Real Estate Truths and Myths

real estate truths mythsThere are two kinds of people: Those who say, “I will believe it when I see it.” And those who say, “To see it, I know I must believe it.” ~ From The Secret ~

Recently I was away on a vacation and had time to dive into some great books. I just had to share with you some great nuggets from one of my good friends Richard Robbins. Richard personally sent me a copy of his new book Deliver the Unexpected, a Business Fable and 6 Other New Truths for Business Success. I cannot say enough about this book and would recommend anyone in real estate or business in general to take the time to really enjoy this great story. Without ruining the book for you I want to share the 7 powerful myths and the even more powerful 7 Truths for business success……

Truth # 1 – The Future Myth (The Challenge with Setting Goals) A great goal doesn’t motivate us from the outside in. it inspires us from the inside out. The problem is most people have been conditioned to define only the goal and not doing anything to move toward their goal. Example – Road Trip or Holiday. We research the route, buy a few maps, and get excited about the trip. Until you put in the mileage every day a goal is just that… A distant point that you never reach. You can’t drive from New York to LA without getting in the car and driving. Myth – Goals create success by telling us where to arrive tomorrow. Truth – Goals create success by telling us what to do today. Focus on the “DO” and the actions of your goals.

Truth #2 The Knowledge Myth (Knowledge is Power) Example – A woman was held back because of not having a degree or diploma. Ironically, the knowledge that degree (piece of paper) represents is available for free in a library or online. You can have the degree and the knowledge and still not be successful. It isn’t the knowledge that matters but what you do with it that makes all the difference. People allow their lack of knowledge to hold them back, never reaching their potential. Robbins says get over the knowledge and get into the business of doing. Myth- Success comes from knowing what to do. Truth –Success comes from doing more of what we already know. Don’t worry about what you don’t know about not having a degree in real estate. Focus on doing more with what you already know.

Truth #3The Failure Myth (Fear of Failure) The fear of failure has its purpose, but it is not to reach success. The fear of failure will only take us so far and that is survival. There are so many things we can do in real estate that we don’t because we are afraid to fail or of being rejected and worried about not doing them perfectly. The key to getting comfortable and making progress is to fail more by trying more. This is how to gain the experience needed for success. Example – Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first job telling her she was not fit for television. Walt Disney was fired as a newspaper editor telling him he had no imagination. J.K Rowling author Harry Potter was on welfare and Seinfeld froze up and was booed off stage in his first year as a stand-up comedian. Myth – Failure is the opposite of success Truth – Failure is the path to achieve success

Truth #4The Abundance Myth (Giving vs. Having) What is your intention? Your intention with clients is not to get their business, land a listing, and make a sale. It is to serve people… to help others get what they need… help them achieve their goals. People implicitly trust you when they know you have their best interest at heart. That is how an abundance future is created. Example – What are some of the most affluent people doing with their money today? For example, Bill Gates, BONO from U2, Warren Buffet who are focusing on giving back not on what they have. Myth – Abundance is defined by what we have. Truth – Abundance is defined by what we give.

Truth #5The Value Myth (What do You Value?) Example – It’s Valentine’s Day. You buy your wife flowers. You bring home the flowers and she says “thank-you”… YAWN! Doing the same old thing once a year isn’t that original right? So how would you increase your value next Valentines? How about taking the time to order her favorite flower (TIP: you first need to find out what that flower is) and have them delivered with an anonymous note that says “Get dressed up tonight”… Then have a limo arrive to pick her up where you are waiting to wine and dine her. Think she will feel “valued” this year? Deliver the unexpected in your business as well. Myth – Value is delivering more of what people want. Truth – Value is created by delivering the unexpected.

Truth #6 The Attraction Myth (Challenge Have-Do-Be Mindset) Example – We believe we need to have more time in order to exercise and to be healthy. Or we think when I earn more money, then I will save more and then I can be more financially responsible. But these beliefs are backwards…… If you begin to be financially responsible now then your intention and behavior changes and you will make your bill payments, save, and invest which will then change what you have financially. These actions change your beliefs about money and success which in turn will change what you “have”. BE – DO – HAVE Myth – We attract into our lives what we want to have. Truth – We attract into our lives who we are.

Truth #7The Happiness Myth (Have vs. Be) Being happy isn’t a myth but having happiness is. Everyone is striving for happiness like happiness is a thing, something you can buy or have… but it is not. Happiness is something we choose in any moment. You can’t have happiness; you can only be it. “Choosing to be happy is so difficult sometimes but at the same time is so liberating” ~ Missy Jenkins ~ (Missy is in a wheelchair for life after being shot in a high school shooting) Myth – You can have happiness Truth – You can’t have happiness. You can only be it.

Thank you Rich Robbins for sharing this great fable and these powerful Success principles… I hope they will impact you and your real estate success in 2023.

Strength and courage,
Wade

How To Increase Capacity To Take More Action

realtors increase capacity take more action“I wish I could do more.” I hear that statement a lot from agents. The demands on their time, their skills, and their presence are always escalating, always making it seem like there’s never enough of them to go around. Usually, the emphasis is on the more in that sentence: I wish I could do moreMore listings, more sales, more marketing, more emails and calls. The escalation is in outputs, checked-off boxes that make those around us feel better. We end up scheduling ourselves to the nth degree, increasing our activity while not necessarily increasing our accomplishment.

The more that we’re chasing isn’t wrong. It’s part of our journey as we grow, we expand our capacity, and with expanded capacity comes increased output. But increasing our output doesn’t correlate with increasing our impact—sometimes, to do more, we need to do different. There are three steps you must take to expand your capacity to act:

1. STOP Doing Only Those Things You’ve Done Before and START Doing Only Those Things You Could and Should Do – The first step toward success is becoming good at what you know how to do, but once you’ve mastered what you know, you begin to discover other things you could do. Doing what you’ve done before increases your efficiency, but it doesn’t do much for your capacity. Doing new things leads to innovation and new discoveries, which yields new things that you should be doing—things that likely replace those things you’ve done before.

2. STOP Doing What is Expected and START Doing What is Unexpected – Let me go ahead and clear this up: what most people never expect is to have their expectations exceeded. What others define as a ceiling, you define as a floor, and then seek to go up from there. Being an agent who gives in to the inertia of the daily routine, the same old same old, may allow you to be efficient but it will never allow you to be effective. You must push past the minimum and seek to do something beyond what’s expected. Show up early. Stay late. Listen well. Praise more. Reward faithfully. Share willingly.

3. STOP Doing Important Things Occasionally and START Doing Important Things Daily – If it’s important, it’s worth doing. That’s the leader’s mindset. Yet so often we surrender our time to the urgent or the pressing or the “needed” instead of to what’s important. To do what’s not important each day yields nothing for you or your leadership; it merely uses up your time. And to do what’s important only occasionally doesn’t lead to the consistency that compounds into results. You must do what is important daily if you want to achieve expansion in your capacity.

