Realtors©… Are You Living The Life You Deserve?

realtors deserve successWhen you’ve spent almost 3 decades of your life in the real estate profession like I have, you tend to identify some disturbing patterns of human behavior. Like the little (or big) hurdles people place in their own path. One of the biggest challenges I see time and time again might surprise you… Many, many people in this world don’t believe they deserve success. Am I talking to you? Let’s have a look at this… With everything going on in the world, you might be feeling down lately. But that doesn’t discount your self-worth. You’ve been given an amazing opportunity to live life on the planet Earth here in the 21st century.

You deserve a life filled with wealth, prosperity, happiness, freedom and whatever else you desire. The question is “Do you believe that?” Because here’s what I see when people don’t believe they deserve greatness… They develop a personal narrative that says they are “less than” and undeserving of life’s gifts. The trouble is telling yourself negative thoughts like that creates a dangerous cycle: You adopt this negative narrative. You project it to those around you. The more you do so, the more others reinforce it. Before you know it, it becomes “real” because you and everyone else acts like it is.

Again… am I talking to you here? Does this sound familiar? I hope not, but if it does, be sure to keep reading. Here are five steps that likely won’t give you every answer you seek, but they will provide a fantastic framework on which you can build the life you desire.

Step 1: You Must Know What You Want. Do you want to earn as much money as possible, working 100-hour weeks? Do you want to earn a comfortable living and have time to devote to your family and personal pursuits? Do you want to specialize in some unique property type that is your passion? What do you want from life? Gaining clarity on this question is the first step toward achieving it.

Step 2: You Need To Know WHY You Want It. If you didn’t catch last week’s blog, I shared a fantastic exercise to define your “Why.” Doing so is a critical step toward the necessary drive and initiative required to achieve whatever you determined in Step 1. Without a compelling “Why,” you will not be able to maintain momentum and motivation. Because… what’s the point? Figure yours out and thank me later.

Step 3: Develop and Act On A Plan. Think of your business plan as the road map that leads you where you want to go in life. Without a plan, you’re wandering. You’re guessing. You’re experimenting. The more your plan can break down your actions into small, actionable steps like your daily number, the more effective you and your plan will be. The last step of creating a plan? Follow it! Too many people create their business plan and then stick in a a drawer or in a filing cabinet, never to be seen again. Which brings us to…

Step 4: Find Some Accountability. Be honest… Left to your own devices, how well would you follow your plan? I’m not saying it can’t be done. But it takes A LOT of discipline. That’s why having someone to hold you accountable is a key step in your journey to greatness. A coach. Your broker. A colleague. A family member. As a solo entrepreneur, you need someone in your life who you answer to. Until you find the right accountability partner, you’ll never know exactly what you’re capable of in life. It’s that simple.

Step 5: Celebrate. Honor Yourself. Repeat. Look at what you have done and stop looking at what you have not done yet. When you achieve a goal, make sure to celebrate it. Then adjust your sights and establish new, loftier goals. Then get to work and start the whole process over again. You DO Deserve It. Now Go Make It Happen. To reiterate: None of these five steps will work without a strong belief that you deserve success. I believe in you. I believe you have something special inside you to share with the world, and by doing so, you’ll earn everything you want from life. Find what that thing is, believe in yourself, and go get it!

Strength and courage,
Wade

TOP WAYS TO SUCCEED WITH ZERO TALENT

top ways succeed realtorYou don’t need to be the smartest or most talented person to achieve success in life. Often it’s the seemingly simple things that can make a significant difference. These things are things anyone can do. They don’t cost money but they do require intentionality and effort.
1. Be On Time – Honor others by respecting their time. Earning respect starts by giving it.
2. Show Up and Do the Work – If they praise you, show up and do the work. If they criticize you, show up and do the work. If no one even notices you, just show up and do the work. Just keep showing up, doing the work, and leading the way.
3. Give Your Best In All That You Do – It doesn’t matter what everyone else is or isn’t doing. Focus on your contribution every day. When you give your best, you’ll inspire others to give their best too.
4. Be Positively Contagious – Your attitude is contagious. Choose to be Vitamin C today. Look for opportunities to encourage and uplift those around you.
5. Have an Attitude of Gratitude – Every day we have a choice. We can choose to be grateful and see the good in all that we have or we can let anger, fear, doubt, and insecurities rob us of our joy and the life we’re meant to live. The choice is yours today.
6. Seek Solutions vs. Dwelling on Problems – How you see the world determines the world you see. When you seek solutions you see a world of possibilities and are able to overcome challenges.
7. Have Passion – Passion fuels your purpose. The strongest may survive but it is the passionate that will thrive. Get excited today!
8. Be Coachable – Stay humble and hungry and be a lifelong learner. The best of the best are always striving to get better and so should you.
9. Do More Than What’s Required – Average effort generates average results. If you want more, do more. Even a little extra each day can create big results over time.
10. Believe in Yourself – Stop listening to the self-sabotaging voices in your mind. Talk to yourself and feed the positive instead of listening to negative. You matter. You are capable. You can do great things. You are here for a reason.
What would you add to this list?

Strength and courage,
Wade

5 Actions To Keep Your Real Estate Business Moving Forward

top 5 realtor actionsI heard a great quote this past week on a video post quoting Vladimir Lennon “In some decades nothing happens and in some weeks decades happen” 

Would you agree that these are certainly uncertain times for us all and it’s easy for us to wake up and not know what to do? For the past 10 days my wife every morning reminds me to get out of bed, one day at a time and serve those in need. Is this time for business as usual? Nope! Time to freak out? Doesn’t help trust I did it for a day. Develop a new plan? Not a bad idea. This week we are sharing what top agents are doing with their new plan that will provide you some clarity as to what, exactly, you should be doing in the face of this global crisis.

1. Self Care – How we feel inside is what we show on the outside. So take care of yourself first. Mindset, Exercise, Nutrition and Rest.

2. Communication – Now is not the time to retreat into a foxhole and go “radio silent.” It’s time to step up and over-communicate with the people you’re currently working with, have worked with in the past, are members of your database, and with your community at large.

But you’ve gotta be smart about it. It’s not about reaching out like everything is normal and asking if they’re considering a move.

  1. Tell them “I’m here for you. I have your back. What would you like to do?” If they want to pause, let them do so. Doing the right thing is always the right thing.
  2. Call, text, or send a personal video to EVERY LEAD! Reach out with care and say, “I was just thinking about you. I wanted to reach out and say Are you OK? I just want to let you know I’m here for you.”
  3. Then send a similar message to members of your database. But not a mass email. I want you communicating personally with 20-30 people in your database every day.

3. Respond To The Question “How’s the market?”

Here’s my advice on what to say:

“It’s day by day, hour by hour. Some of my buyers/sellers are telling me they want to hold for now, and I’m supporting that decision while I continue to communicate and keep them aware of what’s next. And some of my clients need to sell or buy right now and they’re doing that with our protocols for safety and smart marketing, virtual showings and more.”

Then, stop, and say to them…

“More importantly, how are you and your family doing? Can I help in any way?”

The best bet you can make on the future of your business is bringing humanity to our industry during these trying times.

4. Sharpen Skills – With some consumers choosing to pause their buying or selling activity, now is the time for you to work “on” your business and your personal skills. Dig into your CRM, practice your presentations, refine your marketing, develop your social media channels, figure out how to use Zoom for listing presentations and buyer consultations, etc.

That stack of books you’ve been meaning to read? Dig in.

Those scripts, dialogs and presentations you haven’t quite mastered yet?Jump on Zoom with a partner and role play.

Tech and Sales skills you’ve needed to learn? Take an online course.

If your business is being disrupted, make sure you come out of this crisis better prepared to deliver value when things return to normal.

5. Action Plan – Marketing in today’s environment requires a whole new approach and must include empathy for those you reach.

Here are three actions you should be taking now…

  1. Email your entire database every single week. Send them current information, coronavirus-related housing statistics from Keeping Current Matters, offers to help, videos from you with your opinion about the market, etc.
  2. Mail to your geographic farms twice a month. Take the info KCM is sharing and make it into postcards to educate and inform homeowners about what is happening.
  3. Increase your social media activity! Put out positive messages. Be the voice of reason. Do video! Do it on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. You will make or break your brand over the next 30 days.
  4. Call – Ask them how they are doing? Ask if there is anything you can do to help? Ask them if you can find someone for them to help? Show up and be the leader to you own people.
I hope these five actions keep you and your business moving forward the next few weeks.

