Special offer

Competing Compels You To Continually Improve

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

 

Marketing is more than just making the phone ring.  That’s a significant part of marketing, but it’s not “The Full Monty!”

Branding is on the same plain. The stronger the brand the more frequently the phone will ring.

In the back of my mind, with every piece of marketing online and offline, is the word “competition.” I love to compete. If there was a new builder in town, I wanted to meet with that builder first. Always first, not last. If you’re first, everyone else needs to trump whatever you present.

The one who sets the bar at the highest level wins, unless someone else can clear it!!! If that happens, you’d better re-sharpen your skills. “Competing compels you to continually improve.”

Some consider competing stressful. It’s not stressful, unless your capacity to compete has not been developed. Competing is a learned skill. There are some who have been competing since toddler days, and there are others who walk away from the battles.

How we market is a reflection of our desire to win. It’s a competition, and the opposition is every real estate agent who works in your marketplace.

Eventually, it becomes routine. There are times when there is no competition, and you’ll find yourself marketing as if there were many competitors surrounding you. Hence, always “marketing like you mean it!!!!”

Just a thought for the moment…..

 

 

Posted by

 

 

Barbara Todaro, Great Grandmother to Caleb, Santino, Aiden and Gianni       

Todaro Team - Retired

508-918-9148

               

             Copyright © 2009 - 2021 Barbara Todaro

                               All Rights Reserved



 

Comments(29)

Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Barbara, haven't had to compete for quite a while, but remember a buyer a couple of years ago interviewing me!   

Feb 12, 2019 06:47 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Thanks, Sheia...... market like you mean it...

keep that skill of competing fine-tuned.... fresh and ready to go at 'em....

Feb 12, 2019 07:09 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Barbara Todaro - Great post with lots of inspiration!

If you don't have the capacity to compete, you are probably doomed. Competition moves us to the next level to be the best we can be. 

Feb 12, 2019 07:19 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® without a competitive streak, an agent is not likely to have a strong presence in the marketplace....one needs to have inventory to compete for new listings....it's a follow the leader business.... listings beget listings.... homeowners will follow what other homeowners have done.... those sold signs are very important...

Feb 12, 2019 07:22 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Perhaps is the athlete in me and my participation in competitive sports my entire life, I don't know but, I can't imagine being an entrepreneur and not having that same competitive spirit, Barbara.

For me, it's a passion!! 

Feb 13, 2019 09:09 PM
Barbara Todaro

your athletic participation has a lot to do with how you think and compete.... I love it.... you're a champion.... Debe Maxwell, CRS 

Feb 14, 2019 09:01 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I’ve seen the opposite happened or the inverse in which lack of competition can really stagnate business, and I do think competition does really help.

Feb 13, 2019 10:42 PM
Barbara Todaro

having that competitive edge is a bonus Laura Cerrano 

Feb 14, 2019 09:02 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Debe Maxwell, CRS That does make sense that the athlete comes out of you and helps your business. Only seems logical to me.

Feb 13, 2019 10:43 PM
Barbara Todaro

Laura Cerrano you're right....

Feb 14, 2019 09:10 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® Competition is what makes people in business thrive but not everybody has that street in them and it’s not for everyone for sure. Right on. :)

Feb 13, 2019 10:44 PM
Barbara Todaro

and not everyone is a top producing competitor because that streak is missing....

Feb 14, 2019 09:11 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Competing makes real estate a sport...if you are passionate and creative and manage your time then wonderful results happen. Reinvent daily. But the need to win can be destructive. There are ethics connected to competition to never forget. Don't develop what CS Lewis dubbed "situational ethics".

Feb 14, 2019 03:40 AM
Barbara Todaro

I'm very competitve and it's not the NEED to win...it's the desire....I'm driven to win....but if I don't, it's onward and upward and I never look back....

Feb 14, 2019 09:12 AM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949
Samson Properties - Chantilly, VA
Northern Virginia,Washington DC & Maryland Realtor

Absolutely true!!! Competitioin is healthy and gives you drive, creativity and edge to keep going for what you want to do.

