About Garland County, AR

So as the year kicks off, as a Broker/Manager, it is time to think about getting the agents in the office motivated and staying on track. What I find difficult for me is that fact that there is a lot of experienced agents that are in my office, and you know what they say "It is hard to teach old dog's new tricks!". Even though they are all top producing agents, I think it is still important to provide new fresh ideas that will keep them in the loop with technology and real estate.

We have several older agents that actually think that the Internet is the mesh lining in men's swim trunks! So in order to try and change this mental picture and blockage of the technology age for our "eperienced" agents, we are installing a 42 inch flat screen television in our break room, where we will be offering some educationel webinars a few times a week for the agents to attend. These webinars will be topics that we have come across on Realtor University and other educational resources. We will also be offering some personalized classes with hands on opportunity to learn the basics of setting up a database, managing your contacts in Outlook, and using your phone to be more productive.

Looking forward to seeing how this will play out, and seeing if it will add some UMPHHH for 2010!

So the new year is here and I am off and running!

I have taken the time to get started on my plan, and so far so good! I decided to update my blog for some accountabilty purposes, and keep a record of where I am going.

1. Signed up to obtain my GRI Certification. These courses will start in just a couple weeks.

2. Signed up to obtain my e-Pro Certification.

3. My goals for reading are a little behind- need to improve in this area. I have read Genesis Chapters 1-12, and Matthew Chapters 1-4. I am a little behind on where I need to be.

4. I have started reading Sarah Palins's book Going Rogue- it is one of my autobiographies that I plan to read for the year.

5. I have started reading two of my leadership books- "Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office 101″ and "Monday Morning Motivation".

6. I have told my kiddo's and hubby that I love them every day- at least once a day (actually more)- This is a easy goal for me!

7. Need to make over to see my grandparents- but the month is not over yet- so I am still good on that one!

Thought for the blog........(kind of like- thought for the day)............
"Not everything that counts can be counted, not everything that can be counted counts"

"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success." - Vincent van Gogh

These words of Vincent van Gogh are ones to remember when setting your goals for the new year. I have set goals in different areas of my life for 2010, and I am developing a plan to accomplish each one.

The first part of the plan is to write the goals down, and clearly define what they are. So here it goes...

1. Spiritually- I will read the entire New Testament in 2010.

2. Family- I will go see my grandparents at least once a month. I will tell my husband and children that I love them everyday (I pretty much do this part anyway).

3. Finance- I will clip more coupons and limit my eating out to 2 times a week (this will help on my lifestyle goal too). I will take the extra money I save and pay down debt.

4. Lifestyle- I will lose 10 pounds by June 1, 2010.

5. Career- I will obtain my GRI and my e-Pro Certifications. I will apply to the NAR 2011 Leadership Academy.

6. Leadership- I will read 6 autobiography books of great leaders. I will read six leader development books. This is a total of 12 books.

Out of all of these I will have the hardest time with #6 and #1. Why? Because I really do not like to read books. Ughhhh... That is why I had to write it down- something must keep me accountable!

First step of identifiy goals for 2010- CHECK!

As I get ready to step forward into 2010, I also need to reflect on 2009. I look to see what worked and didn't work to achieve my expectations of the year. There were a few items that didn't get accomplished and some major ones that I was not sure would be obtainable that did happen. So what was the difference in the ones that were achieved and the ones that slipped in the cracks?

The answer that I have come up with is VISION! The ones that were accomplished, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve. I had taken the time to write it down, tell someone what I wanted to accomplish, and make a daily attempt to work closer to the finish line. The ones that slipped through the cracks were never built on a solid foundation. They were just a flash in the night were I thought "Oh that will be cool to do!" , yet I never had a plan or took time to really accomplish those goals.

In 2010, I plan to have a clear VISION of my goals and I plan to not only have career goals, but personal goals as well. I am starting with this blog as one of my goals. I will make an effort to blog on a weekly basis on the progress of all my goals. This will not only make me accountable to myself, but to anyone that may take the time to follow my goals and see how I am progressing.

The plan for achieving my goals will be based on the following principles:

1. Set goals that are achievable and that are action oriented.
2. Write goals down (which I will do in my blog-my new pen and paper).
3. Write goals in present tense. ("I will......")
4. Envision myself accomplishing the goals.
5. Baby Steps- plan baby steps to achieve the big picture.
6. Take action- don't procrastinate!
7. Find 3 people who will hold me accountable to my goals.

Stay tuned to my January 1, 2010 post where I will clearly define my goals, and start my journey in 2010. If you are reading this blog and would like to join me on achieving your goals, lets go at it together! Send me a note, start your own blog, and lets follow each other!

2010 is waiting for us!

As I sat reading an article a few days ago, I began to think of how this particular article has impacted the real estate industry. The article was discussing the characteristics of the four generations that are in the same work force, and how each generation is struggling with the work practices and ethics of the other. It is clear that REALTORS are not exempt from the struggle, and we are all trying to find our place within our own offices and profession.

This is the first time in American history that four generations have occupied the same workspace. You have the Traditionalist those that were born before 1945, the Baby Boomers those born between 1946- 1964, Gen X'rs those born between 1965- 1980, and the Gen Y'rs those born between 1981- 2000. Each of these generations have very different views on work ethic, leadership style, and communication.

I find myself in the Gen X era, and I know from working with mostly Baby Boomers and Traditionalist in my office that challenges occur on a daily basis. The Boomers in the office are "all work and no play". True workaholics, their vacation IS work. There seems to be collegial sense of leadership style, and in the Boomers words- real estate is still an "in person" business.

Now the Traditionalist in my office, they are the rule players; they work hard and have a respect for authority. The leadership style of the Traditionalist is very in command and in control, however that communication style is totally lacking in the technology era. The Traditionalist has issues checking email, and we are lucky if they have a flip phone, and a "smart phone" to them is one that rings. They prefer to have communications in memo form and wanted it delivered to their desk in black and white, and not by email.

The Gen Y'rs are pretty much slim to none in my office, but there are a few. These are the ones that really frustrate the Boomers. (I know this because my Principal Broker- who happens to be my mother- is a Boomer, and she is always frustrated with the Gen Y'rs in the office.) The Y'rs are those that are the "whenever I want it- just a push of the button" generation. I have not put my finger on the leadership style of this generation, so that is still TBD. The work ethic is "get it done and move to the next thing", it's just a job and there are plenty of other jobs out there. Gen Y'rs don't answer the phone, but they will email or text you within seconds of contacting them in this form.

Of course that leaves us with the Gen X'rs, and in my opinion they are the most well rounded (of course I could be partial to my own generation). Gen X'rs want structure in the workplace, they work to eliminate a task, and seem to very skeptical. The leadership style of the X'rs is to ask why, treat everyone the same, and challenge others. Communication styles for the Gen X'rs are sometimes mistaken as rude or impersonal, because of the direct nature and the immediate response. Technology does not seem to be too much of a struggle for the Generation X, it's the use of it in a direct manner that seems to create the problems.

So what does this mean to the future of our industry.... Our business is based on understanding others. Most of us think the only way, is our way, and I am as guilty as anyone with that thinking. However, I have come to learn that in business, as well as in personal life, that is just not true. To increase productivity, work effectively and efficiently, we all need to understand how each generation is wired and learn to tap into their strengths.