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What Will YOUR Real Estate Fortune Cookie Say?

By
Education & Training with Accelerated Performance Coaching

 Recently, Kris Berg at Inman News wrote a terrific piece about the fact that, as much as we'd like to believe their contents, fortune cookies really do generally tell us exactly what we want to hear. So my question for you is this: Are you (at least subconsciously) basing your real estate career planning and decisions on the kind of wishful thinking found in fortune cookies?

If you are, it's time to think again. As Berg notes, “These assurances [found in fortune cookies] tend to buoy the old spirits, but they're not real.” Fortune cookies are inevitably upbeat. When was the last time you opened one and read, “Your CRM tools will soon fail you”? Whoever makes up those little one-liners knows that we want to be happy; we don't particularly want to be served the truth, even in a cute little edible package.

Berg compares the fortune cookie promissory note of “something for nothing” to our real estate licenses. A lot of folks operate under the truly delusional notion that unlike some other fields of endeavor, a career in real estate isn't really “work.” And yes, you might get lucky; my hope is that you'll realize that with your present ways of thinking, what you're experiencing IS likely little more than luck. It does happen to most of us, at some point or another.

But we all know that luck is one fickle lady. The only way you're going to move out of that mindset is to realize that you have to consistently make hard choices. One of those choices is how you're going to spend your time. How many agents and brokers do you know who are whining about business in their market being dead...while they're out playing the back nine? Conversely, how many of them are stymied when their “lucky” peers are working every single day...and making money?

You need to ask yourself some hard questions, and “get good” with the answers, so that you can move towards a success-based reality. Have you ever turned down a listing because the property was too far away? When was the last time you ignored a call because you were on vacation? It's too easy to blame less-than-optimal clients or a lousy market for a serious downturn in personal income.

Real estate is cyclical, and we're still in a really bad cycle right now. Nobody's offering a lot of joy-filled “Business will be fantastic and you'll be wealthy!” fortune cookies, and if they are, you need to ignore them. Now is the time to make the tough choices. As Berg so poignantly notes, “A real estate career isn't something that happens to you. Success is not a promise delivered with your license, nor is guaranteed wealth your just desserts.”

This is the time to diversify your thinking. YOU create your career “fortune.” What kinds of changes are you making to ensure your success? Leave your comments below, and share what YOU think!

Talk to you soon.

Coach Patti

About Coach Patti Kouri:

Coach Patti, the owner of Accelerated Performance Coaching Inc., and The Real Estate Game®, strives to maintain an atmosphere of community, connection, and harmony by becoming your resource base to enhance and enrich your personal and business life. Coach Patti was voted one of the ‘Top 50 Most Influential Women In Real Estate Leadership in 2008’ by the 2008 edition of the Swanepoel Trends Report. www.CoachPatti.com and www.TheRealEstateGame.com.

 

Comments (9)

Yvonne Van Camp REALTOR
To Buy and Sell Real Estate, see me at Southwest Missouri Realty - Springfield, MO
"Home"work, I have the Answers!
Your phone will ring often.....of course you need to participate too!
Aug 26, 2011 10:26 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Very timely post as many face difficulties in the real estate business.

 Life is good!

Aug 27, 2011 01:27 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

  Any agent who keeps blaming their lack of "good fortune" on the market...needs to find a different path...or maybe a new career...if there is not a shift in the way you work....it's time to reconsider the future.

Aug 27, 2011 01:34 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Coach Patti,

Awesome post! As in any sales career a plan must be in place and it will need to be tweaked throughout the year. Comparing to previous years and measuring is the only way to stay on track to reach the goals you have set for the current year. Third quarter will be looming up and time for another evaluation to see how the year will finish off! I'm thrilled with the adjustments I've made and will be crossing the finishing line a ahead of my projections :). Thanks for an enlightening post!

Aug 27, 2011 01:49 AM
Lorraine or Loretta Kratz
Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions. - San Marcos, CA
Certified Negotiation Consultants

Just came from Tom Ferry's 2011 Success Summit in Anaheim, Ca and his theme was "Break The Cycle" and it is truly mental. He had up on this panel one agent that has made one million dollars in commissions for the last ten years. She pays monthly on a leased vehicle $4,000. She works in Northern California. How great is that.

Aug 27, 2011 02:22 PM
Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

You need to remember that if you do your job honestly and right - you will be a success!

Aug 30, 2011 02:40 PM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Coach Patti:

Wouldn't it be great if the fortune cookies were right.  But, alas, it takes hard work, a good business plan and dedication to do the things we need to do to create relationship which may result in business. 

Sep 03, 2011 05:58 PM
Coach Patti Kouri
Accelerated Performance Coaching - Chatsworth, CA

Thanks for all the great comments guys. 

You are so right Sally and David. 

Your are right Dorie.  It's like weight loss and the scale.  Not losing, tweak your plan.  Don't blame the world.

Lorraine and Loretta you guys can drive that kind of car to if you really want to.  Believe you can and stay in the right action.  I want to see a picture of that car when you buy it.  :0)

You are right Joy.  Honesty and correctly does bring you success.  Plus you gotta want it bad enough to jump over the obstacles. 

Evelyn, wouldn't that be great if those cookies were true? But they are tasty! LOL.  Some are possible!  How committed are you to our desires?  If it's possible, you can do it. 

 Hey Connie, send this on to that agent you are speaking of.  :0)

Warmest,

Coach Patti

 

 

Sep 09, 2011 09:32 AM