Mark Johnson – Page 2 – Winning The Day

Master the Real Estate Game: It’s Not About Talent, It’s About These 3 Habits

10/06/202509/30/2025 Mark Johnson Leave a comment

Inspired by a post from Tony Robbins

“Mastery is simple. Model, immerse, repeat. Do that, and nothing can stop you.” – Tony Robbins

To my fellow broker owners, CEOs, staff, and high-performing agents, I see you grinding. You’re navigating a tough market, leading teams, closing complex deals, and driving growth. Every single day, you’re pushing for that edge.

The question I get all the time, in different forms, is essentially this: What’s the real difference between a good brokerage or agent and a consistently masterful one?

If you look around, you might think it’s talent, a better market, or just luck. But as Tony Robbins lays out, the truth is far more actionable. It’s not about some innate gift; it’s about a few timeless principles that transform potential into the kind of mastery that prints money and builds a legacy.

Here are the three habits you and your team need to adopt to build a Mastery-Level Real Estate Business.

1. Modeling: Collapse Decades into Days

In this industry, we often try to reinvent the wheel. We spend massive amounts of time and capital figuring out lead generation, team structures, or commission splits that have already been perfected by someone else.

Success leaves clues.

Tony learned this early when he modeled his mentor, Jim Rohn. For us, that means identifying the best in the business—the brokerage owner who built an unstoppable culture, the CEO who scaled across state lines, the agent who consistently closes $50M a year.

For Broker Owners/CEOs: Stop just reading the headlines. Get specific. Who has the retention rate you want? Who’s crushing your local competitor? Devour their strategies, study their systems, and learn their philosophy until it becomes part of your own blueprint.
For Agents: Don’t just admire the top producer; model them. How do they run their morning? What’s their listing presentation look like? How do they handle the most brutal objections?

By standing on the shoulders of giants, you truly collapse decades into days. Why take five years to figure out a strong P&L when you can model the best in six months?

2. Immersion: You Can’t Dabble Your Way to the Top

If you wanted to learn Spanish, would you study a book for 30 minutes every Sunday, or would you drop yourself into the heart of Barcelona? You’d pick it up faster in Spain because immersion demands growth.

In real estate, immersion means more than just attending a monthly company meeting.

It’s about creating a culture where the desired skill is the only option. Tony’s high-energy events are built on this—surround yourself with the mindset and strategies until they become second nature.
For Broker Owners: Are you creating an immersive, multi-day, high-energy environment for new agents to get fully steeped in your successful methodology? Are you putting your seasoned agents into intensive, focused training on the current market shift?
For Agents: You can’t just “dabble” in new lead sources or marketing tech. You need to carve out a hyper-focused period—a week, a month—where that skill is your singular focus until it becomes a habit.

You have to live the skill to master it.

3. Repetition: The Mother of Skill (and Consistency)

Tony reminds us that world-class athletes don’t stop practicing a move when they get it right; they practice until they can’t get it wrong.

In our world, this is the hardest pill to swallow because we chase the “next big thing” instead of mastering the fundamentals.

The agents who win aren’t the ones with the flashiest one-off ideas; they are the ones who are incredibly consistent in their daily lead generation, follow-up, and contract review.
For Broker Owners/CEOs: What are the three non-negotiable, high-leverage activities for your staff (recruiting, coaching, financial review) that need to be repeated daily or weekly? Are you holding them accountable to a standard of consistency, not just intensity?
For Agents: Commit to repeating your sales script, your objection handling, and your listing presentation until you are a world-class professional on autopilot.

Excellence doesn’t come from one intense, brilliant quarter—it comes from consistency over time.

These principles aren’t flashy. They’re simple. But simplicity is power when you act on it.

If you want to take your team, your business, or your commission level to the next level, ask yourself these three mastery questions:

Who can I model? (And how will I systematically copy their success?)
Where can I immerse myself? (And what environment will I create to demand my growth?)
And what can I commit to repeating until it becomes who I am?

