The Little Things Matter

Last week we posted about how to win by focusing on the big strategies. We reiterated many of the themes we often discuss in this blog: accountability partners, leveraging the value of expired listings, FSBOs, etc.

Today, we shift gears to look at how top performers win by managing the little things, the small habits and practices that, if mastered over time, can often yield big results.

1. Minimize multi-tasking: Remind yourself that, despite what you may think and despite what our culture likes to glamorize, your brain is NOT wired for multi-tasking. Consider the tasks that are most important to you realizing your goals and simply focus on those tasks, one at a time. Discipline yourself to keep distractions and interruptions at a minimum, which is a perfect lead-in to our next small strategy.
2. Tame your email impulses: In a strange way, a full inbox affirms our importance in the world… emails tell us that someone needs us, our opinions, our expertise. And so, we feel it’s important to check our emails as often as possible, so as not to disappoint the sender. Fight the urge to check your email every ten minutes. Limit visits to your inbox to discreet periods of time each day. If someone needs you badly, they can reach you other ways.
3. BAN all meetings!!: Of course, we’re exaggerating here (or, maybe we’re not?). A certain number of meetings are important (or, maybe they aren’t?). There are only a few kinds of meetings that are critical to your success: to sign a contract or attend a closing. If you manage a team, you may need to have daily check-ins, but, if so, run those meetings with a tight agenda. If someone calls for a meeting, ask yourself if the meeting is truly important and will improve your chances of achieving your business goals.
4. Set firm boundaries: Top performing agents know how to say NO to demands on their time and energy. Sure, we want to be accommodating. We want to be available for friends and family members. This is particularly important when it comes to your time for prospecting. Stay focused on what’s in front of you at that moment. Unless there’s an emergency, IT can wait.
5. Catch the worm: Yes, that’s what EARLY BIRDS do, as well as top-performing real estate agents. We write often and glowingly about creating a solid morning routine to maximize your productivity. Set your alarm an hour earlier and get in a workout or a few minutes of meditation to get your day off to a good start.
6. Delegate, delegate, delegate: Instead of asking yourself “How YOU’LL get something done,” ask “how IT will get done.” If you’re growing your business, one of the most important investments you can make is hiring a support team to manage the details of your business. The more you can minimize your time on the myriad small details of running the day-to-day business, the more you can focus on the things that are most critical, namely driving revenue.
7. Build time for family: Regardless of how you define family, it’s important to make time for the people closest to you, the people who support and help energize you, the people who help to build balance in your life. Top performers know that work-life balance is absolutely critical to their success. In that regard, they make time for the small things, like a family dinner, as a means of disengaging from the rigors of the business.

The “big” strategies are important to a successful real estate business. But don’t discount these small things, which can provide focus and help you maintain the balance that is essential to a successful career…and life.