HAVE YOU HAD YOUR MID YEAR CHECK UP YET?

We are 6 months into the New Year, are you where you thought you would be?  You still have time to make it your best year ever! What to do? What to do?
In life, there is no single recipe for success. Nevertheless, if you examine the characteristics of the happiest, most productive people, there is a consistent pattern linked to their success.

 

Do you know the secret recipes that are associated with success? Here they are:

1. Have goals
Do you have a written business/personal plan with specific goals? If so, you are part of a select group of about three percent of all people. If you don't already have a written set of goals for the year, a vision, take immediate steps to create a short list of the life you want to lead (trips you'd like to take, projects you'd like to finish, etc)

2. Visualize on paper the goals and the outcomes
A piece of paper with goals on it is not motivating to your brain. An important key to being successful is identifying how you will implement your goals. For example, many people have decided that they want a certain type of car. Their strategy is to go to the dealership, drive the car, and take their picture in back of the wheel. The next step is to post that picture where they see it constantly.
This strategy works for two important reasons. Visualization is one of the key ways our brains create what happens to us. Psychologists call this "self-fulfilling prophecy." What we expect to happen actually does happen. If you see yourself driving the car (and remembering what it was like to actually drive it), then you will have anchored that experience in your brain. The part of your brain that recalls the experience has no awareness of whether you own the car or not. It simply recalls the feeling of being behind the wheel. These feelings are what motivate us to take the actions we need to take to achieve success.
The second reason this strategy works is that it serves as a constant reminder. To make your goals a reality, write them down and review them regularly. People who achieve major success review their goals everyday. These people carry their written goals with them everywhere. They also review them at least once a day. 

3.  Spend time with your favorite people

4.  Have a great attitude, every day!

5. Commit to life-long learning

6.  Find a coach or mentor.
A coach tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
 
7.  Do a checkup from the neck up
Ultimately, the only competition you have is you. Mindset is everything. You can either react to circumstances or you can actively create opportunities. Everyone faces trials and tribulations. It's not what happens to you, your family, your business., or the world - it's what you choose to do about it.

Karen Smyth begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Keller Williams Realty









 

Having priorities in order in a business is key to success and can be a direct reflection to the outcome.

As a realtor, I take joy in helping people and pride in the work I accomplish.  It is a form of art to me. 

It has been said, and I will confirm that I do not want to hire any professional that does not have their priorities in order.  You see, a realtor that lives solely for their job, will eventually burn out.  I want a professional that understands and is not afraid to live by their own set of priorities.

I see any professional that tells me that their priority is their family before their jobs as a much more confident and secure professional than the one willing to skip their child's school engagement for the listing appointment.

I have been told many times that if I want to be successful, I must be willing to drop all I am doing  for that appointment but let's think about it...  Can I call my accountant and  tell them I MUST see them at 6pm tomorrow or I will call someone else?  Can I call even my doctor and demand an appointment that coincides with my schedule?  Most of the time, you cannot.  They are professionals and so am I.  I see more valor and courage in a realtor that will say, "You know tomorrow at 1pm will not work but how is 3pm?"  We can decide to be run by our clients or we can decide to run our business.

Let me state, I provide my customers with the best possible service and give them 100% of my expertise and resources during the time and job allocated to them.   But as a wife and mother, my family is priority and is my driving force to secceed in my business.  If this were not the case, I could easily burn out and I would not be giving the clients the service they are expec

Ultimately, a realtor that has their priorities in order, will gain more respect, be content , negotiate the home price much more confidently and this will result in the job getting done right!







World Cup 2010 Schedule!!!

World Cup 2010 Maps!!!

Compliments of the Winning Team!!!

 

I recently had a conversation with David Pollay, who, among other things, is the author of an upcoming book titled “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”  I’ve been reading this book, which is full of messages and strategies that remind us that we always have a choice when it comes to who and what we let into our lives.  David Pollay creates a vivid picture of the garbage that so many people carry around with them and how they tend to dump their garbage on those of us who allow them to do so.  Best of all, he challenges us to declare our personal and professional lives “No Garbage Trucks! Zones.”

When you think about it, our inputs determine our outputs.  What we take in determines what we put out.  That’s why the great Jim Rohn would say, “If you want the stuff on the highest shelves, then you have to stand on a higher stack of books.”  The better the books you read, the smarter you get.  The smarter you get, the better you think.  The better you think, the better you do.  The better you do, the more you succeed.  The more you succeed, the more significant you can become.  The more significant you become, the greater the legacy you leave.  Rohn said that “the best things in life are usually located on the highest shelves, where not everyone can reach them.”  What a great reminder he was of how simple it is to succeed.  I think David Pollay would agree with Jim Rohn, because his book underscores the notion of “garbage in, garbage out.

Unfortunately, what’s easy to do is even easier not to do.  As a broker who counsels with hundreds of professionals each year, it amazes me how success boils down to one simple decision.  The most successful people I know have simply DECIDED to succeed.  They haven’t decided to succeed as long as it’s easy, or as long as the market doesn’t shift, or as long as they can afford it, or as long as someone doesn’t outmaneuver or outwit or outplay or underprice them.   They decide to succeed.  Period.

Think about this:  When obstacles present themselves in your life, do you feel that they threaten your success?  Most people do.  I used to, too.  Then, I realized that the more successful people in my life have a very different perspective of their obstacles.  Because their success is certain, they perceive obstacles merely as ingredients in their ultimate success – ingredients that are simply part of the journey.  I cannot begin to tell you how much freedom we can gain from improving our perspective around this issue.

If you think that your success has more to do with what you do (or what’s done to you) than how you think, I disagree.  There are plenty of examples of people who have succeeded on the outside at very high levels, only to lose it all because they never were that successful in their own minds.  People make millions of dollars in business only to become bankrupt because they never really believed they were worth the success they achieved.  People perform at the highest levels in sports only to end up in an eternal slump because they never really believed that they could truly be “the best” at anything.  If you want to succeed in business, in your relationships, in your faith, in anything, then you have to DECIDE to succeed at it…for better or for worse.

This year Gary Keller was explaining to a group of people why he plans his vacations and his play time at the beginning of each year BEFORE he plans his work time.  He said, “I do this because I know I’m going to work hard and I’m going to need it.  And I know I’m going to be successful, so I’ll be able to afford it.”  Brilliant.  The bottom line is that Gary books vacations way ahead of time because he already KNOWS that he’s going to work hard and be successful.  Gary just happens to be one of the most successful people I know.

Year after year, too many agents “wait and see” before they plan their vacations and put their deposits down.  They “wait and see” how their income is before they invest in a 33 touch program designed to produce massive results.  They “wait and see” how their year is going to turn out before they create leverage and hire talent to help them succeed.  This strategy all too often results in vacations never taken, touch programs never developed, talent never hired and results never achieved.  In the Keller Williams course Quantum Leap, we teach that if you don’t plan your time, then someone else will!

It’s now June.  We’re almost halfway through the year.  Now is the time to make a pit stop and check your inputs, defend yourself against the garbage trucks who want to dump their mediocrity on you, and commit yourself to the decisions you need to make in order to have the life and business that you want.  If you’ve been a passenger in your own life’s car, then move over and settle into the driver’s seat.  Take control.  Reconnect with your BIG WHY, re-focus on your goals and intentions, improve the books you read, improve the company you keep and DECIDE to succeed – rain or shine.

It’s been an awesome year so far, and I believe that the second half of 2010 may be one of the most critical times of the rest of our careers.  Deciding to succeed and doing the time-tested, proven things that produce results is going to be a crucial part of our daily routines.  Look at the results you want to achieve – that you REALLY want to achieve – and then make a list of the things that you do each day that directly impact, or cause, those results.  This is a fantastically simple exercise that can call you out on a lack of focus or commitment to your goals.   Often times what we want and what we are doing seem worlds apart.  Re-evaluating where you are now and re-committing yourself to what you want and why you want it could be the most important thing you do this year.

Thanks for all you are doing to make a difference.  And know that if you want to discuss any of your strategies and accountabilities, our leadership team at The Rawls Group is ready, willing and able to help you succeed at any level you wish to succeed.  No one succeeds alone, and in this company, you’re never alone.  So be sure to take advantage of all of the good stuff we have created here to make sure that we have a productive and fun environment in which to work and prosper.

DECIDE…

Shaun Rawls
OP – The Rawls Group – Keller Williams Realty
RD – The NY Tri-State Region – Keller Williams Realty
www.RawlsGroup.org


How Is Keller Williams Changing the Real Estate World?

It was a classic Keller Williams moment. The announcement was delivered at a key juncture during the Company’s annual Family Reunion event, in the middle of CEO Mark Willis’s annual State of the Company presentation.

For those who have never attended the reunion event, it is very difficult to describe. There is simply no other professional conference in the industry that even comes close to delivering the anticipation, the passion, the excitement and indeed the satisfaction that comes with this annual celebration of success and achievement.

Each element of the conference creates an opportunity to highlight a specific company or cultural value. The first morning leads off with a celebration of the future with founder and Chairman Gary Keller’s vision of the industry and the marketplace. The second morning includes a report of the achievements of the past year, in the form of CEO Mark Willis’ State of the Company address, building pride and excitement with respect to these achievements. The third morning features a keynote presentation, this year it was Kevin Carroll who taught the group the lesson of the red ball. Finally, on the fourth morning, it is time for the revered Inspirational Breakfast where Chair Emeritus Mo Anderson sends departing attendees home with a message of hope and focus on what is really important.

For each of these four sessions, and for the over 60 educational and training sessions throughout the week, the immediate challenge is just being there. The Reunion event is the only industry meeting that comes complete with a “seat savingpolicy.” Lesson one: at a Keller Williams Family Reunion, shopping, golf, and the pool are simply not part of the program. At each session throughout the event, the observer finds a red clad overflow crowd, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be motivated, educated and inspired. The air is alive with the spirit.

The announcement, when it came, seemed, for just a second, like just one more achievement in a long series of corporate achievements in 2009, the latest in what has become an impressive chain of notable years for the KW organization. But then the reality of the news hit home and the crowd went wild. In 2009, Keller Williams passed RE/MAX by virtue of agent count and became the third largest real estate franchisor in the country. The excitement shot across the crowd of 9,000 passionate KW participants like a rocket in a tunnel. As if the unbridled roar of the 9,000 wasn’t sufficient, the screams of pyrotechnics released skyward from the floor of the venue at the New Orleans convention center further emphasized the moment.

KW CEO, Mark Willis, completed his comments with the following point. In setting KW’s next objective and discussing the distance between number three and number two in the industry, he pointed out that number two is just fifteen minutes away. If every KW executive and team leader works just 15 minutes longer each day, a year from now KW will be number two.

While many will roll their eyes and chose to ignore the relevance of this historic moment, the fact is that it was huge for both KW and the industry as a whole. Keller Williams is not just another traditional organization that had a great year, or even four great years.

Keller Williams is an organization that came into this industry over a decade ago with a very clear vision of what the traditional brokerage business model needed to evolve into, and they have never wavered in their commitment to that model. Keller Williams reached its current position by delivering a message of agent quality and brokerage financial viability, and has never once compromised on those values. Keller Williams, from the very beginning, believed that a successful real estate brokerage could, and should, take care of everyone in the organization. They have almost religiously met that belief every day since.

Most everyone in our industry, who has tried something new, has been soundly criticized for rocking the traditional boat. For Keller Williams, that treatment has seemed somehow more personal. Suggestions that the Company’s innovative agent revenue model was a “pyramid scheme”, or that the Company’s intense commitment to a culture of quality and ethical behavior made it a “cult”, remained common for most of its history.

In February 2010, all of that changed. Keller Williams has emerged as a major player, with ideas, features and concepts that work in today’s rapidly transitioning industry environment. Moreover, in an industry where the big players are almost universally losing the battle of leadership, innovation and solvency, KW has continued to grow and has remained profitable throughout the past four years without debt or doubt.

