It's easier said than done.

Certain things, like breathing, we are born with the ability to do.

But most everything else we do in life is learned.

Managing reactions and emotions are no different.

Most of us know that we have the ability to choose how things affect us. We may not be in control of what is happening to us, but we absolutely have control of how we react to it.

That doesn't mean we are good at it.

That is another learned skill that we aren't born with.

It takes practice.

Yet, for some reason, we have an unrealistic expectation of how quickly we should be able to master this skill.

We know that many times we need to, "get over it".

But sometimes it's not that simple, it's not something that comes naturally to us.

It is a learned skill and we should allow ourselves time to learn how to master it.

The more skills I acquire, the more I require of them.

I used to want to learn random things that just made "Now" money.

But now, I require that any skill I learn will be something I can use in the future, and across multiple industries.

I have no interest in learning skills that I don't plan to use in the future

Today when I logged into the MLS I was notified of the association offering their condolences to a number of agent's families that had passed away.

It reminded me that most people never retire from real estate. 

They either just quit, die while still an agent, or have retired from something else and have become a real estate agent for fun, or as something to do. 

After that, I listened to Colin Cowherd talk today about how you will never become wealthy by being conservative.

He was talking about football, but it made so much sense.

He said if you play it conservative by staying at the same job and maxing out your 401k you will have a comfortable life.

But that won't create wealth.

In order to create wealth, you need to take a shot.

Well... here I am, taking my shot.

Several years ago I read a book called, "The Goal".

The main premise was to increase business by eliminating bottlenecks.

Not letting items that shouldn't pass through... pass through.

If they don't pass inspection, they do not move on.

I think this is a great outlook.

How many times in your real estate business have you generated a lead that you've nurtured for months, only to find out they cannot purchase.

Why wouldn't we lead with getting them financed, maybe with the help of a lender or loan officer and start from there.

In our industry we do a lot of backtracking and dealing with bottlenecks.

What bottlenecks are you currently facing?

Bank Of Prior Knowledge

Have you ever heard of free soloing?

If not, this is what Wikipedia defines it as,  

"Free solo climbing or free soloing, is a form of technical ice or rock climbing where the climbers (or free soloists) climb alone without ropes, harnesses or other protective equipment, forcing them to rely entirely on their own individual strength and skill."

Otherwise known as... crazy!

I recently watched a documentary called Free Solo, which follows free soloist Alex Honnold on his quest to climb El Capitan in Yosemite, over 3,000 feet of granite without safety ropes or harnesses.

Although the idea is insane to people like me, I couldn't stop watching.

His preparation was just as insane, planning and practicing every move down to the last one.

It's the short game vs. the long game.

Many of us real estate agents are constantly playing the short game of, getting leads, showing homes, selling homes, and getting paid.

We don't have any plans to get off of this treadmill because we are focusing on URGENT tasks, not IMPORTANT ones.

Think of it this way, we are focused on what we can do today that gets us paid once tomorrow, rather than what can we do today that pays us multiple times in several years.

We are just trying to make money, not build a business.

This is in turn killing our business.

When I met Rose she was laying on her couch with tubes in her nose.

At 91 years young, I had no idea that she would change my perspective.

She shared stories with me, lighting up as she recalled her experiences.

Sure, I sold her home but the commission has been long gone, but her stories will last forever.

She taught to me to think about...

When The Money's Gone

In entrepreneurship, ALL aspects of life tend to bleed into one and other.

At times it can be difficult to compartmentalize or draw clear lines for where is personal life starts and when your business stops.

When that happens it can be tough to be both the motivator and the motivated.

When you are your own boss and responsible for deciding what tasks need to be done and also making sure they get done, sometimes you lack the motivation to do either.

This has happened to me over the last 3 weeks.

I have struggled with my son wanted to go to school and it has been demanding, not only of my time, but it has consumed my mind as well.

These are the things we must face and overcome as entrepreneurs.

Has it been tough? Of course.

Has it been stressful? Absolutley!

Will we get through it? No doubt about it.

All you entrepreneurs out there... I am rooting for you! 

Weather the storm and change the world with your vision

Today I share 3 pet peeves of mine.

1) Getting on the elevator before everyone gets off/Trying to get off the plane before those in front of you.

2) Not returning your shopping cart.

3) Not using your blinker.

Not using your blinker is one of the biggest ones for me because of 3 reasons. 

1) It doesn't offer you any significant advantage.

2) In order to perform this, you actually have to "Un-Learn" how to do it.

3) You take away the main piece of communication you have with other cars.

Speaking about the lack of communication and tying it into Episode 072: "Listen To Learn, Not To Respond” I experienced a lack of communication with the doctor yesterday.

As I was trying to explain to him, the entirety of what was going on, I kept being cut-off mid-sentence.

Now, I love this Dr. but have noticed that this seems to be a common theme among doctors.

We are so eager to have an answer that we will form an opinion before we've gathered all of the facts.

That results in us treating the symptom, not the cause.