Undisciplined = Underpaid
I know I have to make time to prospect for new business, but the day fills up with other important stuff and I have to be ready to help someone on a moment’s notice. I have to stay flexible, fluid, and on call.
Disciplined = Doing Well
Yes, you do have to stay flexible and fluid and no, you don’t have to be on call. Yes, staying flexible and fluid is important, bend don’t break, etc., but on call, NO. I see agents waiting all the time and getting ready to get ready. They look real busy, they feel busy, but nothing important is getting done. They are active but not productive.
You know how if you want to lose weight, all the Biggest Loser gurus will tell you that one of the keys to success is to track and record in writing everything you eat, how many calories everything you eat has in it, and when and where you ate what you ate? Personal accountability and awareness are important parts of going from too wide for your height, to just right. The same principle applies to your real estate business.
Get yourself a Moleskin or a printed/eApp calendar type daybook and record in writing what you do all day. Write down the task you are doing, the time you started and ended — and off to the side, how long it took you.
In addition to tracking all your activities and actions, use THIS handy form to note the number of On Purpose and In Person Conversations and Productive Actions and Activities you accomplish each day.
Do this for one week without fail. I know, it’s a pain in the butt, but I know that you know that one of the secrets to success is doing what others won’t — starting tomorrow, do this.
What you’re going to find out with this activity is how much of your valuable time you waste. Once you figure how much and what you waste your time on, you can streamline your day by time-blocking
Time-blocking means that you simply and strictly schedule chunks of times to complete the important and productive tasks of the day. When you’ve completed your important actions and activities for the day, you’re done. Don’t hang out and pussy-foot around with wasteful stuff or negative people. Instead, spend your recaptured time and energy on your personal stuff, like family, health, rest, renewal, fun, and relaxation.
Now that you’ve turned the corner by embracing the principles of self-discipline, it’s time get disobedient.
Disobedience
Since we were old enough to toddle we’ve been trained to obey the rules. I’ve observed that people who obey the rules generally don’t have much FUN and produce average or below average results. If you want to attract, connect, loyalize, earn referrals and have some FUN, you’ve gotta bend most rules, break dumb rules and make new rules new personal guidelines.
Look around! Are the people earning unusual success in your market meek and obedient, or bold and disobedient rebel types.
Self discipline and out-loud disobedience will transform your business and your life. Give it try and find out for yourself.
Cheers and thanks for reading.
Ken Brand - Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors. I’ve proudly worn a Realtor tattoo for over 10,957+ days, practicing our craft in San Diego, Austin, Aspen and now, The Woodlands, TX. As a life long learner, I’ve studied, read, written, taught, observed and participated in spectacular face plant failures and giddy inducing triumphs. I invite you to read my blog posts here at Agent Genius and BrandCandid.com. On the lighter side, you can follow my folly on Twitter and Facebook. Of course, you’re always to welcome to take the shortcut and call: 832-797-1779.
Jessica Searles
October 3, 2011 at 8:34 am
Any examples of common/dumb rules to break?
Jose Dias
October 3, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Loved the article. Thank you for sharing. The photo of the boys on the pipe reminded me of my son. I guess I can learn about disobedience from him… 🙂