Our industry is in an unparalleled learning period. What is there for all of us learn, about the Keller Williams model, that many have found so intimidating? Actually it is quite simple:

  • Everyone needs to win
  • Integrity, honesty and trust are the key to success, so do the right thing
  • Be consumer centric
  • Profitability is to business what integrity is to the individual
  • Be committed, this is a long term proposition
  • Innovation and creativity are the key to future success
  • It is all about being on a team
  • It is people who make things work out right, not brands

These lessons are not just valuable for building a great real estate company. They offer wisdom and guidance for rebuilding our industry as well. This time around lets learn from everyone in the industry who has something to teach us.

Next month, we will start with a review of some of the “new idea” company’s currently coming into our industry. The first will be EXP Realty out of Bellingham, Washington. In the meantime how are you going to spend your “fifteen minutes” in 2010?

This article was written for, and is scheduled to appear in RealTrends Magazine (www.realtrends.com).

8 Comments

  1. Posted March 30, 2010 at 8:15 PM | Permalink

    Excellent Job and sharing this event –the emotion of it…and the TRULY BIG DEAL that this company is.

  2. Posted March 30, 2010 at 10:36 PM | Permalink

    Jeremy, I had to look three times as the article sounded like it came from a KW agent. Not an industry observer. Coming from REal Trends it has great credibility. I will repost.

  3. Michael Zullo
    Posted March 31, 2010 at 9:53 AM | Permalink

    Thanks, Jeremy, for saying so elequently what many of us in KW already knew. You helped validate those principals that we live and work by. MDZ

  4. Posted March 31, 2010 at 11:01 AM | Permalink

    Thanks for your recognition of our values and beliefs, that make up the model that guides our businesses on a daily bases. Steve B

  5. Judy Simmons
    Posted March 31, 2010 at 11:32 AM | Permalink

    Outstanding article about our outstanding company!

  6. Posted March 31, 2010 at 10:18 PM | Permalink

    I joined the Keller Williams Knoxville-West team on January 29th. I also attended the Family Reunion Conference. I am absolutely thrilled with the decision of joining this fabulous team. The energy is fantastic and the “Team” atmosphere is fantastic. You described this event perfectly! Thank you!

  7. Jackson Bowman
    Posted April 1, 2010 at 4:41 PM | Permalink

    Jeremy, Ann and I enjoyed seeing and chatting with you, all to briefly, at Family Reunion,as we enjoy having you at PRO. I really think your comments on the direction of KW are “right on” and I am sure you have seen the continued growth from when you wrote “Family, Culture or Engineering” after the 2006 Family Reunion. It has been a true blessing for me to havefound KW when I did. I don’t think any of us who were at the meeting at the Hyatt, at DFW in 1996, while probably all somewhat visionaires or crazies, could have believed we could be where we are in 2010. I am sure we are now all very confident about where we are going. Thanks for sharing the vision.

  8. Margie Morales
    Posted April 2, 2010 at 8:41 AM | Permalink

    I agree with Guy Lofts. It’s nice to hear what the obvious is about KW from someone that is not bias. I joined several months ago and it has been the best career decision I have ever made in the 10 years that I have been practicing. I feel so proud to be part of such an amazing and successful company. The training and technology that our office offers could not be found anywhere near. And I think our Northeast office in Philadelphia is just in the embryotic stage. I believe the best is still yet ahead of us. Thank you for such an awesome article. You really spoke the truth!

2 Trackbacks

  1. [...] Jeremy Conaway- Writer for Real Trends- reprinted from http://www.reconis.com/?p=423 March 26, 2010 – 1:14 [...]

  2. [...] recently read an article written by Jeremy Conaway that speaks to the values and beliefs of Keller Williams Realty and the great success that the [...]

    SHOULD I CALL AN AGENT WHEN BUYING A HOME?



This Month in Real Estate - August 2009


This Month in Real Estate - July 2009

This Month in Real Estate - June 2009



This Month in Real Estate - May 2009

 

Amazing Time to Buy Real Estate



10 Questions for Jim Cramer



This Month in Real Estate - April 2009


 



When receiving calls from buyers, I am constantly being asked about one particular property and if it does not meet the buyer's criteria, the buyer, often, will state, "thank you" and be ready to hang up.  I will rapidly explain to the prospective buyer that I have access to all properties in my area and I can proceed to help them in their home search.  Many times the buyer is reluctant since they think that by using an agent they will be spending more money.

