MOAB -- The Impossible Dream: is AR advice small-business achievable?

M Y    D E N O U E M E N T

I am often at a loss for words and immobilized after reading several of the fine posts here every day.  Why?  Because the accumulated wisdom from everyone overwhelms me to the point of rigor mortis.  

What follows is the first AR M.O.A.B. --The Mother Of All Blogs!!  The collected wisdom of many great AR posters.  Only about 100 listed, but there are many many more in the back pages of the AR listings.  Wisdom and platitude abound, and we all DO benefit.

So here are what I think are some of the best thoughts on AR (in the past few months, in no particular order) and when you are finished reading this I would like to know if it is all humanly possible to execute, especially if you are in a small firm.  I have taken some poetic license here and there...While you digest the following quips, aphorisms, and general principles by which to live and breathe... I give you Frankie boy for background music and more entertainment will follow:

1. We need to answer an inquiry within 45 minutes or lose a potential client. 
2. We need to have every aspect of the business running at full speed all the time or else risk losing work due to neglect or a poor running operation.  
3. We must establish short and long-term goals, starting with a final objective and working back to create a strategy and tactics in order to achieve our goals.
4. Under promise and over deliver.
5. Guard your practice and guard your minds.
6. We should maximize every moment and every opportunity.
7. Trust is earned when action meets words.
8. Marketing winners have and continue to be the result of online social media efforts.   
9. We should never give up.
10. Be real and skip the phony baloney.  
11. Be courteous to partner agents and show them respect; expect the same thoughtful treatment back.
12. Trust is built on consistency.
13. Investors of rental properties prefer features that include durable floors and fewer systems that break down and need repair.
14. Follow up on a sale and get feedback.
15. Personal face to face may be more important than digital dating.  
16. If we get stale we may wish to 'change gears'.
17. Do you know what Joseph Whitworth invented? 
18. Get your home prepared: repaired, painted, and working before the inspector shows up.
19. Clean and uncluttered houses sell faster.  Watch the landscaping too.
20. Don't ever stop making sales calls.
21. Green homes are healthier and more energy efficient.
22. Be wary of social media sites that rate or critique your services.   
23. All agents should get their own domain names and tie their email address to them. 
24. To truly make it big we need to adopt or develop a niche.  
25. Branding is extremely important in order to keep your name recognizable and niche identifiable at all times.
26. Too much analysis paralyzes (apropos to theme)
27. Millennials have a high optimism index: they are motivated to buy.
28. We should make sure our websites are-- properly designed and built so as to reduce download time, are easily comprehended, that the main selling proposition is out front.  If you don't have one, better develop it right now.   
29. We should blog often about things that interest our potential clients.  Blogs should have photos, interesting graphics, colorful fonts, etc. 
30. Using your name in the title of your blog especially -- will get you on Google faster than 600 blogs in 30 days (my call here) 
31. Our personal description pages should be less about our accomplishments and education but more about our to manage our client's interests.
32. We should wake up each morning thinking that this is our second chance and we should not waste this opportunity.
33. We should read regularly how to improve our business skills and attend talks by experts in our field when announced.
34. We should include long tail descriptions in our blogs, webs, and other social media.   
35. We can trust Facebook to solve most of our marketing needs.  Really?
36. We should be on Instagram for sure.  Twitter helps too!
37. Be yourself, do not put on a facade.  
38. Work on your WOW rating to keep current clients and please future clients.
39. Accept the challenge; take the victory lap.
40. Built better relationships and better ways to communicate by becoming a better listener, especially when it comes to other people's money, their home, and livelihood.
41. Do the best with your time by beating bad habits/behavior and attitude about time management.
42. Get a signature every day: listing agreement, a new buyer, price reduction, home inspection negotiations, power of attorney, homeowner warranty, change to a contract, CE signup, ad contracts -- back of commission check.  
43. Hide traces of animals and all personal effects when showing or staging a house.
44. Property descriptions should be more compelling.
45. Negotiate and disagree without conflict to get better results. 
46. Farm your FSBO's.
47. Look for opportunity in a SHIFTing market.
48. Load the big rocks first and then you will know how your year looks.
49. Get in in a state of mind or location where you can be a fierce warrior and achieve positive results.   
50. Seek referrals but don't push too hard.
51. Backlinks from reputable webs are good for you.
52. Write attractive content on other's blogs with backlinks and referrals will come your way.
53. If you need a recipe for ANYTHING, search on AR.
54. You'd better have the All-in-One marketing program
55. Read all the Webinars on AR  
56. Without cell phones, we would be in a pickle.  (note to self: buy something newer)
57. We should run print ads.  Don't stop during the holidays as your funnel will be empty while people are actually thinking about purchasing real estate.
58. We should print and send out postcards when a house is sold.
59. We should print and send out postcards on a regular basis otherwise to keep in touch with old and potentially new clients.
60. Our webs need to be SSL compliant.    
61. Webs with HTTP2 are faster. 
62. Before there was biophilic design there was Leonardo da Vinci
63. Check dead links on your web and eliminate them.  Go to Google Analytics regularly to make sure you are viable: alive! 
64. We should exercise SEO frequently and be cognizant of the latest techniques in order to be found easily, often, and with few bounces.
65. Stay away from negative people.
66. We should plan all meetings with an agenda, have a great time and be informative, even offering up favors in interesting places.
67. We need to be wary of Z/T and wonder if our interests are being truly represented by our national organization.
68. We should have a dashboard measuring tool to assist us in planning to let go eventually.
69. Videos are important and need to be developed routinely with personal touches, great graphics and professional presentation.  Embedding is better than linking.  
70. We must be cognizant of the latest SE algorithm or our website is doomed to zero hits.
71. Handwritten thank you notes and holiday greetings work wonders.
72. We should attend many related social functions and be helpful in our community associations.
73. We must adapt constantly to changing and fluid market and economic forces.   
74. We need to think outside of the box.
75. Keep your name in front of everyone you know at least every 30 days.
76. We should hit on all eight cylinders.  
77. Purple paint on fences and gates means NO TRESPASSING or Hunting.
78. Knowing how Italians invented concrete, terrazzo, or ceramic tile roofs has absolutely no effect on your bottom line.  BUT it's nice to know how things have evolved!
79. Provide city-specific content on your blog and web and social media connections.
80. Content is King
81. A flier with great photographs, detailed information, and an organized look helps market a property in its best light.
82. Dress and act appropriately, be prompt and courteous  
83. Stay positive and reject the negative (well, you'd better stop reading at this point)  
84. We need to cover Continuing Education every year or risk losing our license.
85. Appeal a low appraisal through the lender to try to make the deal work.   
86. Avoid an unauthorized practice of the law by drafting or modifying real estate forms and prepare documents or contracts for a fee.  
87. We should check our blog signatures to make sure they comply with state rules.  Oh, and don't blog on certain days and times because you will NEVER be found...  
88. Coffee and Keurigs are indispensable.
89. We need to be available nearly all day and night to be pro-consumer and go the extra mile.
90. Despite the amount of time needed to do the above, we should build adventures into our lives...   
91. The cost to build a house boils down to Design, Cost, and Marketability.
92. Be prepared, competent, and caring.
93. All potential clients are not all online.  Market your services on several platforms and avenues.  
94. Your call to action should conjure a sense of urgency.
95. Your MLS photos should be undoctored and show adequately and honestly the surrounding spaces and condition of the property.
96. Shift your point of view to understand the other person's interests and motivations as you negotiate or deal with them.
97. Jump out of your routine and try something you've never thought doing before or dreamed about it and hesitated.
98. Plenty of consultants and experts are available to assist us in making sure everything specified above is done correctly and timely.   
99. Growing homemade lemon trees and consuming olive oil... and take lots of photos...well, they're good for you!
100. We need to exercise regularly or else we cannot hope to achieve most of the items above.
101. Moreover, we need to follow a Mediterranean diet.
102. Know the background/education/experience about the "Advisor" before you follow the advice.   
103. And whatever you do: THINK about what you write and if it is cogent, responsible, uplifting and of use to your potential clients -- only then hit Publish...
104. Even better: "Don't strive arrogantly to position yourself as THE expert" 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit to you that doing all the above is an Impossible Dream.  It is longer than the 10 Commandments.  I can't remember everything.  It is too much to do.  Or is it??

