Would You Choose Unpleasant Truths or Comforting Lies?

Would You Choose Unpleasant Truths or Comforting Lies?

Every picture tells a story, and that’s true of today’s blog post photo. Take a look… that image just may have hit home for you as it did for me.

I have few regrets… yet recently I happened to be in a business meeting where we moved the chess prices around the board yet did not address the true underlying issue. Instead, I chose the path of least resistance… the path of comfort instead of the harder truth. Conflict was avoided yet so was the real growth opportunity. Can you relate to a similar situation in your business or life?

While comforting lies can be, well, comforting, they won’t help us get through a challenging situation in a way that serves our mutual best interests. Comforting lies won’t help you grow. So, if your desire is to be the best version of you, switch the line you’re in. Move from the easy line of comfort to the more challenging line. The unpleasant truth will equip you with the feedback to make the best next step. The next best course of action given your circumstances, desires, and dreams.

As a mentor, coach and consultant here’s what I know: “a coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.  Let’s be that person this week for all the people we influence.

 

#WinTheDay
Episode 27: Success From Scratch

Episode 27: Success From Scratch

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®
Productivity And Perspective – How To CRUSH Your Goals

Productivity And Perspective – How To CRUSH Your 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.

Episode 26: Success From Scratch

Episode 26: Success From Scratch

Jason Todd, says helping veterans is one of the most rewarding parts of his real estate practice.  He started his real estate practice after 15 years in retail management where he was working 80 hours weeks – including weekends and holidays. Today he has a great work, life balance and runs a successful team that is exceeding expectations on a daily basis.
Watch today’s episode to learn more about Todd’s fundamentals of success.
“Everybody needs to have a reason ‘Why’ they do it.”
– Jason Todd, JP and Associates REALTORS®
The Silent Dream Killer

The Silent Dream Killer

Last Friday’s Success Hot Line –  973.743.4690 – reminded me of what I already know:  the 5 words that kill more dreams, more potential and more happiness than any other 5 words spoken: “I don’t feel like it.”

I’m not sure of your dream, yet I suspect for many of you it’s more financial freedom, better health, stronger relationships and more connectedness with your community. Yet let’s face it, so many times when you are about to start something toward those dreams the onslaught of excuses flood your mind like water gushing out of a broken pipe. The theme of these excuses always traces back to the same root… “I don’t feel like it.”

How many times have you said, “I don’t feel like it?”  How many times have you listened to that thought, allowing it to alter the course of your actions? What if you could make a different choice?

Here is what I know, “I don’t feel like it” is the universal human condition that silently kills dreams. Yet you and I don’t have to accept this dream killer. We can all overcome the feeling and move powerfully towards our goals and dreams. It starts with intention… the intention to live on your terms not the terms of your moods and feelings.

Next time you say to yourself “I don’t feel like it,” consider this 4-step guide to snap out of that feeling and make a choice for action.

Step 1: Put Your Body In Motion  

Emotion is created by motion. In other words, emotions are linked to movement in our bodies. Think about it… observe your posture when you are slouching, or happy, as opposed to when you are sad. Or what you look like when you are angry, versus when you are elated. Our mothers were correct, proper posture means more than just looking good.

Try this little experiment, right now: stand up smile and raise your hands above your head and say, “yes, yes, yes!” Did your mood change? When you are low on energy, I’ve found movement, any type of movement… getting the body in motion helps. Walk around your office building, if you’re sitting stand up, rub your hands together rapidly. Movement and breathing can change your energy level quickly.

Step 2: Hydrate More

Dehydration is one of the most common preventable medical conditions in the world, and yet it affects millions. For something so common, most of us are unaware of its dangers.

CBS reports nearly 75% of us simply don’t drink enough water. 10 cups per day is prescribed by the institute of medicine. When you function daily in a chronic and persistent state of dehydration you lose focus, you lose energy, you lose your attention span and you increase irritability quotient. Simply drink more water.

Step 3: Accept Your Emotional Level Then Redirect

Whatever you are feeling, give yourself permission to feel that way. Instead of denying the reality of your feelings acknowledge them.  Consider sitting with them for a moment and then make an active decision to regroup. What’s that famous quote? “You can’t stop the birds from flying around your head, yet you can stop them from making a nest.”

Accept, reflect then redirect.

Step 4: Take Action Towards Your Intention

Instead of listening to “I don’t feel like it” now you are in a position to take a different action. To overcome your feelings and move towards your dreams.  In business and in life, you state your goals and plot your course for reaching them. However, there will be many days when you don’t feel like doing the work, yet go ahead and do it anyway … “feeling like it” is not a pre-requisite.

Final thought… who’s in charge, you or your feelings of “I don’t feel like it?”

#WinTheDay #RIPCDJ

 

 

Episode 25: Success From Scratch

Episode 25: Success From Scratch

Lee Idom from JPAR Austin is our guest on today’s edition of “Success From Scratch.”

A serial entrepreneur, Lee focuses on being a hyper-local expert, positive relationships and delivering on the promises he makes. He is well on his way to serving 40 consumers buy, sell or invest in real estate this year.

Lee had a breakthrough, he learned to focus on his true market. Once he switched his focus his whole business changed from doing a few sales to nearly 40 sales per year.

Being consistently persistent is Lee’s mantra, learn more from Lee by watching now.

“Be consistently persistent, do the things that are working and do the same thing over and over again.”
– Lee Idom, JP and Associates REALTORS®