Have you been feeling the pressure to do more as an agent? If so, let me encourage you to intentionally invest time in expanding your capacity to act. Doing the things you should be doing, doing them beyond anyone’s expectations, and doing it daily is the key to expanding your capacity in ways you can’t yet imagine. The world is not made better by our intentions; it is made better by our intentional actions. As business owners, we must do more, but we must do more of what makes us better. We must increase our capacity for helpful and productive action.

 

Strength and courage,
Wade

Are You Battling With Self Doubt?

realtor battling with self doubtHave you ever felt like you weren’t enough? That no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t silence the negative self-talk that stops you from chasing your dreams and your goals for your real estate career? You might experience imposter syndrome, a nagging feeling that makes you doubt your abilities. Escaping that mind state isn’t easy, but millions of people have done it—and so can you. It starts with identifying who you want to be and letting go of the perfectionism crippling your journey in real estate. I personally struggle with self-doubt and feeling like I am enough more than I would like to accept or admit it. What I have learned from this feeling is we don’t reach success or our full potential until we become the hero of our own life! This week I want to share a few tips to help us all including myself battle the self-doubt, self-worth battle in us all.

 

1. Envision your best self. – All personal growth in ourselves starts with one question “What does my best, most powerful self, look like?” It’s a challenging question because you can’t use someone else as a reference point. It’s not as simple as responding, “I want to be exactly like my mentor or an entrepreneur on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.” Upgrading your life is a deeply personal task. Every little tweak should be intentional enough to move you in the right direction. Instead of modeling your life after someone else’s, identify what makes other people successful. Is it their confidence that propels them forward? Do they have more discipline than the average person? Whatever those superpowers are, write them down. Keep the list close by so that each day you can work on adopting those traits. In the meantime, be patient with yourself. It can take years to identify all the changes you need to make and master new habits. No matter what happens, know that each failure—and they’re bound to happen—isn’t the end of the world. You still have time to correct those mistakes and get better each day. Even if you want to be a nicer person—let’s just say that to keep it easy—you don’t wake up, and all of a sudden, you’re nicer. It takes time, effort and energy from repetitiveness to become that.

 

2. Stop chasing perfection. – Did you know that perfectionism has more to do with ego than wanting everything to be perfect? Most people know that life has its flaws. But the ego has a self-serving agenda and tries to convince us otherwise. It pushes us to believe that if we try a little harder, everything can be perfect. It’s impossible to grow with this mindset, especially when you’re facing self-doubt. The good news is you can beat perfectionism with flexibility. When facing a difficult challenge, reframing the situation stirs those rigid, unproductive thoughts. I [went] from spending two days feeling bad about myself, letting a negative voice come in and hold me back, to the point where now, in real-time, I can say, “ How do I want to respond to this based on the person I want to be?” Here are four steps to reach that point:

  • Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Real growth happens when you’re pushed outside of your comfort zone.
  • Have a learner’s mindset. Take some pressure off of yourself by admitting that you don’t have all the answers. If you’re feeling like an imposter in a room of experts, ask questions. Give yourself permission to grow.
  • Don’t create deadlines for your growth. Becoming your best self doesn’t need to happen by a specific date.
  • It’s a lifelong process, so focus on the journey, not the destination.

 

3. Manage your emotions. – Before you get stuck in feelings of self-doubt, try to regulate those emotions. Ask yourself one question: “What are the things I need to do right now to show up? That could mean you speaking up in meetings, even when you are immobilized by fear. I found being in those meetings extremely detrimental to my self-esteem…. You’re in a room full of people, and you have no idea what they’re talking about, and I felt bad about myself. Then I said, Ok, you have a choice. You can keep coming into this room feeling bad about yourself, you can stop coming into this room or you can admit that they’ve got 15 years on you, and now you can start putting your head down and learning instead of focusing on the emotion you feel badly about. Another part of emotional regulation is taking care of yourself. No matter how busy you are as an entrepreneur, eating well and exercising are two ways to stay in control of your emotions. It’s hard to make good decisions when tired or hungry, so creating healthy routines is vital. I lift weights with my trainer (after resting well), and do my best to be mindful of how certain foods affect my body. Everyone has different needs, though. Be sure to learn your body so you can have an emotionally successful day, stay in control and slowly conquer the self-doubt that’s holding you back and know you are not alone.

 

Strength and courage,
Wade

The Top Things The Pros Have In Real Estate

top things pros have in real estate Let me ask you a question. “Are you all in for real estate? Or are you just dabbling in real estate, hoping for what you’ve heard is quick, easy money?” Both of these types of agents exist in our industry. But only one has longevity… the real “professionals” will always outlast the “hobbyists.” Which begs the question: What does it take to become a true “professional” in real estate? What are the top traits of a true pro in the business. See how many of them you live up to?

Trait No. 1. They set goals, write plans, and execute on their plans. Implementation and execution. This one’s simple enough. Obviously to achieve big things requires goal setting and a business plan for how you’ll achieve those goals. Then it takes the discipline to actually execute your plan instead of getting distracted and pulled in a million different directions.

Trait No. 2. They have a strong work ethic, a “whatever it takes” spirit. Remember what I’ve been saying and what we see from our coaching members’ experiences: 10% of success is knowing what to do and how to do it. The other 90% is actually doing the work. If you’re not willing to work, if you tire easily, if you’re not fully committed… you’re not going to rise to the level of a true real estate “professional.”

Trait No. 3. They use technology to improve efficiency (speed) and provide a better experience for their clients (convenience) Being “pretty good” isn’t good enough. You need to be providing the type of service that wows your clients and gets them talking about you. That’s what professionals do. And they do the same thing when it comes to making things easier on themselves – by investing in technology to improve efficiencies in their business. Is your tech really moving the needle for you, your team, and your clients? Constantly delivering the unexpected.

Trait No. 4. They are good listeners & approach each customer with empathy, understanding, and respect. Put yourself in the consumer’s shoes. Make an effort to understand what makes them unique. Meet not only their housing desires but their emotional needs. Stop talking and listen.

Trait No. 5. They are knowledgeable about the process and know how to guide clients successfully through real estate transactions. Most agents probably say this one is a no-brainer. But what about when variables get introduced… how broad is your scope to successfully guide people through a transaction when there are “outside the box” factors involved? My point here is that you should never become content that you know it all, because there’s always a new twist to encounter coming around the bend. Keep learning, keep growing, keep improving how you do things. Always.

