Awhile back, I realized that my last name, "Roberts," spelled backwards is "Strebor," and I designed a system for effectively implementing any plan for success. When you're ready to put your plan into action, follow the Strebor System:

S: Sticktoitism is the dogged determination required to ensure that you follow through on your plan.

T: Training provides you with the know-how and skills to properly execute your plan.

R: Results are what you build on as you attain higher and higher levels of success.

E: Enthusiasm provides you with the ambition and energy required to follow through.

B: Benefits give you the motivation to succeed.

O: Optimism is the confidence that enables you to overcome obstacles.

R: Reach is your commitment to taking risks and seizing opportunities that make you grow both professionally and personally.

The Strebor system starts with a positive attitude that gives you the enthusiasm, optimism, commitment, and sticktoitism required to pursue and ultimately achieve your goals. Although some people are born with eternal optimism, others of us have to work at it. Here are some suggestions on how to put yourself in a better frame of mind:

Identify your sales heroes. Success leaves big footprints, so follow the trailblazers to lessen the burden of your journey. Over the years, I have followed in the footsteps of my heroes, including Julia Rowland (my grandmother), Tony & Noel Fox of Fox Brothers Real Estate (my first mentors), Ira Hayes, Tom Hopkins, Zig Ziglar, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, Art Fettig, Joe Girard, Ed Keim, Lee Iacocca, Norman Vincent Peale, Mark Victor Hansen, Og Mandino, Tom Antion, Les Brown, and a host of others.

Shadow top producers. Network with the top producers in your area and ask if you can observe them for a day. You can pick up a wealth of information and new techniques in a single day in addition to discovering a new source of motivation.

Write and repeat positive affirmations. Negative self-talk can drag you down into the depths of self-defeatism. Replace that negative self-talk with positive can-do affirmations. Mr. Positive, Dave Boufford, made his own leap to pursue his dream of guiding others in developing and maintaining a positive attitude through his inspirational e-zines Positive Thoughts and Positive News. Let Mr. Positive pump you up by visiting www.MrPositive.com.

Surround yourself with positive people. When I am around someone who has a negative attitude, I can feel the energy and enthusiasm being sucked right out of me. Positive people bring me up, make me believe in myself, and encourage me to strive for higher and higher levels of success. Avoid people who drag you down, and gravitate to those who lift you higher. This includes family, friends, colleagues, associates, and supervisors.

Wake up with a positive plan. The first 15 minutes of any day can make or break it for you, so spend that first 15 minutes developing a positive plan. Once you have a plan in place and the sticktoitism to execute it, you are well on your way to a productive day.

Define "success" in your own terms. Don't let other people dictate what "success" means to you. Spending more time with friends and family, getting involved in your community, and pursuing other interests may mean more to you than earning millions of dollars. Of course, doing all of those things and earning millions of dollars are not mutually exclusive.

Reward yourself. I reward myself in two different ways: I reward myself upon achieving a specific goal, and I reward myself in anticipation of achieving a specific goal. Some people don't understand that second approach -- why should I get the reward before I achieve the goal? Well, once I reward myself, then I know I have to work harder to pay for the reward. I usually charge the reward on my credit card. That gives me the added motivation of earning enough to pay for the reward before the balance comes due.

Tip: If you are a part of an agent team, make sure that everyone on your team is contributing to creating and maintaining a positive attitude in the workplace. Deal immediately with any conflicts that arise, shut down the gossip mill, and find a way to relieve tensions and create an environment in which people are eager to come to work the every morning.

I encourage you to put the Strebor system into action in all areas of your life. I have found it effective for achieving both personal and professional goals. Remember, however, that it all begins with a positive attitude.

Published: April 17, 2008

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Once dubbed by TIME Magazine "the best-selling REALTOR® in America," Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI is an award-winning and internationally recognized real estate agent, author, coach, and speaker. Throughout his career, Ralph has proven his commitment to helping other real estate and sales professionals build upon their past and present success, grow and expand their businesses, and provide a rich and rewarding future for themselves, their customers, their employees, and their families. As president and CEO of Ralph Roberts Realty, Ralph has personally helped thousands of consumers realize their dream of homeownership. While selling over 10,000 homes (and buying and selling over 3,000 investment properties) throughout his 30-year career, Ralph has made the time to mentor and coach hundreds of professionals in real estate, sales, and a host of other fields. Ralph is a recognized authority on Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud; Residential Real Estate; Personal Salesmanship; and, Sales Force and Office Management, Motivation, and Design. Ralph's numerous websites, blogs, seminars, and speaking engagements engage, entertain, and educate both consumers and professionals. Ralph is also an accomplished author with several successful titles to his credit, including: Power Teams: The Complete Guide to Building and Managing a Winning Real Estate Agent Team Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets That Will Save You Thousands on Home Financing (John Wiley & Sons) Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership (Kaplan) Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Advanced Selling For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Flipping Houses For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman (HarperCollins) Real Wealth by Investing in Real Estate (Prentice Hall/Penguin Group) Sell it Yourself (Adams Media) 52 Weeks of Sales Success (HarperCollins) To learn more about Ralph, visit AboutRalph.com or check out his daily insights on real estate and mortgage fraud prevention at FlippingFrenzy.com. You can reach Ralph at RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com or by calling (586) 751-0000.