The ritual of 'spring cleaning' results in a feeling of freshness and renewed energy. After burrowing in for winter, you may find you are surrounded by clutter! Even those of us in the warm climes can benefit from a yearly ritual of throwing out the old and making space for the new.
I am not just talking about physical space, either. It’s time to clean out all of your systems. Your databases are your daily working capital and the foundation of your business today and in the future. Do they need some spring cleaning?
Your body is the vehicle through which you get things done-does it need some fine tuning?
Your clientele can be great or drain energy…who should you let go of?
As a coach, I encourage my clients to work on the attraction principle. What I am referring to is the ability to attract, like a magnet to you, the people and situations to grow your business to your desired vision. Though it may sound a bit woo-woo, when you are working in the flow of things—not resisting what’s coming at you—you are able to effortlessly attract what you really desire. Having the space for this to come in is part of the equation. So a good spring cleaning can free up that space!
The list below contains many areas you may want to take a look at.
Your top 10 spring cleaning areas:
- Office files and folders
Are your file drawers stuffed with no room for the new stuff? Clean out, throw out or store. Put one to two hours on your calendar each week to tackle this until it is done.
- Databases
Have you segmented your databases? Your goal is at least three lists: Begin with a short list of the 20 percent who give you 80 percent of your referrals on this list. These are the people who are your biggest supporters and with whom you’ll form the deepest relationships. Then there are the people you want to stay in touch with less often, but regularly. And finally the “suspects” and long-term potential clients. If you aren’t using real estate related software,make this a priority to get it set up. If you ever want an “escape” from real estate, this information is what you’ll have to “sell” or negotiate with.
- Rolodex
As you segment your databases, this is part of the process. Contact the ones you like, and take out the jerks. Life is definitely too short to work with people who treat you miserably. You don’t need them.
- Systems
Reviewing or creating the systems to automate your business is a critical time effectiveness element. What systems need fine tuning? What needs development? How can you use what you already have to bring this to a higher standard.
- Bad Habits
What gets in the way of your doing your best? Do you procrastinate? Refuse to delegate? Let the clutter and piles render you time challenged? Make a list of the habits to zap this year and then take one each month and upgrade the way you operate. For instance, in March, do not let a piece of paper cross your desk without filing, tossing or taking action on it. You will find if you are consistent in being aware of the negative behavior and making a change, after about 3 weeks, you have formed a new habit. You could do that 13 times this year!
- Stuff
Do you need a Feng Shui consultant or a professional organizer to come in and get you squared away? Clutter drains energy—literally makes you tired. Free up space! The natural way things work is that space attracts because nature abhors a vacuum.
- Attitude Thinking
Take the storm windows down and put the screens up to let the fresh air in! What one belief, if you let go of it, would create the most joy in your life?
One of mine has always been that you have to work hard to be successful. That has had me put a lid on my vision and goals, because it looked like I would have to sacrifice other things I enjoyed to attain a really big goal. As I’d look around, I’d see others who are achieving big goals and the time they invest is not more than my investment into my business. This is probably true for you too…Where have you limited or put a lid on yourself because you believe something to be true that was, in reality, just one possible way of looking at it? Everywhere you find you are limited or stopped, examine the “rule” you have made up that keeps you in that place. Then play with it by thinking up five other possible “rules” that could pertain. Or look at what other’s that are successful have as their “rules”. Hint: ask them!
- Desk
If you can, change the way it faces or its location. Give yourself a fresh point of view!
- Equipment
Are you tolerating equipment that needs replacing or upgrading? Look at your budget and make a list of what and when you will replace the less efficient equipment you have. Even though this costs money, there may be savings of time or other resources to offset the investment. Or maybe, it is what will take you to the next level in your business by the differentiation it will provide. This would include a spring cleaning of your Internet marketing and website.
- Clientele
Do you have listings that are costing you money and never going to sell? Or buyers who are true lookey-loos? One of the reasons top producers are successful is because they don’t try to take every piece of business available but skim the cream. If you are busy trying to keep that nasty seller happy or running around with the lookey-loos, you don’t have time to prospect or work with the nicest people. Let go of the “bad” ones! If nothing else, you’ll stop the abuse and feel better about yourself. You do not have to put up with people who do not respect what you do.
Now, print out and review this list. Make notes of which three areas would make the most difference for your business and situation. Then put actions on the calendar to take care of these three this month. Then watch the attraction principle go to work for you.
Published: March 5, 2004
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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 .
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