To succeed as an agent, you need to face the reality that you are now a business. Every move you make needs to anticipate the following one and the 5 that come after it. Efficiency and consistency must become your focus if you’re to become a successful agent. No one will tell you when to arrive at the office, no one will assign you responsibilities and no, you’re not getting paid until you close a deal. It’s all up to you.

So, how do you enter a state of mind that allows for consistent and productive performance? By adopting behaviors that lead to maximum efficiency.

Create Clarity

Chasing a goal without a plan is equivalent to a plane taking off without a destination. Where’s it going? When does the pilot know they’ve reached their destination? It’s impossible to know definitively.

First, you must define your purpose and be as specific as possible. Is your goal to make $100,000 dollars a year? Great.

• Create a ‘vision board’ that is an accumulation of all your financial goals.

• Tape it to the wall directly in front of your desk or anywhere you are sure you’ll see it every single day.

• Remind yourself why you’re working as hard as you are.

Then, come up with a plan to reach the goal you’ve established for yourself.

• How many deals do you need to close each month to reach your monetary goals?

• How many people do you need to call? (Consider that not every lead you contact is a qualified lead)

Establish Perspective

During the planning stages of your career, it’s important to be realistic about your skills.

• What are your strengths or specialties?

• What are your weaknesses?

Maybe you’re excellent at handling clients but inefficient at managing your office responsibilities. It’s also possible you’re spending too much time on tasks that could be handled by others. If so, consider delegating.

• Hire a graphic designer to brand you and create your website.

• Hire a copywriter to generate articles for your blog and increase your visibility online.

Always consider handing over a responsibility you don’t feel specialized in. It’ll afford you more time to focus on your strengths and the growth of your business.

Invest in Yourself

Neil Strauss, journalist and author of 8 New York Times best sellers, points out that the most successful people ‘learn more and know less’. Today, the pace at which all aspects of a business change is unnervingly fast; meaning, you’re likely to fall behind if you don’t remain relevant. The key to staying ahead lies in constant education.

• Invest in coaching with an established Real Estate coach.

• Attend seminars or forums featuring panels of local experts.

Short on cash?

• Invite your broker or a local real estate expert whose success you’d like to replicate to lunch and offer to pay the bill (max $100 dollar investment). Prepare your questions ahead of time and hear their journey to the top of the industry.

• Attend courses and trainings held by your local Real Estate Association or Board. They’re usually a part of your membership.

• Set aside at least an hour a day to read a book or article that informs your perspective about some aspect of the Real Estate Industry.

Invest time and money in yourself to improve your profitability and worth. Realize that phone calls and meetings are just one aspect of your journey.

Daily Action

All the planning in the world won’t do you any good without execution. You must be willing to engage in daily action with consistency to see results.

If you’re unable to execute daily, be willing to ask yourself the hard questions. Am I really being as efficient as possible? Have I eliminated all distractions and committed to the sacrifice required to reach my goals? Whether you’re honest with yourself or not, time will reveal the truth and show you the actual results of your actions.

Getting Results

Your success as a Real Estate Agent is dependent on a balance of mindset, perspective, and time. You will develop the consistency necessary to grow if you can visualize exactly where you want to be. The urgency of not being where you want to be will create the drive.

Get organized, stay determined, execute on a daily basis and you’ll look back on the beginning of your journey with amazement from just how far you’ve come.