Category: Real Estate Sales

America’s happiest cities. Researchers for decades have studied the science of happiness and concluded that some of the key ingredients include: a positive mental state (a growth mindset); strong social connections; job satisfaction; health, and financial stability. One study suggests the incremental amount of happiness stops at around $75,000 of annual income.

WalletHub examined every state and 182 US cities using 30 criteria and created a list of the happiest cities.

The Top 5 Overall Result: 

1. Fremont, California
2. San Jose, Californina
3. Madison, Wisconsin
4. Overland Park, Kansas
5. San Fransico, California

For Community The Top 5 Result: 

1. Freemont, California
2. Scottsdale, Arizona
3. Cape Coral, Florida
4. Port St. Lucie, Florida
5. Nashua, New Hampshire

Many factors affect our happiness, so the study included a panel of experts who commented on various aspects of happiness, like:

• Can money buy happiness? No. The consensus: it’s far more important to have a sense of purpose and a way to give back.
• Does happiness increases or decrease with age? Yes. The consensus seemed to be a trend of more happiness in younger and older individuals and less in the 40 and 50 age group! Maybe the burden of providing for the family?
• Does where you live influence happiness? The consensus was yes with a footnote. So research suggests it’s not about the place, but the match between the place and who you are as a person combined with the family and friend connections.

I’ve lived in 8 states (VA, CO, TX, KY, OH, MI, CA, and MN) and 10 cities, and what I’ve found? Grow where you are planted! Every city, state, and region has a history, a story and a community. As I recall, Abraham Lincoln said it best:

“You are as happy as you choose to be.”

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” ~ Stephen Covey

Have you ever worked backward from Friday? At the end of the week, imagine you are sitting down and looking back…what would make this week great?

We can’t control the market this week, yet we can control the daily activities that lead to our expected outcomes.

I’m sure you would agree – without a doubt – we are in uncertain times. The paradox is this: we need both uncertainty and certainty in our business. Yet, from the conversations I’ve had this week, we have more uncertainty than certainty. How can we create more certainty?

Get Clear On What You Really Want.

• Create a picture of what you really want
• Envision it.
• See how it makes you feel.
• Does it move you into action?

You know this is really clear when your purpose resonates and moves you emotionally.

Make It Part Of Everyday!

• Create a daily action checklist and follow it
• What’s the ONE routine you must do every day to win the day?
  • Example: P.E.D.S.
    • Prayer
    • Exercise
    • Diet
    • Sleep
  • What are the one or two activities that move the needle?
    • Marketing that creates NEW appointments
    • Building and maintaining relationships
    • Servicing existing clients and prospects
    • Anticipating and solving problems BEFORE they arise
    • Completing that project
    • Closing open loops
  • Is it all in your calendar?

Have a strategy for when you feel stuck or lost.

• “If I don’t do this, this is what it will cost me,” or
• “If I do this, then this is what I can gain.”
• “I don’t feel like it” can be turned into “I’ll do it anyway.”

If you show up for the day with no structure in your calendar and decide to do “urgent” tasks like returning calls and texts and checking Facebook, those activities will expand and eat up all the time you hoped to devote to more “important” activities. You will end the day unfulfilled and have more uncertainty. Get clear on what you want, make it part of your everyday routine, and have a plan for when you feel stuck or lost. That is a winning formula.

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities.