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Category: 2. Getting Stuff Done

  • The SECRET to a Break-Out Year in 2024

    The SECRET to a Break-Out Year in 2024

    Beginning in my 2nd year as a REALTOR® and for 12 years in a row, I earned between $590,000-$865,000 GCI, all as an individual agent. So I’ve been asked more than a few times, “What’s your secret, Ted?”

    I’ll reveal my secret within this RAM. But be forewarned; if you’re lazy and think you can skip to the end for the answer, you won’t get it. Please take the time to read this entire post. There’s something here that is my gift to you for 2024.

    Most REALTORS® are in a never-ending quest to find the magic pill, the ONE thing that they think will massively improve their business and life.

    Many think it’s social media. “If only I were better at social media, I’d have all the business I could handle!”

    But the reality is that 99% of agents get a net-negative return on social media compared to the time and energy expended.

    It’s like being a musician or an actor; a thousand incredibly talented people struggle for every one who makes it big.

    I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a presence on social media. Of course, you should! But unless you’re already naturally social-media-savvy, you’re probably beating your head against the wall trying to learn a skill that feels alien. Instead, you should be utilizing your valuable time to improve other more critical aspects of your business, such as:

    Organizational skills – Do you complete tasks and projects promptly, rather than simply reacting to whatever is happening on a day-to-day basis and never truly getting ahead of the game?

    Follow-up skills – Do you have a system to keep track of prospects and naturally convert them into clients, over time, by being a skilled PVI (Provider of Valuable Information)?

    Communication Styles – Do you communicate with everyone in the same way? Or, do you understand how to modify your delivery to appeal to the 75% of people who do NOT think the same way you do?

    Pricing Psychology – Do you know how to price your listings accurately and, more importantly, make this abundantly clear to your sellers?

    Marketing – Do you know how to separate yourself from the crowd by producing the most compelling MLS presentations possible and then leveraging those listings to get more listings?

    Website – Does your website clearly define WHO you are, WHAT you stand for, and WHY people should hire you? If not, please tell me; what’s your website for exactly?

    Listing Presentation – Do you have a repeatable, easily modifiable listing presentation that makes you look like the only true professional in a sea of amateurs?

    Referrals – Do you know how to produce a never-ending stream of referrals from your raving fan base?

    If only there were a simple, logical, step-by-step program to teach all the above skills (and so many more) and immediately incorporate them into your business.

    If only there were a wildly successful agent who took an entire year off at the peak of his career to produce such a program because he saw the need for it and sincerely wanted to help others achieve their full potential.

    Oh, wait. There is.

    The Agent Skills Masters Program

    Click on the link. Scroll down to the “Modules” section and read all about it.

    Another year has passed, It’s time to get serious.

    And this year, for the first time, here’s an offer you can’t possibly refuse (I hope):

    If you complete the course, I’ll immediately e-transfer you $2,100 ($2,000+GST). That means you pay only $495+GST as a one-time fee for lifetime access.

    Here are the simple, straightforward rules to claim your refund:

    1. Send me your completed workbooks (within six months) as proof that you’ve completed the course. 

    2. There’s no #2. Please read #1 again.

    It takes less than eight hours to watch every video (and complete the workbooks at the same time) so you could do this in one day if you wanted to. Think about it this way:

    I’ll pay you $250/hr (8 hours X $250 = $2,000) to take my course! All you have to do is sign up before midnight on December 31st. This offer will NOT be made again for at least another year. So you have three choices:

    1. Do nothing. Hopefully, things just magically get better this year!

    2. Wait another year and hope this offer comes back again.

    3. Sign up now. Go to https://agentskills.com/, scroll down a bit, click the “Try it, risk-free!” button, and enter your info. You’ll get immediate access to the entire course.

    In fairness, if you’ve signed up for the course within the last six months, email or text me, and you’ll get the same deal!

    Why am I doing this? Am I still making money at $495?

    Not really. Honestly, I won’t list all the myriad of costs here but suffice to say that transactional and platform fees whittle away at that $495 PDQ, not to mention my own time. But I know it’s human nature that some people will sign up and never complete the course. So, in a way, they’re paying for you if you choose to take advantage.

    But know this: I’m not counting on that and it’s NOT what I want. I genuinely want everyone to finish the course, and I’ll be thrilled to e-transfer you that $2,100! My motivation is not about money; it’s about improving our industry. And I know that every time an agent completes the course, our industry gets a little bit better.

