by Rick Davidson | Nov 5, 2018 | Appointment Setting, Best Practice, BluePrint Of Success, Coaching, Don't Settle, Dreams, Goal Setting, Habits, JPAR, Master Mind Group, Mindset For Success, Real Estate, Success
Last week we conducted an amazing business plan session via zoom, and well… we forgot to record it! Human error. Well, our error is your benefit because here is a cliff note version of that session.
Nationally about 3% of agents create 20 or more transactions a year, yet at JPAR nearly, 8% of our agents create 20 or more transactions. Why is that?
Better planning that leads to better execution.
So, what are the secrets of those highly productive agents?
- They don’t wait. They start business planning in October. Face it, residential real estate typically runs in 90-day cycles. If you wait until December to look at your 2019 business plan, the first quarter of 2019 will already be set, done and all but over.
- They are very CLEAR on their WHY, their VISION, and their unique selling proposition… the one thing that differentiates them from all others.
- They rely on more than one source of leads. With a mindset of “always be testing” they have tried and failed, yet over time have created at least 4 different sources of leads.
- They understand the source and cost of all leads… which ones convert, and which ones don’t.
- They understand that trying harder simply doesn’t work. So, they don’t expect to do the same thing and get a different result. You might want to read YOU SQUARED by Dallas based business coach Price Pritchett.
- They break everything down to the simplest terms. A daily number and a daily activity.
Bonus secret? Those highly productive agents that are crushing their goals have surrounded themselves with a mastermind group that meets consistently to discuss the business plan, execution, challenge assumptions and holds each other accountable.
So, there you have it, 6 steps to a better business plan and one killer bonus secret. What will you do to up your business planning game this week?
Looking for business planning templates? Reach out to us via www.exceedingexpectations.info
Coaching? Take us up on a free coaching consult to see if coaching is right for you: www.jparcoaching.com
#WinTheDay
by andrew | Oct 22, 2018 | BluePrint Of Success, Habits, Mindset For Success, Priorities and My Time
Do you enjoy the Facebook memories feature as much as I do? Recently a memory came up for me from a time when I was really into the sport of golf… at that time I had hired a “Master PGA professional” as a coach and my handicap dropped in half. Coaching works. The picture I posted was a golf ball inside the cup with the caption: “The main thing… get the ball in the cup in the fewest strokes possible. No need to make it more complicated than that!”
The main thing… get the ball in the cup in the fewest strokes possible.
For me, I learn by analogies… how one thing is just like another. Sports, music, and theater have great analogies for business. This memory reminded me that real estate sales has one main thing too…setting appointments. The more appointments you have in your schedule each week the more successful you will be. The objective of all real estate marketing and prospecting is to create more appointments!
Every time I meet one on one with someone seeking coaching on their real estate practice, I enjoy listening to the stories of why they don’t have time to do the little things they already KNOW will make a difference.
“Mark, I don’t have time to prospect consistently; I don’t have time to eat properly during the day; I don’t have time for a date night with my partner; I don’t have time to work out.” And the list of excuses goes on and on and on. Think about it, the most unprofitable item ever manufactured is an excuse.
So, what does any of this have to do with making more real estate appointments? You see here’s what I know, from working with peak performers and highly successful people all over the world… keystone habits matter. Some habits are more important than others. Keystone habits don’t create a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but they can spark chain reactions that help other good habits take hold. Examples would be exercising… exercising can help you eat better; family dinners can create greater bonds outside of meals; planning your days and time blocking can lead to stronger focus throughout the day.
If you don’t have time for the small things you won’t have time for the big things.
Taking action: Start by making ONE adjustment to your daily routine immediately. You KNOW what it is… write it down right now. Text it to your partner with a commitment and ask them to hold you accountable.
You might struggle a bit the first day, or the second day… yet one day you’ll master it. And then you can add the next keystone habit to your arsenal. You see it’s about keeping the main thing the main thing.
“Typically, people who exercise, start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. Exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change.” ~ Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit
#WinTheDay
by andrew | Oct 17, 2018 | Best Practice, BluePrint Of Success, Coaching, Don't Settle, Goal Setting, Mindset For Success, Real Estate, Success, Success From Scratch, Sucess Goals, Top Agent, Top Producer
Kristine Edens and Nita Advani our my guest this week on Success From Scratch. Both are newer agents to the industry who share how having a mentor was critical to their success. Kristine and Nita each have different approaches to the market, yet both explain how an experienced mentor – who helped them build confidence – enabled them to achieve their first transactions in less than 90 days.
“Don’t look back and say I should have.” – Nita Advani, JP and Associates REALTORS®
“Just keep moving forward.” -Kristine Edens, JP and Associates REALTORS®
Need a coach? Take advantage of our free consult at JPARCoaching.com
by andrew | Oct 15, 2018 | Best Practice, BluePrint Of Success, Coaching, Don't Settle, Dreams, Goal Setting, JPAR, Priorities and My Time, Real Estate, Sucess Goals
We are on a mission… a mission to create the most productive brokerage network in the world. That requires transformation… I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool if it was as easy as the type of transformation Clark Kent goes through when he becomes Superman, or when Diana became Wonder Woman?
Here’s what I know, to achieve all of our dreams some type of transformation is required. And unless you are blessed with superpowers, transformations don’t happen in isolation. If you’re stuck, get in a small group. If you’re on track get in a small group. If you’re crushing it I suspect you’re already in a small group. None of us will transform without the power of being in a like-minded mastermind group where you can share, discuss, challenge and get some accountability.
