by Rick Davidson | Dec 23, 2018 | Best Practice, Goal Setting, Mindset For Success, No Regrets, Success, Top Agent, Top Producer
As we close out the year, I was reminded of a previous blog post that is well worth posting again. As many of us are thinking about the New Year, resolutions and what’s possible. Here’s a quick question for you to consider:
“Do you prefer the pain of discipline OR the pain of regret?”
Research shows that we regret those things we have not done MORE than we do the things we have done. Can you relate?
What I’ve experienced personally and observed in others is, procrastination blocks us from creating to the fullest the business and life we want. You already know, the main reason we procrastinate is that taking action can cause us a certain amount of “pain, a certain amount of discomfort.”
Coaching clients have shared with me, “I’m avoiding undertaking certain tasks because of the risk of shame, vulnerability or failure. Taking action means we might be making a mistake or we might fail. Let’s face it, it’s easier to not take action and avoid the pain of looking less than perfect. Thus, many of us instinctively retreat to our comfort zone and miss creating our ideal business. Basically, in trying to protect ourselves from failure it’s easier to erect our own barriers to success. Can you relate? If you’ve ever been in this place – as I have – how do you get out?
Psychologist call this a strategy of self-sabotaging. Research shows, that by creating impediments that make success less likely, we protect our sense of self-competence. And believe it or not, we as humans tend to do this more when the stakes are the highest.
So how do we procrastinate less and take action more? Practice… practice taking action faster and more often. Get an accountability partner and join a mastermind group. By taking more small steps that lead to bigger steps you’ll build the “take action muscle.” By creating an accountability partner and mastermind group you’ll have others who can help you discern what is an excuse and what’s not.
Consider these 5 action steps:
1. Remember a goal is NOT a system. A system will produce what a system will produce nothing less nothing more. Example, losing 10 pounds by September 1st is a GOAL. Learning how to change your eating habits is a SYSTEM. See the difference?
2. Make your goal tangible and specific. “Grow my business” sounds great but is also meaningless.”Land five new clients a month” allows you to determine exactly what you need to do to land those clients. Always set a goal that allows you to work backward and create a process designed to achieve it. It’s impossible to know exactly what to do every day when you don’t know exactly what you want to achieve.
3. Make it matter to you! If you want to get in better shape so other people will think you look better at the pool this summer, you’re unlikely to follow through. Ultimately, who cares what other people think?
Yet, if you want to get in better shape because you want to feel better, and feel better about yourself, or to set an example for your kids, or to prove something to yourself…then you’re much more likely to stick with it. Now your goal has meaning–not to your doctor, not to strangers at the pool, but to you.
4. Make it positive. “Stop criticizing other people in meetings” is a great goal, but it’s a negative goal. It’s a lot harder to give up or stop doing something than it is to embrace a new and positive challenge. Example, setting a goal like”stop eating sweets” means you constantly have to choose to avoid temptation and since willpower is often a finite resource, why put yourself in a position of constantly needing to choose?
When you pick positive goals, you’ll be working to become something new rather than avoid being something you no longer wish to be.
5. Focus on the process, the DAILY process. All incredibly successful people I’ve worked with have one thing in common… they set a goal and then focus all their attention on the process necessary to achieve that goal. Sure, the goal is still out there. But what they care about most is what they need to do today–and when they accomplish that, they feel happy about today.
So, I’ll ask again, do you prefer the pain of discipline OR the pain of regret? The choice is yours.
Do you have a question, theme or topic you’d like to see in a future blog? Let me know, until then #WinTheDay and remember what Abraham Lincoln said: “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
by Rick Davidson | Dec 19, 2018 | Best Practice, Goal Setting, JPAR, Mindset For Success, Productivity, Real Estate, Success, Success From Scratch, Sucess Goals, Tips, Top Agent, Top Producer
Today, Julez Ann Wales is our guest on Success from Scratch! Julez success isn’t just about business. It’s about family.
It’s also about beating the odds in real estate just like her daughter beat the odds when she almost died in the hospital from an infection.
Watch today’s episode and learn more about making success from scratch!
“Never give up, everyone can be a homeowner.” – Julez Ann Wales, JP and Associates REALTORS®
by Rick Davidson | Dec 17, 2018 | Habits, Sucess Goals, Time Management
I love this time of year… a time of reflection and redirection. A time where everyone is just a little bit kinder, gentler and more giving. As we enter the last 2 weeks of the year, I trust your kindness will be known to all. That others will pay it forward to you and you will pay it forward to others.
Speaking with so many of you, your business plans are ready… you are reflecting on what worked, what didn’t and the adjustments you will make in the New Year. Here is what I know from working with agents, teams, and brokerage business plans over the last 7 years. 6 mistakes you can avoid, 6 things you should double check on your 2019 plan:
One – Most of us are not thinking BIG enough, if your plan is too comfortable it’s probably too small. Everyone reading this – and has the desire – can DOUBLE their business in 2019.
Two – Not being very clear on where the business is coming from today – and how you will continue or expand that – AND the few TESTS you will do each 90 days to create new sources of business in the new year.
Three – Doing more of the same thing and expecting a different result.
Four – Not breaking down the details to a DAILY ACTION
Five – Not having the leading and lagging indicators UP and VISUAL
Six – Not being clear on the benefits – the why – and what happens when you do or don’t achieve the outcome.
