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I Set A Goal And Acheived It! Little-By-Little And Day-By-Day

By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Real Estate Agent with Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 BRE# 01494165

June 01, 2011 06:03 AM

I've thought long and hard about this post...and the timing of it. I am not gloating...although remember that sales people are by nature competitive.

I've been #3 in Orange County for a rather long time on the Active Rain States List for Orange County, California. Respectable spot, but not Featured. Only 1 and 2 appear at the top of the page in the Featured Location. When a consumer happens upon that page....I want to stand out. That's part of the exposure of Active Rain and why I'm here.

I was over 40,000 points behind #2 when I decided I could overcome it with dedicated work.

I researched the patterns of #2 and counted the number of posts and comments he made every week to see if he was taking full advantage of the points system. Did he participate in contests and extra groups and challenges. Nope...so it was doable, if I just worked at it consistently.

So early January, I set out to catch and pass his points.

I blogged the maximum number of posts every week (or almost every week)
I participated in contests and challenges
I commented every day
I tried to take special care with my posts for a better chance at a Feature

I passed him last week. Today? I'm over 6000 points ahead. I'm feeling comfortable enough to talk about it. On the white board in my home office I have a tally every day of how many points away I was...little-by-little and day-by-day it disappeared until the numbers were written in black and not red ink.

Now....I need to make sure it stays that way.....so anyone going to Orange County, California will see me at the top! Well....top right, not sure I can catch #1, but watch out..I'm here to stay.

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Daniel H. Fisher

www.FisherHermanRealty.com (704) 617-3544 - Charlotte, NC

MCRP - Charlotte Real Estate, NC or SC

Wow. impressive. Hopefully, it pays off for you. Re: "Did he participate in contests and extra groups and challenges? Nope." Please enlighten me.

Jun 01, 2011 07:29 AM

Glenn Roberts

Retired - Seattle, WA

Congrats, Karen. I've been rationalizing about which is better, to be featured above, or at #3. to be the first on the list in the column to the right. #2 is a long way off from where I sit today.

Jun 01, 2011 07:32 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Wow! That's great. I worked hard to get to #3 in our state and am very good friends with our #2. Passing her would be bittersweet.

Jun 01, 2011 07:35 AM

Sacramento Grapevine

SacramentoGrapevine - Roseville, CA

congratulations.

Jun 01, 2011 08:07 AM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Congrats Karen...and 4 more pts for you. I know the feeling...I've been 3rd in my county forever and doesn't look like I will ever make it to #2. #1 and #2 are respectable bloggers and realtors (and I know and like them both). I think I'm maybe 110,000 or 120,000 pts below #2 so not even bothering to try.

Jun 01, 2011 08:23 AM

Jane Peters

Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Congratulations, Karen. I am #2 in L.A. and, I think 6 or something in L.A. County. I am happy being where I am, at No. 2 in L.A. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder all the time, which I would be if I were #1. Oh, the pressure we put on ourselves.

Jun 01, 2011 08:36 AM

Liz Wallace

Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY

Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

Good for you, I pay attention to who is ahead of me and what they are doing but I pay really close attention to who is behind me too.

Jun 01, 2011 09:54 AM

Stacey Smith

Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA

Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

Congratulations Karen.... Just keep at it.. I enjoy reading your post and it is funny to see that you are just as competive about these things as I am... I have that #11 position clean in my sites.. Have about 16,000 points to go... :)

Jun 01, 2011 10:07 AM

Ed Gillespie

WealthWise Mortgage Planning, a Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation NMLS #1850 - Folsom, CA

Great work, Karen! Sounds like you have enjoyed the challenge, too!

Jun 01, 2011 10:27 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Pam: Thanks...and now I need to create the distance

Margaret: It really is....no more taking days off or looking at things in a lackadaisical manner.

Kat: You are #1!!! I don't think it's luck

Lori: Thank you...that's sweet

Liz/Bill: That's the key....if there is room for improvement, then little by little we can get there. It took me about 5 months

Daniel: Do you mean that you don't know about the groups and challenges? Active Rain has many opportunities for bonus points. Such as the Mastermind Group Challenges, Kodak challenges, Monthly blogging challenges (just finished the one for May where you blog every day for 31 days). You can find them by searching and they add to your score if you participate

Glenn: I was there awhile and suddenly it occured to me to go for it

Chris Ann: I like my former #2 also...and that's why it took me a while to write this, and why the name isn't used. It's not about beating him it's about promotiing me.