Strength and courage,
Wade

Putting The “Real” In Real Estate

accountability in real estate doesnt workThe last six weeks has been a roller coaster of emotions for us all. I personally have laughed, cried, been afraid, sad and have had times of anger and all these emotions are normal and allow us to know we are human. For some of us it has driven us to press on or for others it has stopped us and that is normal too. For those that are stopped and hit a wall let us ask ourselves a few important questions.

What is causing me to hit a wall?
What is really stopping me right now?
What are my behavior patterns?
What am I thinking about most of the time?
What are my activities?

For a lot of us including myself we need to take some time to think about our thoughts right now. “It’s time to take stock of our thoughts about our thoughts.” Think about our actions right now. Think about our behaviors right now. Think about what is really holding me back right now. Ask ourselves a few more important questions.

Why am I not doing what I know I need to do?
What I am listening to in my head?
Why am I not open or aware of what is happening to me?
Why am I choosing to not take action?
What do I need to choice differently?

So we all have a choice today. We can choose to move or we can choose to stop. The choice is ours today. In order to have a breakthrough we need two things. 1. Commitment – the commitment and self-desire to move and shift our behavior, thoughts and activities. 2. Accountability – we are not alone and need to ask someone for help and walk over and tip our chin up when it drops down and support us when we just can’t find what we need to move. I trust that this message this week gives you hope and know that you are not alone and myself and the agentsboost family is holding your chin up for you today and you got this!

 

Strength and courage,
Wade

REALTORS© What Can You Do In A Time Like This? Part 2

covid-19 what can a realtor do?Continuing with part 2 of my blog post answering the question so many of us are asking ourselves… “As a REALTOR© what can you do in a time like this?” We dig into our resourcefulness and resilience to be able to do something we all love which is real estate. Let’s continue our journey of activities, now remember in case you didn’t see last week’s post this is a time to serve and not sell and a time for earning relationship share and not market share. Not socially distant but creative closeness. So here we go….

1. Unaddressed Ad Mail – If you choose to do this…. IMPORTANT: Add an “offering to help pick up, deliver or connect them with a service provider you know” be their community supporter not seller. I honestly think the only approach for this that is sensible is if you personally have a or your fellow agents in your office has and pay attention to the wording:

  • Bona Fide Buyer ““Help! My clients John and Susan would greatly appreciate your help with the purchase of their next property. Would you happen to have a friend, family member or co-worker that may be selling a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in the mission meadows area around the $400,000 price range? If so, please let me know their name and number and I will follow them up and give them excellent service and promise not to pressure them in any way. Thanks for the help and consideration and making the purchase for John and Susan easier.”
  • Just listed “Help! My clients John and Susan would greatly appreciate your help with the sale of their property. Would you have a friend, family member or co-worker that may be interested in this home? If so, please let me know their name and number and I will follow them up and give them excellent service and promise not to pressure them in any way. Thanks for the help and consideration and making the move for John and Susan easier.”
  • Just Sold “Help! We just sold a home on 1234 Maple street and from our marketing efforts we have buyers that that home didn’t work for, they missed out on and are still wanting this area. Would you happen to have a friend, family member or co-worker that may be living in this area and thinking of selling? If so, please let me know their name and number and I will follow them up and give them excellent service and promise not to pressure them in any way. Thanks for the help and consideration. “
  • Just Reduced “Help! My clients John and Susan just repositioned their home on 1234 Maple street and would appreciate your help with the sale of their property. Would you have a friend, family member or co-worker that may be interested in this home? If so, please let me know their name and number and I will follow them up and give them excellent service and promise not to pressure them in any way. Thanks for the help and consideration and making the move for John and Susan easier.”
  • Complimentary Home Equity Analysis

2. Door to Door ( Do Not Knock ) not safe! Tuck in their door a Flyer, Postcard or hang a paper door hanger with the same messaging above Just listed Help, Just sold Help, Just reduced Help, Legit buyer Help. “ again offering to help pick up, deliver or connect them with a service provider you know” should be added.

3. Online Leads – Caution will cost money and will not convert unless done right ( Secrets to 11% Online Real Estate Lead Conversion ) many options like Streettext, Agentlocator for online lead companies. Many of our agents are calling and everyone is answering and 98% are responding well to the follow up calls so first don’t spend any money on new leads and go and follow up call every old lead you have first and stop the spending until you have done that first. You will be amazed at the response.

