Take Flight Weekly | Jim Miller

On the this episode of my Monday Morning Pep Talk, I will give you the basis for a business strategy for the coming weeks where most of society will be checked out during the heart of the summer. Normally the last 2 weeks of August are a "no fly zone" but that time frame could be extended this year. This collective reset is happening in every market, even the hottest markets like South Florida, Texas, Nashville and North Carolina. Transactions are still happening but at a much slower pace than we've seen over the last 18-24 months. My prediction is that velocity will pick up mid -September when most people get back to some form of a routine. So, the question is how do we navigate until then? What should be our focus? What should we be focused on during this extended "no fly zone"?3 words: Protect The DownsideHonestly it doesn't really matter what type of market we are experiencing, this strategy, "Protect The Downside", is a legitimate approach to operate your business. Let me explain, "Protecting The Downside" means simply avoiding taking a step back. We talk about getting 1% better every day which is a simple, balanced and effective approach to growth. The key is that you don't want to take a 1% step back. To stay on a consistent growth path, if you take 1% step back means that you need to make the 1% up the next day to get back to even. August 2022 could be a trap month if you don't intentionally execute. For example, 30 days straight of going 1% backwards mostly like will be lost never be caught up.

On this episode of my Monday Morning Pep Talk (MMPT), I will challenge you to answer the question: "Are You Open For Business?". Most entrepreneurs will answer the question "YES!" without hesitation but with some deeper thought and analysis after today's call, some might change their answer. You know you are open for business, but do your clients and potential clients answer that question about you in the same way? During a coaching session this past week, an agent who is in the early stages of "re-imagining her business", said to me "I'm not sure that doing that level of transactions and volume can be done in my market." I went on do the math, compared her current business to what is possible if she implemented what we discussed, and then went back into my archives of "stories and metaphors" and explained my thoughts using my "Are You Open for Business?" metaphor. She commented after my explanation how much this "reframing" changed her view. I explained to her that "Sometimes you have to get out of your own way and look at your life and business in a different way". Because it had such an impact on her, I want to share it will all of you today.

On this episode, I will discuss why "Words Matter". Having had time over the last 2 weeks for Mus-ing: (noun: a period of reflection or thought), I've collected my thoughts and will bring you today what I've been thinking about and some consistent questions I've been answering. Musing, not a word I use a lot but will more in the future now that I've researched the true meaning, is the first of 10 words that I will explore today, explain their meaning in context or give the relevancy of these words in discussions I've been having with many of you.

On this episode, I will lay out the importance of building time into your schedule to rewind, review and relax. The next 2 weeks, because of the 4th of July holiday, might just be the best time in recent memory to review your business, your life and what you've learned over the last 2 years. Some of you just completed my Take Flight course and came away with strategies that can be implemented to take advantage of the opportunities that will present themselves in this shifting market. We are starting Week 13 of the 2022 Q2, 12 Week Year cycle which suggests that we should be reviewing our results of the previous 12 weeks, celebrate our accomplishments over that period of time and prepare to launch into 2022, Q3.

On this MMPT, I will take the time to editorialize what I am seeing in today's shifting market based on conversations I am having with agents locally and with agents and leaders throughout in the US and Canada. I also have several trusted news sources that I value their research on all things housing economics and I'll share some of their thoughts and predictions as well. I can only talk about that which is based on what we know today, what we think we know and give you a game plan on how to navigate the remainder of this month and Q3. At a minimum, you should come away with some talking points that you can use with your buyers and sellers.

On this MMPT, I will take the time to editorialize what I am seeing in today's shifting market based on conversations I am having with agents locally and with agents and leaders throughout in the US and Canada. I also have several trusted news sources that I value their research on all things housing economics and I'll share some of their thoughts and predictions as well. I can only talk about that which is based on what we know today, what we think we know and give you a game plan on how to navigate the remainder of this month and Q3. At a minimum, you should come away with some talking points that you can use with your buyers and sellers.

