The focus of my coaching is to help team leaders and agents just like you not just sell more but to learn how to think more like business owners, more like the CEO of your operations. So, you have a business that runs vs running you.
What’s the number one way to crush it in real estate? Build a scalable business and manage your time like a Jedi master. Earlier I wrote about a system that will produce 50 transactions a year, you might want to review that again.
One of the largest differences I see between agents that are CRUSHING IT and those that are inconsistent is that CRUSHERS are masters of time management and of creating scalable processes.
So how can you be more productive and stop doing the things that aren’t important, so you can focus more on money-making activities (MMA’s)? You see, we all know it is so easy to spend each day playing “whack a mole” and constantly going from one problem to the next. Or we can make another choice, and create systems, structure, and processes to minimize those problems from occurring, to begin with.
Getting systems and processes in place to handle your daily work lets you handle more volume where it matters and prevent the issues that spark the fires. Whether you’re a solo agent or the leader of a team, you need these. They are not optional — unless your goal is to be mediocre and spin your wheels every day. There are technologies to help automate things like customer relationship management (CRMs) and transaction management tools. Your online and digital marketing strategy can move you from frequent door-knocking to having leads coming to you. The client management side of your business can be simplified by creating productive methods and checklists ahead of time.
Utilize a system that helps you manage a large number of contacts without dropping the ball — that’s your CRM. Optimize platforms that allow you to generate leads without having to buy each one — that’s your marketing. Use tools to help ensure that your contracts and files are precise and correct every time — that’s your transaction management system. Build a strong team of players whose skills offset and augment your own, but never outsource your own core competency – which typically is becoming a hyper-local expert (the HUB of your area), prospecting, lead generation, appointment setting, and negotiation. Those that are crushing it don’t try to do everything yourself. Pay people to do the things that are important but that you’re not good at — e.g., errand runners, photographers, copywriters, transaction managers, graphic designers. Schedule time with each on a regular basis so you’re working with them proactively and not just when there’s a fire to put out.
I understand the challenge: You’re so busy running the daily tasks that you simply feel like you don’t have time to step away. No time to step away, no time to look at the big-picture things, if that is how you are feeling you might want to watch this. Here is what I know, if you block off one hour to focus on one thing that moves you off of the hamster wheel and onto the road, that hour will pay you back in multiples. An hour setting up workflows in your CRM will help keep your future deals on track. An hour writing a checklist for your photographer will save you time on every future listing. An hour training your assistant (transferring skills) to handle something that isn’t the best use of your time frees you up every time they handle that task from now on. You might want to look at the white paper we wrote on the value of your time… complete that exercise now.
Think about it, if you don’t block off time to systematically work toward running a scalable business, you will be chronically stuck in scramble mode. You’ll never feel caught up, you’ll never be able to see what’s possible for you outside the daily grind. A big difference between agents who shine and the ones who struggle are that the former is incredible at managing their time and staying focused on what really matters, and the latter isn’t.
We’re all limited to the same number of hours in a day. Let’s all use them wisely this week.
