Thrive in 2010 By Changing Your Mindset!

Change Your Mindset and Thrive In 2010

(by Kendra Zadnik)

To create more business, it is not as important that you take lots of actions, but that you have identified the right actions to take. To position yourself to thrive in 2010, here are three powerful distinctions. Make some shifts in these areas and see results!

Connecting VS. Impressing

If your marketing materials and your approach in meeting new clients is to impress them with your knowledge and experience, you may be seen as one of those scary, pushy salespeople. If you show a true interest in the other person's needs and problems, you will begin to connect and build trust. The old style of marketing and promotion focused on the agent rather than the client. The new style is relationship-based. The consumer is looking for someone to trust, for someone who will listen to them and discover their needs.

We have conversations often with coaching clients who believe they need to get better at their closing skills to increase their effectiveness. Most of the time, we find they are working too hard at proving how great they are and are turning off clients because they are failing to connect. Stop working so hard and relax and just listen and connect with the potential client. It will become easier and more effective. You will get better results from listening for your clients needs and providing the services that will fill those needs.

Abundance VS. Scarcity

The mindset that business is limited and there is not enough can lead an agent to working with every potential client or prospect that comes their way. Some of this business may not be the highest and best use of your time. Stop working with the jerks. Life is too short. Stop working with people who have needs you are not qualified to help them with, such as those who want a commercial property, land, or a neighborhood outside your normal service area. Let go of these and refer them to another agent who is qualified to help them...it will be the highest dollar per hour you'll make in 2010 and the client will be better served. Stop working with buyers that are not going to buy and sellers that are going to waste your marketing dollars and cause you grief.

The scarcity mindset will cause you to make decisions that will waste your precious time. Believe that there is plenty of business for you and get choosy about working with those who fit your target market, skills and way of doing business. The universe reflects back to you the most dominant thoughts you have. Are your daily thoughts supporting the vision you have for 2010? If not, the consciousness of what thoughts you are putting out there is the first step to changing those negative thought patterns.

Fun VS. Hard Work

Don't you find it more enjoyable to do business with a relaxed, fun, loving person instead of a harried over-worked person? Taking care of yourself is a basic need if you are going to serve your clients impeccably in 2010. Take at least one day off (that means like on vacation-you don't take calls on your cell phone; someone else is covering things) every week. Schedule your 2010 vacations now. Take three-day weekends over the course of the year. If you work yourself to exhaustion regularly, you will burn out. What's more, your focus is impacted and you just don't get things done as effectively.

This distinction is also about your mindset. Do you love the real estate industry? Is your real estate practice a reflection of your values and what is really important to you? Those people who have an integrity and alignment with their core values, love what they do and have fun with it. It is not about survival and selling every day, it is about service and offering themselves to make a difference with someone else. If you aren't in that place, do some thinking about what mindset you need to shift in 2010. You'll get into the flow and find it all gets much easier.

These shifts can be scary too, because they are based on faith. Look around, though, and you'll see there are people who are connecting, having fun and have an abundantly prosperous business. If they can do it, you can do it too! You too can thrive in 2010!

What are you going to do different in 2010? Come Monday to Power Lunch to discuss more skill building tools to help you have a fantastic 2010.