    Think about it as a late Christmas present from me to you! More SKILLS = More MONEY

    Do it now! You know, as soon as you close this email, it won’t happen. Make an early New Year’s resolution.

    Go here: https://agentskills.com/

    Together, let’s make 2024 the best year yet!

  • 4 Simple Steps to Get Out of a Rut

    4 Simple Steps to Get Out of a Rut

    I read a quote the other day that slapped me across the face:

    The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.

    Ouch! 

    Yes, I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately, ever since I got lazy over the summer. But now it’s almost November! It’s time to follow my own advice and dig myself out of this rut.

    Hey, we ALL occasionally fall into a rut for different reasons. It’s part of being human, so don’t beat yourself up over it.

    The good news is that it’s waaaay easier to get out of a rut than you’ve convinced yourself. One of the dumbest things we humans do is make mountains out of molehills, especially when it comes to our own “stuff.”

    Here are the four simple steps you need to get out of your rut:

    Step 1

    Accept it. Face it. Stop ignoring it. 

    Step 2

    Take one tiny step. You know the saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Yet we humans get overwhelmed by stupidly concentrating on the “thousand miles” rather than “the first step.” Quit that. Take it one step at a time, and don’t even think about the bigger picture for now.

    By the way, your first step can be the tiniest of baby steps! For example:

    Write on your calendar an ‘Appointment with Yourself’ when you will start on the work you’ve been avoiding. This can be a five-minute window of time or whatever. Just schedule the Appointment. There, you’ve completed your first step! Congrats!

    Step 3

    Honour the ‘Appointment with Yourself,’ just as you would honour an ‘Appointment with your Dentist’ or an ‘Appointment with your #1 Referral Source’. You wouldn’t blow them off at the last minute, would you? So why should you treat yourself any differently? 

    This is the most critical step, by the way. Learning to honour Appointments with Yourself is the key to Getting Stuff Done and digging out of your rut.

    Step 4

    Rinse and Repeat! Take another step. And another. And another. Before you know it, you’ll be on a roll, accomplishing great things and probably realizing that you did indeed make a mountain out of that tiny molehill.  

    I’ve just followed the above four steps myself and quickly completed a task I’ve been putting off since August. The entire project took a mere three hours, but it feels fantastic to have it completed. Now, on to the next task!

    There’s nothing like accomplishing things to keep you motivated and moving forward rather than floundering in what feels like a horrific rut. Just take it one step at a time.

    • Coach Ted
  • How to Get an Accountability Partner and Become a More Productive Boss of Yourself

    How to Get an Accountability Partner and Become a More Productive Boss of Yourself

    Being the Boss of Yourself has its perks, but it also requires a level of self-discipline that very few of us possess.

    The most challenging part is completing the stuff that doesn’t have an immediate payoff. It just seems like so much… work.

    For example, you know you need to fix your website. You know there’ll be a massive payoff when you finally get it done. But you just never seem to have the time. Right?

    (If you don’t know how important your website is, read this The HUB of Your Marketing and WHY it Sucks)

    You’ve got a pile of other projects too, but there are always a hundred other things that need your immediate attention, so guess what?

    The big heavy stuff never gets done.

    If you’re a good REALTOR®, you’ve probably trained yourself to be a “rapid responder,” which is good.

    But reacting to whatever is happening 100% of the time and devoting 0% of your time to working on larger projects (without distraction) is terrible.

    If you want to be a truly great REALTOR®, you must also be a great Boss of Yourself.

    If you’re a lousy Boss of Yourself, the first step is to admit it. You don’t have to go to a meeting or anything. Just repeat after me:

    “I’m a lousy boss of myself.”

    Say it out loud.

    Congratulations! You’re on the road to recovery!

    The second step is to learn and implement some basic organizational skills. As a first step in this lonely business, it’s helpful for many agents to have an accountability partner.

    I suggest you consult ‘The Google’ for best practices on choosing a compatible partner and structuring your meetings, but here are my top two rules:

    #1. Always follow a strict agenda:

    Meet at the same day and time every week, start on time,  end on time, and know what you’re going to talk about before you start.

    #2. Don’t allow your meeting to deteriorate into a BS session.

    Go ahead and schedule a BS section at the end. This is not a bad thing! But it’s business first. Follow the agenda!

    Once you’ve got a partner, you must learn some skills to be more productive beyond merely forcing yourselves. 

    “OK, we’re both going to have new websites before next Monday!”

    That’s just setting yourself up for failure. Instead, make your goals more attainable:

    “Let’s both commit to writing a step-by-step plan to improve our websites and present our plans to each other at the next meeting.”

    Or, maybe your partner has a different goal than you have. This is perfectly fine. You help them with their goal; they help you with yours.

    In a way, your accountability partner asks as your boss and your friend at the same time. You know you must report back to them and don’t want to disappoint them.

    You’ll undoubtedly be more productive and surprised at how much you enjoy these meetings!

  • How to Use ‘Habit-Stacking’ to Get More of What You Want

    How to Use ‘Habit-Stacking’ to Get More of What You Want

    Last RAM, I introduced a few concepts I learned in Atomic Habits. This week, I’ll demonstrate ‘habit-stacking,’ how I’ve used it, and how you too can use this simple system to get more of what you want.

    Habit-stacking is a way to add new activities to an existing routine. For example, in past RAMs, I’ve discussed the importance of establishing a morning work routine. For most people, the first item in their morning routine is checking and responding to messages.

    You’ve got that habit down pat! But perhaps you’ve realized that reviewing your Prospects List has become inconsistent. Sometimes you go weeks without checking it!

    You can fix this problem quickly using habit-stacking. You can even include a reward for following through if you find it helpful. 

    Here’s your new and improved morning routine:

    First, check and respond to your messages, second, review your prospects list, third, take ten minutes to check your social media feed (this is your reward). 

    (To make this effective, you must resist the urge to check your social media before completing the two work-related activities.)

    Here’s a real-world example of two activities I want to incorporate more into my life:

    #1 – Reading – This is one of my favourite things to do, but I’ve struggled to find the time.

    #2 – Exercising – This activity has been easy to neglect(!) even though I’m fully aware of its importance to my overall health. ️‍♂️

    Now, here’s how I’ve incorporated both of these activities into my daily routine, using habit-stacking:

    1. I get up at 6:00 a.m., go to the bathroom, and brush my teeth.
    2. I go to the kitchen, drink a glass of water, and take my vitamins and stuff.
    3. I go to my basement gym and work out for 15-20 minutes. Yes, that’s all for now! I’m establishing a habit that I will expand on later (as it becomes more habitual).
    4. I go upstairs, brew myself a delicious cup of black wakey juice, then I sit in my comfy chair and read a book for one glorious hour. (This is what I’m looking forward to when I get out of bed. I’ll get less reading time if I dilly-dally and hit the snooze. ) 
    5. I make/eat breakfast.
    6. I start my morning work routine.

    I now work out every day, read every day, and I get it all done before 8:00 a.m.

    I don’t have to think about things like, “When am I going to work out?” or “When will I get to read?”

    Instead, I do this, then I do this, then I do this. That’s habit-stacking.

    There’s more. I’ve set up my basement gym, so it’s easy for me to work out. I walk down there and start. Whatever you need to do, make it easy, and reward yourself for getting it done.

    My reward is reading. But we’re all different. What could be your reward? How can you utilize the system of habit-stacking to become better?

    Making positive changes starts with assessing what you want and need in your life, whether personal, relationship, or business-based. What type of person/REALTOR® do you want to be?

    Once you’ve established the person you want to be, you can figure out what systems to implement, such as habit-stacking, towards that goal. Then, the outcomes (your goals) happen quite naturally.

    The mistake most of us make is focusing on outcomes (I want six-pac abs) rather than the person we want to be (I want to be the type of person who takes care of my fitness and health).

    We tend to give up when we focus only on our goals and don’t see immediate results. That’s why it’s far more effective to focus on who you want to be, then implement the systems that will help you get there. Then, concentrate on perfecting your systems. When you do this, the outcomes take care of themselves.

    I know I’m not doing havit-stacking justice with these few words, but If I’ve piqued your curiosity, I strongly recommend reading Atomic Habits. By the way, habit-stacking is only one of numerous brilliant strategies in this book. It was hard for me to pick just one.

    Next week, I’ll get back to talking about regular REALTOR® stuff, such as How to Stop Tossing Business out the Window in 2023! (It’s a system, of course.) 