That’s the real path to mastery in real estate. Here’s to unlocking yours. What’s the one habit you’ll start modeling today?

A System Will Produce What A System Will Produce, Nothing Less and Nothing More!

My Friday Mindset: The Foundry of Uncertainty

10/03/202509/26/2025 Mark Johnson 1 Comment

Happy Friday, everyone. As real estate broker owners, CEOs, staff, and high-producing agents, you’re all too familiar with the chase for the “sure thing”—the guaranteed closing, the proven lead source, the market you know inside and out. It feels safe, but I want to challenge that comfort zone today with a powerful idea:

“If you know something’s going to work, it’s not worth working on… The unknown is the foundry where you forge your chips. Everything important is uncertain.” – Eliot Peper

If It’s a Sure Thing, It’s Not the Work That Matters

Think about your greatest professional wins. Was it the predictable, run-of-the-mill transaction, or was it the deal that almost fell apart five times? The one where you had to invent a solution, pitch a completely new strategy, or dig deep for a resource you didn’t know you had?

If the outcome is guaranteed, the work required is just execution. It’s necessary, yes, but it doesn’t grow your business or your leadership capacity.

True growth—and lasting impact—is forged in the unknown.

The Unknown is Your Foundry

In the world of real estate, the “unknown” is everywhere:

For Agents: It’s prospecting a new neighborhood, learning a complex investment niche, or trying a radically different lead conversion script.
For Owners & CEOs: It’s investing in a new technology platform, expanding into a completely new market, or implementing a bold, unproven culture initiative.

The uncertainty isn’t a problem to be solved; it’s the forge. It’s the heat that shapes your skills into something tougher and more valuable—the “chips” you forge are the innovative processes, the resilient team, and the powerful personal courage you develop.

Embrace the Discomfort

This week, my note to self (and to all of you) is this: Embrace the discomfort of uncertainty.

Don’t just fill your time with the easy tasks. Identify one thing on your plate that has a high potential payoff but also a very real chance of failure. Lean into that ambiguity. That’s where you will find the:

Courage to make the bold call.
Faith in your own ingenuity.
Real breakthroughs that change the trajectory of your business.

Let’s dedicate this week to tackling the biggest, most uncertain challenges. That is the work that truly matters.

What is the one uncertain move you’re committing to this week that could create a breakthrough for your business?

The Myth of Collapse: Why AI Won’t Bury Your Real Estate Empire

10/01/202509/26/2025 Mark Johnson Leave a comment

A Message Inspired by Spartan Founder, Joe De Sena: To High-Grit Producers

You feel the world speeding up. AI is moving too fast. Your anxiety is valid, but it’s not new.

In 1910, people said cars were ripping life apart. In the 1800s, Americans feared “nervous collapse” from telegraphs. Plato himself warned that writing would destroy wisdom. Every generation looks at a new tool and says: this is the end of us. Every generation has been wrong.

Humans adapt. That is our superpower.

Acceleration feels terrifying because our wiring is ancient. Our instinct is to panic. You see it now in the AI debate: the fear that jobs will vanish, that agents will lose their edge. It’s the same script with a new cast.

The Truth of the Tool: You Are the Craftsman

Look at running. Critics said “super shoes” would ruin competition. Instead, athletes used the tool, reset the standard, and shattered times. That’s not collapse; that’s evolution.

In your business, AI handles the mechanical, transactional parts of the job. It automates. It doesn’t replace the craftsman, it sharpens them.

As Geoff Colvin argues in his book, Humans Are Under-rated, the market increasingly rewards skills AI cannot replicate. These are the Deep Human Connections:

Empathy: Can the machine sit across from a nervous client and build trust?
Negotiation: This is a battle of wills, psychology, and timing—not a math problem.
Creativity: For every generic algorithm, there must be a human artist bending the tool into a unique, market-cutting angle.

AI is a power tool. It frees your agents from data entry to focus on high-stakes performance and relationship building.

