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?
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.
For my friends in real estate and my friends that are buyers and sellers… some real estate market observations thanks to my friends over at Altos:
We all know that a change in mortgage rates reduces the real estate sales rate and vice versa. With the highest mortgage rates in 20 years, a few observations:
35% of sellers are taking a price decline from the initial sales price, which is ticking up slightly. Austin, Texas, has the highest level of price cuts, with nearly 50% of listed homes with a price cut. The lowest? Irvine, California, at 15% of homes listed.
There are 10% fewer homes on the market now than this time last year. The inventory of homes for sale tends to peak at the end of August – yet not this year with higher rates – inventory might continue to rise past normal seasonality.
Late August Observations…
Unsold homes ticked up this week.
Inventory gain week over week is the highest in a few months – and good news for your buyers that can afford to buy
The sales rate has slowed; part seasonality and part rates.
On a national basis, 365K homes are in contact right now, up a fraction vs. last week.
However, new pending sales this week were 63K vs. 70K last year.
As we enter into seasonality, the trend to look for – how quickly will new pending sales shrink? Will it be more significant than normal seasonality? That is the stat I’ll be watching.
One bright spot – 10,000 Americans turn 65 daily and are typically cash buyers when they downsize or move closer to family.
“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.
“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.
Research by the University of London reveals that our IQ drops by five to 15 points when we are multitasking.
In his book, Your Brain at Work, David Rock explains that performance can decrease by up to 50% when a person focuses on two mental tasks at once.
And research led by legendary Stanford University professor Clifford Nass concluded that distractions reduce the brain’s ability to filter out irrelevancy in its working memory.
So, what do you need to stop doing? Start doing? More of and less of?
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.
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” – Max de Pree
This powerful quote by Max de Pree highlights the multifaceted role of a leader. Defining reality isn’t about creating a fantasy world; it’s about understanding the current situation, identifying challenges and opportunities, and setting a clear direction for the team.
For business leaders, defining reality often boils down to understanding the core drivers of success. Here are three crucial realities that top performers consistently embrace:
Lead Generation Drives Revenue: This is the fundamental truth of any sales-driven business. Without a consistent flow of qualified leads, there are no appointments, no sales, and ultimately, no revenue. This isn’t just about “moneyball” tactics; it’s about recognizing that lead generation is the lifeblood of your business.
Relationships Fuel Growth: The size and quality of your network and client database directly impact the size of your business. Building strong relationships, nurturing leads, and delivering exceptional service are essential for long-term growth. This requires creative marketing campaigns and genuine connection with your audience.
Consistency is Key: Consistent effort over time is the most powerful driver of success. It’s not about occasional bursts of activity; it’s about showing up day after day, week after week, and consistently implementing your strategies. This consistent effort builds momentum, strengthens relationships, and ultimately leads to sustainable results.
Leadership in Action:
A leader’s role is to define these realities for their team, provide the necessary resources and support, and foster a culture of consistent action. This means:
Setting clear expectations and goals related to lead generation, relationship building, and consistent effort.
Providing training and resources to help the team excel in these areas.
Holding the team accountable for their performance.
Recognizing and rewarding consistent effort and results.
By embracing these realities and leading with a servant’s heart, you can create a high-performing team and achieve sustainable business success. And that is how we win the day!