  • New Habits for a New Year

    New Habits for a New Year

    “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” – James Clear (Atomic Habits)

    Have you set some new goals for 2023?

    Personally, I’ve never been good at goal-setting, which is a surprise to many of my REALTOR® friends. They ask me about my goals, and I stare at them blankly, blinking occasionally. (It’s always quite awkward.)

    To me, setting a goal without a step-by-step plan to achieve it is a waste of time. I’d rather work on the steps than the goal.

    Individual steps are infinitely easier to implement.

    If executed properly, even a tiny step provides immediate positive reinforcement rather than waiting months or longer to achieve a distant goal. 

    It’s like declaring you’re going to lose 50 pounds and then changing nothing about yourself, except now you “try” to eat less and exercise more. 

    Using willpower alone, you will likely lose zero pounds. In fact, you will probably gain ten pounds due to the extra stress of “failing” at your stated goal. “Oh well, might as well scarf down this pizza.”

    Conversely, you decide to quit all fatty, salty, and sugary foods—cold turkey—and work out for an hour every day.

    You gain fifteen pounds. 

    Hey, I’m not trying to sabotage your resolutions! On the contrary, even though I’m not great at it, setting goals is good!

    But the truth is that very few of us can make major changes in our lives on sheer willpower alone. I know for sure I can’t.

    I’ll tell you a secret about myself. I’m just as lazy as you are!

    Virtually all of us humans are naturally lazy. This is probably a leftover trait from our cavemen ancestors who needed to conserve energy before the next mastodon hunt. I say “probably” because I’m too lazy to look it up.

    I tell people I’m lazy, and they don’t believe me. “Oh, Ted! If you’re so lazy, how do you get so much done? Huh? Answer me that!” 

    OK.

    Systems and Procedures

    I use systems and procedures for the sole purpose of making my life easier. If I didn’t have systems and procedures, I’d have to work twice as hard to accomplish the same amount. Yuck! 

    I’ve developed systems and procedures to ensure I only have to work as little as possible. I honestly don’t get why other lazy people don’t use better systems and procedures, especially when they can simply copy mine. 

    I see other agents constantly run off their feet, accomplishing very little, and I shake my head. I’d hate to have to work that hard. How stressful.

    These types seem to enjoy telling people how busy they are, and they are indeed extremely busy! The trouble is they’re not accomplishing much. 

    Instead, they’re blindly running down every rabbit hole, trying every new hair-brained scheme, and fixing mistakes they should never have made. All because they have no focus and terrible (or non-existent) systems and procedures.

    Here’s the point of this article: Achieving any goal begins with implementing better systems and procedures. 

    And better systems and procedures begin with better habits.

    I suggest you start here: Atomic Habits – Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results.

    This is the best book I’ve ever read on developing better habits (and eliminating bad ones). I started reading it on New Years Day (11 days ago) by pure fluke, and I’m already implementing several tiny but highly impactful changes to my life.

    Do I have goals?

    Sure, but I don’t worry about achieving them. I know I’ll get there. How? By adding (or eliminating) one little habit at a time. 

    If you decide to read Atomic Habits, please let me know how you’re doing with it! I’m planning on keeping this book nearby and referring to it frequently. 

    If you’ve taken the Agent Skills Master’s Program, I’ll send you a FREE copy! Not only that, but I’ll act as your accountability partner as you start implementing new good habits and eliminating bad ones. Simply reply to this email and commit to reading it within 30 days. Don’t be lazy.

    All the best in 2023!

  • Winter is the Time to Work ON Your Business

    Winter is the Time to Work ON Your Business

    As a newly licensed REALTOR®, I drove to the brokerage and worked from my office daily. The camaraderie in our office was (and still is) amazing. I credit this as one of the primary reasons I was able to get such a fast start in real estate.

    As a rosy-faced newbie (2-3 months in), I remember another agent stopping by my office and saying, “Wow, you’re always so busy! How many deals have you done already?”

    “Oh, none yet! I’m just working on setting up systems and procedures!”

    He gave me a funny look, wished me luck, and continued down the hall. He probably thought I’d never do a deal.

    I went back to work.

    You see, working isn’t only putting deals together. If that’s your attitude, you’re not going to work much. 

    You should be working ON your business when you’re not working IN your business.

    I still work this way, but it’s more seasonal now. In the spring and summer, I’m mainly working IN my business (putting deals together). I spend more time working ON my business in the fall and winter. 