The Hard Way: Outbuilding Comfort with Grit

When cameras appeared, critics said painting was done. They were wrong. Today, the camera is part of the art. AI is the camera for your brokerage.

Fear is part of the human condition, but weakness isn’t inevitable.

Technology can smother you, or it can sharpen you. It depends on whether you let it own you, or you are the boss.

AI can replace your efforts, or it can multiply them. The question is whether you can build grit faster than the world builds comfort.

I’ll take the challenge over comfort everyday and twice on Sunday.

The Power of Keeping Your Eyes on the Target

09/29/202509/25/2025 Mark Johnson Leave a comment

I recently came across a quote from the legendary Estée Lauder, a woman who didn’t just build a cosmetics empire—she built a dream from the ground up. Her words really resonated with me, and I think they’ll resonate with you, too:

I’ve always believed that if you stick to a thought and carefully avoid distraction along the way, you can fulfill a dream. My whole life has been about fulfilling dreams… Whether your target is big or small, grand or simple, ambitious or personal, I’ve always believed that success comes from not letting your eyes stray from that target. Anyone who wants to achieve a dream must stay strong, focused and steady.

In a world that constantly bombards us with new trends, notifications, and “must-dos,” her message feels more important than ever. We’re all trying to achieve something, right? Whether it’s a career goal, a personal project, or simply a healthier lifestyle. But how often do we get sidetracked?

The Cost of Distraction

Think about your own goals. Maybe you want to learn a new skill, write a book, or finally declutter your home. You start with so much energy and vision. But then, a shiny new distraction appears—a trending social media challenge, a new show to binge, or just the endless scroll that eats up your time. Before you know it, days turn into weeks, and that initial momentum is gone.

Estée Lauder understood this instinctively. She didn’t have the internet, but she had her own set of distractions to fight through. The “no’s,” the competitors, the long hours. Yet, she kept her eye on the prize: making every woman feel beautiful. She knew that straying from that target, even for a moment, could derail the entire dream.

Three Ways to Stay Focused

So, how do we apply her wisdom to our busy lives?

Define Your Target, and Write It Down: Don’t just have a vague idea of what you want. Be specific. Instead of “I want to be a better writer,” try “I will write for 30 minutes every morning.” Having a clear, tangible target makes it harder to lose sight of it.
Identify Your Distractions: What are the things that pull you away from your goal? Is it your phone? A specific friend? Saying “yes” to too many things? Acknowledging your biggest distractions is the first step to avoiding them.
Embrace the “Strong, Focused, and Steady” Mindset: This isn’t just about discipline; it’s about resilience. There will be days when you feel like giving up. This is when you need to be strong. Look back at your target, remember why you started, and take the next steady step forward.

Estée Lauder didn’t just sell cosmetics; she sold a vision of confidence and beauty. And she achieved it by not letting anything get in the way. Her story is a powerful reminder that if you stick to your target, no matter how big or small, you can turn your dreams into reality.

What’s a dream you’re currently working toward?

The Silent Killer of Your Business

09/26/202509/25/2025 Mark Johnson Leave a comment

You feel it, don’t you? That low-grade anxiety humming just beneath the surface—the feeling that you’re constantly chasing something you can’t quite catch. You’ve been busy all day.

An email dings. The inbox is a constant river, but which ones are truly important? Social media sucks you in for “a quick scroll.” An hour later, you’re lost in digital noise.

By the end of the day, you’ve been busy… but what actually got done?

This is the real killer of your momentum, and it’s a problem that plagues even the best of us. You get swallowed up by the whirlwind of a thousand tiny distractions.

You see, most of the time, we’re not dealing with big, urgent problems. We’re getting lost in what Stephen Covey would call the “Urgent but Not Important” tasks—the small, non-essential stuff that demands your attention now but does nothing to move your business forward. This is where most agents, support staff, and recruiters live, constantly reacting to the demands of others while neglecting the work that truly matters.

The people who win aren’t just enduring the whirlwind; they’ve built a system that lets them stand still in the eye of the storm. They know that:

focus isn’t a luxury; it’s a keystone habit.

