What's the difference? Tell me if this makes sense. Busy takes up your time, but productive makes you money. So how can you change from "busy" to "productive"?
If you ask an alcoholic how hard it was to change many will tell you the toughest part was "admitting" they had a problem. Once they admitted they had a problem, solving the problem was simple. Notice I didn't say "easy", I said simple. Simple is not always easy.
Ok, so what's the problem for the "busy" agent who wants to become more "productive"? Maybe it's "admitting" they are not doing what productive agents do. If you ask a Top Producer what their is their TOP daily priority, many will tell you it is to get in front of someone who can SIGN something. It might be a listing contract, an offer to purchase, or an exclusive right to represent a buyer. Those agents would tell you that if they accomplish that daily goal, everything else seems to fall into place. Sounds simple doesn't it?
Well, if it's so simple, why doesn't everybody do it?
If you asked Floyd Wickman, he'd tell you one reason is because agents are given the "option to fail". He'd tell you early in his career he was "busy". He'd tell you he was willing to work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and yet he only did 5 deals....and two fell through. He'd tell you it wasn't until he found a broker who removed the option to fail that he began to succeed.
So, how can YOU become more productive? I think there are two ways. The first way is to hold yourself accountable for doing the things you MUST do to become productive (in other words getting in front of people who "need" to sign something). Many agents know what they need to do. It's just that the "busy" stuff keeps getting in the way.
The second method is to find someone who will hold you accountable. Maybe it's your broker, or your manager, or maybe you need to find a coach...or a training program that will hold you accountable. Once you have taken the first step (admitting you need to change), you'll see their are people out there who are willing to help.