10 Ways To Take Responsibility In Business + What Is Parkinson’s Law
And Why Should You Care?
The top 10 list for taking more responsibility in your business… starting with number 10:
Ten: Take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, words and actions.
Nine: Blame less.
Eight: Complain less.
Seven: Refuse to take anything personally.
Six: Make yourself happy.
Abraham Lincoln said this more than 150 years ago, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
Five: Live more in the present moment.
Four: Use the power of intention.
Three: Work expands to the time allocated (Parkinson’s Law)
Two: Start with and assume positive intent.
One: What would #1 be for you?
What would #1 be? How about: “Don’t place your monkey on my back?”
What is Parkinson’s Law?
Parkinson’s Law is the old adage that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.
The term was first coined by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in a humorous essay he wrote for “The Economist” in 1955. He shares the story of a woman whose only task in a day is to send a postcard – a task which would take a busy person approximately three minutes. But the woman spends an hour finding the card, another half hour looking for her glasses, 90 minutes writing the card, 20 minutes deciding whether or not to take an umbrella along on her walk to the mailbox … and on and on until her day is filled.
Deadlines can cause procrastination or even prompt people to fill their time with trivial matters.
Implication?
One: Assign a “time limit” to everything. Example: in the next hour, I will complete ____. If you say, it will take 30 minutes to get your shipping done or 90 minutes, both are right. The work will expand to the time given. Allocate your time!
Two: Putting projects into the context of larger goals and creating timelines in days rather than weeks are two strategies to help overcome Parkinson’s Law.
During the COVID lockdown, I wrote a blog titled, “Doing The Right Thing Is Always The Right Thing,” today’s unveiling of the recent lawsuit settlements brought that to mind.
I’m writing this from Tahoe, where I was part of a panel with the Realty Alliance on scaling your business. All the companies attending are the best of the best, yet some have 100 years or more of operations. You create a 100-year enterprise by always doing the right thing.
Some 20 years ago, I worked with buyers, and a co-op commission came up that was $1.00. Because I had adequately educated my buyer clients, I could show homes of any commission level—the right thing.
Today’s news released by all the major real estate news outlets summarizes some of the settlement points; only one is breaking news, in my view. The summary:
Significant
Redfin no longer requires agents to be NAR members.
Anywhere, company-owned operations no longer require NAR membership and encourage franchisees to do the same.
REMAX company-owned regions no longer require NAR membership and encourage franchisees to do the same.
Note: in most areas there is no procedure to have a hybrid membership brokerage – you are all in or all out.
Implication: Significant policy discussion at the local associations. And the decoupling of NAR, state associations, and MLS. The watch out – this could be like CPA’s not having GAP (generally accepted accounting principles). The wild wild West will not serve the consumer.
I’m a fan of the local and state associations and NAR. I see the value, the advocacy, the standards, the services like RPR, economic reports and research and so much more. More on this in another post.
I’m also a fan of freedom of choice… those who deliver the most value will not struggle to maintain members.
The Right Thing – Nothing Really New
The settlements also include the following:
Anywhere will prohibit their brokerages and agents from claiming buyer agent services are free and will also require agents to include the listing broker’s offer of compensation for prospective buyers’ agents as soon as possible in each active listing.
Agents must disclose that commissions are entirely negotiable and not set by law.
No minimum commission requirements
No technology or manual method that enables the sorting of listings by commissions offered.
The implication here? Nothing new – for over 20 years I’ve taught my agents to do the same, and executed my practice with these principles. Bringing these practices to a higher level of awareness is a good thing. Yet here is what I know, those who deliver the most value will not struggle to create thriving real estate practices.
For the vast majority of my REALTOR® colleagues – regardless of your brands position – is leadership and service not abdication. Get involved and be the change you want to see.
75% of the year is over… it’s time for a quarterly business and operations review! Is it scheduled? I have a powerful 21 question business review – info@winningtheday.blog
Are you ahead, behind or on track with your goals? In any case “declare it perfect and move forward powerfully.”
Review what’s working, what’s not. Make the adjustments, and keep moving forward.
Basic agenda:
Mission, vision, values and stakeholders – any adjustments?
Key KPI s
What’s work working What’s not
Start, start, more, less
Action steps (no more than 2)
The results will happen – as long as we are all willing to execute the daily activities, track the results, make the changes to the behaviors and engage an accountability partner.