Consider starting or joining a group this week. Don’t know what to discuss? Consider these possible themes:
Possible Topics:
6 guidelines for business transformation. 1. Let the consumer drive your direction; 2. Decide what type of transformation you need; 3. How to involve your team, vendors and support network; 4. How to say NO to the comfort zone; 5. Being open, listen to others and be prepared to change as conditions dictate and 6. Best practices to never stop… never stop with a continuous improvement mindset (make it better, make it better, always make it better).
Possible Topic:
The JPAR quarterly review or business planning templates and how you plan to close the year strong, fully prepared for 2019.
Possible Topic About Marketing:
As you think about closing the year strong and starting the year fast I’d ask you to consider content-based marketing.
Content-based marketing is about marketing your real estate services based on the consumers intent to engage.
Marketing to the consumer’s intent is expected to produce a better ROI over more traditional methods, mostly due to specific targeting and higher quality responses.
One idea you could execute would be white papers that you hire out Fiverr or write yourself along with an associated “push and target” distribution campaign to drive leads. Examples:
4 reasons to sell and buy in Flower Mound
6 ways to increase the value of your home in Frisco
7 things I bet your real estate agent never taught you about Austin real estate market
Many social media companies allow you to target a likely seller or buyer by way of geographic area (ex. 10 mile radius from a property), age (ex. 35-50), income (ex. at least $50,000 and less than $80,000), and even credit score (cool, right?). And others like SmartZip offer predictive intent based tools for the modern real estate agent.
So there you have it – at least 3 major topics to get started on in your small group. When will you begin?
by andrew | Oct 3, 2018 | Appointment Setting, Best Practice, BluePrint Of Success, Don't Settle, Goal Setting, Mindset For Success, Priorities and My Time, Productivity, Real Estate, Success, Success From Scratch, Sucess Goals, Top Agent, Top Producer
In this weeks episode, Cassie Samons from JPAR Justin, Texas shares how she and her three teammates approach the market.
After being solo in real estate, Cassie shares how she recently hired a coach to help her and her young team grow.
Free coaching consult? www.travisrobertson.com/JPAR
“It feels really good to help people.”
-Cassie Samons, JP and Associates REALTORS®
by andrew | Oct 1, 2018 | Best Practice, BluePrint Of Success, Coaching, Don't Settle, Goal Setting, JPAR, Mindset For Success, Productivity, Real Estate, Success, Sucess Goals
The focus of my coaching is to help team leaders and agents just like you not just sell more but to learn how to think more like business owners, more like the CEO of your operations. So, you have a business that runs vs running you.
What’s the number one way to crush it in real estate? Build a scalable business and manage your time like a Jedi master. Earlier I wrote about a system that will produce 50 transactions a year, you might want to review that again.
One of the largest differences I see between agents that are CRUSHING IT and those that are inconsistent is that CRUSHERS are masters of time management and of creating scalable processes.
So how can you be more productive and stop doing the things that aren’t important, so you can focus more on money-making activities (MMA’s)? You see, we all know it is so easy to spend each day playing “whack a mole” and constantly going from one problem to the next. Or we can make another choice, and create systems, structure, and processes to minimize those problems from occurring, to begin with.
Getting systems and processes in place to handle your daily work lets you handle more volume where it matters and prevent the issues that spark the fires. Whether you’re a solo agent or the leader of a team, you need these. They are not optional — unless your goal is to be mediocre and spin your wheels every day. There are technologies to help automate things like customer relationship management (CRMs) and transaction management tools. Your online and digital marketing strategy can move you from frequent door-knocking to having leads coming to you. The client management side of your business can be simplified by creating productive methods and checklists ahead of time.
Utilize a system that helps you manage a large number of contacts without dropping the ball — that’s your CRM. Optimize platforms that allow you to generate leads without having to buy each one — that’s your marketing. Use tools to help ensure that your contracts and files are precise and correct every time — that’s your transaction management system. Build a strong team of players whose skills offset and augment your own, but never outsource your own core competency – which typically is becoming a hyper-local expert (the HUB of your area), prospecting, lead generation, appointment setting, and negotiation. Those that are crushing it don’t try to do everything yourself. Pay people to do the things that are important but that you’re not good at — e.g., errand runners, photographers, copywriters, transaction managers, graphic designers. Schedule time with each on a regular basis so you’re working with them proactively and not just when there’s a fire to put out.
I understand the challenge: You’re so busy running the daily tasks that you simply feel like you don’t have time to step away. No time to step away, no time to look at the big-picture things, if that is how you are feeling you might want to watch this. Here is what I know, if you block off one hour to focus on one thing that moves you off of the hamster wheel and onto the road, that hour will pay you back in multiples. An hour setting up workflows in your CRM will help keep your future deals on track. An hour writing a checklist for your photographer will save you time on every future listing. An hour training your assistant (transferring skills) to handle something that isn’t the best use of your time frees you up every time they handle that task from now on. You might want to look at the white paper we wrote on the value of your time… complete that exercise now.
Think about it, if you don’t block off time to systematically work toward running a scalable business, you will be chronically stuck in scramble mode. You’ll never feel caught up, you’ll never be able to see what’s possible for you outside the daily grind. A big difference between agents who shine and the ones who struggle are that the former is incredible at managing their time and staying focused on what really matters, and the latter isn’t.
We’re all limited to the same number of hours in a day. Let’s all use them wisely this week.