Feb 14, 2019 04:06 AM
Barbara Todaro

I agree with all that you said Ritu Desai 

Feb 14, 2019 09:12 AM
Matthew Klinowski, PA
Downing Frye Realty - Naples, FL
Naples Golf Guy | Find Your Dream Lifestyle

Good morning Barbara, thanks for the inspirational post! Starting the day out with my competitive juices flowing. Have a great day!

Feb 14, 2019 04:41 AM
Barbara Todaro

keep those competitive juices flowing..... I love seeing your new listings and then the change of status that follows... Matthew Klinowski, PA 

Feb 14, 2019 09:15 AM
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Competition keeps us on our toes!!  Great post!

Feb 14, 2019 04:55 AM
Barbara Todaro

and that's where you want to stay Shirley Coomer never flat footed....

Feb 14, 2019 09:16 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Congratulations on the feature Barbara Todaro . I love to compete, i live for the feeling when I get that listing. AND I love that feeling when i sell that property. It does not get old. A long time ago i was told in similar words to always market like you mean it if you want to succeed in this biz. 

Feb 14, 2019 05:16 AM
Barbara Todaro

you're on a mission to leave every "big box' agent in the dust ....and you're doing a great job of it..... I'm in a big box company but you'd love dealing with us....  Scott Godzyk 

Feb 14, 2019 09:17 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Nice thoughts on this subject.  I think we have a problem in this society now where everyone thinks they deserve a participation award.  That's not how the real world works and those who have the drive -- tend to reach their goals before others are even considering it.  Good one Barbara!

Feb 14, 2019 08:46 AM
Barbara Todaro

John Henry that's a generation thing.... baby boomers lead the way with setting goals and striving to reach them....millennials have one goal and that's wealth.... and they want to reach it in one big jump.... doing it in stages doesn't work well...

Feb 14, 2019 09:27 AM
Wayne Turner
Turner Real Estate Group - Mandeville, LA
"The Only Name You'll Ever Need for Real Estate"

I agree, keep the competition up, and if your the top in your mareket compete against yourself each year to put out better branding and advertising to make sure to stay as relivant as possible. Great article.

Feb 15, 2019 07:45 AM
Barbara Todaro

oh, yes....keep improving every year.... stay sharp and welcome the challenges.... Wayne Turner 

Feb 15, 2019 09:19 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Barbara it is in your soul to compete. When I was walking, after a long day walking, having shared our life stories as we walked, sitting on my bed, one of my companions sat down and said "You are a fighter". For some reason it really resonated with me, I don't give up, I am persistent I keep trying. In the same way, you keep marketing because that is what you are and branding comes out of that as well.

Feb 15, 2019 09:04 AM
Barbara Todaro

I believe it's part of each competitors make up.... those who don't want to compete just don't have the where-with-all to accomplish that task.... Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 

Feb 15, 2019 09:20 AM
Bryan Bowles
Transactly - O'Fallon, MO
Real estate entrepreneur

You go Barbara!  I agree 100%, and liken it to sports.  Pick a sport, and any good coach will tell you that you only play at the level upon which you compete.  I think the same is true in this business.  If you're competing with other top real estate agents in your area, it should only force you to get better.

Feb 15, 2019 10:26 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Well said, Barbara. With my high A type personality, competing is just a part of the mix. I enjoy it to much to not be in sales of some sort.

Feb 15, 2019 10:38 AM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

I left my career on Wall Street because I routinely saw agents in my building or my neighborhood that poorly educated on what they were selling. I saw the opportunity and took it. It was a wise decision as I run circles around the agents that weren't able to compete or refused to improve themselves.  I am still relatively new in the industry, and I still feel like I have much to learn, but even industry veterans have called me wondering if I knew the answer to something- recognizing that subject matter experts are of value. Good looks and charm can only get you so far if you don't know what you are doing.

Feb 16, 2019 08:32 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

That competitive streak in us, that desire to always be improving outselves, is what keeps us going. 

Feb 16, 2019 06:03 PM