Christian Nugget: "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean."
Charles Gabriel

December's Dangerous Decisions

December's Dangerous Decisions

The year 2010 has ended. How is your business set up for next year?  You can decide to coast through or take a few simple actions that ensure a strong start and continued success throughout 2011.

The Actions:

1. Complete a simple business plan.  It is very important that it is both simple and completed quickly.  You will see how below.
2. Take immediate action on the first workday of 2011 to ensure that you begin your plan within the first week of the New Year.
3. Begin to embed the actions of your 2011 plan as habits that ensure you stick with your plan for the entire year.

Write it out.
Your Simple Business Plan: Time Required -- Approximately 1 Hour.
As you begin this plan it may seem familiar.  As you get to the last steps and beyond you will see why it is likely to be the plan that actually makes your goals happen.
Important: Complete these steps quickly.  Do not dwell on or labor over them.

1.      Your Motivation and Attitude: Write down why you want to be in the REAL ESTATE business in 2011 and what you want your real estate results to do for your life and your loved ones in 2011.

*provide for family and kids future. College and healthy stable home.
*out of the rat race. Dog eats dog,  40 40
*time and freedom –what does that mean. Be able to visit family for the holidays -PA. Two Months off.
Support and be there for Kids activities sports and music, etc.
*help others, community, church and youth. Men’s Ministry. Father of fathers/fatherless.
*able to get health restored, eyes/ teeth
2. Write down the minimum amount of income or monthly Cashflow that would make you feel that you are achieving those things for you and your loved ones.  Review your past three year's income or production so that your goal is based on facts.
’24x1500= $36000  = 2deals per month  4.3 or 1 per week = 52*1500 =$72,000
3. Write down (or type on a document) the 12 months of the year -- one under the other.  Your Written Sales Plan. Write down a production-by-deal date for each month.  Example: Jan: $10,000 in broker fees.  This is the total income for that month's deals. Add this up for an annual total.
4. Take your annual goal and determine how many deals for the year that will require.  Simply divide the annual goal by a conservative estimate of your average income per deal.  Example: annual goal is $150,000.  Divided by average profit per deal of $7,500.   Total deals are 20.
5. Determine how many deals you need per month.
6. Determine how many deals you need each week.
7. Decide what 2 or 3 activities are most likely to get you that small number of deals per week.  Base this on where your past business has come from.  Actually list where your deals have come from for the past one or two years so you are completely accurate about sources.  The most common activities are: follow-up on current and past leads, Internet leads, ad and sign calls, open houses, calling or networking with your past clients and spheres of influence, personal marketing, hyper local marketing (farming), direct marketing, etc.
8. Take action immediately in 2011 to begin your plan.
Print the simple seven-step business plan above.  Right now, put an hour on your calendar to back through it and actually take each step.  Then do this step (B.) and put the last step (C.) into your calendar for January.  You will increase your chances of success next year by tenfold.  In fact, it will guarantee your success in 2011.
Using the 2 or 3 activities you chose in number 7 above make a list of what actions will you take on January 3rd through 7, 2011 (Monday through Friday) to put your simple plan into motion.
These actions may include making calls, reconnecting with all or last year's leads, web site work, e-mail blasts, preparing and sending your sphere of Influence mailing, previewing homes in your farm, preparing and sending your farm mailing, communicating with your pending clients and listed sellers.
Begin to Embed the Actions as Habits
Embedding a habit turns single or random actions into consistent and dependable systems.  A habit is an action that you take at the same time, on the same day, in the same place, and in the same way every day or every week.  As you perform the action consistently day after day or week after week you become better at it.  You learn how to continually improve it.
Following is the most effective way to turn your plans into results by creating the habits for those activities that ensure consistent results all year.
Choose one type of activity for each day of the week.  And first thing in the morning before you open your e-mail (same time), on the same day of week, in the same place, schedule just a half hour to do each of the following.  (You can expand the time later.  A half hour helps establish the habit.) Examples;

Monday: Call Leads Marketing New Business/ Past clients, CL
Tuesday: Advance Your Technology Weekly service Calls, Email JV’s (blog), CL
Wednesday: Traditional Sphere of Influence and Hyperlocal Marketing Prospecting. Appts. CL
Thursday: Communications with past clients Prospecting Appts. Follow Up. CL
Also Thursday: Rehearse and Improve Presentations
Friday: Strategize by looking at results for the past week and plans for the following week  I like it. Follow Up CL

Important: As you begin each day review and remind yourself of your motivation and reasons for succeeding with your note business in 2011.
There are many other activities in a investor or for your business that are hard or impossible to turn into daily habits; for example, due diligence on a “hot lead”, requesting signatures on contracts, communicating with buyers...  You will always find time for these because they demand your time.
Reaching your goals in 2011 depends on your commitment to make those "daily habits" a part of your business.  Your success or your disappointment in 2011 depends on it.
It's that simple; not easy, but simple.  The key to a strong start to 2011 and guaranteeing your success throughout 2011 is dependent on the simple planning and habits you establish as this year ends and the New Year begins.
You control it every day with your decisions.
You have the power to make it happen for you each day.
Adapted from "December's Dangerous Decisions" by Rich Levin, realtown.com
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