How you think matters! How you think in the beginning of your career really matters.
99% of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre. The level of competition is thus fiercest for "realistic" goals, paradoxically making them the most time and energy consuming. It is easier to raise $1,000,000.00 than it is $100,000.00. Do you disagree? I can hear your thinking while I am writing this. Let me explain.
Are you insecure, guess what? So is everyone else! The world is full of insecure people! You are not unique. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think you are!
Unreasonable and unrealistic goals are easier to achieve for yet another reason.
Having an unusually large goal is an adrenaline infusion that provides the endurance to overcome the inevitable trails and tribulations that go along with any goal. Realistic goals, goals restricted to the average ambition level, are uninspiring and will only fuel your through the first or second "speed-bump" problem, at which point you throw in the towel. If the potential payoff is mediocre or average, so is your effort. What inspires you to fly over "speed-bumps" and become air-born? I would bungee jump for a trip to see Stonehenge in England or for a cruise on the Mediterranean, but I won't change my cereal for a weekend trip through Miami, Florida. If I choose the latter because it is "realistic", I won't have the enthusiasm to jump even the smallest bump to accomplish it. With beautiful, crystal-clear Greek waters and delicious wine thoughts on my mind, I'm prepared to do whatever it takes for a dream that is worth dreaming. Even though their difficulty of achievement on a scale of 1-10 to appears to be a 10 and a 2 respectively, Miami is more likely to not work out at all.
The fishing is best where the fewest go, and collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits. There is just less competition for bigger goals.
Doing big things, having "unreasonable" goals begins with asking for them properly!
So, I challenge you (and myself) to let yourself go and think big, act bold and live large (as spoken by Gary Keller)!
The questions that you should be asking yourself aren't "what do I want" or "what are my goals", but "what would excite me?"
You might say..."I tried that but it didn't work"! I can tell you right now, that your goal or desire wasn't specific enough. Here are some things you might want to ask yourself to get you started.
What would you do if there were no way you could fail? If you were 10 times smarter than the rest of the world? Be honest with yourself and remember when you were younger when the world was your oyster shell!
If you are in real estate you already have a vehicle that can get you just about any dream, desire or goal you may have.
Here is the Big Truth: Remember, the most important actions are Never comfortable. Fortunately, it is possible to condition yourself to discomfort and overcome it. I've been trained to propose solutions instead of ask for them, to elicit desired responses instead of react and to be assertive without burning bridges. To have an uncommon lifestyle, you need to develop the uncommon habit of making decisions, both for yourself and for others.
What studies tell us is people who are high achievers have in common is they are working for a Big Why (Your dreams, desires, ambitions,etc) . The Big Why is about having a purpose, a mission or a need, that in turn gives you focus. High Achievers always have a Big Why powering their actions.
After the Big Why you will want systems and models to take you where you want and need to go to have your goals a reality!
Robert Browning is often quoted as having said, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp-or what's a heaven for?" significant whys led by the Big Why. "Be the Best You Can Be," will have you reaching for the stars every time. Gary Keller has been quoted to have said, "I believe there are three stages of possibility thinking that people can either get stuck in or go through: 1. Nothing is possible. 2. Something is possible. 3. Anything is possible. For many people, "nothing is possible" because they just don't think in terms of possibilities. Thus, they take no action and nothing happens. For most people "something is possible" because they believe in the power of possibility thinking. They believe that if you think something will happen, it probably will. The problem is that they have an erroneous mental map that says thinking possibilities is all they have to do. And since possibilities thinking, by itself, is so powerful, they do end up with something happening! But it stops there. Because they take no appropriate action something is all they get. For a very few people, however, big things happen. Why? These people believe that anything is possible if you want it badly enough and are willing to do what is necessary to get it. When possibility thinking supports a Big Why with Big Goals and Big Models, watch out. Anything is possible.
Ask yourself this question: "When presented with a challenge, do you first think of the ways you could succeed or the ways you could fail?" this is a test. To get to your highest level possible, you will always have to be answering the question "If I want it, what must happen for me to get it?" And then believe that through your efforts, even trial and error if need be, your goals are possible.
Top real estate salespeople are deeply familiar with the saying "Act as though it were impossible to fail," and they build their careers on such an approach. Possibility thinking, when combined with appropriate action, pushes you not only into the realm of possibilities but beyond!
About one-third of the Think a Million formula is attitude and perspective. There are nine ways the millionaire real estate agent thinks:
- Think powered by a Big Why
- Think Big Goals and Big Models
- Think Possibilities
- Think Action
- Think without Fear
- Think progress
- Think Competitively and Strategically
- Think Standards
- Think Service
So, I have some advice for new or revamping agents; Work to learn before you work to earn. Plug into systems models, that work, because working the "trial and error" model requires 30, 40, 50 year plan with 50, 60, 80 hour work week! It's your choice!
Unrealistic goals are easier to achieve than realistic goals! Let it be the fuel that runs your business and have more joy in your life! Ellen Hicks 8/2/2008
References: The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller
The Four Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
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