Fiddlenet is "In Focus"!

Everybody's busy....but here's how to be "productive"

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.

Today is day 109...or maybe it's really day 169?

Today is day 109 of the year 2012. This means that 29.8% of this year is already part of the past. That might seem harmless enough, but consider this.

If you listed a home today and it went on deposit today it would still take approximately 60 days to close. Of course it is not likely to sell the same day you list it, and it might not close in 60 days. Even if you write an offer for your buyer and it's accepted, it might not close in 60 days. Those are pretty much "best case" scenerios. So what's the point? Well if we add those 60 days to the 109 days that are in the past we are now at 169 days....and that represents 46.3% of the year. That's almost half the year!

If everything you have under agreement closes, are you half way to your goal? Floyd Wickman teaches us the importance of knowing your numbers. Floyd says the "numbers never lie".

Ok, are you half way to your 2012 goal? If so, GREAT! If not, maybe it's time to step it up a notch while you still have the time to hit your goal.

Why change now?

Are you looking to make more money in 2012?

Are you looking for more free time in 2012?

Are you looking for a better quality of life?

Then, what will you change? We've heard it said many times that the "definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result".

If you want something "different" or something "better" or "more of" something, first YOU need to change.

Floyd Wickman has been helping real estate agents "change" for almost 40 years. Maybe it's time to look into what the Floyd Wickman Team can do for you.

A lesson in "grass growing"....no, not that kind...

Did you know that grass goes dormant during the summer UNLESS you water it regularly? It turns brown and stays brown until it receives regular water. What many people do not know is that if you water it sporadically it can be damaged.

So, what could this have to do with you? Well, how often are you watering your grass? Ok, I don't mean your "grass"; I mean your business? OR, are you waiting for the water to fall on it? Are you actually taking the steps to MAKE things happen in your business?

Floyd Wickman says agents are either "market driven" or "market proof". I think "market driven" agents are waiting for the rain to fall on them, they are waiting for the market to "come back".

"Market Proof" agents water their own grass! Which are you?

Are you ready for Pro Golf?

I'll never forget the story a friend told me about his first golf lesson. He said he showed up with the driver (the biggest club they use) and was ready to show the teacher how far he could hit the ball.

The teacher told him to put away the driver, then started the lesson. He said the first thing we are going to work on is the most basic and it's the grip. He said then we'll work on your stance, then your posture and "maybe" we'll hit a few balls today. My friend was surprised...very surprised. He said it took a few weeks but as the lessons continued he found he was hitting the ball farther and straighter than he had ever hit the ball. He continues taking lessons to this very day.

Would you like to have a really productive 2012? Ok, learn the basics first. Once you've learned the basics, it might help to find a coach who can teach you how to expand those basics so that you become a "master" at them.

The Floyd Wickman Team has been helping agents to earn an above average income in real estate for more than 40 years. We start with the basics, but it's just the beginning. Once you "master the basics" you'll produce in "any" market.

Floyd Wickman is "making" things happen!

Many people are simply waiting for something to change. Floyd Wickman's Economic Recovery Plan is "making" things change. Learn more here at www.blog.floydwickman.com

Life doesn't come with a "rewind" button....so....

...so... now what? Never mind the "rewind" button; let's hit the "fast forward"!

Here's what I'm thinking. The top agents are moving faster than others.

They take more listings, write more contracts and solve more problems. They don't waste time worrying about problems. They prepare to solve them. Many of my coaching students brought in more than 80 listings and sales in 2011. Some even eclipsed 100 units for the first time in their career. I asked many of them what advice they might share with you. Here's some of what they told me.

Stop blaming the market. Stop blaming others. Stop looking for problems to occur. The market is what it is. Others will do what they do. Problems will occur whether you look or not. All this other "stuff" slows you down.

WOW! Talk about some great insight.

Yeah, forget the "rewind" button, let's hit the "fast forward" button and catch up to the agents who are "making" things happen. Happy New Year!

Is there an "APP" for what we do?

Confucius said "A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step".

Ok, but in which direction. Do you think a trip of 1000 miles might include some traffic? How about some bad weather? Tolls along the way?

So although there is no APP for what we do (yet!) there might just be a roadmap.

If a successful 2012 is your next 1000 mile journey, how will you begin? What have you learned? Are there people who might help you arrive sooner? Are there people who might help you make more money?

We have been "Developing Master Salespeople For Our Clients Since 1979"

Who will be your guide in 2012?

Quit looking and you'll see more

Have you ever found something...just after you stopped looking for it? Hmmm, are you looking for the secret to success in real estate? Quit looking.Chances are, the answer has been in front of you all along.

A minor "course adjustment" can have a MAJOR impact

An airline pilot taught me a lesson today. I noticed during my flight to Detroit that he made course adjustments along the way. It got me thinking. Where would I be if he did NOT make those adjustments? Think about it this way. If he missed by 1 degree just before landing, well chances are we'd be fine. BUT, what if he missed by 1 degree beginning 5 minutes after takeoff, or 30 minutes after takeoff? The earlier the course error was made, the more "off course" we'd have been at the end of the planned trip.

Ok, what could that have to do with your business? Did you hit your goal in 2011? If not, is it possible you missed some "course adjustments"? Maybe one of those adjustments might have been the number of people you need to talk to every week. Floyd Wickman says "the formula doesn't change, ratio's change". Maybe you need to attend more appointments to generate the same number of listings or sales.

Here's what I learned. If I want to hit my goal for 2012, I'd better be prepared for some "course adjustments" along the way. More importantly, the earlier I make them, the better the chance that I hit my goal.

How about you?