Think about it:

Distraction is a cost. It costs energy, opportunity, and money.
Focus pays. It pays in clarity, profitability, and peace of mind.

How to Escape the Whirlwind

It’s time to stop just being busy and start being effective. You can’t stop the whirlwind from happening, but you can build systems that protect you from it.

1. Prioritize with Covey’s Matrix

Before you open a single email or check social media, categorize your to-do list using Stephen Covey’s Four Quadrants. Ask yourself: Is this task

Urgent and Important?
Important but Not Urgent?
Urgent but Not Important? Or
Not Urgent and Not Important?

Your mission is to live in the “Important but Not Urgent” quadrant.

This is where you put your high-leverage activities—strategic planning, relationship-building, and business development. By consciously focusing on this quadrant, you’re not just reacting; you’re building a future.

2. Create “Do Not Disturb” Zones

You are a leader, a highly productive staff member, or a top-producing agent, not a 24/7 help desk. Schedule dedicated blocks of time for your most important work and treat them like non-negotiable appointments. During these times, silence your phone, close your email and social media tabs, and let those you support know you’re unavailable and when you will follow up. If you consistently follow through on your promises, “Do Not Disturb” zones will be your breakthrough. This is your time for deep, meaningful work, not reactive busywork. Protecting your calendar protects your profitability.

3. Adopt a “Profit First” Mindset

Money-making activities and relationships are always at the top of the list, but financial worry is one of the biggest distractions of all. Take control of it. When a commission check comes in, immediately move a predetermined percentage into separate accounts marked

Taxes,
Household,
Business, and
Savings.

This simple system guarantees your profitability and frees up your mental energy to focus on what matters most: growing your business.

Stop letting the whirlwind run you.

It’s time to take control.

It’s Never Crowded on the Extra Mile

09/24/202509/25/2025 Mark Johnson Leave a comment

When was the last time a service experience truly stood out to you? Not just a transaction, but a moment where someone went above and beyond and genuinely surprised you? It’s a rare feeling these days. The standard response to a “thank you” has been watered down from a heartfelt “my pleasure” to a generic “of course.” We’ve all lowered the bar, and I think we’re all a little poorer for it.
This is why I’m captivated by the quote:

“It’s Never Crowded on the Extra Mile.”

It’s more than a catchy phrase; it’s a profound business philosophy. It’s about a simple choice to do a little bit more, to invest a small amount of extra effort that pays massive dividends. These aren’t grand, show-stopping gestures. They’re the quiet, everyday actions that build real trust and set you apart.

I’ve seen this in action countless times. I know an agent who sends a small, personalized gift to her clients on the anniversary of their closing—a bottle of their favorite wine with a handwritten note. It’s a small detail, but it makes them feel remembered and valued long after the sale is complete. Another broker I know has a practice of sending a handwritten note to every agent, even those who aren’t on his team, after a difficult closing or a deal that falls through. The note doesn’t ask for business; it simply acknowledges their hard work and the emotional toll of the situation. It’s a gesture of empathy that builds a reputation that money can’t buy.

Another example that always sticks with me is a real estate team leader who, after a particularly busy month, took the time to personally call his top-performing agents. He didn’t talk numbers or goals; he just told them how much he appreciated their dedication and grit. He shared specific examples of how they handled tough situations, letting them know he sees their effort and values them as people, not just as producers.

The extra mile isn’t about being a hero; it’s about being a little more thoughtful, a little more committed, and a little more human than the next person. It’s a path with no traffic, and it leads directly to the kind of relationships that build a legacy.

The Blueprint for Mental Toughness: Four Strategies to Win the Day

09/22/202509/15/2025 Mark Johnson Leave a comment

As leaders and top performers in real estate, we know this business isn’t for the faint of heart. The market shifts, client emotions run high, and daily distractions can easily pull you off course. It’s in these moments that your mental toughness is truly tested.