"We should truly be thankful for what we have" -- and delirious knowing we have no chance of getting everything done that needs to be done. It is overwhelming. But wow, what a checklist you can go over every day you start up with Keurig coffee or tea!

I have not listed the best of the previous 8 or 10 years of things on the 'must do' list to be successful.  Just think about that! I can think of one or two folks here to nominate for the next MOAB!

On top of all the things above, we have to actually run our business the way we were trained or educated.  There are basic functions that must be exercised regularly or we may lose our edge.  

And our family life and interests are in-between the lines somewhere above.  What are the trade-offs?

But, you will say, "You should and could start to attack and follow through with all the above necessary items one by one and slowly reach your maximum potential" 

HAAAAAAHAAAAHAAA

Now what you have here though is a two or three-page compendium of some great usable information that you can refer to daily.  You really CAN take a stab at the ideas here to see how it works for YOU!  Make it your goal to realistically achieve and keep in practice as many of the great ideas above as possible...  I am with Mulder below.

Meanwhile, I have been so busy posting on AR that I have neglected my own business essentials making this doubly ironic!! 

The meme gif below essentially characterizes my life at this time... and this MOAB post does absolutely nothing to advance my architectural career!!  It will no doubt detract from it.  Who cares? 

It HAD to be done!!

(the burger signifies my departure from the Mediterranean diet.  I hypnotically applaud the insane political situation we are in but watch so much tv that my head explodes  -- but I am still applauding not fully cognizant for what purpose... yet I do applaud the great wisdom here on AR!!)