Trait No. 6. Professional realtors set realistic expectations for themselves and their clients – they don’t promise what’s not possible or reasonable. Professionalism is all about taking a long-term perspective. Hobbyists and hacks set themselves up for failure – or at best, short-term success – by overpromising and under-delivering. A recent 1000watt consumer survey found that “Open, honest communication” is the number one thing people are looking for to gain trust in their real estate agent.

Professionals provide honest, straightforward advice to prepare people for the realities of what they’re likely to face… and then they build long-term relationships with those clients in the process.

Trait No. 7. They delegate, when possible, to focus on their highest and best uses of time. You’ve heard me talk about your HABU – highest and best use of your time. But have you taken it to heart? Have you delegated tasks that someone could be doing for $20/hour to allow you to conduct more “dollar-productive” business? Have you explored hiring a Virtual Assistant to take the heavy workload off your desk? Have you systematized your business to free you up to focus on what matters most?

Trait No. 8. They market themselves and their homes for sale in a modern way. Using the best tools and mediums (MLS, video, direct mail, online ads) to generate the most exposure and hyperlocal response. It’s difficult to be a professional if you’re spending most of your time chasing new business. That’s why having effective marketing attraction systems is so important. When your marketing is automatically delivering a steady stream of new and returning clients, you can focus on providing the exceptional experience that keeps them coming back and referring you to their friends. If your marketing plan isn’t performing, I invite you to speak with one of our expert business consultants to help overcome the challenges you’re facing.

Trait No. 9. They’ve properly positioned themselves online, Google My Business, the portals, to all relevant social sites. Have you maximized your Google My Business page? If not, download this today. Are you engaging with people on social to grow your accounts? Are you posting consistently? Do you have a social media posting schedule or do you just “wing it”? Professionals have this stuff handled. Do you?

Trait No. 10. They respond to inquiries quickly, recognizing consumers expectations are “now”. Today’s consumer expects an Amazon-like experience. Push a button. Easy peasy. Results delivered overnight. Is it a fair expectation with something as complex as real estate? Doesn’t matter. That’s what they want, and it’s your role to respond immediately. And “I’m too busy for that” isn’t a valid response. Figure it out, or one of your competitors will figure it out and put you right out of business.

Trait No. 11. They know their local market, neighborhoods, schools, home price trends and all reliable home service providers. If you’ve been paying attention, I’ve been saying that agents should make studying the MLS part of their morning routine every single day. There’s no better way to make sure you’re dialed in when it comes to what’s selling, what’s not, how long properties are on the market, etc. Beyond that, I urge you to involve yourself in the community you serve and give back in a variety of ways – whether that means donating time and/or money to local causes or making videos informing people of local happenings and market conditions. Make yourself the “knowledge broker” in your market and share your expertise with the community.

Trait No. 12. They have a growth mindset, to maintain relevancy and confidence in their business. Because that’s what professionals do. Professionals aren’t content with the status quo. They don’t settle for “good enough.” Instead, they maintain a steadfast commitment to moving forward, growing their business and expanding their empire. And it’s not just talk or swagger – they back it up with action! So… how many of these 12 can you say you demonstrate on a consistent basis? What do you need to work on as a result?

Strength and courage,
Wade

The 2021 Final Quarter Push for Realtors©

2021 final quarter realtorsI don’t know about you but the first part of the year and my summer seemed to just fly by and I cannot believe it is September 2021 already. We are beginning the last quarter of the year and there are only two outcomes for us Realtors©. Will you finish in the red, or finish in the black? Will you finish strong or will you miss your targets and goals? Winning near the end of a game, final quarter or the year is a trait of all the best sales people I’ve ever met. Closing out strong is primarily the effect of a consistent quarter, there are still a handful of things you can do to strike off checkboxes in the win column to finish 2021 strong.

1. Be Active – There’s no substitute for being pleasantly persistent and respectfully blunt. Get out there and be straightforward. Taking action and getting after it is a choice and work on the high quality leads and not the low quality leads. Ask yourself “If you were me, would you forecast this listing or buyer prospect to buy or sell this month or in the next 90 days?” Remember, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Being direct will help you get real with your buying and selling customers and align yourself with the true sales cycle. It might also enable you to pull out a quick win.

2. Be Relational – For more than two decades now I have heard from thousands of top producing agents and almost 60% of their business comes from repeat and referral business. Focusing first on the people we already know, like and trust is working effectively and efficiently in this business. If you don’t have enough people that know, like and trust you then get out there and “S.T.P. – See The People” If you have a list of relationships in place that have not “felt the love” then get out there and see them and find ways to add value to them. Give them a call, email, text, handwritten note, small gift or even a coffee and just watch and see what happens with your last quarter.

3. Be Face to Face – Sales is a contact sport and we need to be belly to belly. Anyone of us making a large buying decision needs to know the person we deal with is someone we like and can trust. The only way we can sense if we like or trust someone is meeting them in person. Commit to the final quarter on sales activities that are primarily face to face and belly to belly activities like Open house, door to door, kiosk, networking, office duty, coffee, lunch, pop by, volunteer, client appreciation event or convention. This is a relationships business so get out there to create and deepen those relationships.

4. Stack-Rank Your Leads – We will never be able to manufacture more time, but we can manufacture more focus. I recommend looking at your pipeline and grading each opportunity on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being “highly closeable by the end of the quarter.” Then, focus your closing efforts on the 3’s and 4’s ONLY. You don’t have time to waste. If you don’t have enough 3 and 4 prospects in the funnel then take action and increase your marketing plan and daily prospecting, lead generation with planned marketing, activities that bring the level 3 and 4 prospects into your pipeline to finish 2021 strong.

5. Purge Your People – Almost every sales pro has them. They’re those big opportunities in the pipeline you’ve been working for months. The one deal that constantly disrupts your focus or the need to take action. The buyer or seller who is the time and energy vampire but you let them suck the life out of you because you don’t have anyone else to work with. Every time you think about punting them, you get a glimmer of hope from them. It’s time……Remove them!! They don’t deserve to be on your radar right now. Coming clean with yourself will open new vistas and invigorate you to add more productive opportunities to your pipeline.

6. Start Planning for 2022 – How much revenue do you plan to book in Q1 2022? Exactly how many new deals do you need to earn that amount? Knowing exactly what you plan to earn acts like a magnet to attract business your way. Having this exact number also allows you to project your required activities into month one of the new quarter. If you’re accurately measuring your deal metrics, you’ll be able to predict with some certainty how many calls, emails, appointments, presentations or opportunities you’ll need to make it rain. Ask for a review by management. Knowing your numbers is one thing, but to positively affect the business, it’s equally vital to understand your “why”, purpose and goals and have someone hold you accountable to them.