    Here’s a partial list of what I mean by working ON your business. Go ahead and substitute “improving” with “initiating” wherever applicable.

    • Improving systems and procedures
    • Improving your website
    • Improving your listing presentation
    • Improving your monthly newsletter
    • Improving advertising/marketing programs
    • Improving your CRM
    • Contacting past clients
    • Taking a course to learn how to do all of the above more effectively

    Ack! There it is! Just a big pitch to convince us to buy his course!

    OK, you caught me.

    To be fair, if you’re a regular reader, you know that I rarely pitch my course directly.

    But the timing just seems right to remind you that winter is when you really should be taking my course, taking some other course, reading books, listening to podcasts, or something to become a better and more successful agent.

    Improving your business/bank account/life doesn’t happen by magic. If you want success, there is a price to pay. That price is time and effort. The more you put in, the more reward you get later.

    Is now the right time for you to make a positive change? Are you ready to put in the effort?

    If so, you can sign up here.

  • A Disciplined Life is a Productive One

    A Disciplined Life is a Productive One

    On November 3, my Uncle John died. He left this world at the age of 95, under his own terms utilizing the medical assistance in dying (MAID) law. He is my inspiration for this Real Agent Memo.

    Uncle John was a true renaissance man; a graduate of the University of Cambridge, a professor for a short time, a producer-director of over 200 features, documentaries, dramas, and musical programs over a distinguished 35-year career with the CBC, an author of ten books of poetry, fiction and history, a composer of modern-classical music, and a serious long-distance runner for five decades, who trained daily. On top of all this, he dedicated his life to preserving democratic ideals in Canada and restoring them in postwar Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic.

    So, what’s all that got to do with real estate?

    Well, every REALTOR® I know (including myself) could use a little or a lot more self-discipline. What about you?

    Uncle John accomplished so much because he lived by the adage, “A disciplined life is a productive one.” 

    But it’s hard, right? Yes! And here’s why:

    From “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman, we humans have two systems of thinking:

        •    System 1: Fast, automatic, frequent, emotional, stereotypic, subconscious

        •    System 2: Slow, effortful, infrequent, logical, calculating, conscious

    Let’s start with System 2 – slow thinking – This is the part of our brains that allows us humans to plan, create, control impulses, and solve problems. You know, all the hard stuff.

    System 1 – fast thinking – This is the subconscious mind that automatically reacts to stimuli based on our previous experiences, feelings, and habits. It’s also the part of your brain that prefers that everything remain exactly the same, thank you very much. 

    Since your brain prioritizes fast thinking, System 1 usually wins the battle, “I’ve always done it this way, so piss off, System 2.”

    But, professional and personal growth necessitates that you slow down, pay attention, be logical (not impulsive), build new habits even though they’re uncomfortable (at first), and take the time to learn and implement what you’ve learned.

    I’m no expert on this stuff, but I want to learn more. For starters, I bought Kahneman’s book. Hey, the guy won a Nobel Prize for his research!

    Only good things can come from learning to utilize our slow-thinking brains more effectively.

    Uncle John was right, “A disciplined life is a productive one.”

    I’m going to try harder to be more like him from now on.

  • Why You Need an Accountability Partner

    Why You Need an Accountability Partner

    Ah, the life of a REALTOR®. Being your own boss is the best, right?

    No more annoying boss telling you what to do and dictating deadlines for boring projects. 

    Now, you set your own deadlines!

    Except you don’t.

    It turns out that being your own boss is way more challenging than we thought it would be! 

    The hardest part is doing the stuff that you perceive doesn’t have an immediate payoff (even though it does). For example, fixing your website, improving your listing presentation, working on a course, or any other items in your Great Pile of Projects (GPP).

    After all, we REALTORS® tend to get into the habit of simply reacting to whatever is happening every day, and there never seems to be enough time to get to the big stuff.

    But if you spend 100% of your time reacting to things and 0% working on larger projects to advance your business, you are a lousy ‘Boss of Yourself!’

    If this describes you, the first step is to admit it. 

    You don’t have to go to a meeting or anything. Just repeat after me:

    “I’m a lousy Boss of Myself.” 

    Say it out loud.

    Congratulations! You’re on the road to recovery!

    The second step is to learn and implement some basic organizational skills.

