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61 Words of Profundity

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Howard Hanna Rand Realty License # 49FA1074963

Drive thy businessSeth Godin's 61 word post from 10 days ago is, in my view, the greatest economy of words on a deep throught I have read in quite a long while. You should really read it, print it, and tape it to your monitor or mirror. No blanket statement covers 100% of reality, but I concur with his observation; all worthwhile things have their price. 

While we all expound and trade ideas on how to work our businesses smarter, more efficiently, and with ever greater return on effort and investment, there is one thing that gets oblique reference but is seldom discussed head-on: 

Hard work

The best planned military operations presuppose sacrifice on the part of the personnel. 

The best play in football presupposes almost superhuman effort, incredible athleticism, and execution in the face of strong opposition. 

Maps don't take into account rough topography, inclement weather, and random accidents and breakdowns, but you know they are a reality. 

Doctors and lawyers labor through years of education, testing and training to earn their position in life. 

And, just like getting through college or reaching the apex of any endeavor, nobody succeeds in real estate without hard work and the mundane, day by day grind of consistent effort. You have to work hard in this business if you want to make it. Some short term success can occur with events that look like luck or ease of effort, but long term success doesn't. Hard work and success are Siamese twins in this business. 

Many of us work hard, but in an anecdotal sense. We'll take time away from our family on a Sunday night to show a listing, or stay late on the phone babysitting a client. Planned hard work is another matter. I'll give an example: since August, 2005, no home in Westchester County has ever expired off the market that has not gotten something in the mail from me. That's my niche. And either myself, Ann, or our admin have hand addressed our expired mailer virtually daily for 5 years and 9 months- it is our way of shoveling coal into the company engine. And as I approach my thousandth blogpost on this platform, I know that I have more than one shovel in the coal.

Are expired mailers mundane? Good God yes! Blogging isn't always easy, or nor is biting my lip with clients or the hours I log. And most championships are won in practice. As I was reminded of my old high school wrestling coach's words of 25 years ago, it isn't the will to win, it is the will to prepare to win. 

Plan your work. Work that plan and work smart, by all means. But work hard, daily. Do the same thing for 365 days in a row religiously as if your children's food and clothing depend on excellence in that one, daily event, difficult as it may be. You won't recognize your business in a year. 

Debby Singleton
Springer Realty Group - Limerick, PA
Top Producer since 1993

It isn't the will to win but the will to prepare to win.   I had never heard this phrase and love the sentiment behind it.   Excellent perspective.   Debby

May 30, 2011 02:59 PM
Coral Gundlach
Compass - Arlington, VA
Real Lives. Not Just Real Estate.

Great reminder to keep the nose to the grindstone and prospect.  I think most of us hate it, but the good ones do it to suceed/survive.

May 30, 2011 03:05 PM
Kristi DeFazio
RE/MAX Advantage - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Rea lEstate 719-459-5468

Most people want the secret to success. You have uncovered it- Hard work. Sometimes in this business it is difficult to stay focused on those tasks that are mundane. We need to keep reminding ourselves that the mundane tasks produce results if done consistently. Great post!

May 30, 2011 03:17 PM
Phil Hillerman
Crye-Leike Realtors® - Rogers, AR
Crye-Leike Realtors®

Great post, I re-blogged you.  It is true it is "Hard Work". But to tell the truth it is too fun to call it work! 

May 30, 2011 03:18 PM
Maggie McFarland
RE/MAX Pearland - Maggie McFarland - Pearland, TX
Pearland Realtor, Homes for Sale in Pearland Texas

Phillip - great post & great perspective! Congrats on your feature too! :-)

May 30, 2011 03:22 PM
Donna Paul
Keller Williams Realty Gold Coast - Dix Hills, NY
Long Island Home Specialist,All About Real Estate

You have hit the nail on the head with this one. Thanks Philip. Sometimes,we give up too quickly when we don't see any results but if we keep at it, I know it will pay off in the end.

I have been sending out expired letters for sometime now and I got a call  few weeks ago and the homeowner told me that she had a business card for months and when she wanted to list her home again she would give me a call and she did. so it's best to keep doing what you do best and don't give up until you see results. I'm a believer.  

May 30, 2011 03:31 PM
Stanley Stepak
Howard Hanna - Avon Lake, OH - Avon Lake, OH
Realtor - Avon Lake, Avon, Bay Village, Westlake,

You are so right here. It is like a daily devotion others may do .  You have to commit daily.. so think what is my purpose? And take action from there.

May 30, 2011 03:58 PM
Christine Hooks
Pino Agency - Pennsville, NJ
Celebrating 25 Years in Real Estate!

Good thoughts going into the first workday of the week!  Thanks, Philip!

May 30, 2011 04:14 PM
Christian Bastian
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Sayville, NY
Christian Bastian - Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Thanks for the reminder to keep the furnace stoked!

May 30, 2011 04:57 PM
Anthony Daniels
Coldwell Banker - San Francisco, CA
SF Bay Area REO Specialist

Good thoughts.

I firmly believe in working smarter as opposed to working harder.

May 30, 2011 05:01 PM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Thanks for posting on the merits of hard work and for the link to Seth's post. Let me paraphrase another old saying - Be a job big or small do it right or not at all.

May 30, 2011 06:12 PM
Maya Swamy
Funds Available - Long Beach, CA
Ph.D. Long Beach, CA - fundsavailable.com

Few are as inspiring as you are because they preach from the heights. I wait for your blogs because you look me in the eye as you teach. Haven't read Seth Godin but if you recommend him I will at least check him out.

May 30, 2011 06:32 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

Seth is a genius and I follow him in Facebook

One mistake that I see very often. .

Working hard does not really mean anything unless you also work smart

May 30, 2011 11:03 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Phil, nothing can beat good old fashioned hard work, if you have a plan. Thanks for the pep talk.

May 31, 2011 01:52 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Lots of good comments here today, thanks for getting this out to us today.  I enjoyed it.

 

Patricia/Seacoast NH & ME

May 31, 2011 03:23 AM
Eric Brickley
Zenith Mortgage Advisors (Milford,MA) - Framingham, MA

Hard work is being consistent, even in the good times. We can all work harder to find a Niche or reinforce the good ones we have... 

May 31, 2011 04:24 AM
Melba Baquero
Melba Baquero, Ascent Home Loans - Temecula, CA

Very few things in life ever come easy...success in real estate is not one of them.  It's a labor of love...you really do reap what you sow.  Excellent post!

May 31, 2011 04:25 AM
Frank Castaldini
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in San Francisco

Seth is quite the marketer and certainly a great philosopher.  I like his work and have a few of his books.  He taught me to be remarkable...I'm trying.

May 31, 2011 06:00 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Phillip,  I'm pretty much convinced that most agents ( and those looking to get into the business ) just don't have a clue on how much grunt work there is in the business. 

May 31, 2011 08:03 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Phil, I get Seth's emails but rarely read them. Maybe I'll start. But I do know that the blog you wrote here is true, and I'm gonna start working harder because of it. Thanks.

May 31, 2011 10:56 AM