Creating a 90-Day Hustle
The point of a 90-day hustle is that it stops you from focusing on all your goals for the year. Instead, the 90-day hustle allows you to take your goals for the year and then break them down into 90-day stretches, 30-day stretches, 2-week sprints and finally DAILY ACTIVITIES.
STEP 1: Review your goals
Research shows your goals should be no more than 3 (major ones) for an entire 12-month period, and then you’ll break down those goals into all the steps needed to achieve them… those become part of your 90-day stretches.
Take your business plan, look at what your main goals are for the next 12 months and then think about how you’re going to break them down into smaller chunks, so achieving them is just a little easier.
This would be a good time to review the difference between outcome, performance, and process goals.
STEP 2: Review your business plan
Make sure your plan is consistent with your goals and avoids the 6 biggest mistakes outlined earlier.
If you need help coming up with a more concrete plan or aren’t really too sure what you want to focus on, then I’d recommend using this workbook by Amber McCue. It costs a few bucks yet well worth it… it’s called “Fresh Start” and many people call it a secret weapon for planning out the year.
STEP 3: Put it all together into a 90-day hustle!
Once you’ve reviewed your goals and your strategic plan, think about the first three months of 2019 and what you want to focus on to achieve your 2-3 main overarching goals.
Pick 1-3 steps to focus on for the next 90 days. Don’t try to do it all. Less is MORE.
In fact, research shows you shouldn’t be doing any more than 3 main things over the next 90 days. Less is more and proven.
Break these down further into daily, 2 week and 30-day stretches. You should end up with 30 day, 60 day and then 90 day’s worth of goals. Consider using an APP like PRODUCTIVITY to get accountability on daily actions.
Include all the nitty-gritty details in your 90-day hustle. Work backward… start with your overall goal for the next 90 days and then break this down into all the steps you need to take to achieve it. Don’t forget to schedule in your downtime, family time and charity obligations. Then SCHEDULE IT. You can then create all your to-do tasks as well and add them to your Google Calendar.
So there you have it, 6 checkpoints to validate your business plan and a format for a 90 day hustle.
I’m often asked, Mark what should I add to my business? Consider this: always be testing… pick 1 promising idea (grove it) and then considering adding another promising idea every 90 days.
Have you considered testing:
• A consistent process to re-working previous leads from ALL sources?
• More Personalization in everything you do? (We are in a relationship business, yes?!)
• More use of VIDEO? (Community and local business highlights)
• Leveraging BUYSIDE or Home Value models?
• Building your out of market referral network?
• Driving curious neighbors to open houses?
• On-line lead generation you control – FB, LinkedIn, Insta?
• Is this the year to wear a name badge or other branded swag?
• Leveraging or building your consumer REVIEWS?
• Becoming the HUB of all things in your area?
So, what is YOUR 90-day hustle going to look like?
#WinTheDay
by Rick Davidson | Dec 12, 2018 | In The News, JPAR, JPAR News, What's New
JP & Associates REALTORS® and the Emilio and Giovanna Piccinini Better Future foundation recently hosted over 175 at risk youth in the Dallas Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio markets. The foundation worked with Samaritan Inn; City House; Buckner Place; Backpack Friends; Haven For Hope and Settlement House For Children Helping Hands.
CEO and Founder JP Picinnini, said “we have two fundamental values in our culture: productivity and service. Each of our staff and agents demonstrates servant leadership, throughout the year yet it is especially touching during the holidays when we can make a difference in the lives of children.”
Rene’ Sinclair, co-founder of the better future foundation, stated, “The Emilio and Giovanna Piccinini Better Future foundation is dedicated to rewarding those children who face challenges, but still strive to accomplish academic and leadership achievements in hopes of a better future. The foundation provides financial and other meaningful assistance to bright and promising at risk youth with the ultimate goal of improving their lives and future, by providing a hand up not a handout.
JP And Associates REALTORS® (JPAR) is one of the top 100 real estate brokerages in the US. A full-service transaction fee based real estate brokerage, it has been recognized as one of the top 10 fastest growing brokerages in the country by REAL TRENDS as well as also being a back to back INC5000 nominee. It operates multiple offices across Texas and is expanding nationwide offering franchising opportunities for entrepreneurial real estate professionals. Read more about JP and Associates REALTORS: http://JPAR.net
by Rick Davidson | Dec 12, 2018 | Appointment Setting, Buyer Tips, Goal Setting, Habits, JPAR, Productivity, Real Estate, Success, Success From Scratch, Sucess Goals, Tips, Top Agent, Top Producer
This week Amy Minor from Austin, TX is my guest on Success From Scratch.
Minor just came back from France and is a self proclaimed Mindset, Personal Growth and Development junky. She grew up in Germany and was big into the theater before getting into Real Estate three years ago.
Watch today’s episode and learn more about making Success come from Scratch!
“I found women that were successful, or business owners, or CEOs and I was like, ‘well they’re going to have friends that are like them,’ so I was reaching out to friends of friends essentially and one of them was a real estate agent […] at the end she was like, oh you have to go into real estate, you would be amazing! […] I truly started from scratch.” – Amy Minor, JP and Associates REALTORS®