    One of the most critical organizational skills I constantly preach (I know, I know) is honouring ‘Appointments with Yourself.’

    “Honour” is the critical word (just as you would honour an Appointment with Your Best Client or an Appointment with Your Dentist).

    But why is it so difficult for most agents to honour Appointments with Themselves?

    There are two main reasons:

    1. We’re hard-wired to put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own.

    2. Big projects seem overwhelming, so we invent (hundreds of) excuses not to do them. 

    #2 is all about your lazy brain (we all have one). Your logical brain knows that the longer you procrastinate, the longer it will take you to start reaping the benefits of completing those big projects. But the lazy brain usually wins out.

    Making and honouring Appointments with Yourself seems simple and logical, yet we constantly self-sabotage ourselves.

    So, what’s the solution?

    How about an accountability partner? 

    I won’t get into too much detail in this tiny space. Instead, consult ‘The Google’ for best practices on choosing a partner and structuring your meetings, but here are my top three rules (which I learned by doing the opposite):

    #1. Always follow a strict agenda, whether meeting in person, over Zoom, or on the phone.

    Start on time, end on time, and know the agenda before you start.

    #2. Don’t allow your meeting to deteriorate into a BS session.

    You can schedule a BS section at the end of your meeting, but it’s business first.

    #3. Set firm but realistic weekly goals.

    For example, if you’re working on the Agent Skills Master’s Program, set a goal to complete one module before your next meeting.

    When you do this, your Accountability Partner serves as your ‘boss’ in a way (and vice-versa), which is a good thing! 

    To accomplish your weekly goals, you can use Appointments with Yourself. The more tasks you complete, the more you’ll realize how powerful this tool can be.

    Start by finding a partner, decide the ground rules, set a meeting time for the same time every week, and start setting goals. Then, you can use Appointments with Yourself to ensure you meet your weekly targets. 

    If you do this consistently, you’ll be astounded at how much you will get done before the end of this year. 

    Why not add this to your Brain Clutter List right now?

    All you have to do is write “Accountability Partner” on your list. That will be enough to remind you.

    After all, If you want more (of whatever it is you want), it’s not enough to merely read this and then do nothing. You’ve got to take action!

  • The Formidable Combination of Mindset and Organizational Skills for REALTORS®

    The Formidable Combination of Mindset and Organizational Skills for REALTORS®

    When I first got my Real Estate license, I had zero clients and zero prospects. 

    It took me three months to complete my first transaction—a sympathy listing—which I screwed up royally. 

    Then I went straight back to zero clients and zero prospects.

    Slowly but surely, I figured out what to do, and by the end of my first year, I had earned $180,000 in commissions. From my 2nd year on, I earned between $590,000-$865,000 for 12 consecutive years, all as an individual agent.

    I get asked all the time HOW I ramped up so quickly, starting from nothing.

    But when I answer, agents always look at me sideways and walk away, muttering that I must be lying. 

    Sometimes I feel like just making up an alternate story, but it’s not in my nature. So, believe it or not, here is EXACTLY what I did:

    1. I read numerous books and articles about customer service

    2. I talked to other agents about what made them successful

    3. I looked at hundreds of properties (by myself since I had no clients), taking extensive notes

    4. I worked on developing and refining my systems and procedures

    I also had a successful business background, so that certainly helped. But here’s the key:

    Instead of wasting my time chasing after clients and not knowing what to do with them, I spent my time developing my skills FIRST.

    To this day, when I’m not busy, my mind wanders to figuring out how to be better. What tiny (or gigantic) improvement can I make to become a better agent?

    Some things take five seconds, while other bigger projects need to be broken down into numerous chunks.

    But no matter how tiny (or gigantic), EVERY idea and task gets written down on my Brain Clutter List. More about this system in my last post:

    4 Ridiculously Simple Tips for REALTORS® to Become 10 X More Organized

    One agent read that post and asked me:

    “OK, Ted, But what exactly do you write on your list?”

    My answer: E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

    Every tiny (or gigantic) thought that pops into my skull—20-30 items a day on average.

    He responded, “But doesn’t your list get cluttered and unmanageable?”

    Well, I suppose it would if I never managed it!

    It’s not about writing things down and forgetting about them. It’s the opposite. It’s about having a system to remind yourself about everything you need to do and then taking action.

