Did a neat little show earlier this week in the SWS Virtual Studio called "Creating a Low-Drama Real Estate Business!" You can read more about it here.
As we often do during SWS Teleseminars, I asked the audience to tell me what their favorit-est tip from the show was - what they learned that made them say "Wow! That's the most brilliant thing I've heard all day!" or something to that effect.
Well... I have tallied up the results and here they are:
Favorit-est Tip #1
Recreate your belief system about your business, and therefore, your reality. Write down (on an index card) what you DON'T like about your business and turn it into an affirmation of what you'd like instead. For example, if you're frustrated that your transactions fall apart so often, you would write on one side of the card something like: "I hate it that I work so hard on my deals and then they fall apart." Then, on the other side, write: "It's amazing how often my transactions stay together even when problems arise. I love being able to solve the problems or even head them off before they become potential deal-breakers." Put your affirmation in YOUR words; words that feel natural and make you feel good when you say them out loud. And watch your reality change like magic!
Favorit-est Tip #2
Change your beliefs about what your reality is and get more of what you want. But if you hold onto negative beliefs, you'll get more of what you don't want. "Worrying is praying for what you DON'T want!"
Favorit-est Tip #3
Watch Your Language. Stop complaining about your clients and telling dramatic stories about all the things that are going wrong. While it can be entertaining to share horror stories, it might be creating more of them to tell, which is NOT what you want!
Favorit-est Tip #4
Bask in your successes. When something good happens; when you do something right; when you're feeling proud of yourself... take a moment to ENJOY the moment. Relish it, luxuriate in it, appreciate it. FEEL how good you're feeling!
Favorit-est Tip #5
Don't take overpriced listings! 'Nuff said.
Favorit-est Tip #6
Appreciate a negative experience for the lessons learned, take steps to ensure it doesn't happen again and move on. No need to dwell on mistakes or be traumatized by them.
Favorit-est Tip #7
When presented with a problem or dilemma, ask yourself if this is truly your problem to solve. If so, stay calm and visualize the perfect resolution and work toward it. If it is NOT (and that will often be the case), gracefully decline to take responsibility for the problem and politely hand it back to the person whose problem it IS to handle. (Related Reading: the Declining the Monkey series).
If you'd like to listen to the entire show, you can purchase a recording of it at the SWS Bookstore, or join Club SWS and have access to the full SWS Virtual Studio archive!
These are all great tips. Not sure which is the most important although number seven stands out at the moment.
Cool graphic!
Even though I'm no longer selling real estate, I could use all of those tips in my daily life. Except #5. :) But thanks for a wonderful show, and thank Blake! The two of you together - you make a great team!
I thought you'd enjoy it Sue! And yes, I agree that Blake and I do good things together ;-]
Gary - #7 is HUGE... once you realize that you don't have to solve every single problem and that other people are perfectly competent to solve their problems, it's a huge burden lifted.
Sounds to me like it was a great show! I'm just sorry I missed it.
Well, you know where to find it, Key!
Jennifer I love tip # 4. Very seldom we take time to enjoy the small success. #7 applies I think pretty much every day and moment of our lifes. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips.
These are fantastic tips, Jennifer! I'll be printing this list out and putting it up in my office so I'll be able to see it every day. :-)
Wow JAH! This is the most brilliant post I've read in some time! I concur wholeheartedly from #1 through #7, stupendous!
If you write the negative on one side then and continue to read it wouldn't that still be putting the negative back in.
Jennifer "Favorit-est Tip #3" is a biggie. It is hard to accomplish the others, until you change the attitude in number #3
I think they are all great! unfortunately so many out there thrive on the drama when it really isnt necessary!
Jennifer, I agree that #3 is most important in life and for many agents. Avoiding an attitude of complaining makes a big difference in one's life.
As to #7, I noticed that some individuals thrive on taking over others' problems. I think doing that keeps them from facing their own issues. It is a good idea to hand the problem back and let the person figure out the solution themselves.
Simone - I was actually thinking quite a bit about #3 over the weekend - how voicing your frustrations with your business (or life), as entertaining as the stories can be, really CAN set you up to experience more and more frustrations. There's a woman who lives down the street from us who, every time we see her, regales us with stories of disasters and catastrophes in her life... she tells them rather light-heartedly - just making conversation, but it suddenly occurred to me that she probably talks about this stuff all day long, to everyone she meets and I wonder how much of her never-ending drama is a result of her focusing so intensely on it, if that makes sense!
Regarding #7 - the cool thing about letting other people solve their own problems is that it shows them respect - that you believe they are capable of solving their problems!
Thank you for your comments!
Love the tips - because I don't like drama!