On this episode, I want to teach you how to use simple, easy to access and cost effective tools to build an automated, highly functioning and efficient life and business. Many times, you waste opportunities or create unnecessary issues simply because you forget, or a follow up slips your mind or you get distracted and miss an opportunity. You can easily fix the vast majority of these issues and lost opportunities if you simply take the time to build in systems of reminders into your daily planning method. A characteristic of Elite Level Producers (ELPs) is that they understand their weaknesses and are good a delegating out tasks below their PPH (profit per hour) and automate anything that can be automated. I will paint a picture of what is possible if the time, focus and effort is put towards 4 distinct areas of your life and business:1.Transaction Management and Business Processes2.Relationship and Database Management3.Personal Finance4.Household LogisticsAs you contemplate your quarterly initiatives within the "12 Week Year" process, most of the ideas I present you today would be high impact, easy to execute and low cost opportunities that you could focus on in upcoming quarters. If implemented, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor for months and years to come.

On this episode, I want to go a little bit deeper into the most underutilized, powerful asset we have at our disposal to live an amazing life and build an enjoyable and predictable business - the mind. The mind, just like software, is programmable. It is up to the individual to consciously program their mind and it can be programmed through the books we read (or don't read), the people we have in our immediate circle and the types of media we consume on a daily basis. There is no easy path to reach our vision and it takes intentional effort and a plan to achieve it. Studies (Harvard MBA study of 1979) have shown that 84% of people have no goals and no plans of action, 13% have goals but no documented plans, only 3% have goals and written plans of action to live the life they want to live and become the person they want to become. This study demonstrated 10 years later that the 3% made 10x more in revenue than that of the remaining 97% combined. The 3% we refer to as an ELP (elite level producer). This is why I beat the drum so loud for a planning process like the #12weekyear process.What does the plan of an ELP consist of? It's starts a commitment and a shift in mindset. As an ELP chases a goal/vision with a plan of action, it learns things along the way that are crucial to the long term trajectory of the ELP's life and business. For today, let's refer to it as the 3% mind. The 3% mind layers in philosophies and actions, unrelenting execution and seeks out others with experience and mentorship. On this episode, I'll give you some of those characteristics I've uncovered that makes the 3% mind unique

On this episode, I will discuss how to make the best decisions for you, your business and how to create the most effective and efficient ACTION to meet your goals and vision. There's a lot of pressure on your time so you need to make the most of the hours that you have on a daily basis. I will lay out several decision making formulas that will help you analyze which projects should take priority.First, you need to understand that you are the only one that will ever be motivated to grow YOUR business. To grow your business, you have to get really good at knowing which initiatives and tasks to eliminate and then you need to evaluate what can be automated and delegated. Those remaining tasks, projects and initiatives will be on your personal job description. The longer I'm around, I have realized that the ability to make good decisions might just be the most underrated skill an entrepreneur can possess especially as it relates to your time. Time is the only commodity that you cannot replace. When it's gone, it's gone. Choose wisely.

On this episode, I will make my case that being disciplined in your systems, processes, habits and routines is the key to all sustained success in every aspect of your life both professionally and personally. I will compare it to motivation, based in emotion, that comes and goes and does not create the needed consistency to play at a high level with the least amount of effort.I talk to agents all day long. My role is that of a problem solver whether it be having to be a "deal doctor", a business coach and in many situations, a life coach. I hear it all. So, I come to you today with a lot of data points both from my personal experience and from being in a front row seat as I observe others go from struggle to a success. Here's what I have learned about the transformation process:The initial stage of disciplined action creates sprouts of success. One repeats what works, so the actions that created the success are continued. The consistent repetition of the successful actions become an "addiction" out of fear of losing momentum. Once one is "addicted to the process" that creates the desired result, the body (bio rhythms) and the subconscious take over. At this point, one is naturally motivated and doesn't need the daily dopamine drips of the social feeds of thought leaders, podcasts and audiobooks to "get fired up" for the day. I don't mean that one should throw the self- development to the side, quite the opposite actually. In fact it's crucial to learn from the thought leaders, podcasts and audiobooks to improve your skills and gain insight so you can add more value. You need to rely on discipline because motivation comes and goes. Motivation is based in emotion. If you don't "feel it" that day, you don't execute. 1 day becomes 2, 2 days becomes a week and before you know it, it's been six months since you created the necessary action to "plant seeds". Three to six months after that, there is no harvest because you didn't plant the seeds. At this point, you get nervous/anxious and you go plant a bunch of seeds hoping that some of them will be ready for harvest immediately. It doesn't work like that. To even out the peaks and valleys in your business, you need a disciplined approach.