I recently hosted a conversation on this very topic, and for those who couldn’t make it—or just need a quick refresher—here’s a recap of our conversation.

What Mental Toughness Really Means

Let’s clear the air: mental toughness isn’t about being a superhero who never feels doubt. It’s not about ignoring stress or pretending everything is perfect.

Instead, it’s the skill of staying focused and taking inspired action even when faced with immense pressure. It’s your ability to bounce back, adapt, and keep driving toward your goals, regardless of what’s happening around you.

The good news? This is a skill you can build. Here are four strategies to help you get there.

1. Control the Controllable

As leaders, we’re bombarded with things that are outside our control—market rumors, economic headlines, or a competitor’s actions. Wasting energy on these things is a losing game. The first step to building mental toughness is to consciously redirect your focus.

What can you control? Your attitude, your effort, your focus, and your response to any situation. By honing in on these controllable actions, you reclaim your power and put it toward productive, meaningful work.

2. Don’t Be Blindfolded

There’s a critical difference between being blindfolded and being blindsided.

When you’re blindfolded, you’re voluntarily missing the clues. You’re ignoring the early signs of a market shift, the feedback from your team, or the needs of a client. You put yourself at a disadvantage by not paying attention.

When you’re blindsided, you’re hit by something truly unexpected. In those moments, you have to lean on what you can control. Stay open and aware of what’s happening around you so you can spot the trends and prepare, rather than being caught off guard.

Speaking of which, the markets are moving. Are you giving your clients the data they need to price their homes correctly? Don’t be blindfolded. Use resources like Altos and RPR to stay ahead of the curve and give your agents the competitive edge they need.

3. Practice the Pause

In a fast-paced business, our instinct is to rush and react. A difficult email comes in, a frustrated agent calls, and we fire off a response without thinking. This often leads to mistakes and more stress.

The pause is the intentional space you create between an event and your reaction. Before you respond, take a deep breath. This small, deliberate moment gives you a chance to choose your response thoughtfully, rather than just reacting. This simple practice can completely change how you experience your day.

4. Connect to Your “Why”

When the distractions become overwhelming, the most powerful thing you can do is reconnect with your purpose. Why are you in this business? Is it to build a legacy, provide for your family, or create a world-class team?

Your “why” is your fuel. It’s what anchors you when the world gets noisy and gives you the strength to keep going when things get tough.

And there you have it: four strategies to help you win the day.

It's Not Over Until You Win — It’s Not Over Until You Win

Your Power: Own Your Activities

09/19/202509/15/2025 Mark Johnson 1 Comment

In our business, success is defined by the goals we set for ourselves. Whether it’s a specific GCI target, a number of listings you want to take, or a recruiting goal for your team, that number is personal. But what happens when you’re off track? It’s easy to blame the market, the lead quality, or the economy. We get busy, not productive, and we hope the results will magically change.

A business associate of mine was coaching an agent who was falling short of a key goal. The conversation wasn’t about judgment or threats; it was about clarity.

After reviewing the agent’s numbers and their daily activity, my associate asked a simple, yet profound, question:

“Would you rather change the goal or change the behavior?”

That question cuts through all the excuses. It forces a choice. It’s the ultimate reality check, because here’s the thing we all know but sometimes forget:

If You Don’t Own Your Activities, You Can’t Change Your Results

You can’t hit a goal you don’t actively work toward. The gap between your target and your current reality is filled with the activities you either did or didn’t do. The power to close that gap lies not in wishing for a different outcome, but in being honest about your effort.

This isn’t about shaming yourself. It’s about empowering yourself. It’s about taking control of the one thing that is always in your power: your actions.

The reset is simple.

The Reset

Take 10 minutes to look at your calendar and task list. Find a quiet spot and be honest with yourself.
Write down what you actually did. List the activities that filled your time. Did you make those follow-up calls? Did you prospect new leads? Did you get lost in email?
Ask the question: Are my activities getting me closer to my goals, or further away?

Clarity always comes before change.