Sacramento Grapevine: Thanks...never been appreciated by a grape before. :)

Debbie: Thanks and I'll take the 4 extra points. I was off over 40,000 points and it took me about 5 months? 4 1/2 maybe?

Jane: #2 in LA is great.....I'm going to work to stay at the top bar, not worry about #1

Liz: I do that too....gotta watch both ends. :)

Stacey: I'm pretty competitive....which is why sales is my thing, I guess

Ed: Thanks...every day I had a new number on my board and slowly watched the gap close...it was fun

Jun 01, 2011 12:07 PM

Will Hamm

Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO

"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Job Karen, you sure are competitive, that is always a good thing.

Jun 01, 2011 12:10 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Karen- You set yourself a goal.... laid how just how to go about achieving it... then you did it! I'd say if I were looking for a successful Realtor to represent my property and sell it...you'd be that person! I'm #5 in Palm Beach County, but with Steve Hoffacker, Nestor & Katerina Gasset, Lou Ludwig and Michelle Gibson ahead of me... I'm pretty happy and in some pretty good company!

Jun 01, 2011 02:51 PM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Will: It's really not competition as much as exposure...getting to #2 gets me to the top where consumers can see me

Kathy: You are in great company....and that's how we achieve all our goals, isn't it?

Jun 01, 2011 03:24 PM

Karen Winters, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Koenig Rubloff Realty Group - Chicago, IL - Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL

Hi Karen, congrats on a fantastic accomplishment!

You were one of the first 'Rainers I reached out to when I became a Rainmaker. You asked if there was a smaller, adjacent city to Chicago that I could promote myself in to move up faster. Since I live and work in the hub of the city that wasn't a possibility but I decided to chip away at the numbers anyway. I think I was around number 81 when we connected via email. Then after a contest, I moved to number 32. After another contest, I moved up to #9 and remained there for a very long time. I am now the number #7 Realtor for Chicago. Your advice motivated me to keep plugging away and climbing up the leaderboard.

Now, if numbers 1-6 would just retire to one of the other surrounding states, I'll be in good shape. LOL Actually, I think I needed the #1 person to have retired 2 years ago, they are waaaaay ahead of me and everyone else.

PS -pls forgive the mini-novel ;)

Jun 01, 2011 03:32 PM

Michelle Gibson

Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL

REALTOR

Karen - Congrats! I've been slowly climbing the ladder, as soon as I hit #30 in Florida it slowed down a ton, but now I'm finally up to #15.

Jun 01, 2011 03:58 PM

Melissa Brown

Helen Adams Realty - Charlotte, NC

Realtor - South Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

Karen, that's an awesome feat, and look what happened on your way to the top - i bet you got a lot of new business from all of your posts as more and more consumers found you and your information. Way to go!!!

Jun 01, 2011 04:00 PM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Karen, congratulations on reaching your special featured position, but so much for it's not about the points it's about exposure. I am in the second spot in the state, but with 180,000 points between me and George, it will take me for never to pass him to be number 1.

Jun 02, 2011 01:12 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Karen: Hi!! Glad it's working out for you...Chicago is a unique area and Congrats for being #7 that's amazing!

Michelle: If someone is looking for a real estate agent, then they look on the first page of agents, so the higher the better chance they will notice you....keep plugging, right?

Melissa: They represent quite a bit of business....and more to come with the exposure

Ed: Exactly....1 or2 is fine with me. I've been number 1 in Mission Viejo for a long time, but now # 2 in the County....that's really neat. I'm not as concerned about where I stand in California, I doubt consumers are looking in the state for a Realtor®

Jun 02, 2011 02:41 AM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

Karen- With the 31 day of May challenge I saw myself move up the leaderboard and thought wow this is fun. I am #1 in my area of Annapolis and am steady putting mileage between me and the rest. But most of all I want to thank you for this post. It came at a time in my life when I have been thinking long and hard about a lot of things and gave me the nudge I needed to hear that I am on the right track. You were an aha moment in my day.

Jun 03, 2011 02:02 AM

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA

Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Martha: I've never been a "ah hah" before...but if it helped, then I'm really glad. Good luck with your goals whatever they are.

Jun 03, 2011 03:01 AM