When It Comes to 2019, Preparation is Your Golden Ticket
This time of year a ton of articles flood my inbox about how to make 2019 my best year yet. The truth is most of them are empty, fluff pieces. Articles written to draw traffic to a site while only offering common sense, surface-level advice. Sometimes they promise a “Golden Ticket” to success and bait brokers into purchasing their products (or affiliate products) that honestly won’t make any significant difference–unless you consider removing money from your business a “significant difference”.
With that said, I did enjoy a recent one put out by Inman: Tackle these 19 tasks to finish 2018 right. Specifically, I found the following to be great ideas on how to wrap up the year (in no particular order):
- Donate to a local charity. Not only does this establish your name in the local community, but it’s a tax deduction.
- Read The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor for some great strategies to improve your mindset and business. (I am literally listening to this while writing this post)
- Analyze how the market has changed over the year, and the impact it has had on your bottom line.
- Make a list of all the goals you set out to meet in 2018. Which are still pending? Figure out why, and create a plan to accomplish them.
- Plan your budget and marketing plan for 2019, and get moving on 2019 action items early.
- Let the important people in your life (including clients, vendors and co-workers) know that you care about them. Send them gifts or handwritten notes.
- Spend quality time with family during the holidays, and prepare to return to work hitting the ground running.
We are in an industry filled with fake-preneurs (get it?). Most real estate brokers approach each year, month, week and day with “take it as it comes” mentality. There is no plan, no set goals, no accountability–which is big reason why most agents don’t last beyond a couple years in the industry. If you want to be successful long-term it will require you to be prepared.
As always, I am more than willing to meet with you talk through your plans for 2019 and beyond. Don’t be shy.
