Today’s mindset. Jack Canfield said it best:
You only have control over three things in your life:
1. The thoughts you think,
2. The images you visualize, and
3. The actions you take.
In other news. I told Bev earlier, “True character comes out in the parking lot when you are a few minutes late, and you think someone took your parking spot!”
Today’s mindset:
“Being in motion and taking action sound similar, yet they are different.”
Motion is when you’re busy doing something, but that task will never produce an outcome by itself.
Action, on the other hand, is the type of behavior that will get you a result.
If I outline 20 ideas for articles I want to write, that’s motion. If I actually write and publish an article, that’s action.
What action do you need to take today? (Hint for most of us: create 1 or more new appointments.)
The Great Stay, Why Homeowners Are Staying Put
For our recruiting and attracting clients, the future is bright for agent growth.
As my business partner Ben Hess – a sailor, says – “fair winds and following seas:” A well-known phrase in the maritime world that means the wind and sea will likely be going in your direction.
October 2024 Commentary
Jobs and real estate work together… has that changed? My business acquaintance Mike Simonsen from Altos Research coined the term “the Great Stay.” In summary, Mike states:
The great stay for jobs and real estate.
The outlook? On a National basis, Ralph McLaughlin, Senior Economist, Realtor.com, said, “We expect the economy to land softly and housing inventory to continue to recover. This should put downward pressure on mortgage rates this fall and winter and set the stage for a much better season for homebuyers in 2025.”
Bankrate did a survey that indicated “More Than Half of Homeowners Would Be Motivated to Buy With Rates Under 6% while 33% Of Sellers Would Be Motivated Below 6%.” Some are projecting that this rate scenario could occur in the first quarter of 2025.
Some additional highlights?
My takeaway?
Happy business development!
And we all know the “R” in CRM is relationship!
Sometimes, these distractions come from A.N.T.S.: ants, say what? Automatic negative thoughts… (l learned this from Dr. Daniel Amen).
Let’s face it—agent recruiting and attraction are hard work and typically play out in the long game. They require frequent repetition of proactive tasks with infrequent positive feedback, which is fertile soil for negative thoughts and doubts.
The antidote? Complimentary resources from Recruiting Insight!
We’ve put together a library of resources to enhance your recruiting and attraction game – click here – to check it out.
What if… we didn’t fight distraction? We just made them irrelevant.
Winter is coming!
The next 12 weeks:
Your revenue runs at the speed of trust.
Think about it: as trust increases, speed increases, and cost decreases.
What if, over the next 12 weeks, we all built more trust by:
Trust is your brand.
That’s how we win the day, the month, and the rest of 2024 into 2025.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ Nelson Mandela
Like fire, water, technology, medicine, and sunlight, many aspects of our business and lives have dual potentials. They can be incredibly beneficial when used wisely and within limits, but they can also become harmful if mismanaged or overused.
It’s a balancing act that requires awareness and responsibility.
Business often throws us into situations where we feel stuck, unsure of the next step. Whether it’s a career decision, a personal dilemma, or just a general sense of being lost, not knowing what to do can be incredibly frustrating.
Here are some strategies to help you navigate these uncertain times:
Focus on Ends, Not Means
When you’re unsure of what to do, it can be helpful to shift your focus from the process to the outcome. Ask yourself, “What do I ultimately want to achieve?” By clarifying your end goals, you can better evaluate the different paths available to you. This approach helps you stay flexible and open to various methods of reaching your desired outcome.
Focus on Your Values
Your values are your internal compass. When you’re lost, they can guide you back to a path that feels right. Take some time to reflect on what truly matters to you. Is it honesty, creativity, family, or something else? Aligning your actions with your core values can provide a sense of direction and purpose, even when the way forward isn’t clear.
Keep Taking Action – Even If It’s Just One Small Step
Inertia can be paralyzing. When you don’t know what to do, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Even a small step can create momentum. Break down your larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Completing these smaller tasks can build confidence and provide clarity on what to do next.