When you see the truth about where your time and energy are going, you gain the power to make a strategic choice. You can either decide to adjust your behaviors to meet your goals, or you can make the honest choice to re-evaluate whether your goals are realistic for your current effort level.

That is your power. To stop being just busy and start being effective. To align your daily hustle with your ultimate destination to win the day!

Wednesday Mindset: How to Finish Any Week Stronger

09/17/202509/14/2025 Mark Johnson 1 Comment

We’ve hit the mid-week point. For many, Wednesday is where the momentum from Monday starts to fade, and the finish line on Friday still feels a little too far away. The initial energy has worn off, and you’re squarely in the thick of it—negotiations, client follow-up, team meetings, and the sheer volume of tasks that can feel overwhelming.

But what if this Wednesday could be different? What if you could harness this day to push through the noise and set yourself up for a powerful finish to the week? What if you could choose to stay in inspired action, even when the world around you feels chaotic?

That’s what Wednesday Mindset is all about. Today, we’re diving into mental toughness—not as some abstract concept, but as a practical, actionable skill that can redefine your results and your peace of mind.

What Exactly Is Mental Toughness?

Forget the idea of being an emotionless robot. That’s not what we’re after. For a brokerage owner, a dedicated staff member, a top-tier recruiter, or a high-performing agent, mental toughness is your secret weapon.

It’s the capacity to stay razor-focused on your objectives, maintain your drive, and take consistent, inspired action, regardless of the challenges or distractions thrown your way. It’s about being resilient enough to pivot when needed, resourceful enough to find solutions, and strong enough to keep pushing forward when others might falter. It’s the difference between merely reacting to your business and actively shaping it.

Ready to build that muscle? Here are three strategies to consider:

Strategy #1: Control the Controllable (And Ditch the Rest)

This one might sound obvious, but how often do we actually do it?

Think about your last few days. How much mental energy did you expend on things completely outside your sphere of influence? The latest interest rate hike? A competitor’s new commission structure? The general market sentiment?

While it’s crucial to be informed, worrying about what you cannot control is an active drain on your most valuable resource: your focus.

Action: Identify three things that have been stressing you out recently. Now, honestly ask yourself: “Can I directly change this outcome?” If the answer is no, make a conscious decision to shift your energy. Instead, funnel that intensity into what you can control: your lead follow-up, your team’s training, your strategic partnerships, your marketing message, your attitude, and your effort. This is where your true power lies.

Strategy #2: Practice the Pause

In our fast-paced world, especially in real estate, the default mode is often “react immediately.” A tough client call, a frustrating administrative issue, a sudden drop in lead quality—our instinct is to fire off a quick response, often fueled by emotion.

This strategy is simple, but profoundly effective: create a deliberate space between a stimulus and your response. I call it “the pause.”

Action: The next time you feel that surge of frustration, anger, or even just pressure, before you hit ‘send’ on that email, before you respond to that team member, or before you spiral into problem-solving mode, just pause. Take a deep breath. Count to five. This tiny window gives you the opportunity to choose a strategic, calm, and effective response, rather than an impulsive, potentially damaging one. It’s about responding with intention, not just reaction.

Strategy #3: Connect to Your “Why”

When the grind gets tough, when the market gets tricky, or when you face rejection (and in this business, we all face rejection), it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.

Your “why” is your ultimate fuel. Why did you start this brokerage? Why do you dedicate countless hours to your team? Why do you push for that next closing? Is it the freedom, the legacy, the financial independence, the impact you have on families, the growth of your agents?

Action: Take five minutes this week, away from your desk, away from your phone, and reconnect with your core purpose. Write it down. Visualize it. Remind yourself of the profound reason you show up every single day. When distractions try to pull you off course, anchor yourself back to your “why.” It will reignite your passion and provide the resilience you need to keep going, keep innovating, and keep leading.

Building mental toughness isn’t a one-and-done event. It’s a daily practice. But by intentionally implementing these three strategies—controlling the controllable, practicing the pause, and connecting to your why—you’ll not only navigate the challenges of our industry with greater ease but also find yourself consistently winning the day.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What are your go-to strategies for staying focused and resilient?

