Early in my career, my real estate company emphasized that we are
independent contractors, not employees. With that emphasis, I honestly felt
more independent and created mentally and then physically, my own business
within a business.
We REALTORS® are in control of how many hours we will work, how much this
business of real estate means to us, where and how far we want to go. Success
is totally dependent on our mindset, our drive, and our smarts. Smarts can be
learned. The tools are out there to be grasped and implemented.
Acquiring these tools means having a budget. Software such as QuikBooks will
help us manage our budgets. Business plans that our fearless real estate
leaders are promoting at the conventions and seminars will help implement the
budget and guide us through the process of being an entrepreneur. In essence,
that is what we are. Without that mindset, we are employees.
Time spent working on your business is a high priority and will pay for
itself exponentially.
Technology is changing the way we do business, and more than ever before,
will help us focus in our business plan. At the next convention, or through
your realtor publications, explore the many business plans that instructors
have put forth for you. The RS Council lists a few in their recent publication.
Make a plan, a roadmap, of where you would like to be financially at the end
of this year, at the end of 3 years, at the end of 5 years. Look over what
you’ve done for the past year.
Are you happy with the results? Are there tech tools you’d feel would
enhance your business? Factor them in your ’99 plans. In this case, the old
adage, it takes money to make money, is true fact. You WILL make money using
the new products on the market, such as the digital cameras I’ve spoken of.
Include training cost and time for either you or your assistant. You will
become more efficient and organized implementing a contact management program
that is the backbone and core of your business.
Constant education and learning is critical during this technology
transition as doing business in real estate morphs into another dimension. That
means when you travel, you really need a laptop to stay connected. Cell phones,
pagers, are necessary to stay connected as well. View conventions and seminars
as a necessary means to learn what’s new and to network and exchange ideas
with other agents. We are entering a very exciting time. Real estate will never
be the same. There is no going back, or even staying the same.
Therefore, more than ever in one’s real estate career, is it necessary to
ourselves as a business within a business to help us get to where we plan to go.
Published: January 18, 1999
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