Talk It Out/Get a Second Opinion
Sometimes, the best way to find clarity is to talk it out with someone you trust. A fresh perspective can offer insights you hadn’t considered. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or mentor, getting a second opinion can help you see your situation from a different angle and may reveal new solutions.
Trust Your Feelings/Gut
Your intuition is a powerful tool. While it’s important to gather information and consider your options, don’t discount your gut feelings. Often, your subconscious mind picks up on things that your conscious mind might miss. Trusting your instincts can lead you to choices that align with your true self.
Sleep, Hydrate, Rest
Never underestimate the power of basic self-care. When you’re tired, dehydrated, or stressed, your ability to think clearly is compromised. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and taking time to rest. Sometimes, a good night’s sleep can bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy to tackle your challenges.
It’s okay not to have all the answers right away. The important thing is to keep moving forward.
Feeling lost or unsure is a natural part of business. By focusing on your end goals, aligning with your values, taking small steps, seeking advice, trusting your intuition, and taking care of your basic needs, you can navigate through uncertainty with greater ease.
What’s on my mind? Grit.
Grit: Courage and resolve; strength of character.
Angela Duckworth said it well, “At various points, in big ways and small, we get knocked down. If we stay down, grit loses. If we get up, grit prevails. Grit and self-control are related but are not the same thing.”
How to get “gritty?” Duckworth identified 5 ways:
1. Pursue Your Interests: Find something that genuinely fascinates you. Passion fuels perseverance.
2. Practice Deliberately: Embrace mistakes and setbacks as part of the learning process. You’ll make errors when you practice, but that’s how improvement happens. View frustration positively—it’s a sign of growth.
3. Clarity of Goals: Be crystal-clear about your ultimate goal and align smaller goals with it. Clarity helps maintain focus and commitment.
4. Make Your Work Meaningful: Seek ways to infuse purpose into your tasks. Even minor adjustments can make your work feel more fulfilling.
5. Practice Optimistic Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with enabling thoughts. Encourage yourself during challenges.
Duckworth said, “Grit isn’t fixed—it’s something you can develop over time as you keep pushing forward.”
Onward and upward to win the day.
Two of my three sons are proud UC Irvine Anteaters (the other a Banana Slug), but today, I’m delving into a different kind of ‘ant’—the kind that can infest our minds.
Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Daniel Amen. It was from him that I learned about the concept of Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), a term he coined in the early 1990s. The origin story of ANTs is as intriguing as it is enlightening.
After a particularly challenging day at his office, filled with sessions from suicidal patients to couples locked in conflict, Dr. Amen returned home only to find his kitchen overrun by ants. This infestation sparked a realization: just as ants had invaded his home, his patients’ minds were besieged by ANTs, stripping away their joy and commandeering their happiness.
Dr. Amen’s insights extend beyond mere observations. In his book about the brain’s profound influence on our well-being, he elucidates how each thought triggers a chemical reaction in our brains. Negative thoughts—be they sad, hopeless, or angry—prompt our brains to release chemicals that induce physical discomfort: hands turn clammy, muscles tense up, heart rates spike, and breathing shallows. Moreover, such thoughts can dampen the activity in our frontal and temporal lobes, impairing judgment, learning, and memory.
Conversely, positive thoughts have the power to release a different set of chemicals that promote a sense of physical ease and mental clarity. A happy or hopeful thought can warm your hands, relax your muscles, steady your heart, deepen your breath, and enhance your brain’s performance.
So, how do we combat ANTs?
Dr. Amen identifies several species of negative thought patterns, each with its own destructive tendencies:
The Path Forward:
When negative emotions surge, take a moment to jot down your thoughts. Identify the ANT at play and confront it. Challenging these negative thoughts diminishes their influence, reclaiming control over your mind and emotions.
Accept, Reflect, and Redirect!
“Onward and upward” is a mindset that requires optimism, empathy, curiosity, and action.
When we make changes by design vs. default, we can craft a future that supports the growth we deserve.
Perfection is not a standard; progress is.
With 85 working days—19 Mondays—remaining in 2024, 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.