4. FB Ad Lead Gen– Do it yourself video to watch if you don’t know how to create one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABX_4EOi9ak

5. Telephone Lead Gen – Our phones take incoming and make outgoing phone calls. Using the DNCL https://lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/en or https://www.donotcall.gov/ and be compliant DO NOT COLD CALL!!!! Only call and ask help for your seller needing to sell or your buyer still looking to buy and call the area where they are located. Warm approach only! What I did in the crash of 1992. Dial for dollars and most people’s homes were worth less than their mortgages. I am still here today. Alive and kicking. No fun, but didn’t have a choice.

6. Drop by not a Pop By – After taking the time to call a client and listening for their need during the call. Get in your car and drop off something to serve that need or just something unexpected. I know in our house just a little chocolate (Easter just a few weeks away) makes all the bad things go away! Add a not offering them help for pick up, delivery, anything as your community realtor and we here to serve. Call, honk and waive and holler out the car window you are thinking of them.

7. Host A Virtual – Coffee, Lunch or Happy hour. Using Zoom, GotoMeeting or Google Hangouts and invite your clients and their friends, your family and co workers for an hour of sharing and connecting while enjoying a coffee, meal or beverage and snack! This allows us to create community and deepen those relationships with others.

8. B2B Facebook Page- Create a “COVID-19 (name of your city) Small Business Support Page”. Set it up as a platform for businesses to discuss how they’re dealing with the situation… i.e. what’s working and what isn’t.

So that should keep us all going this week and allow us the chance to serve others, build relationship share and encourage community and if the business comes from any of this then so be it. Give with no expectation and you will receive! Serve don’t sell…. Share any others with me that are working for you as well please!!!

Strength and courage,
Wade

REALTORS© What Can You Do In A Time Like This? Part 1

covid-19 what can a realtor do?I am sure we are all asking ourselves the same question. “What Can I Do In A Time Like This?” Here is my list of activities without being insensitive and unsafe! Marketing as a real estate agent in today’s environment requires a whole new approach and must include empathy, sympathy for those you reach. Let me be very clear that this is a time to serve and not sell and a time for earning relationship share and not market share. Not socially distant but creative closeness. So here we go….

1. Self-Care – this is a time to be very focused on our own self-care and a reminder to all those that give to ask for help! We need to be good ourselves in order to be good for others. I love this great acronym M.E.D.S. – Mindset, Exercise, Diet, Sleep. PLEASE….Turn the news off. Stop watching negative social media content.

2. Database Calls – pick up the phone and call everyone in your relationships list. Please not a mass email, this is not the time to mass anything. We need to be communicating personally with 5-10 people in your database every day. Reach out with care and say, “I was just thinking about you. I wanted to reach out and say Are you OK? I just want to let you know I’m here for you.”

  • Existing Client Under Contract Or Wanting to Do Something – Tell them “I’m here for you. I have your back. What would you like to do?” keep all service providers in the loop until this deal gets registered and paid. If they want to pause, let them do so. Doing the right thing is always the right thing.
  • Leads – you Call, text, or send a personal video to EVERY LEAD! Reach out with care and say, “I was just thinking about you. I wanted to reach out and say Are you OK? I just want to let you know I’m here for you.”

3. Database Virtual Community Event  – Once a week or bi weekly invite your database to join you online using google hang outs, zoom or gotomeeting for a time of connecting, connecting others you know with each other, sharing, asking your advice, offering help or ask questions about anything and you can share about the market and what you know about their most valuable asset at this point.

4. B2B – any of your clients of businesses that your frequent and ask “how you can help them? Are they ok?” promote anything they are still doing in this time of need like what they offer, when they are open, delivery, pick up etc. Even saw an agent create a hiring FB page in their community and is assisting that way. What an incredible opportunity to support the local business owners and service providers in your community. Call them and ask for an online interview with them using software that allows you to record this and then share it to your database. Be the straw that stirs the drink for this group that is in huge need.

5. Postal Mail – The time has never been better to mail out and send a personal hand written note. Reach out with care and say, “I was just thinking about you. I wanted to reach out and say Are you OK? I just want to let you know I’m here for you.” It is a lost art. Always opened, always read and always leaves a greater impression on others than we could ever know. Who doesn’t need encouragement right now?!

6. Skills – What an amazing time to sharpen your skills and self-improve on technology and how the online experience is the only option we have. Youtube is full of all kinds of free lessons on Video conferencing, virtual tours, video with your phone, digital documentations, working at home tips, sales skills, communication skills. We even have the time to learn another language, musical instrument, the list is endless. Check out www.coursera.org for a huge list of free courses from top universities.

