The two most common phrases I hear from agents are “nobody can do it as good as me” and “my market is different than all the others.” While it may be true that nobody can do it exactly like you, this myth that is expounded from the mouths of some exceptional agents is just not true.
When we interview and survey agents across the globe, we find one consistent issue and challenge: They feel as if there are not enough hours in a day to get it all done. They spend countless hours preparing showings, following up with leads, driving buyers around and negotiating contracts, all at the expense of their family, friends, faith and fitness.
The business of being a real estate agent can be very rewarding, but (in my humble opinion) no success in business can compensate for failure in our homes. Our responsibility is to provide for our families and make the world a better place. We do a great job as an industry in the “better place” part of that equation, but often it is at the expense of our families and other priorities.
Many companies understand this and do their best to provide help and resources for their agents. Others provide tools and technology, and some even encourage the building of teams. The life of a sole proprietor is very different than that of a CEO. If you truly want to become the CEO and build a great business and still have a rewarding family life, you may want to consider the following things:
- Use systems and create operational excellence in everything you do. I have always said systems first, assistants second. Contact management, Web lead generation systems, follow-up systems, transaction management systems, etc. Any task you repeat more than two times should have an automated system to ensure it’s done correctly and timely every time.
- Outsource or hire assistants to do the administrative tasks in your business. This is one of the hardest and most important things you’ll ever do. When you hire the right person, you’ll find that the level of service you provide your clients will increase, and so will your free time and production.
- Focus on what you love most about this business and become an expert; delegate everything else. If you love prospecting and listing, hire a buyer’s agent to work with your buyers. If you love new construction or investment properties, hire other agents to work with your traditional clients. The key is to put your energy and efforts into the areas of your business that give you the highest return on your time investment. When you say “yes” to one thing, you’re saying “no” to something else. The key is to make sure your highest priorities get the “yes.”
Whether you want to build a team or just get your business to a place where you control it instead of it controlling you, reach out and find a coach, someone who can guide you through this process. A great coach knows the processes and systems, they know how to find, hire and train talent, and they can guide you to a much higher level of productivity and profitability. Most important, your coach can and should help you focus on what’s really important in your life.
You truly can have it all!
Verl Workman is a speaker, trainer and coach for Workman Success. For more information, visit verlworkman.com.