Are you nterested or committed to what’s left of this year?
I ran across a YouTube video – Good with Jocko Willink– that reminded me of my good friend and mentor, Tom Ferry.
Tom and I were blessed to travel and work together on many projects, and I noticed one day when something did not go as planned, he said one simple yet powerful word:
Perfect!
Mark, declare it perfect. Good, bad, or indifferent, Tom would declare it perfect.Something didn’t go our way? Perfect – more time to get better! Unexpected challenges, perfect: we have the opportunity to figure out a solution. It was an intentional mindset and the opposite mindset of many people I know.
It’s an enabling core belief. I was thinking you and I don’t need a new market, a new tool, or a new widget. We need an upgrade to our belief system.
Perfect!
So maybe today, do as George did in Seinfeld Season 5, Episode 22 do the opposite. Or, like Tom does, declare it perfect. And that’s how you’ll win the day.
Tuesday mindset: I’m not sure who counted, but research says we can have as many as 60,000 thoughts a day.
Go figure: The person we have the most dialog with is ourselves.
The implication? Ask a better question and get a better answer.
Examples:
What can I learn from this? vs. Why does this always happen to me?
Why do I never have enough money? vs. How will I set aside more money for my emergency fund next time? What can I do differently that will make it easier?
Over time, if we are not aware of our self-talk, questions included become a cyclical habit — and, more often than not, a negative one.
With some intention, you and I can turn that around to win the day.
When it comes to growing your real estate business, all the folks I work with have ambitious ideas for growth. Yet, have you stopped to consider that trying to execute too many goals at one time is a barrier to your success? As you and I know, the only way to ensure your ideas for growth succeed is to have a very clear plan of action.
For me, in sports and business, I’ve found success in 90-day sprints.
Whether it is completing the LA marathon or starting a new division of my company, I’ve used 90-day springs. For me, 90 days is long enough to stay engaged, yet not so long it seems out of sight.
Yet, for some of my clients, 90 days is an eternity. For my friend and mentor – a recovering alcoholic – early in his journey, he would say 1 day at a time is too long; some days, I work one minute at a time.
So, if 90 days is too long for you, pick your time: 1 day; 1 week, or 1 month the same concepts outlined here can apply.
So, where do I start? I’d suggest a 7-step approach:
Close the gap. Assess your current state. Where are you, and where do you want to be? In real estate, which one of the 16 factors will create the most momentum for you?
Choose your goals and actions.
Plan your days and weeks.
Block your time.
Find an accountability partner.
Review, reflect, and redirect.
Step one
What is your vision? Your goal? Your outcome? Are your goals – between now and the end of the year – well defined and measurable?
What are your financial expectations and your milestones for success?
What key performance indicators and targets, such as new appointments created and appointment conversion rates, will help drive you forward?
Step two
Assess your current state using a gap analysis. Where are you now, and where do you want to be? Now this is where so many of my clients go overboard.
As type A’s, we want to close the gap on everything and do it now. Step back and think, “Less is more!” I’ve had more success with a singularity of focus.
Step three
Only you can choose your goals and actions. One exercise I’ve always found helpful is the red light and green light exercise:
What do I need to STOP doing?
What do I need to START doing?
What can I do LESS of?
What can I do MORE of?
This can lay the foundation for a perfect 90-day sprint.
Step four
The perfect day exercise. What does a perfect day look like for you? What would your daily routine look like? This is the foundation for your 90-day sprint.
Step five
Time blocking and the daily action checklist. I use a hybrid of the David Allen “Getting Things Done” or GTD and time blocking to manage and prioritize my tasks and projects.
On the other end of the spectrum is Elon Musk: Even though many people point to Elon Musk’s ‘superhuman’ ability to focus without distractions or his freakish level of genius, he states that time blocking is the explanation for his effective time management.
Elon Musk 5 5-minute rule is his secret sauce. It makes you divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing one or more tasks, allowing you to have a concrete schedule that lays out what you will work on and when.
Step six
Let’s face it, the number one tactic you and I can execute to exponentially grow our business is accountability. The top three barriers to accountability:
Lack Of Definite Expectations
Low Engagement
Fear of Failure
My formula?
Clarity On What You’re Accountable For and Who You’re Accountable To
Be Honest With Yourself & Everyone Else
See It.