 

Bonus Tips: What NOT to Do in the last Quarter Of 2021

 

1. Don’t Work With Any Clients Just to Make your Numbers – Any client outside of your ideal customer profile will complicate servicing, produce a higher likelihood of churn or failure, and ultimately cost you more time and resources than it will be worth. Instead, focus on filling the pipeline with high quality leads for next quarter. It’s never too early to start filling the funnel.

2. Never Give Away More Than You Should – It’s just not worth it. You only have one reputation for your brand and offering, treat it respectfully. Concessions can quickly become a crutch that hides other issues. Sell on value, not on price. Don’t cut your commissions, offer cash backs or any other silly incentives just to get something before the year is done.

The key to closing out your quarter strong is to keep up the momentum that got you to where you are now. If you’re struggling to meet your numbers, it’s a time to embrace new sales insights and start building effective rhythm. Take the last minute shots on goal listed above, but remember to always be thinking about the bigger picture: Your reputation is the product of your past actions. Sales that allow you to produce predictable revenue are the future. Finish the last quarter and your year strong. I dare you!!

 

Strength and courage,
Wade

Taking Control Of Our Thoughts

realtor taking control thoughtsThe human mind cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is not real. Think about the fact that Fear starts within your own mind, which means that your mind can help you overcome them if you give it a chance. If you want to move beyond your fear, you have to learn to discipline your mind. Whether in your personal life or in your real estate business your mind can be your biggest enemy or your biggest asset—it’s truly up to you. If you want your mind to be your friend, you’ll have to take control of the way you think. Many people aren’t intentional with their thinking; they allow whatever thoughts bubble up into their minds to have priority, as if they have no control over what they think about. I fully believe that your mind is something you must protect and take charge of; in the Bible, the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippian church that we must take control over what we think.

 

Paul put it this way: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things” (Phil. 4:8).

 

Notice what Paul says we should think about: things that are good, noble, right, pure, lovely— it’s essentially the original call to the power of positive thinking! The content we think about has the power to transform our minds, something that Paul wrote about in his letter to the Romans when he said, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). If you’re tired of thinking negative, self- defeating thoughts that are darkened by fear, then you have to turn your thoughts to good, noble, and right things in order to renew your mind. It’s a challenge, because for some people, the power of positive thinking is really just the power of denial of negative thoughts. But denial doesn’t help you grow; denial doesn’t renew your mind. Only turning your thoughts to things that are good and healthy can do that.

 

Learning to renew your mind this way is crucial because, in my experience, there are plenty of people who will go out of their way to challenge your thinking and make you doubt. This has happened to me before some of my walks. People always focus on the potential negative outcomes, the possibilities of my failing and falling. I understand why they ask—they simply cannot imagine doing what I do because they cannot imagine overcoming what I’ve overcome. Their minds go only to the dark and negative places, and that’s where they expect me to go when they ask questions. But negativity is a vacuum—it will suck you in and hold you there, a trap that will disengage you from your visions and goals. That’s why I always encourage people to remove anyone and anything negative from their lives. You can’t live in the negative realm and overcome your fears, which means you can’t be around people who live there. Negative people will always want you to be negative.

 

Disciplining your mind will require sacrifices, but it will give you freedom. Start by writing down your thoughts so you can examine them. Take an hour and write down everything that comes into your head, without filtering it. Then, after the hour is up, take a look at what you’ve written down. Is it mostly positive or mostly negative? Full of doubt or full of faith? Look at the pattern because you’ll either need to break it or encourage it, depending on whether or not it’s building you up toward what’s good.

 

When you discipline your thoughts and where you allow them to go, you begin to move in the direction of your dreams. This discipline is crucial because it is the foundation for your future, and when you have a firm foundation, even if you fall, you get back up that much quicker. Build a firm foundation by surrounding yourself with positive people and positive things. Fill your mind with positive music and messages, positive words and images. Avoid putting destructive or hurtful junk into your brain, because what you put in you’ll inevitably get out.

Strength and courage,
Wade

Dealing With Uncertainty as a REALTOR©

dealing with uncertainty as a realtorIf this year has taught us anything, it’s uncertainty. Although we may see the light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine accessible to most, it’s going to take a while to shake off the trauma 2020 delivered. Uncertainty flooded our everyday lives—between not knowing when our health and safety wouldn’t be under threat, to not understanding the different restrictions state to state, to simply not knowing when our daily lives would resume to normal. It was tough to swallow. But this is not the only time in our lives that we will face uncertainty. 2020 was unique because uncertainty plagued all of our lives. Typically, uncertainty strikes different people at different times. Ideally, the following tips will help aid you through this year, but also in years to come. Here are some best practices on how to cope when uncertainty strikes:

  1. Uncertainty is never permanent. Or better put, uncertainty is always temporary. No matter what you’re going through, this period of crisis will pass. No matter how long ago March 2020 feels, we all know that at some point our lives will return to normal. Although we don’t know when that will happen, it’s comforting to know that every stressful season of uncertainty is temporary. Hold on to the knowledge that the stress and anxiety has an expiration date, regardless of how acute it feels today.
  1. Predictability = safety + security. In order to feel like we are in control, we need two things: safety and security. Without either, our lives tend to feel like they’re spiraling. That’s why 2020 felt so chaotic and traumatic for so many; our daily routines and coping mechanisms were stripped away because of safety concerns. Without our typical fallbacks, we felt insecure. And for obvious reasons, many of us did not feel safe all year. So whenever you feel out of control with no method to predict what’s coming next, try to ground yourself through safety and security. Create a routine and stick to it. Focus on things that are inside of your control instead of depending on others to follow through (cc: mask etiquette). Together, these aspects can give you a sense of predictability and control in your life.
  1. Hold space for negative emotions. PSA: It is absolutely OK to not be OK. Sometimes, it’s absolutely necessary to not feel OK. We as a culture have a problem with toxic positivity. We love to airbrush over troubled times and pretend that everything is peachy keen, even as the world as we know it is crumbling around us. Thanks, Instagram! Combat this urge to gloss over the ugly emotions by embracing them. Give them a name. Understand them. Ask them to come inside and offer them a warm beverage and a salty snack. Welcome them with curiosity and compassion. And once you get to know them, release them back to where they came from. Trying to sweep negative emotions under the rug only gives them more power. They exist. And they’re not going anywhere until you give them acknowledgement, and sometimes, a voice. This doesn’t mean you have to be consumed by them. In fact, holding space for negative emotions does just the opposite. It gives them a time and a place to be heard so they can leave in a timely manner and not wreak havoc on the rest of your day. This is why so many people tend to bounce back. They acknowledge their emotions and therefore make room for other positive emotions soon after.So don’t be afraid to get comfortable with the icky feelings you’re actively trying to push away. The sooner you make space for them, the sooner they’ll pass.
  1. Accept your reality. During times of acute uncertainty, it’s almost instinctual to wish for easier times. We love to recreate reality in our imagination in order to cope. But we can’t change our reality. And when the dissonance between what we wish was reality and what is actually reality comes to a head, it’s easy to feel despondent and depressed. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Instead, accept the reality of whatever situation you’re in and work to adapt to that. If you continue to force a false narrative on yourself, you’ll spin your wheels until you are forced to surrender. Instead, get creative within your reality.  For example, plenty of 2020 brides eloped instead of having the 200-person gala, and ended up loving their intimate moments. Zoom happy hours replaced restaurant happy hours. Romantic restaurants with all of the fixings popped up in living rooms everywhere. Those who made the best of what they could were also the ones who quickly accepted the new norm and adjusted in suit. The quicker you can accept your reality and abandon your fantasies, the easier dealing with the real world will be.
  1. Simplify your life. “K-I-S-S. Keep it simple, stupid” If you try to overwhelm yourself with the complexities of life during any time of uncertainty, you’re just piling it on yourself for absolutely no reason. Go back to the basics. What do you need to accomplish today? You probably need to get out of bed, feed yourself, clean yourself, clothe yourself, do your job (whatever that entails), take time for yourself, connect with others and sleep. So please don’t try to make it any more difficult for yourself than it already is. When in survival mode, we need the basics to anchor us. The things that we know we need to do, and that we even like to do, during times of crisis. The rest can fall off until things stabilize. So if you are pressuring yourself to do more than necessary, you’re only adding additional chaos to an already delicate situation. Go easy on yourself. Keep it simple. There will be a time in the future when things will go back to normal, and you can be your complicated, over-achieving, hard-worker self. I promise.
  1. Set yourself up for success. Humans love progression. We like feeling in control of our situations, and we like seeing growth happening right before our eyes. So one of the easiest ways to feel better about yourself during times of acute uncertainty, is to create small actionable goals for yourself to cross off a list. Seriously, the smaller the better. Think: taking your supplements; drinking a certain amount of water per day; walking X amount of steps; cleaning your room… Hell, taking a shower can even count on some days. And, each and every time you achieve one of your small goals, celebrate. Give yourself a pat on the back for surviving during one of the harder times of your life. We don’t give ourselves enough credit most days – and in times like this – we could use all of the self-confidence we can get. So be sure to show up for yourself by keeping the small promises you’re making, and by celebrating when you’ve followed through with them.
  1. Practice self-care. Self-care can be defined as anything you do to rest, reset or reflect. At its best, self-care is used to refill your cup. We all need to nourish ourselves and our energy, and the best and fastest way to do this is to engage in self-care. However, self-care is typically the first thing that goes out the window during times of crisis. We decide we have to focus on everything else—our jobs, our finances, our families, and our friends. But without caring for ourselves first, the rest of these will inevitably suffer. Even though it feels impossible, carve out time for yourself.  If you neglect yourself, you won’t be able to show up as your full self whenever times are tough. Replenish your energy and invest in your own happiness and relaxation. You’ll see the benefits rather quickly if you stay consistent. To everyone feeling hyper-stressed out thanks to a grueling year, I’m with you. I hope these tips bring you some comfort, solace and relief from the chronic pressure you’ve been experiencing. And remember, uncertainty is never permanent. This will pass. But in the meantime, these tips will help you cope until we are back into our natural routines and rhythms.

Strength and courage,
Wade

Money Setting Goals & Best Practices for Agents

money setting goals agentsWhen I began my real estate career at only 21 years of age my father and partner at the time was an amazing mentor to me on money management early in my career. Those lessons I learned were so valuable for me and still guide me 29 years later. What are your money saving practices? What are you financial goals for 2021?  “I want to save more money this year.” “I want to become debt-free.” “I want to start saving for retirement.” These are all worthy goals, but that doesn’t mean they’re effective. Perhaps, like countless other people, you set goals like these year after year, but you make little or no progress. Strive to make 2021 the year you finally achieve your financial goals by keeping these do’s and don’ts in mind.

DO rely on systems, DON’T rely on willpower. – Many of us rely on willpower to bridge the gap between the goals we set and the things we want to accomplish. But this isn’t always effective. Instead of relying on your willpower alone, set up systems to help you actually achieve your financial goals. Instead of just “trying harder” to stay on top of your bill payments and set money aside for savings, for example, set up automatic bill pay and weekly automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account. Systems like these help ensure your financially responsible intentions don’t become an afterthought.

DO focus on habits, DON’T focus on outcomes. – Refocusing your money goals on specific daily, weekly and monthly habits—rather than distant, vague outcomes—could help you follow through. For example, instead of setting a goal to save up for a family vacation this year, turn your focus to the habit that will help make it happen, like transferring $50 to a dedicated vacation savings account at the start of each week. Clearly defined habits are essential in helping us make real progress.

DO stay flexible, DON’T be rigid. – Another common pitfall is failing to update our goals as we experience changes to our circumstances throughout the year. Goals are dynamic, and therefore our approach to them must be flexible. It’s perfectly fine if some of your past goals are no longer relevant. And it’s normal for new goals to take precedence over previous priorities. But as that happens, it’s important to update your financial systems to reflect those changes. Schedule time on your calendar once a month to review your financial goals.

DO stay committed, DON’T try to be perfect. – Rather than giving up for failing to be perfect when you make money mistakes, give yourself credit for staying committed in spite of your missteps and the challenges you face. You don’t have to be perfect to achieve your money goals, but you do need to remain committed to the process. Recognizing the positive progress you have made can help you do just that.

Here are a few of my recommended reads for those looking to learn more with their money habits:

Richest Man In BabylonGeorge Clason

Rich Dad Poor DadRobert Kiyosaki

Total Money MakeoverDave Ramsey

The Millionaire Next DoorThomas Stanley

Strength and courage,
Wade

Realtor© Secrets To Not Burning Out & Hitting The Wall

realtor hit wall burn out2020 was an unprecedented year that challenged us all to be resourceful and work harder and smarter than we ever have before and some of you might be experiencing the dreaded “B word” – burnout and hit a wall? Or others have been so focused on keeping their real estate business afloat that they’ve ignored everything else – and are starting to pay the price. That’s why I thought it was a good time for a reminder that being successful means more than your income goals. It’s about the total picture, and your health plays a huge part in that. I for one can share that 2020 hit me with some covid cushion that I really don’t need. I am a huge believer that energy management is far more important than time management and without energy and vitality you cannot navigate any stormy sea like we had in 2020. Let me share with you some ideas on health and vitality so you can avoid burnout and kick start your 2021 full of the energy you need.

