Ask An Ambassador: Bring Your "A" Game

Good morning. And if we can tell who isn't on their A game, so can buyers and sellers. Great point.

Liz and Bill Spear 

Bill, even a solo agent isn't really solo. Buying and Selling is always a Team effort and there are many moving parts, just like in sports. 

A star athlete can have an injury - they are out for the rest of the game.

A Lender misses an important detail - Underwriter catches it, the loan is denied. 

Your points, Bill are well taken. 

Good morning Bill. You are the one in control of you. You need to bring your "A" game 24/7. And let's face it none of us do. That said if you don't focus on bringing you "A" game you will have it in place less of the time. Thanks for the reminder and pointing out your "A" game must be across all lanes. Enjoy your day.

Watching our teams lose is not a good feeling.  I had high hopes for my team winning the National Championship in basketball, so it was really tough watching them lose in the Final Four.  In our work life, if we don't always have our A game, then our clients could lose out.

I have definitely had days when I am not giving an A Game.  

Hello Bill (and Liz too) - winning is nice and thankfully remain a part of everyday life in abundant ways.  Losing and disappointment can enter any scenario even if things are seemingly working well.

Bill as a Loan Originator I always had the energy, but how well I applied that energy depended on how well I kept up with what was happening currently happening with loan programs and guidelines.  So constantly learning and applying that knowledge played a major roll in me constituently bring A game.

You know I might not always have my A game all day every day.  But I also know when it's time to let myself rest and come back tomorrow.

I believe that when we do noy have our A game...it is best to relax or get personalnthings done...............btw, I watched Slapshot with a friend who had never seen it!!

A lot of this has been my experience took.

     Four kids and the two youngest played hockey. The boys learned early on why wins or losses or ties happen. One granddaughter plays and has "ice in her veins" too. My boys still play and coach hockey to pass on those ice arena lessons.

     "Seeing the ice" means awareness of where everyone on your team, the opposing team is, not just knowing your position. Pivoting your head, passing, seeing the weak side that's not so crowded. Using the boards to move the black circle to your advantage.           

     Taking a check, skating backwards, making or messing up plays. 3 on one (like real estate agents after a listing). Don't screen the goalie defensemen and it's not all about scoring a hat trick if you are on offense.

     You can sense a shorthanded goal when down a player. And your legs are screaming for oxygen after only 53 seconds of your intense line shift. Cycling to "leave it all out on the ice". Protecting your goal as you kill off the penalty for tripping, being in the crease, delay of game or whatever landed you or a player or two in the "sin bin".

     Sorry your Washington Capitals did not advance to the play offs. Their "A game" had to be A+. Consistent performance, magic, team depth can't happen with a roster of missing players just not there lacing up their skates, not putting on the jersey game after game Liz and Bill Spear.

I am not a fan of recommending contractors. I tell my girlfriend, they are good...until they are not good. Sometimes they give up their A game because they think B or C will get them additional $$$$. Eventually they lose their A game clients. 

A couple weeks ago my favorite hockey team The Avalanche played against the Penguins, No Sidney Crosby but the Pens brought their "A" game and the Avs did not and were humiliated on home ice. Just like anything in life be prepared and never take anything for granted, and when you know you dont have your A game you should have a plan B

Great reminder that this business leaves no room for being off your game. It takes everyone in the transaction bringing their best every day, and you said it well.

Hi Bill,

This business demands awareness and follow-through every single day. IMHO, this is why part-time agents are rarely successful. When you are only partially engaged, it is easy to miss the small things and critical deadlines. You can't win if you're only on the ice half the time. 

And in our world, the small things are rarely small.

You are spot on that this business is brutal. We all have to remain on our A-game big time!