Own It.
Solve It.
Do It.
Step seven
Review, reflect, and redirect.
In the business world, the term “debrief” frequently has had a negative bias associated with it, probably because it is used only when there’s a mistake, a negative outcome, or a fault to find. Yet such a fear-based approach is the opposite of how Blue Angels pilots structure their training, practice, and subsequent success. On the contrary, their goal is to drive fear out of the organization.
The best pilots in the world. Blue Angels pilots create a safe environment for debriefing, where they open and share their wisdom of success and failure side by side. It’s something elite teams know well.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels use a debrief tool at the end of every single day. It is built into their culture. You might wonder why, if you had a great performance, you would need to deconstruct it.
In sports and in business alike, debriefing sessions have led to wins and increased bottom lines. And the benefits can be even greater. In the right setting, debriefs have the power to save lives. The extreme environment within which Blue Angels pilots perform airborne acrobatics demands effective debriefs—both for the safety of the pilots and spectators.
How often do you debrief wins and losses and capture key learnings to incorporate into your process?
Wrapping up:
The 90-day sprint is all about stretching your ambition. My experience with 1,000 of clients and connections is your growth goals need to be realistic, yet they should stretch you just a little beyond your comfort zone and what you think is possible.
You have a lot to share with this world. So, make this 90-day sprint ambitious. You know it’s perfect if it scares you.
Here is what I know, it is easy to overestimate what you can do in a single week, and that can often leave you feeling like you’re just not making progress on the things you want. However, you can totally underestimate what is possible in a 90-day sprint. So, surprise yourself.
“Habits start out as a thin thread and end up being a strong cable.”
This simple analogy perfectly captures the power of consistent actions. Small, daily choices, whether good or bad, compound over time to shape our lives. Focus on weaving strong threads of positive habits: consistent exercise, dedicated work time, mindful reflection. These small threads will eventually become the strong cables that support your success. That that is how you can win the day!
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.
This is especially true when it comes to continuous improvement in business. Recently, I’ve been working with a client, listening in on sales calls and conducting role-playing sessions. The insights gained from these activities are truly priceless. But the real magic happens after the activity, during the debrief.
In the business world, “debrief” often carries a negative connotation. It’s frequently associated with mistakes, failures, and blame. This fear-based approach is counterproductive. The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron offers a powerful alternative perspective.
The Blue Angels, known for their precision and flawless aerial maneuvers, understand the critical importance of debriefing. After every flight—whether a practice session or a public performance—they conduct a thorough debriefing process. Their goal isn’t to assign blame but to identify areas for improvement and drive fear out of the organization.
Why is debriefing so effective?
Accelerated Learning: Debriefing allows you to extract valuable lessons from every experience, both positive and negative. It transforms experience into expertise.
Improved Performance: By identifying areas for improvement, you can make adjustments and enhance your performance in future endeavors.
Enhanced Teamwork: Debriefing fosters open communication and collaboration, strengthening team cohesion.
Reduced Errors: By analyzing past mistakes, you can prevent them from recurring.
Increased Confidence: When you consistently learn and improve, you build confidence in your abilities.
How to Conduct an Effective Debrief:
Here are some key principles inspired by the Blue Angels:
Focus on Facts, Not Blame: Stick to objective observations and avoid assigning blame. For example, instead of saying “You messed up the closing,” try “The closing rate was lower than expected. Let’s analyze the factors that contributed to that.”
Encourage Open Communication: Create a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives.
Start with the Positives: Begin by acknowledging what went well. This sets a positive tone and reinforces successful strategies.
Identify Areas for Improvement: Focus on specific actions that could be improved in the future.
Create Actionable Steps: Develop concrete steps to implement the identified improvements.
Document the Learnings: Keep a record of the key takeaways from each debriefing session.
Applying Debriefing to Sales Calls and Role-Playing:
When debriefing sales calls or role-playing sessions, consider these questions:
What were the strengths of the call/role-play?
What could have been done differently?
What specific strategies or techniques were effective?
What objections or challenges were encountered, and how were they handled?
What are the key takeaways for future calls/role-plays?
By adopting a structured debriefing process, you can transform every experience into a valuable learning opportunity and propel your business forward. Make every Monday—and every activity—count. And that is how we win the day!
