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Category: Mindset

The Power of Habits: From Thread to Cable

Mark Johnson 1 Comment

“Habits are like a rope. They start as a single thread, and with every repetition, you weave another, until they become a strong cable that is difficult to break.”

This simple idea holds a profound truth: your daily actions, no matter how small, are the building blocks of your future. Each choice to exercise, to read, to save money, or to be kind is a thread you’re adding to the rope. Over time, these small, deliberate actions compound into an unbreakable cord of positive behavior that supports you and your goals.

Winning the day isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about the small, consistent actions that, when woven together, become the foundation for a successful life.

 

Winning Is A Habit
Winning Is A Habit

The Economy and Housing, What’s Up?

Mark Johnson 1 Comment

Just received some edits from my Ph.D. friend, who is giving my textbook on the introduction to real estate economics a test drive. That got me thinking: The recession of 2023 is postponed and more likely canceled.

Moody’s Analytics has the GDP estimate for the current quarter at 3.9 percent annualized growth The Federal Reserve of Atlanta estimates growth at 5.9 percent. Either way, you slice it, healthy stats.

A point in time:

  • Unemployment is low at: 3.8%
  • Business investment: holding steady
  • Consumer spending: steady
  • Consumer sentiment: improving
  • Non-residential investment: contributed 25% of GDP growth and increasing
  • Industrial and Manufacturing: turn-around with slight improvement
  • Inflation is moderating with some disinflation for housing rent and vehicles

Housing? The challenge remains a lack of resale inventory and mortgage rates. The lack of inventory is moving homebuyers into the new home market. New residential construction is accelerating. Fun fact: NAR’s chief economist stated the resale market could absorb a 50% increase in inventory. That’s not likely to happen at current rates – thus, new home sales OR sales activity from the 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, many of whom own their homes mortgage-free.

As seasonality picks up its pace, your buyer clients will find some opportunities between now and the end of the year.

It appears the US economy has proven more robust than the pundits thought. As inflation continues to improve and when growth remains steady, that could erase the final fears of negative growth. At the end of the day, what can we control?

  • We CANNOT control the market.
  • We CANNOT control what others think.
  • We CAN control our business process.
  • We CAN control our thoughts, behaviors, and routines.

And that’s how we win the day.

–
What's Possible?
What’s Possible?

The speed of trust.

Mark Johnson Leave a comment

Trust. The speed of trust.

We had tickets to tonight’s doubleheader: Reds vs. the Angels, and I was the designated driver. My family trusted me to drive to get them back and forth safely; in fact, Tim fell asleep in route. That’s trust. Trust is so important in so many ways.

Whether it’s driving my family or friends or working with my associates, clients, and vendors, trust is everything. There’s nothing more impactful on people, their work, and their performance than trust.

Stephen Covey said it best, “You can ignore the principles that govern trust—but they will not ignore you.”

In other news, it was a tough night for the home team.

The speed of trust.
The speed of trust.

Persistence

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Here is what I know as an entrepreneur, you try 10 things, and 9 don’t work out as planned, and 1 (after tweaking it) works.

The problems entrepreneurs confront every day would overwhelm most managers.

The point? Persistence. If you believe in what problems you are solving, you keep iterating until you find the formula.

I’m in the game.

It’s not about the money… it’s the challenge of solving a problem that helps people and firms grow.

It’s the community, connection, and servant leadership.

#WinTheDay

PS: Checklist

1. Is my vision clear and compelling?
2. Are my goals defined?
3. Do I have the right strategy?
4. Can I execute the strategy?
5. Is it fun with people I love and respect?

 

Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.

Servant Leaders

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#Community
#Connection
#ServantLeadership

I posted this yesterday, and I might everyday for the next 90 days. Why? Lately it’s been the first three words when I wake, and the last three words of the day.

Servant leaders build community. They encourage friendships and provide forums for these relationships to emerge and deepen.

Servant leaders work to build strong positive relationships and are willing to accept the differences of others as a strength.

Getting the job done is not enough. Servant leaders are concerned about the health and strength of others and the overall sense of community and connection.

Servant leaders accomplish this by building relationships, community and connection.

In other news – about last night – the Angel game was postponed so we just walked around the lake and interacted with our community. Whenever I see a park bench, I always think of Forest Gump: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” yet you can always serve to make things just a little better.

By design or by default
By design vs. by default

 

The most important question? 

Mark Johnson Leave a comment

The most important question? 

“What do you really really want?” This Is really the second most important question. Say what?! The more important question is: “What are willing to give up to get it?” 

Are you willing to give up chill time for gym time? 

Are you willing to trade busy work for prospecting, business development, or recruiting? 

Write a book? Are you willing to give up what you usually do from 7 to 9 pm and go to the library instead? 

I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I really, really want.

I’ll give up whatever it takes to ______ (fill in the blank)

To get _________, (fill in the blank) I’ll do whatever it takes.

When you are willing to do whatever it takes, you’ll earn want you really want.

What's Possible?
What’s Possible?

Onward and Upward.

Mark Johnson Leave a comment

“Onward and upward” is a mindset that requires a few key ingredients: optimism, empathy, curiosity and action.

  • Optimism is the ability to overcome adversity despite the circumstances.
  • Empathy is the ability to understand situations from another’s perspective with no judgment. The ability to choose to respond rather than to react.
  • Curiosity. To be effective be curious: curious about how people are feeling, curious about why things happen, curious about the future, curious about steps to take to navigate difficult waters.
  • Action. The winners are the doers. Talk is cheap, action speaks.

When we make changes by design vs. default we can craft a future the supports the growth we deserve.

Perfection is not a standard, progress is.

With 80 to 90 working days left in 2023 I’m opening up 10 slots for “what’s possible” strategy sessions. Because it’s not how you start the game it’s how you finish.

Onward and upward.

What's Possible?
What’s Possible?

Be The Voice Of Reason

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A favorite and a classic.

Be The Voice Of Reason

Human nature craves the exchange of information. When that exchange turns unproductive try this 4 step approach:

  • Understand the difference between valid information and gossip.
  • If gossip nip it in the bud
  • If gossip change the subject
  • If gossip confront the individual

Keep the strategies above in mind so when you’re confronted with a gossipy associate, you have the checklist to respond appropriately.

Doing The Right Thing

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One of my lawyer friends quoted Carl Sandburg today:

“If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.”

My take? Doing the right thing is always the right thing and good business. “Make it right” and “Honor your commitments” is one of the best mantras ever.

Thoughts?

Doing the right thing is always the right thing.
Doing the right thing is always the right thing.

What I Learned About Business In My Golf Lesson

Mark Johnson Leave a comment

I was reviewing some golf lesson notes and thinking this applies to business, hobbies, and life, yes?!

  • Thoughts precede motion.
  • Visualize what you want (see it, feel it, trust it).
  • Manage your mental state & those things that get you ready to perform at your best.
  • Being comes first; doing second (who do you need to be?) 
  • Routine is ALL about confidence.
  • Choose confidence over comfort.
  • Tempo, rhythm, and balance.
–
What's Possible?
What’s Possible?
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