The past few years were amazing, evidenced by record-breaking local numbers, company numbers and personal production numbers. We all worked hard "In our Business" with showings and listings; the busy work. You'd almost bump into an opportunity walking in your driveway to the car. 

The last few 6 months kind of felt like whiplash. If you are reading this, listen to me, it will be OK. That amazing market was a big swing above normal, this down swing is below normal. Where we are now isn't normal either. But it will balance out and find level. It always does!

In 2024, opportunities for you will be driven by a huge demand for homes in our area and continued downward pressure on interest rates. 

Trust that it will come around and be patient. AND… instead of relaxing, get to work "On Your Business"! Catch back up with your plan, get back in a marketing flow with your people, clean up your CRM, create/update your Listing Packet and Buyer Presentations. At a minimum, please take this time to focus hard on your habits.
 

"The question is not whether the formula for success will work for a person, but whether a person will work the formula." Jim Rohn

We (you) know the formula for success. 

Whatever real estate belief system you prefer, follow it! Like Ninja Selling, they all put considerable focus on creating good daily and weekly habits. Brian Buffini, in his Peak Producers program, spends considerable time talking about creating a system (pattern of habits). Buffini, even sites some research sharing millionaires' thoughts about what sets them apart from everyone else. The response most given (of those surveyed) was "Being Disciplined". What is this telling us other than: they attribute their success to having better Habits than most? Habits are the KEY!
 

"We do not decide our futures. We decide our habits and our habits decide our futures."  - F. M. Alexander

Larry Kendall, the author of Ninja Selling, surveyed some of the most successful agents on a panel he was leading. His question: "to what do you attribute your success?"

All four Top Producers pointed to the Ninja Five Daily Habits (from the Ninja Nine):

1-    Gratitude and affirmations
2-    Write two personal notes
3-    Time block- stay on your agenda
4-    Focus on your hot list
5-    Focus on your warm list
*If you aren't clear what this Ninja stuff is, ask your Broker.

They also reported they typically only spent about 15 minutes on the Ninja Five but doing it first thing was the key. What you do first thing in the morning, with the first hour you are awake can be the most important thing you do all day. Own your morning! 

"Our life becomes a printout of our habits repeated over time." - Jeff Olson

Just 15 minutes each morning! Can you commit to just 15 minutes? Starting the day with the Ninja 5 will give you a jump start to a great day. When you start the day the right way every day, you'll have a series of great days, great weeks, great months, etc… All of a sudden, there is a pattern of greatness.

•    Start the day right
•    Have a Great Day
•    A series of Great Days makes Great Weeks
•    A string of Great Weeks makes Great Months
•    And consecutive Great months make a Great Year

It is proven that without seeing evidence of progress, people quit sooner. Focus on you and document your progress- this will keep you going. The worst thing you can do is to sidetrack your own day by getting on the phone first thing, reading the news, checking social media, etc.... I'd add don't check your email first thing either. 

"What we do every day, is more important than what we do once in a while."  Gretchen Rubin

Some days, it is not easy. Some days it will be super easy. When it is, do more. Just don't ever break the chain- that's the key. Get a calendar, put an X on it when you complete your tasks, creating a chain of X's. Never break the chain. That in itself is a Reward!

Creating new habits only seems hard because of a weird, but very true, natural law about habits:

• Good habits= consequences now, benefits delayed (Good habits make time your friend)
• Bad habits= benefit now, consequences delayed (Bad habits make time your enemy)

The way to change bad habits to good ones is by substituting a new routine (Action) after an already established cue. A good example is: if you feel the urge to smoke a cigarette - instead of lighting up, brush your teeth. Keeping the cue, replacing the behavior and thereby changing the reward to a long term goal (of quitting) instead of taking the short term fix. Keeping track of this every time you do it, will build strength and slowly increase the dopamine you get every time you succeed. Figure out the cue, change the routine.

"We become what we do repeatedly. Excellence, therefore, is not an act it is a habit." - Aristotle
 

You are 100% in control. Of everything.
Of your time, your mind, your schedule, your thoughts.
It's all you. No one else.