Here are some simple, but perhaps not easy, ways to streamline and become more effective at what you do.
Know where your time goes
Keep a log for 5 consecutive days in 15 minute increments. You can print a log for doing this at www.joeann.com/time.htm This may seem like a very big chore, but it is integral to really being able to make some changes and know exactly how much time you are now spending on each area of your business. It will determine how much is productive time versus busy time.
Know what you are worth per hour
Take last year’s income and divide it by the number of hours worked. If it is substantially lower than you are shooting for, give yourself a hypothetical raise. Now, delegate everything that can be done by someone for a lower hourly rate. For instance, if your hourly rate is $50 per hour, hire someone to do the $10-$12 per hour jobs. Or hire a transaction coordinator to handle the details of your closings.
Use the 80/20 rule
While not a hard scientific calculation, the basic rule of a small amount of your effort usually produces a large amount of your results is operable in almost every area of business. 20% of your clients will be responsible for 80% of your referrals. 20% of your actions produce 80% of your results. Find ways to do more of the 20% activities. Take your time log and circle the 20% activities. Then design your days to do more of those activities.
Eliminate energy vampires
Everything that is incomplete, broken, annoying or in the way of your life running smoothly is draining your energy. Take 12 large green garbage bags and fill them! Throw away or give away, but make space. A strange phenomenon is that when you clear space…you have the feeling of less stress and more time. Take this simple assessment test and see what you could clear up to free energy and space. A couple of books that also will allow you to explore this further are:
Cleaning Your Clutter With Fen Shui by Karen Kingston
Take Time For Your Life By Cheryl Richardson
Define what success is for you
Not what you think it should be or someone else’s idea of it, but what is it that would define your life, if you had a perfect life? What was success for you last year may be entirely different this year. As your family situation changes, your financial needs change and you grow through life, success will be different with each change. So, after you’ve defined what would have you feel very proud of yourself today, revisit the question at least every year, so you are consciously creating what you desire.
What motivates you?
Make four lists: When were you happiest? When were you unhappiest? When did you feel successful? When did you feel unsuccessful? Put about 10 items on each list and then look for similarities. This should give you some insights into where your “magic” is…where you are motivated from deep held values and passion and where you are your best self.
Have a plan
People with a written plan are said to outperform those without by tenfold. Do a yearly business plan.
Make a list of priorities
Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, wrote down the six things that were most important to accomplish the next day the night before she went to bed. I make a note of the three things that would be the highest and best use of my time each day. Top producer Allen Domb said in a recent interview that he identifies 10. Choose for yourself the right number of items to make it easy for you to keep your priorities straight each day. Then as distractions and crises arise, keep coming back to your priorities. Also, notice at the end of each day what you accomplished!
Time-block your calendar
Mark blocks of time for the important items: your prospecting time, your personal time, your family time. Then work around those time blocks. Start using a 15-minute or 30-minute Swiss cheese method of getting larger projects done-each day, spend the allotted time on it and then move on. You’ll start seeing forward momentum and progress. Each week timeblock a day for peak performance and use 80 percent of the time for dollar productive activities.
Spend 15 minutes daily in reflection and meditation
Gandhi said “The bigger my challenges, the longer I need to meditate.” This seems to be the first thing we drop out when things get crazy and is really the best way to stay focused and calm. When you slow down, your body is less stressed and your mind makes better decisions and is less reactive. If you’ve never done any meditation and are interested in starting a great book for beginners with simple meditations is The Three Minute Meditator by David Harp and Nina Feldman.
Published: October 7, 2002
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Joeann Fossland GRI, LTG, MCC is a dynamic speaker and business coach. Creator of THE REAL ESTATE GAMETM, she provides coaching solutions enhance your effectiveness and life balance. You can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, attend free monthly telephone seminars, and find out about classes delivered by email and personal coaching by visiting JoeAnn.com or e-mail her at .
Joeann Fossland GRI, LTG, MCC is a dynamic speaker and business coach. Creator of