Health & Happiness Tip 1: Schedule Some “Phone Free” Time Off. There’s certainly the “grit” and “hustle” side of this business some people are attracted to. Some agents seem to relish it… touting how they’re available 24/7/365. I’d contend that’s not healthy (nor all that desirable), and you can’t keep it up forever. Sure… go hard while you’re working and give it all you’ve got. But make sure to take some breaks, too. One of the hardest things for any real estate professional to do is to turn off their phone, but it’s essential to your long-term success. The key is to plan some time off so you can inform the people you’re working with and delegate tasks that might need to be handled while you’re “off.” Reasonable clients will understand if your outgoing VM message explains that you’re taking a personal day and have a contingency plan in place for them. Will you do this? Can you put down your phone for a day? Let me know in the comments below.

Health & Happiness Tip 2: Get Outta Town. A change in scenery can be extremely rejuvenating. And it doesn’t have to be a big vacation. If you work in a city, you might need a quick escape to get out in the country, or to the ocean or a lake. Maybe a day in the local mountains, if you’ve got that opportunity. Breathe some fresh air and let nature’s healing effect revitalize you.

Health & Happiness Tip 3: Schedule Mini Breaks Through 2021. Like I said above, working 24/7/365 is not a prescription for good health. But if you’re not careful, this industry will force you into a hectic schedule where you’re always flying by the seat of your pants. Work expands to fill the time we allow for its completion, so the key is to set boundaries for yourself. Schedule a half day off on your calendar and then honor that. Or maybe it’s just a couple hours. The key is to build those “breaks” into your calendar ahead of time, because if you wait until you’re all caught up and it finally feels like you can take a break, well… you know. It’ll never happen. So put some “mini breaks” in your calendar today!

Health & Happiness Tip 4: Commit to a More Disciplined Health Routine. Are you working out? Are you eating healthy? Are you even thinking of these things, or do they take a back seat because you’re “too busy” to deal with them? Good health doesn’t happen without planning, effort, and discipline. I know you’re busy. I know it’s hard to fit workouts and healthy meal prep into your crazy schedule. But those things are essential to your long-term wellbeing. Make the commitment. If you’re struggling with this and just can’t seem to figure it out ask someone to be your accountability partner.

Health & Happiness Tip 5: Get More Rest. I know, I know… you’re probably laughing at the idea of getting more sleep because you’re burning the candle at both ends and can still barely keep up. But that approach can only take you so far. Without eight hours of sleep per night, you’re eventually going to start breaking down. So maybe it takes more steps than just going to bed earlier… maybe it’s time to hire an assistant and delegate some tasks… because your future health depends on it! Or maybe it’s time to introduce more systems and automation to your business, so you’re not hand-crafting every last element of a transaction when you don’t need to be. Whatever the case, make a point of getting the sleep you need – or know that you’ll pay for it later.

Health & Happiness Tip 6: Avoid the Energy-Sucking Vampires. Putting yourself in a toxic environment isn’t healthy. You know this. But it’s difficult sometimes. We all have those things or people in our lives that seem to inject constant negativity. I believe it’s up to you to protect your energy and not subject yourself to the energy-sucking vampires. Minimize your time in these environments as much as possible, and you’ll not only be happier, but more productive, too. Brian Tracy once said “Change your income by just changing your friends.”

Health & Happiness Tip 7: Be Intentional. What are you watching? What are you reading? What are you listening to? What is going in and what are you focusing on the majority of the time? I don’t know who said this but “Garbage in you get garbage out. Good stuff in you get good stuff out.” Watch, read, listen to the good content and be intentional about it at least 15 minutes a day and best time of the day is right at the beginning to set the day off right! I found that my ability to cope with the 2020 pandemic is purely based on this practice and know it will do the same for you in 2021!!

So excited and grateful to put 2020 behind and move to a healthy and happy 2021 and for us all to have the lives that we desire to live. Feel free to reach out to me about the strategies that you find have an amazing impact on your health and happiness in 2021.

 

Strength and courage,
Wade

An Attitude Of Gratitude for Realtors© in 2021

realtor attitude of gratitudeA gratitude list probably feels like the last thing you want to do in 2021. While the feeling is understandable, even with the current challenges in the world, there are still things to be thankful for during this time. I know all of these things may not apply to you. Still, I hope this list will inspire you to remember the things to be thankful for in 2021. Here are a 101 things to be grateful for in 2021!!