7. Share Our Gifts and Talents – Loved the story about the DJ on Instagram last week DNICE and is offering a virtual dance party for those around the world every night and went from hundreds to millions of followers in days enjoying his gift and talent and imagine what that will do for him in the future? If you have a gift or talent then now is the time to share it online with all your clients, friends and family and share the love!

So that should get us all started this week and allow us the chance to serve others, build relationship share and encourage community and if the business comes from any of this then so be it. Give with no expectation and you will receive! Share any others with me that are working for you as well please!!!

Strength and courage,
Wade

Realtors© – This Will Make You Rich

realtors this will make you richI’m nervous posting this.

This message is so important, I worry my fumbling writing efforts won’t do it justice. You see, I want you to be rich. Ouch!….sounds like get-rich-quick hyperbole, right? ….let me explain.

I want you to feel wealthy – free to make decisions you need and want to make. And I want you to be free of the dark blanket of worry that I see burdens so many and drags them into playing it small. Just to be clear: this isn’t about possessions or cash in your wallet—it’s about the experience of abundance.

For most of us (myself included) we grew up with a poverty mindset – there’s only so much to go around, so be careful not to lose. Oh, we might talk a big talk about income, wealth, savings and growth. That’s all great. But a poverty mindset isn’t obvious—like software. It’s there, running your programming, twisting each decision, clouding your thinking and you assume it’s the way it is – as if it’s permanent.

When I was a kid, clothes were handed down, we bought old cars (“You know you lose a quarter of a new car’s value as soon as you drive it off the lot!”) and a restaurant dinner was what we saw other people do. We weren’t poor, but we certainly weren’t learning about abundance, or what it feels like to be rich. In a binary sort of way, I used to think being rich was only about bank accounts and how many days you can call “vacation.” It’s not that simple. “A person’s relationship with money,” says behavioral economist Sarah Newcomb, “is almost never about the numbers. It is about the stories we tell ourselves because of those numbers.” To tackle those stories we need to understand there is enough to go around.

It’s easy to compare ourselves to people who are more successful: taller, richer or have better abs. Get into almost any group and somebody has something or is doing something better than you. The real harm is when we somehow believe we don’t deserve better, as if what we want is in limited supply. This scarcity thinking can even lead to being “…resistant to taking care of ourselves as fully as we can.” says clinical psychologist Suzanne Lachmann. So we don’t attempt to save, get in shape, eat better, or invest in education. After all, if you don’t deserve it, what’s the point?

The truth is you do deserve it and there is enough to go around. There’s enough money, opportunities, business, deals, triple Venti half-sweet non-fat caramel Macchiato’s and clients. And there’s certainly enough for you. If I was to make of list of lessons that changed the course of my life, this would be first on the list: you can change your programming. A bit at a time, you can trim away the edges of years of programming to install the version you want for the next 5, 10 or 50 years. I started with 3 rituals. Call them habits, mantras, observations, or – Oh, I know – upgrades. Practicing these rituals won’t miraculously pay off your credit card debt, give you six-pack or get you a raise. You won’t be taller, smarter, or more attractive either (sorry.) But, you will be doing something 90% of people never think of doing: choosing how to live. Here they are – 3 deceptively simple rituals that could quite simply change your life and make you rich.

RITUAL #1: Notice abundance. Walk in nature, appreciate people who have something you want (don’t dismiss or envy them) and reward yourself (like with a special cup of coffee, a book you’ve been wanting to read, or an overdue yoga class). Your goal is to become comfortable with having wealth in your life. You may be living with a debilitating disorder – it’s call the “psychology of scarcity” (Daniel Kahneman)—the belief there isn’t enough to go around. This can have short-term impacts, like relying on usury lending rates at payday lender outlets (there are now more of these outlets in the United States than McDonald’s and Starbucks outlets, combined). It can also impact your decisions, by playing it safe or not asking for what you want. Again, I’m not fixating on money – this is about abundance in nature, having enough to eat and being able to walk without fear in your neighborhood. This is the growth mindset coined by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck that can lead to better decisions and even a longer life. The only difference between people who have more of what you want and you comes down to what you focus on. Abundance is all around you. The only difference between people who have more of what you want and you comes down to what you focus on. Abundance is all around you.

