I get asked this question at least once a week at events and on coaching calls: “What does it take to be No. 1?” As we strive for excellence in our business and in our lives, the road to becoming No. 1 is not always as clear as you think it might be. However, whether working with elite agents, brokers and owners, entrepreneurs or Olympians, the road map has some very clear markers along the way that are consistent with the elite. You’ll also find there are potholes and diversions on every road to success. It’s not whether you’ll have issues, but how you deal with them that matters.
Here are 11 key ingredients to becoming No. 1:
1. Attitude. Have and keep a positive attitude in the face of any obstacle.
2. Clear focus on serving others. Always remember this is a service business. If you focus on serving others, the commissions will follow.
3. Confidence, not arrogance. It’s critical that you have a high level of confidence and competence in your market and area of expertise. Confidence is an attractive personality trait. However, arrogance is not. Arrogance presents its ugly head when you feel like you’re better than someone else and your success is based on putting the other person down.
4. Truly like the people you serve. Be interested, not just interesting. The world is full of amazing people, and as real estate professionals, we have the incredible opportunity of meeting and serving many of them. Build real relationships through the process.
5. Listen to your instincts and become street smart. It’s important to be book smart and to master your craft, but there’s no substitute for experience. Listen to your gut and follow your instincts. As you pay attention, your ability to act on these promptings will increase.
6. Love what you do and make it fun. Set challenges for yourself, and as you reach those goals, reward yourself. Take pleasure in the journey and stop along the way to notice the amazing life you’re living.
7. Go all in every day. Live each day as if it’s your last and get things done now. Don’t put off the important things until tomorrow, because tomorrow never comes. Make your priority list and get the highest value items done first.
8. Be honest. Develop a high level of integrity with your clients and yourself. If you say you’re going to do it, then do it.
9. Pay attention to the details. Every transaction we do is full of details, but many of those details will take too much of your time away from income-producing activities. Outsource all non-money-producing activities to an assistant. If you wouldn’t pay someone $100/hour to do the task, you shouldn’t be doing it.
10. Hire a coach. Finding a good mentor or coach is a key ingredient to success. Invest in personal and business development coaching and the road you travel will be much easier.
11. Love life! Develop a childlike enthusiasm for the opportunities we have in this awesome business.
You can be No. 1, you can make a difference in the lives of those you serve and you can love your life!
Let me know if I can help.
Verl Workman is president of Corcoran Consulting, Inc., 800-957-8353, an international consulting and coaching company that specializes in performance coaching and the implementation of sound business systems into the residential broker’s or agent’s existing practice.
For more information, visit www.corcorancoaching.com/programs.