  1. Sight. I know there are a lot of people in this world who are blind. Even if you are, there are still other things to be grateful for. Those of you who aren’t blind, even if you have to wear glasses or contacts, you can be grateful that you can see. Even if everything you see in the world isn’t as pleasant sometimes, still be grateful for the pleasant things you can see, like the nice green colors of nature outside.
  2. Hearing. Similarly to sight, many people in this world are deaf. They’ll never be able to enjoy the sounds of music or hear the voice of someone they care about. Be grateful that you can listen to relaxing music when you feel stressed.
  3. Smell. As small as this may seem, I’ve heard of people who’ve lost their sense of smell and it completely changed their life. Have gratitude for still having your sense of smell.
  4. Taste. When one loses their sense of taste, they lose their ability to enjoy all the flavors of food. We can be grateful for still being able to enjoy the taste of fruits, vegetables, and all of the foods we enjoy in the world.
  5. Walking. Being able to get around is more of a blessing than we realize sometimes. There are people who have to use canes, crutches, and wheelchairs to move around. Be grateful for being able to walk on your own two feet with relatively little pain.
  6. Lungs. If we don’t have any lung issues or have to use any machines to breathe in oxygen, that’s something to be grateful for.
  7. Hand movement. I have to type a lot to make these articles on here. I’m grateful that I have hand movement that’s free of any arthritis. Whatever you use your hands for, be grateful you can still use them.
  8. Teeth. Be grateful if you’ve not lost any of your teeth, and they’re not in any pain.
  9. Neck movement. As someone who deals with neck pain from time to time, even I’m grateful that I can still move my neck from one side to the other. If you can as well, you can write that on your list.
  10. Memory. As we get older, our memories may not be as good as they are now. Be grateful you can still remember the things that you want in your day.
  11. Heart. There are people currently waiting for heart transplants in the hospital right now. We can be grateful that we have a working heart that still beats normally.
  12. Bladder. Leaky bladders are an inconvenience that we can be grateful we don’t have to deal with.
  13. Stomach. As someone who’s had stomach challenges, it’s something to be grateful for when your stomach isn’t in pain. Burning inside of it is definitely no fun. I’m grateful for when my stomach doesn’t experience that, and that I’ve been able to improve it little by little.
  14. Bones. I once saw a commercial with a little kid who was born with brittle bone disease. He’d broken his bones hundreds of times. There was also an inspirational speaker who had this disability but managed to live an extraordinary life. It goes to show that not only we can be grateful for having healthy and strong bones, but we can be inspired to do more with the abilities that we’re lucky to have.
  15. Overall health. My health hasn’t been the best in the most recent years of my life, and maybe yours hasn’t either. Nonetheless, no matter our health challenges, we’re still alive. We can be grateful for our overall health still keeps us here. I’m grateful that my health is good for the most part.
  16. Health insurance. I know not everyone reading this has health insurance. Those of you that do, be grateful your insurance helps to reduce your medical bills.
  17. Meditation. There are many simple activities in life that can help improve our overall health. I’m grateful for meditation being one of those things that’s easy to do and helps us feel better.
  18. Medicine. There have been many advancements in technology that have helped to heal many sicknesses that couldn’t be healed decades ago. Medicine is one of the top health things we can be grateful for in life, especially if you can afford it.
  19. Doctors. In these times we’re living in, there are few people more deserving to be on this list than doctors. We can be grateful for all of them that dedicate their lives to making people feel well.
  20. Exercise. It may not be the most fun thing to do for some of you, but be grateful if you’re physically able to exercise, and help keep yourself healthy.
  21. Therapy. Mental health is just as important as physical health. We can be thankful that there are mental health professionals available to help us cope with the stress of the times.
  22. Sickness. Yes, we can even be grateful for sickness. Going through it in a way makes us more appreciative when our health is good.
  23. Fruits and vegetables. Some people are not in position to afford fruits, vegetables and other meals that keep us well. Be grateful you can enjoy the proper amount of fruits and vegetables you need in your life.
  24. Having money. While we may not have much in our wallet or our bank account, we can always be grateful we have some money to buy some things. There are a lot of people that don’t have any at all.
  25. Earning money. You’ve probably seen how many people have had their jobs lost recently. If you’re still able to earn money for yourself, that’s a lot to be grateful for.
  26. Little (or no) debt. It’d of course be nice not to have debt at all, but some people have 100’s of 1000’s of dollars in debt. If you’re one of the few who has low debt, it’s worth being grateful for.
  27. Paid bills. Sometimes people reach a point where they can’t pay their bills for the month and their whole world is about to fall apart. It’s a blessing you can count if you can still pay your bills.
  28. Shelter. Homelessness is an unfortunate crisis around the world. Be grateful if you stay in a home protected from the elements and able to live comfortably.
  29. Food. I don’t have to tell you about starving people in the world. It’s sad and hopefully we can continue to improve it. Being able to have food on your table everyday can be in the top 10 of your thankful list.
  30. Clothing. It’s not just clothes we can be thankful for, but being able to have clean ones through the luxury of our washing machines and dryers.
  31. Clean water. Hearing about the water crisis in Flint a few years ago reminded me how lucky we are the water we drink is clean.
  32. Clean air. China is one of the most heavily polluted areas in the world, with many people that end up developing respiratory issues. If you live in an area where the air around you is clean, it’s another thing to be grateful for.
  33. Trees. Studies have proven being in nature is good for our overall wellbeing. Be grateful if you have lots of trees around where you live.
  34. Sunshine. In some places it rains most of the time. Even if you live in a place like that, you can be very grateful the few times the sun actually comes out.
  35. Animals. I find the sounds of the birds chirping and the movements of the squirrels to be peaceful. If you have these or other kinds of animals in your area, perhaps you can watch them for a moment. You might be thankful to just be able to see and hear nature in action.
  36. Personality. You are who you are. There may be things about yourself you don’t like, but there are also things that you can appreciate. Whether it’s your intelligence or your kindness, find those things about yourself that make you thankful.
  37. Childhood. Obviously not all of us had the best childhoods. Myself personally, I’d say mine was pretty decent for the most part. However your childhood was, find one or two memories in that make you feel nostalgic and grateful.
  38. Knowledge. We have more access to knowledge than ever before. We can be thankful to be able to learn things that improve our understanding of the world and make us better people.
  39. Family. The people that are there for you and help you out in life, whether they’re related to you or not, that’s the family you can be grateful for.
  40. Someone special. When you think about it, it’s an incredibly rare experience to have someone special in your life. If you have that now, that can be near the top of your list.
  41. Future. You might be thinking, If the future is looking bleak, why be grateful for it? The reason we can be grateful for it is because there’s always a possibility it can get better. I’ve lived long enough to see it in my own life and other people’s lives.
  42. Experiencing romantic love. Unfortunately, there are people who live long lives without having that experience of romantic love. We may not know how we got lucky to enjoy it, but we can be grateful we have.
  43. Soft bed. After a long day of making through another day, be glad that you have a nice soft bed to lie in and get some good sleep.
  44. Waking up. As we all know, some people don’t wake up to see another day. Be grateful that you did and those that you care about did as well.
  45. Making it to the end of the day. One of the things I always reminded myself during difficult days was to just make it to the end of the day. I was and still am grateful whenever I can do that.
  46. Productivity. We all can be lazy sometimes. It’s great when we have days where we get most if not all the things we wanted to accomplish done If you accomplished that, you can add it to your thankful list for today.
  47. Growth and perspective. I learned a lot in my 40s, and I’m still learning a lot in this next stage of my life. No matter what age, we can be thankful for growth and perspective that helps us to be more calm about the world we live in.
  48. Travels. Traveling has many benefits to our health. We can not only be grateful for what it does for us now, but the memories it gives us to enjoy looking back on.
  49. Creativity. Whether you can sing, write, draw, or dance, our creative passions give us an escape in life we can be thankful for.
  50. Kindness. It may seem like there are meaner people in this world today, but there are still people that are kind. Be grateful for the kindness you receive, and the acts of kindness that still happen every single day.
