I have been giving this a lot of thought over the last few months. What will I do to make this a great year for business and family?
2006 was an eventful year to say the least. Since rejoining the industry three and a half years ago I have continuously taken classes and gained my GRI and CRS designations. My final major education goal was get my broker's license which I did last year. My foundation is now in place and I am ready to take it to the next level. On a personal side I went on an aggressive diet program and lost 94 pounds. I had a small set back and ended the year by spending the month of December in and out of the hospital with a surgery and bleeding ulcers. Thanks to a great surgeon and team of doctors I am doing great and expect no more stays in the hospital.
I have followed my business plan religiously until now.
I have some goals for this year but did not formalize my business plan assuming that after all the education I would develop a better plan. I am fine tuning my plan as we speak.
My main goals for this year are:
- Double my sales from 2006. I had a good year in 2006 making that a very lofty goal in a slowing market.
- Create program for regular contact with my referral base.
- Fine tune my marketing to move dollars to things that are working from things that are not.
- Hire an assistant to help generate leads and assist with busy work, allowing me to spend more time in front of clients.
- Work more regular hours including time off each week.
- Hire an assistant to help generate leads and assist with busy work, allowing me to spend more time in front of clients.
- Spend more quality time with my family, including taking a real vacation and not missing any of my children's sports or school events.
- Take my wife out for a date on a regular basis.
- Get regular exercise and take good care of my health. I am looking forward to playing basketball and volleyball with my new leaner and quicker body (I tell my wife I am developing my catlike reflexes).
- Be sure to get proper sleep and rest.
- Enjoy paradise; after all I moved to Hawaii for the beauty and ocean.
I have already started by purging my client contact list of dead leads and those I do not want to spend money marketing to for various reasons.
I know all the items on list seem pretty standard, I am sure you have either seen them on someone else's list or have them on your list. The question is how many of us in the heat of battle actually stick to our plan? Writing them down is the first step to implementing. I will let you know at the end of the year how I did.
Good luck on your goals for 2007. Be sure to put them in writing and have a plan to be sure you are successful.
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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®
Broker-in-Charge, ABR, AHWD, CRB, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, MRP, SFR
eXp Realty
Team Leader - "The Prothero Group"
Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area. His luxury home listings sell faster and for more money.
Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Performs mediations and ombudsman services for the Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.
www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations
My money says you will do it, Randy! and you're smart to purge the dead wood. it slows you down-especially if they actually call off your marketing and you realize you didn't want them in the first place. =)
Randy,
Excellent post and excellent comment concerning how many of us actually work off our business plan. I posted earlier on how many actually have a plan so we are thinking along the same lines. Let it be known, I have a plan, my biggest issue is working with that plan and sticking to it. This year, my goal is to work hard on at least working of those things that are working in the plan and change those that don't work. I do believe our plans must be flexible.
Good luck on working your plan in 2007.
Gary
Gary - I agree my plan is a road map and it is a living document. I change it as needed.
Lysa - Mahalo, Hauoli Makahiki Hou to someone with roots in Hawaii.
Brian - I have a great plan, I hope I can pull it off.
George - The bar may be a little high. If I come close than the plan was sound. I also will have more time to dedicate to the business. I spent a lot of time the last three years attending a lot of classes.
Sally - I am doing well on the health front. Behind on the sales goals, but picking up. I am working with a new agent and talking to another. I also have a part time assistant coming on for the summer, who may stay on as a virtual assistant when he goes back to college if ti works out.
Jonathon - If you set a real goal of increasing your business, you will find new ways of achieving it.
Bill - I am behind that goal, but making adjustments and still going to shoot for it.
Yvonne - It is critical to write it down.