I am on a journey to educate the buyers this year.  Yes, there are times that a buyer may be charged a buyer brokerage fee but more often than not, the commission is paid by the seller.  The purpose of this blog, however, is to educate the prospective buyer regarding the benefits of using an agent.
By engaging the services of a professional agent, you, as the buyer, will benefit from the experience, area knowledge and industry expertise.  Why, would you NOT want that?  The price of a home is ultimately decided by what a buyer is willing to pay for the house, what the seller is willing to accept and what the market will bear.  Utilizing an agent, as far as the buyer will not change those factors but will certainly educate the buyer as to what the market comparables are, what the market is doing and also be able to represent the buyer or transaction to make sure that all contract deadlines are met and to ensure that all contract to closing duties are met such as escrow deadlines, inspections and financing.

A buyer's agent will also be able to provide the buyer with MLS Listings that all agents can access based on the criteria that the buyer is looking for.  This alleviates the buyer from having to call several agents for properties that may or may not meet the buyer's needs or may not even be available since "pending" listings may still have signs out.

In addition, if a buyer is interested in a for sale by owner listing, having an agent work with them will ensure that the offer is properly written and priced (since the agent will be able to provide the comparables and be able to negotiate on buyer's behalf).

Many agents will also conduct a buyers consultation which in turn will save time in the long run since the agent will be able to really understand the buyer's needs and time frame allowing the agent to be even more effective.

A buyers agent brokerage agreement is not only a commitment from the buyer to the agent (since agent does not get paid unless transaction is closed) but it is also a commitment from the agent to the buyer.

So if you are beginning your search for a new home, call your Team Smyth today at 404-419-3672



FOOTBALL AND REAL ESTATE HAVING SIMILARITIES? So what am I talking about, you may ask?  Well, they are both "contact" sports for starters.  Also, let us look at some other similarities:

1. Football Players run toward their goals.
So do Realtors- we work towards our goal of selling.

2. Football Players "tackle" their opponent.
So do Realtors- we find that special "extra" that will set us apart from the rest.

3. Football Players have a "Game Plan"
Successful Realtors have a marketing & business plan.

4. Football Players have a "Play book".
Succesful Realtors have an action plan.

5. Football Players give 100% while on the field.
Top Producing Realtors give 100% always.

6. Football Players know their worth.
Successful Realtors also know their worth.

7. Football Players practice to improve.
Top agents are always improving their skills through classes and other opportunities as well as learning from other success stories.

So, as you can see both football and real estate have many commonalities but the one I want to concentrate on is the fact that it is a CONTACT SPORT. 

Realtors, today, often disregard the fact that it is a contact sport and may "market away" on the internet but buying and selling a home is still an emotional decision.

With that being said, it is important that we do not forget the human "contact".  I find that internet marketing and social media are necessary in today's era but I also realize that at NO time will the "human touch" ever be replicated.

I am an "active" agent and just like the top football player sets out to get that goal, I will do what it takes to sell that home and find that buyer!

Every realtor posseses the best real estate tool there is- their human contact.  Pick up the phone and call at least 20 people daily from either your database or the zip code of your listing.  You will be amazed at the responses you will get.  People relish in human conversation.  You will find that sellers and buyers long to "speak" to their realtor or at least someone on the realtor's team.  They want to hear first hand what is going on with their home.

So, I attribute part of my success in real estate to always holding true that real estate is a contact sport just like football and I will always hold that my best "game day strategy" is human contact.  I still call my clients and prospective clients and this, in my opinion, is what sets me apart from many others. 

As you watch the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl this week, think about what makes the winning team, the winner and begin implementing it in your real estate career and then, you will see, people will be betting on YOU!

Karen Smyth is a successful Keller Williams Realtor in Atlanta,GA at the Peachtree Rd. office.  Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs at 404-234-1196.
This Month in Real Estate - September 2009