  51. Open-mindedness. It can be a frustrating thing in society when people aren’t more open to different ideas and viewpoints. Be grateful when you come across people who are open-minded and willing to change their mind.
  52. Exciting sports game. It can be exciting sports game or some other kind of live event. While there haven’t been many of them lately, we can look back at some of the ones we enjoyed most and be grateful to enjoy them all over again.
  53. Inspiring speeches. I sometimes like looking back at old speeches in history. They can be uplifting in times of uncertainty. We can be grateful for all the people who had the courage and confidence to give inspiring speeches.
  54. The moment work is finished. It’s always a great feeling when you finish your work for the day. Be grateful when you reach that point in your day.
  55. A slice of pizza. Pizza is one of my favorite foods. Whatever yours is, it’s something you can be thankful for when you’re enjoying it.
  56. A bowl of ice cream. While I’m more of a cookies and brownies person, I enjoy a bowl of ice cream every now and then. We can appreciate when we get to enjoy our favorite dessert.
  57. Making someone laugh. When you make someone laugh, you make them feel good for a moment in their day. When we make people feel good, we make ourselves feel good too. Be glad when you can do that.
  58. The quiet of the nighttime. Some neighborhoods aren’t as quiet as others, but when your neighborhood is quiet, stop for a moment and appreciate the peace of the silence.
  59. Feeling relaxed. There are many moments in life where we feel stressed or anxious. That moment when you feel relaxed is one you should cherish and have gratitude for.
  60. Faith. It’s an inspiring force in our lives, for those of us who are faith-minded. If you are, have gratitude for faith’s influence and inspiration in your life.
  61. Spiritual community. Connecting with a group of people who believe the same things as you can be comforting and make you happy. Be thankful for when you enjoy these times with your faith group.
  62. Spiritual growth. Living a life of faith is a journey. Be glad for how far you’ve grown in your spirituality.
  63. Prayer. I personally find prayer to be comforting, even if I’m not always sure it makes a difference in my life.
    It’s a nice feeling to believe you can ask for good things and good things may eventually happen. You can have gratitude for being able to pray.
  64. Religious text. The words of a religious text can also be comforting. We can be thankful whenever we read something that comforts and inspires us in these difficult times.
  65. Technology. We’re more able to connect with people and get information than ever before. If you have working internet and a device that easily accesses it for you, you can be very grateful for these things.
  66. Heating and cooling. The weather can be very harsh in some places in the world. Some live without access to heating and cooling to make their home comfortable. If you have that access, add that to your list.
  67. Your own room. Lots of people don’t have the luxury of sleeping and being in their own room. Be glad if you have an area where you can be alone and completely yourself.
  68. Shower. That moment that warm water hits your skin, have gratitude for the comfort of a working shower.
  69. Clean floors. You can clean your floors and be happy to be able to comfortably walk barefoot in your home.
  70. Happy moments. Even if the happy moments are few and far between, have thankfulness for when they do come. Cherish the happy moments.
  71. Sadness. A study on crying shows that it can make us feel good and reduce the pain we feel. Hopefully you won’t be sad for long, but you can appreciate your tears help improve your well-being.
  72. Mistakes. No one wants to make mistakes in life, but they’re one of the few ways we learn lessons in life. Be glad that your mistakes help you to grow into the better person you’re becoming each day.
  73. Accomplishments. There are things you’ve done in life that you’re proud of. You can have thankfulness for those moments you achieved something great.
  74. Hobbies. Everybody has something in life they enjoy doing. You can do those activities you enjoy and be thankful you get to enjoy them.
  75. Favorite movies and TV shows. I like looking back at old TV shows or movies I really liked all the time. I’m grateful for the good feelings they still give me when I watch them again.
  76. Thunderstorm at night. Sometimes thunderstorms can help us peacefully fall asleep at night. If it helps you, add this to your list.
  77. Peaceful neighborhood. Living in a peaceful neighborhood where you feel safe is definitely a top thing to express gratefulness for.
  78. Social media. While social media rightly gets criticized for the harm it can cause to our mental health, we can be appreciative of the good it gives us in staying connected with people that aren’t near us.
  79. Car. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to get on the road and go wherever you want. Be glad if you have the luxury of doing that.
  80. Instrument. I haven’t played my guitar in a long time, but I’m thankful for still being able to do that. Perhaps you can grab that instrument you haven’t touched in a while and have gratitude for still being able to play it.
  81. Books. While I’m not much of a book reader, I know many people are. Be happy for the books that you can enjoy reading right now.
  82. Shoes. We can be thankful to have shoes that protect our feet from the dirt, grass, and rocks when we walk outside.
  83. Pest-free home. Believe it or not, some people live in apartments with rats, roaches, and large spiders. If you don’t, that can be added to your list.
  84. Things that are still the same. We so often get frustrated with everything that goes wrong, we forget how much continues to go right for us every single day.The bus still shows up to take us to work, our phones and computers still work, etc. Think of the good things that keep working the same every day and add them to your daily thankful list.
  85. Things that change. Even when things change in life, we can be glad for that too. Changes can bring about new experiences and new opportunities that can potentially make our lives better.
  86. Heartbreak. While heartbreak is never really pleasant, we can appreciate it’s making us stronger than we were before.
  87. Chairs. We really don’t think about how much of an inconvenience it can be to not have chairs in our home. We can be glad that we don’t have to sit on the floors.
  88. Tables. Similarly, with chairs, not having tables can be an inconvenience as well. Be thankful you have something to set things on when you need to.
  89. Plates. We can be thankful we don’t have to hold all of our food in our hands.
  90. Utensils. We can be thankful we don’t have to eat all of our food with our hands.
  91. Naps. Appreciate the naps that you get to enjoy in the middle of the day.
  92. Sleeping in. There are many people that have to wake up early for their specific jobs. I’m grateful that I don’t for mine, and you can be as well if that’s true for you.
  93. Deep conversation. One of the things I enjoy most about talking to someone is having a deep conversation. Those long thought-provoking dialogues are something we can continually be glad for in 2020.
  94. You had breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unfortunately, some people can only have one meal a day. We can all be glad if we’re lucky enough to get to enjoy three or more a day.
  95. Making progress. Even if the progress you’re making is small, you can appreciate it getting you closer to where you want to be in life.
  96. Indoor plumbing. In some places, people have to go outside to use the bathroom. Being able to use the bathroom in the comfort of our home is another luxury we can be appreciative of.
  97. The past. We can be glad for our past helping us to become the best of ourselves that we are today.
  98. Weekends. After a long week, if you don’t have to work on the weekends, you can be thankful for the rest you get to have.
  99. Mondays. A lot of people tend to not like the start of the work week. Nonetheless, Mondays are something we can be thankful for because it’s another chance to put in work for the future we want someday.
  100. Alarms. I used to be able to wake up early easily. I’m grateful that we have alarms that help us wake up at the time we need to.
  101. Freedom. Last but not least, we can be glad to have freedom. While some of us might have it more than others, just to be able to make some of your own choices is something that should give us gratitude.

What should I put on my list? You should put whatever makes you feel genuinely thankful. We all have unique things that we can express appreciation for that are specific to our life. Think about what those things are for you and put that on your list.

What are examples of gratitude? Examples of gratitude include being grateful for your family, your friends, your possessions, and the life that you have. You can look around you to point out the people and things you have in your life to be glad for.

What are 3 things you are thankful for? Now that you’ve seen this list of things you can express thankfulness for, think of three things you’re happy to have right now. As I write this, I’m happy to have my bed, my laptop, and being able to write these articles.

How do you express sincere gratitude? If you want to express sincere gratitude to someone, tell them exactly how you feel about what they’ve done for you in life. It’s as simple as that.

Why you should be glad for your life? Gratitude helps to make us feel good. Countless studies have shown that. Being grateful for your life can help keep your mood boosted. You don’t have to be happy about everything in your life, but you can always find one thing to be glad for.

 

Strength and courage,
Wade