RITUAL #2: Take 2 minutes at the end of every day for gratitude. As simple, hackneyed, and cliché as it might seem, there is science to back-up the practice of gratitude. In one experiment, writing letters (even if you don’t send them) or phoning to express gratitude to someone influential in your life resulted in a measured happiness increasing by as much as 400%. And when you express gratitude (even just thinking how grateful you are) has lasting effects on your brain and wellbeing that can be measured days and weeks later. In one series of studies, using fMRI scans, researchers found that expressing gratitude (thinking, writing, or calling the person) showed greater neural sensitivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain area associated with learning and decision making. “Simply expressing gratitude may have lasting effects on the brain.” reported researchers Joel Wong and Joshua Brown, “While not conclusive, this finding suggests that practicing gratitude may help train the brain to be more sensitive to the experience of gratitude down the line, and this could contribute to improved mental health over time.”

RITUAL #3: Ask for what you want. The more you ask, the easier it becomes. Go for simple asks, like to go ahead in a line because you’re in a hurry, or have interest fees charges waived from a missed a credit card payment (which I just did this week!) When you ask for what you want, resistance lets go of the steering wheel and opportunity can move into the driver’s seat of life. My experience has been that when I speak up and ask for what I want more often than not I get what I need. As Mick and the boys put it, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you’ll get what you need.”

On more than one occasion, my client hasn’t had the budget to hire me at my fee. I could thank them and walk away. But, if I want the opportunity I need to ask for want I want. When asked if instead of paying my speaking fee they would buy a copy of my book for all their delegates (close to the equivalent of paying my fee) they wrote a cheque. If we are going to do good on this planet we need to know we can make a difference. Call it power, abundance, karma or confidence…I want you to be rich. “If you really believe abundance is available to all,” says Michelle Rose Gilman, founder of Fusion Academy middle schools, “you’ll end up attracting your own abundance.”

Strength and courage,
Wade

Realtor’s Secrets To Being Consistent

reatlor consistencyOne of the most common challenges for real estate agents I coach is their ability to be consistent. Most are masters of being consistently inconsistent and just desire to find that even flow. Consistency is a great characteristic to build and implement in your life. The key to consistency is setting and achieving specific goals. Start by determining how you want to be more consistent in your life, and aim for these small goals. Over time, as you become more consistent, keep yourself motivated and accountable. This may require some change in thinking so you stay optimistic and productive throughout the process. Create specific and realistic goals. It’s hard to be consistent if you don’t have a strong idea of what you need to do. When starting your new path, create easy, simple goals with specific, measurable results.

     1. Start by defining what consistency means to you. Do you need to be consistent about your exercise habits? Are you aiming for a higher quality of work? Do you want to be more available and reliable in your relationships? Once you’ve identified your end goal, come up with smaller steps to reach it. For example, if you want to become more physically fit, you might set the goal to exercise for 5 days out of the week or to sign up for a class. Be specific. Instead of saying “I’m going to consistently appreciate my significant other,” you might say “I’m going to thank my significant other when they wash the dishes, make dinner, or help out around the house.”

     2. Create a schedule for yourself. It can be easy to pile on tasks and promises, but a calendar, planner, or schedule will keep you on track. A schedule will help you plan your day so you get everything done on time. It will also help you understand what commitments you do and do not have time for. Use a paper planner or a desk calendar. Alternatively, download a scheduling app on your phone, like Google Calendar or Outlook. Block off realistic amounts of time for each task. If you’re uncertain how long a task will take, give yourself extra time to complete it. For larger goals, like writing a book or losing weight, set small, daily tasks you can do to work towards this goal. For example, you might set a daily word count to achieve or plan specific meals to eat each day. Don’t forget to plan in breaks as well! Don’t schedule anything else for that day or time.

     3. Place reminders around your home, workspace, and belongings. Sometimes, it is easy to forget our new goals, habits, commitments, or promises, especially when we make them to ourselves. To remind yourself throughout the day, put messages to yourself in visible areas. Write down your goals on post-it notes and place them on your mirror, computer, refrigerator, car dashboard, and planner. Slip a piece of paper with your goals into your wallet, desk drawer, or purse. If you are trying implement a daily practice, put a reminder on your phone. Set an alarm or use a reminder app to alert you when you need to do it.

