Commentary by Ralph Roberts
RISMEDIA, Oct. 24, 2007-A while 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.
I invite you to write to me at Ralph@RalphRoberts.com and let me know what you do to pump yourself up and start each day with a positive attitude.
Ralph R. Roberts, official spokesperson for Guthy-Renker Home and author Advanced Selling For Dummies and Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons), can be contacted at 586.751.0000, or visit http://www.aboutralph.com.
