Many of us became real estate professionals because we wanted to be our own bosses. However, the downside of being your own boss is that you may become the most difficult person to manage. Your success becomes dependent upon the choices you make each day, and if you make the wrong choices or foster the wrong habits, it can impede your progress. Here are three ways to make managing yourself easier.
“The key to success is the choices that we make.”
-Brian Buffini
What are your strengths? We’re all good at something. The key is to find what you’re good at and nurture it. Many of us focus on our weaknesses and spend our time trying to turn them into strengths. In the end, it just leaves us feeling frustrated. Your strengths may be the traits that you don’t think much about—they may even be the ones that you assume everyone has. For example, if you’re super organized, you may feel that everyone has this trait and may become irritated if you have to work with a client or another agent who lacks this skill.
(If you’re not sure what your strengths are, check out the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, to learn about the 34 most common strengths and find out which define you.)
Once you’ve identified your strengths, work to enhance them. If your strength is socializing with your clients in person, make Pop-Bys and client parties central in your marketing practices. Of course, you should still send the monthly flyers and write personal notes (what better way to thank your clients for attending the party?); however, make it a point to deliver more Pop-Bys, set up coffee or lunch dates with your clients and plan several client parties each year.
Identify your weaknesses. Most of us know what our weaknesses are and try to find ways to overcome them. Disorganized people may try to become more organized; people who stink at math may struggle with completing their taxes, etc. We’ve been taught to turn weaknesses into strengths, and instead ignore our strengths so that we can improve our weaknesses. This leads to frustration and can knock our confidence if we don’t succeed.
Instead, acknowledge your weaknesses and delegate them. If math isn’t your forte, outsource your taxes to a professional. If the paperwork is piling up and you’re having trouble staying organized, hire an assistant to help.
Automate your routine. The more you automate your life, the fewer choices you have to make. This frees your time and energy to make the important choices that drive your business. Scheduling is a big part of automation. Plan your day ahead of time so that it’s easier to make the best choices later on. For example, if you want to get in the habit of eating healthier, plan your meals ahead of time so that if you have a stressful day and are running short on time, you don’t find yourself pulling into the drive-thru of the first fast food restaurant you see. If you find yourself running late in the morning, plan your outfit the night before, prepare the coffee pot so that you just have to switch it on, etc. This will help you save time in the morning and give you fewer decisions to make.
Referral Maker Tip: Referral Maker® real estate CRM can help you schedule your day to make it more automated. Plan your lead generation activities, client parties and more! Visit ReferralMaker.com to learn more and to start your 30-day free trial.
Want more tips to help you succeed and make this year your best ever? Register for Brian Buffini’s Success Tour 2015! This two-day real estate event will give you the tools you need to thrive and the motivation to keep you going. Go to BrianBuffini.com to reserve your seat today.
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