At this time of the year, people tend to get more reflective about the last 12 months. December 31st hangs over our heads, and this imaginary finish line forces us to really think about what we’ve accomplished, and what we want for ourselves next year. This is especially true in real estate, considering what the market has been like and how it has affected a lot of people’s businesses. 

As we take stock of the last 12 months, it’s really easy to blame our challenges on the market, but some of the results we’ve had could be attributed to our activity. Did we put in enough effort? Did we grow in our skills and competence? Did we follow through on what we said we’d do?

These last few days of 2023 are the perfect opportunity for us to get clear on our goals, and most importantly, what we need to do to achieve those goals. 

Today, mortgage originator, executive coach, creator of Win By Noon and co-founder of First Home IQ, Todd Bookspan returns. Today, we reflect on the last year, lessons we’ve learned and how we’re preparing for 2024.   

Key Points  

It’s not just the market 

There are a lot of people who are victims of what’s going on in the market, some to the extent of leaving the industry entirely. Though the market has been tough, it might be down to us not doing what we were supposed to do. It’s easy to track our results, but tracking our activity is key because it shows us if we’re on track, and also gives us an indicator of how the market is doing. If we’re not getting the results we want, it means there’s something in our actions that needs to be changed. Maybe we need to improve our skills, or we need to follow through on what we said we would do. We need to ask ourselves if we’re working hard enough, or if we’re avoiding what we need to do. It might be hard to hear, but it is what a lot of us need to think about. 

Be careful what you believe about the market

Many people believe interest rates will go down and when they go down, there’s going to be a lot more opportunity for buyers. They might be right, but it’s important that we get clear on why we’re so adamant about that view. We could be regurgitating views that aren’t our own without realizing it, and we might be parroting these opinions because we desperately need them to be true. We have to get curious and stop listening to people telling us what we might want to hear. 

Be willing to hear what the other side thinks

There’s been a lot of uproar in the industry about the lawyer for the NAR lawsuit being invited to a real estate event. Even though they are coming after our industry, we have to know what they are thinking. We have to know where the other side’s head is, and there’s nothing wrong with hearing from them. 

Finding middle ground in a divided world

In a world that’s driven to make us fight and pick a side, taking the time to understand the “opposition” is key. Social media and traditional media are focused on dousing the flames of division. Whether it’s politics, religion or any other topic, the more polarized we are, the harder it is to understand each other. Ultimately, we’ll discover that we have a lot more in common with other people, and it’s easier for us to find middle ground. 

Guest Info

Todd is a mortgage originator, executive coach, creator of Win By Noon and co-founder of First Home IQ. Todd has 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur and a business leader. For the past fifteen years, as a mortgage originator, Todd has proven successful in cultivating both teams and branch offices. Working alongside his wife Tara, Todd successfully helped grow the Arizona region of a mortgage bank from five to eighty-five employees at four branches. Now he has designed the Win By Noon Planner as a tool to help increase productivity.

Join Todd’s Life Planning class here. 

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