Doing the Same Thing and Expecting Different Results

I see many new  agents come and go in our industry.  As the market changed in the last two years many inexperienced and weak agents began to find themselves lost.  On Oahu our market is much stronger than most in the country, yet we have seen a decrease in the number of closings.

I have lost count of how many struggling agents have spoken to me in the last year asking advice.  Most were not willing to follow the advice.  Several of them have either left the industry or have stopped doing business all together.

Here is my advice to struggling agents.

• If what you are doing is not working, do something else.
• Increase the number of hours a day you spend on your business.  Be prepared to work many more hours.
• Get all the training you can get.  Get your designations.
• Team up with a productive agent.
• Market, market, market.
• Be creative
• Have fun
• Be sure you are in the right office for you.
• This should be first.  Have a business plan!

There is a common denominator between most struggling agents.

• They work less than part time.
• They are doing exactly what they were doing a year ago, no changes or adjustments.
• They spend none or next to no time or money on marketing.
• They do not go after designations and do not take training classes.
• They have no business plan.
• They are not having fun.

My departing tips to remember:

• This is not an easy business, you must have a plan.
• You have a lot of competition; you need to differentiate yourself from the others.
• There is no substitution for training and hard work.
• When deciding whether you are cut out for real estate, you need to consider whether you are willing to do what it takes to succeed in this industry.

Aloha and have a great 2008!