What it Takes to Be a Successful Agent--"Take Dead Aim"

Right off the top, I can't take credit for that quote. It's from Harvey Pennick, a very famous teacher of the game of golf. It has incredible application to life in general and specifically to achieving your real estate goals, whatever they may be. 

A number of years ago I was in a golf league that conducted an end of the year tournament called "The Horse Race". It was called that because members of the league would place bets on who might win. I'm sure the local police would have frowned on this part of the event, but I gotta say it was great fun!

One year I was playing well and was asked to be one of the ten golfers chosen to play in this event. On each of the nine holes we played, the player with the worst score would be eliminated until after nine holes the last remaining player was the winner. The whole league (over 100 players) would come out and watch this event...on golf carts if you can imagine. The sound after every shot reminded me of the start of the Indianapolis 500!

There was a lot of pressure on those unaccustomed to an audience. My knees were knocking. That day, unlike many others, it was an easy game. I advanced on every hole. Finally, only two of us remained. 

The final hole was a short par three over water with sand bunkers on both sides of the green. If you've ever seen the outstanding movie, "The Greatest Game Ever Played", you know what I mean when I say all I could see in front of me was the sand and a pond the size of Lake Michigan! The green was a tiny speck in the distance even though it was only 135 yards away. 

I swung the club and miraculously the ball landed on the green. All I needed was two putts to win as my opponent had some difficulty off the tee. As I stood over the first putt, then the second putt, and unfortunately, the third putt, my mind fixed itself on all the things that could, and then did, go wrong. I lost my focus on that hole. I lost the match on the next one.  

It's interesting that some of the greatest lessons one can learn about how to be successful, come from those times when we weren't. 

We work with many buyers who have negative thoughts swirling through their heads such as: "Am I paying too much?", "Will the repairs be done on time?", "Will it appraise?" and a lot of other concerns. So many bad things can and occasionally do, happen along that road. Clients rely on us to "keep our heads in the game" and not get distracted by the minor setbacks along the way.

As professionals we need to remain focused, tick off the boxes and keep our eyes on the prize. Take Dead Aim.