    I’m knocking things off my list all day long. In fact, every time I look at my email, I scan my Brain Clutter List at the same time. Then, every morning, I review the “leftovers” and move some items onto my calendar, or onto a different list, or sometimes I just leave it, knowing I’ll get back to it later.

    Read this if you’d like to learn more:

    5 Easy Steps for REALTORS® to Defeat Procrastination

    __________

    Let’s get back to how I was able to advance my career so quickly:

    First, I was ALWAYS trying to think of what I could do to become better, and then I spent my time implementing those ideas. But here’s a vital lesson:

    It’s not one GIANT thing that will change your business and life. Instead, it’s hundreds and thousands of tiny things all strung together.

    But those things simply don’t get done if you don’t write them down! Ask yourself:

    What improvements have you made in the last week?

    Nothing? Perhaps you should start writing things down (and taking action). People who rely too much on their memory rarely advance their careers at any measurable pace.

    So, the answer to the big question, “How did I ramp up my business so quickly?”

    1. I had a mindset of constantly trying to get better, and;

    2. I wrote down EVERY idea and acted on it.

    You can do the same thing! 

    Try it for ONE day, and you’ll be shocked at how much more you get done. (Or, how little you got done the day before.)

    __________

    By the way, did I give the impression that all my ideas actually worked? Hahaha!

    I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours learning the hard way. But you don’t have to.

    Take a tiny leap of faith and sign up for the Agent Skills Master’s Program and learn EVERYTHING I know without all the trial and error and sweat and tears that I’ve expended over my entire career.

    I wish someone had made a course like this for me when I first started. Try it for FREE for  one week (first two modules). You don’t pay unless you decide to continue.

  • The Bare-Bones Basics on Being an Organized Agent

    The Bare-Bones Basics on Being an Organized Agent

    Last week, I talked about Simple Skills that Make the Most Impact. 

    I’m constantly amazed at the number of REALTORS® I meet who don’t seem to realize that they’re running a business and they lack the most basic organizational skills. They just sort of get up in the morning and start reacting to whatever is going on with no specific plan.

    Does that sound familiar?

    Before I started Agent Skills, I did one-on-one training with a few local agents, and there was one incident that still sticks out in my mind. I asked my client/student to get out his calendar to block off some time for study and practice before our next meeting. Here’s what he said:

    “I don’t have a calendar.”

    What? How do you keep track of your appointments?

    “I just remember everything.”

    My jaw dropped. I stared at him with my mouth wide open for a full minute without speaking.

    I’m imagining him reading this right now and laughing out loud because he’s come a looong way since that day. At the time, he was wondering why he had no business, and now he’s hopping busy, and organized!

    Thinking about that incident, I thought I should take a step back and talk about some bare-bones basics. This is for all of you who are feeling out of control right now!

    Your To-Do List

    Whatever email platform you use, you’ve also got a calendar and a task list. These Apps all work together with each other.

    I use Gmail, but it doesn’t matter which email platform you use. For today, all I want is for you to get waaay better at keeping track of your to-do’s. ✔️

    Here is the most important organizational rule that you should implement right now:

    Stop trying to remember things!

    If you’re not already using your built-in tasks (to-do) app that works in conjunction with your email, start now. 

    Make sure you set up the app on your phone to access it with a single tap. For example, I have these four Apps in the bottom tray on my iPhone – phone, messages, email, and tasks. 

    That’s how important my Tasks App is. I need to access it with a single click because I use it all day, every day. 

    Even if I know I’m going to complete a task in 30 seconds, I add it to my Tasks List first. I’ve learned how easy it is to become distracted and forget things, so I’ve trained myself to never rely on my memory. After all, it only takes two seconds to jot the idea down. 

    I have a name for my tasks list – The Brain Clutter List. It allows me to remove all the clutter from my brain by simply writing things down. Out of the brain, onto the list. 

    This reduces stress and allows me to think more clearly, amongst many other benefits. That’s why I named my system the Clear Brain System.

    Writing down all your “to-do’s” is one thing. Next, you need to ensure you’re regularly knocking things off your list. If you’d like to learn more about how I do this, just send me an email, and I’ll send you a copy of my eBook – The Clear Brain System.

    If you want to achieve massive success in real estate, stop accepting that good enough is good enough. It isn’t.

    Learn more about the Agent Skills Master’s Program here.

    “The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself… The more you learn, the more you’ll earn.” — Warren Buffett