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What Lobster Rolls and Business Planning Have in Common

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Broadpoint Properties Cal BRE #01324959

goal settingI want to tell you a funny story. It’s about a time over two decades ago when we lived just north of Boston. We lived near a fast food joint called Kelly’s Roast Beef. Not only do they still purvey just about the best roast beef sandwiches, but they are famous for their New England Lobster Rolls, which are sandwiches (served in a hot dog bun) that contain 8 ounces of lobster with a touch of diced celery and mayonnaise. The place always had and still has lines (even in the winter) and they are open into the early morning for the after club crowd.

So, my husband and his cousin were going to head over there and get sandwiches, and I place my order for a lobster roll. I’m salivating. I can taste it already, and I eagerly wait for them to return home.

About 45 minutes later, they return with the food. There are several roast beef sandwiches, but I do not see a lobster roll. “Where’s my lobster roll?” I asked.

“You wanted a lobster roll? I couldn’t remember, so I got you a tuna sandwich.” He responded.

Although this would never happen today because of the advent of cell phones, the reason that I ended up with a tuna sandwich and not the lobster roll is because he didn’t write down what he needed to do. Had he made a list of what he planned to buy, I would have had my lobster roll!

Put Your Goals into Writing

When you write down your daily, weekly, and monthly business activities and goals, the chances that you will meet them are much more likely—just as I would have been more likely to receive the sandwich that I had requested.

Having personally experienced what can happen when things are not written down, I know what agents go through. I know how many distractions there are—how it is easy to forget a detail from a phone call because you have someone else standing in front of you, and how easy it is to turn on the television before finishing up the work. That’s why I recently created The Essential Daily Planner for Real Estate Agents. As I state in the daily planner, “Something magical happens when you put your goals to paper. It’s like once they are written, they will happen.”

This daily planner is a perennial planner; it is not dated and you can begin to track activities and work on goal setting any day of the week—not just on January 1. The daily log makes it simple for you to note prospecting, marketing, and sales goals while also including space for record keeping, appointments, and personal notations. The thought-provoking daily motivators offer a starting point for agents seeking additional direction in their business.

Research shows that goal setting and self-monitoring accelerates success. And, you can start right now by calculating your income goals using the handy chart below.

 

If you are interested in buying the planner, it’s available on Amazon. And, I’ve been able to arrange a discount for members of Active Rain. To take advantage of a special discount for members of Active Rain, click here to order. Enter the following coupon code to save 15%! Coupon code: W9JK5FZU

Real Estate Agents - Income Goal Setting Chart by Melissa Rose Zavala

 

If you are looking for more business planning tips and tools, check out the following previously recorded webinar. You’ll be glad you did!

 

Comments(4)

Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I don't know how we managed without all the technology we have these days.  I think that is great advice about things happening if you put them in writing.

Jan 13, 2014 04:26 AM
Matt Brady
Watermark Capital - Del Mar, CA
One of San Diego's Best Equity Advisors

WHen you get to my age there are other reasons to write things down. I do find that writing or typing what is important makes it easier to remember as well.

Jan 13, 2014 11:39 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This is a great analogy!  Writing things down reinforces them in your mind and makes them a priority.  Thank you for sharing!

Jan 13, 2014 12:04 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Melissa ... great story, great ideas and love the post!

Featured at the group:

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

VB ;o)

Jan 14, 2014 11:06 AM