     4. Make promises only if you can keep them. Consistency often involves making commitments and keeping them. It is easy to get overwhelmed, however, if you make too many promises. If you think a request may be difficult to do, say no. For example, if you tell your significant other you’re going to handle half of the chores, make sure you have time after work to actually do them. In some cases, you may be able to negotiate a promise you will be able to keep. For example, if someone asks you to help them move, you can say, “Well, I can’t make it before 3 PM, but I could swing by after. Does that work?” This includes making promises to yourself. If you know it is unrealistic for you to write 10 pages a day for your new novel, promise yourself you’ll just write at least a little bit each day.

     5. Reward yourself when you get something done. If you do complete your goals, give yourself a reward. Even small goals deserve small rewards to help keep you motivated throughout the process. For example, if you’ve managed to complete your work by 5 pm every day for a week, take an evening off. Go see a movie or treat yourself to a special dinner. If you’re training for a marathon and you’ve managed to hit your daily exercise goals, sign up for a 5k to give you a sense of your success. If you’ve managed to improve your relationships by being more consistent, your friendships may be the reward. If you’re proud of yourself, take your friends out or host a dinner.

So there you have it. Some powerful ways to ensure a consistent personal and professional life. I challenge you to take these ideas and implement and execute on them and let me know how your next month or two plays out for you. To your success.

Strength and courage,
Wade

Secrets To Pursuing Your Passion

realtor passionsIt can be difficult to find your way when you have a million interests tugging at your soul. They all seem like waiting opportunities, but which one is the right path for you? Singling out just one passion can seem like you are giving up other key interests, leaving you feeling unclear about whether you’re picking the best possible option of all the ones available, or going for something that might work but wouldn’t be as fulfilling as it could be. So how do you make a decision whether this is a passion of yours worth pursuing? Here are a few thoughts that I hope will help you truly find your passion. I know that my wife always says I wish I was a real estate deal or a NHL hockey player because you live for them both!

     1. Focus on what keeps coming back. – Take notice of the interest that keeps coming back most often. For instance, if you’re really interested in painting and playing the guitar, but you find yourself reaching for the paintbrush more often, that might be a sign it’s your true calling.

     2. Jump in. – The only true way to know what passion you should pursue is to try them all. Pick one and go for it. If you end up not enjoying it, move on to the next. Or, if you find one you like, then do the others as a side hustle or hobby. In today’s world, there are plenty of opportunities to dabble in multiple activities.

     3. Try month-long experiments. – There is no need to find your “one true calling” if you enjoy learning about multiple topics. But if you really want to explore your passions, schedule a month of deep focus on one topic. Meet with people in the industry or role. Read every relevant newsletter and book. Wake up early and “work” on the topic. After 20 or 30 days of intense study, give yourself permission to double down or drop it.

     4. Stay patient. – Passion isn’t something we can just learn one day. When someone is passionate about something, it happens naturally. If you’re not passionate about any of your interests, then you should consider just relaxing and learning more about yourself over time while discovering new interests. Let passion find you.

     5. Ask others. – Ask others in your circle to see what they think you are best at and what enthrals you most. What do they consider your biggest strengths? Which interest causes your eyes to light up when you talk to them about it? This feedback is valuable when you are not sure yourself.

     6. Do nothing. – If you’re unsure of your true calling, there’s one surefire way to find it: Take some time to do absolutely nothing—no work, no hobbies, just complete aimless freedom. Whatever activities or interests seem the most appealing to you in this period of time are probably things you’re passionate about, and it would be smart for you to pursue that path in your professional and/or personal life.

     7. Stay agile. – If you have not yet discovered your particular niche, then focus your career on a wide range of interests. By exploring multiple interests, you will gain more experience and could possibly find your calling during the process. If not, at least you will have a wide range of experiences and be better positioned to remain agile until you find your true passion.

     8. Do your research. – If you have many interests but not a clear passion, maybe it’s time to dive a little deeper. Take your time to research and experience the full range of your interests. If at any point you think to yourself, I’d rather not do this, then it’s probably not your calling. But if you’re finding the information fascinating and interesting, then focus on that and see how passionate you really feel.

     9. Look elsewhere. – Sometimes your general interests are simply not meant to be your passion. If you’re not devoted enough to invest full time in one of your interests, perhaps it’s time you start researching other topics and niches in order to find something you are truly passionate about. Some people spend their entire lives looking for something that inspires passion—don’t give up.

I hope these ideas will help guide you to your passions this week and you find what it is that gives you joy, energy, thrill and sense of being or purpose which we all desire to have and feel so much. To your success….

Strength and courage,
Wade