISE REGULARLY!

11. CALL SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU TODAY (EVEN BETTER IF YOU HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO THEM IN AWHILE) AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM AND LOVE THEM.

12. NEVER STOP BELIEVING THAT YOU ARE THE BEST!

13. DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF TODAY. TAKE A WALK, SCHEDULE A MASSAGE, PLAN A WEEKEND GETAWAY.

14. TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN A CHARITY THAT HAS SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU.

15. BE PASSIONATE!

16. MAKE AMENDS WITH SOMEONE YOU AREN’T SEEING EYE TO EYE WITH.

17. KNOW THAT IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.

18. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS FOR THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH, AND THIS YET IN A PROMINENT PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU ARE DOING DAILY. KEEP IN MIND THAT GOALS ARE JUST THAT – GOALS. YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO ACHIEVE ALL OF YOUR GOALS BUT IVE IT YOUR BEST.

19. BE PRESENT.

20. “DON’T WAIT….THE TIME WILL NEVER BE JUST RIGHT” – NAPOLEON HILL

I found these “Thoughts” to be extremely helpful and encouraging as a list for the New Year. Although I try to be very conscience of my own mindset and work everyday to achieve these, I thought the list was a great way to make sure that you’re working on it all; not just one thing.

I thought I would share them with the world……ENJOY!