Beyond the 100%: What “Extra Credit” in the Classroom Teaches Us About “Extra Effort” in Business

09/15/202509/14/2025 Mark Johnson 1 Comment

The Two Worlds of “Extra.”

My professional life exists in two very different worlds. In one, I’m a college instructor, navigating classroom discussions and on occasion the “extra credit” opportunity. In the other, I’m a business consultant, working with high-performing recruiters, real estate agents, and the CEOs who lead them. Yet, I’ve noticed a surprising and powerful parallel between the two. The thrill a student feels from earning a bonus point is the same energy that fuels a top-producing agent who closes a difficult deal through sheer extra effort.

The parallels are incredible. The lessons I see play out in my classroom are the exact same ones I see in a top-producing brokerage.

The Upside: The ROI of Going Above and Beyond

In both college and business, the appeal of going above and beyond is simple and powerful. It’s about more than just a win; it’s about the return on your investment of time and energy.

It’s a Direct Path to the Top. In my class, that bonus report can be the difference between a B+ and an A. In your brokerage, that late night spent perfecting a listing presentation or that weekend training a new agent can lead to a promotion, a higher commission split, or a leadership role. This is how top performers create their own opportunities.
It’s How We Master Our Craft. When I give an extra credit assignment on a topic we only briefly touched on in class, I see students dig in and learn something new. The most successful agents do the same. They put in the extra time to get an advanced certification, attend a masterclass, or mentor a junior agent. They aren’t just selling houses; they’re becoming subject-matter experts.
It Builds Your Reputation. Think of the student who consistently goes the extra mile. I know who they are, and I can trust them with more responsibility. The same is true for a recruiter or a broker-owner. The agents and recruiters who invest extra effort are the ones who get the best leads and the biggest opportunities. They’ve proven their commitment.
It’s Your Safety Net. We all have an off day. For a student, a high score on an extra credit project can soften the blow of a bad midterm. In business, a history of consistent, discretionary effort can be your professional safety net. If a deal falls through or a campaign underperforms, your track record of hard work and commitment is your best defense.

The Downside: The Hidden Cost of “Extra”

While we love to celebrate the go-getters, we have to be honest about the potential downsides of a culture obsessed with “extra.” This is where many businesses fail.

It Can Devalue the Core Work. I’ve seen students who focus so much on extra credit that they neglect their core assignments. This is a huge risk in real estate, too. If you’re constantly busy with “extra” projects—networking events, side hustles, new tech—but your core business of serving clients and closing deals suffers, what’s the point? High-level performance is built on a solid foundation, not just on flash and sizzle.
It’s Not Always Fair. Not everyone can “do extra.” In my classroom, some students have full-time jobs or family obligations that make it impossible to take on an optional project. In your world, it’s the same. A parent with a sick child or an agent with a second job might be just as talented and dedicated, but they simply don’t have the bandwidth to put in extra hours. When a company’s culture starts to expect “extra” as the norm, it can create a seriously unequal playing field.
The Path to Burnout. The student who takes on every extra credit assignment is at high risk of burning out before finals. The high-performing agent who never unplugs and is always chasing the next deal is on a direct path to burnout. That’s a lose-lose for everyone. Burnout leads to mistakes, poor performance, and eventually, turnover.

Finding the Sweet Spot

My dual roles have taught me that “extra effort” is a powerful tool, but it’s not the entire strategy. For students, it’s a way to demonstrate passion, not a crutch to avoid hard work. For business clients, it’s about being strategic with their effort—using it to stand out, but not at the expense of their core business or their well-being.

The real win isn’t about chasing a grade.

It’s about building a culture—in the classroom or the office—that celebrates and rewards high-quality core performance, while valuing and empowering truly exceptional, sustainable “extra” effort. It’s about building a system where everyone can win, not just the ones who can afford to play the extra credit game.

Author: Mark Johnson