Your commitment must be stronger than your circumstances

Commitment is defined as a pledge to do something; to continue on in a course of action even when times get tough. When your circumstances seem like they can’t get any worse, the best thing you can do, is do; keep doing, keep trying, and persevere through action. Chip away, chip away, chip away – don’t give up.

Commitment is also defined as “dedication to a long-term course of action.” Are you committed to this business for the long haul? If you’re in this business, be in this business – give it 100%. And if you plan to work by referral, keep this in mind: it’s a long-term way to do business. It involves cultivating a database, relationships, with people who will send you referrals over many years. 

Your confidence must grow, not diminish

In order to better handle your emotions when you start to feel overwhelmed, you must also increase your confidence. There are four main ways to do this:

• Have proper expectations of yourself and the market. If you set expectations too high (for yourself or your clients), you’re setting yourself up to fail.

• Seek out an objective, independent perspective. That’s the value behind our Coaches; they’re a steady voice of reason when your emotions run wild. 

• Know market statistics and your own personal data. Knowing the facts gives you strength.

• Remember your past accomplishments. Know where you’ve been and how far you’ve come. Don’t dwell in the past, but make sure to reference it when you’re feeling down.

Working in real estate is by no means easy. It’s a hard, hard business that can put you through the wringer – if you let it. Keep these things in mind, though, and you’ll be well on your way to staying sane when things around you get crazy.

It's a good life! 

Brian

At events over the years I've often talked about knowing your "why" - that force, reason, motivation or drive that fuels you through the easy times as well as the tough. Having a why is ultimately what gets you through any "how". Whether it’s the well-being and happiness of your family, your personal health or career, a personal mission statement or a clearly written goal, it's something we all need to devote time to figuring out.

Life gets busy and a timeout rarely presents itself unless we are deliberate in taking time to figuring out just why it is that we do what we do. Do you think you deserve that time?

No matter what stage you are at in your life you can always benefit from reassessing your why, refocusing your efforts and building yourself a plan that is aligned with what you truly love to do.

It’s a good life!

Brian

I'm wired like a hare. I think, move and act quickly. It sometimes feels like life happens too slowly for me. And because of that I've had to learn the sequence to success - the hard way! Along that path my pace has cost me time, it has cost me money and it has cost me energy.

But not in vain.

Experience may be a cruel teacher but I am an avid student. And so I have learned to build structures I can operate inside of, and then delegated where I can. Structure + help = consistency. And in this business consistency is golden. I live a very disciplined life now but I'm not naturally disciplined. I live inside of the structure and this helps me to move at the pace I need and want to. Are there areas you think could do with a little structure? Is there something you need help with? Reach out - if not to us then to someone who's in the business and there to help. Real estate is too tough to go it alone. So don't!

It's a good life!

Brian

Success/Failure
Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.
Failure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don’t fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.
Don’t take the casual approach to life. Casualness leads to casualties.
Success is the study of the obvious. Everyone should take Obvious I and Obvious II in school.
It’s too bad failures don’t give seminars. Wouldn’t that be valuable? If you meet a guy who has messed up his life for forty years, you’ve just got to say, “John, if I bring my journal and promise to take good notes, would you spend a day with me?”

Jim Rohn

I've been hearing from many of you out there about the struggle with low inventory and I wanted to remind you that there's help out there...go to the Member's Area and check out the archive of webcasts. There's lots of stuff on there on how you can generate listings - today! We're here to help.

It's a good life!

Brian

Driving along the freeway in Southern California today I was listening to some great old tracks that just put me in a good mood no matter what. Do you have something that does that for you? Reconnect with it today.

It's a good life!

Brian

There are many definitions you'll find for "persistence" - or its more fun title, "stick-to-itiveness": dogged perseverance, unwavering tenacity, backbone, durableness, grit, fortitude, moxie, stamina, staying power, heart.

So I have a little exercise for you today. Choose just one of these words or phrases and mull it over. Where can you apply it in your business or life? Is there one particular area that could do with a little more staying power? Take the time to dwell on it, and then take quick action. It's the small choices we make and our persistence with them that get us where we need to go.

It's a good life!

Brian

This weekend we'll celebrate the life of a great figure in Irish history; St. Patrick. The day is celebrated in Ireland as a religious holiday and also a celebration of our culture. It's a day that makes me very proud of my heritage - the Irish emigrated across the globe working hard and building lives for themselves wherever they went. And that's true today. We have a wandering soul, the Irish, and while I miss the country of my birth, I am also very thankful for the opportunities America has provided me with.

Have a great weekend, and enjoy St. Patrick's Day.

It's a good life!

Brian

You guys have often heard me talk about the many mentors I have had through my journey. They've all provided perspective, motivation or inspiration for different seasons in my life. Here's a great quote from my friend Zig Ziglar - I certainly miss his friendship but his enduring spirit and great attitude lives on:

"You can make positive deposits in your own economy every day by reading and listening to powerful, positive, life-changing content and by associating with encouraging and hope-building people."

It's a good life!

Brian

Last week I presented to brokers and agents in South Africa. We had a great time together and I enjoyed every minute in that incredible country. While I don't like to be away from my family for extended periods of time, this visit was very special and served as a great reminder of something I often think about; how much travel opens your eyes.

There's nothing quite like it for giving you an appreciation for cultures beyond your own, while also gaining perspective on your own life and environment. Landing yesterday in San Diego with fresh eyes I was reminded of all the great things this country has to offer. But I was also reminded of those things we could stand to learn from other places. And that's the key to life - maintaining a balance. We can get swept up in the politics, media or issues of the day but in reality, this too shall pass. There's always another crisis coming, or fire to put out. Question is, are we learning, growing and asking questions still? Are we open to new information? Can we learn from others? I've learned some new things and absorbed lots of information from my recent travels. It's opened my eyes a little and given me a fresh perspective. Sometimes just a little movement leads to a lot of growth.

It's a good life!

Brian