Angela Simanek

Look at every part of your life and business as little pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Most people have those big puzzle pieces that fit together so easily a 3 year-old can manage it on the kitchen floor. Realtors... hahaha! We have a whole 'nother kinda puzzle don't we? Ours is more like those 1,000-piece jobs that are so tiny we can barely see what's pictured on them and it takes weeks (or even months with our schedules) to get it finished. With our lives, we have no problem identifying the pieces... we even know very well which pieces are corners and which form the edges. All those middle ones though... we tend to lose sight of them and sometimes... some of them even fall behind the table and get stuck where we can't see them.

As crazy chaotic Realtors, it seems one of the hardest things we face is keeping it all together... We're GREAT at making lists, setting goals, knowing what needs to happen... I mean c'mon... how many training classes have we sat through over the years??? The problem is FOCUS and BALANCE. Our puzzle pieces just get plain LOST.

We lose our balance with all the crazy interruptions and last minute items that creep up throughout the day (along with our own tendency to become easily distracted all on our own). Once the balance is gone, the focus jumps ship with it and before you know it... you're back to drive-through meals because you're starved, it's 3pm and you haven't eaten all day, no time for the gym membership you just signed up for, and what is going on with this schedule??!! Sound familiar?

Okay so here's the thing... I know you know what NEEDS to happen. I know how much training you've been through and that you really don't need another training program. I know what you need to do is incorporate everything you've learned with some focusing techniques specifically created for chaotic real estate people like yourself so you can IMPLEMENT everything you've already learned, maintain your balance, and actually keep those resolutions this year! Even the personal ones...

If this sounds like you and you're ready to change things for good this time, give me a call. I truly want to help this become a great year for you... the kind of year where not only are you doing better financially, you FEEL better about your life, the flow of things, the time you're spending with your loved ones, and the way you handle everything as it comes throughout your day. THAT is what makes a successful balanced life.

Check out the site at www.MyRealLifeNOW.com and even if 2010 was a rough year and you're thinking the last thing you can do is hire a coach... call me anyway... I want to help. It's time we all started thinking about ourselves as part of the larger community. :)

-Angela

Angela K. Simanek, Simply Consulting

Call us! 347-374-1379

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Okay so for those of you with teams... buyer's agents, listing agents, admins, transaction coordinators, short-sale negotiators, and more... this is the blog post you've been waiting for. I have GREAT NEWS for you... keep reading and no this isn't a sales pitch... what I'm about to teach you is totally free. I found the coolest thing EVER today and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Team Leaders always struggle with holding their team agents accountable. You hand them leads but what happens after that?? How many are taking those leads and running with them the way they should? Are they really following up with them? Another issue with teams is keeping up with all the details of the many transactions, ensuring all the details are being attended to and nothing gets lost or missed along the way. So over the last several weeks I have been putting together the perfect team workabiltity plan and today I came across the missing piece of the puzzle that ties it all together.

www.Wiggio.com

Check it out because it will bring your team together... I've just set up a group of my own for Simply Consulting so please join my Wiggio group and play with it so you can see the capabilities of this incredible site. http://wiggio.com/group_open_join.php?groupid=414993&password=embracechaos

File share, conference calls, video conferencing, bulk texting, post messages to your group... so much you can do here... In terems of running your team, think about having a moring conference call with your agents. Every morning at 7:00 or 7:30 am, just a quick call to check in with everyone, have everybody report their stats for the previous day and what their plans are for the dy ahead. What will this do for you?? It creates a competitive edge between agents. If one agent made 100 calls in a day and reports that in and one agent made 25 calls, they are gonna be feelin' a lil bit AWKWARD in front of the team... It encourages them to keep pace with one another. It also lets YOU know that your agents are up and working early in the day and not sleeping in till 10:00.

If you're interested in a team plan, give me a call or send me an email... I'm happy to provide you with one at no charge. You can always reach me at 347-374-1379 or via any of the methods below...

-Angela

Angela K. Simanek, Simply Consulting

Call us! 347-374-1379

Email us! angela.simanek@gmail.com

Check the site! www.SimplyConsulting.info

Friend on Facebook! www.facebook.com/angela.simanek

Follow our tweets! www.twitter.com/angelasimanek

Read the blog! www.simplyconsulting.wordpress.com

Watch the videos! www.youtube.com/user/angelasimanek

Connect on Linkedin! http://www.linkedin.com/in/angelasimanek

Life in the real estate industry, for better or worse, equals a life filled with chaos. Now for most of us, that's what attracted us to the business in the first place and why we thrive in the midst of it. However, it CAN take a toll if you aren't staying balanced with your life. Think about how moving through your day at such a frantic pace, running from one meeting to the next, can even prevent you from eating properly. You'll skip breakfast as you run out the door, grab something at a drive through then starve through lunch because you never get another opportuity to eat and then by the time you hit dinner, you gorge on whatever you can get in front of you and may end up with a nasty case of heartburn. Sooo... for those of you dealing with this on a regular basis... here's a few food and eating tips:

• when you have a slower moment, take the time to prepare "grab and go" items. I used to do that for my son when he was 2 so he could feel independent and get his own snacks out of the fridge. The idea stuck with me and I strated doing it for myself. If you never have that slower moment, stock your fridge and pantry with healthy food options that you can grab quickly and run with. A little advance prep will prevent those morning drive through stops.
• same thing for lunches.... prepare in advance. If you know you have appointments throughout the day, pack a lunch and take it with you. You can even get one of those little mini coolers and a couple of reusable ice packs and keep a few drinks, your lunch, and even some snacks if you know you'll be gone all day. It's just as important to stay hydrated throughout your day as it is to eat properly.
• for dinner check out some other options... there's Super Suppers and a few other similar places where you can stop in once a week and prepare meals in advance and their prep stations, bring them home, and stick them in the freezer with handy cooking instructions on the labels. If you want, they also offer a grab and go option for meals already prepped that only require taking home to put in the oven. This eliminates the planning/shopping/prepping time and is more like doing a tv dinner yet provides you with an actual home-cooked meal. you can also hit your local whole foods. i LOVE whole foods!!! They have a food bar where the food is cooked, heated, and ready-to-eat. Just scoop what you want, pay, and eat. They also have a nice long deli counter with plenty of great dinner options including entree, side dishes, etc. that only require reheating. This gives you healthy food options without cooking and works great for anyone. If you look in your local mailers, you can also likely find chefs who specialize in preparing dinners and will deliver them to you weekly for simple reheat. These options are NOT expensive and if you compare to eating out or drive through eating... the benefits are both financial and physical.

now for the best grab and go healthy snack items, check out whole foods again and look at the selection of "raw" bars. These are yummy as can be, packed with energy, and extremely healthy. Another thing I love there are the packs of trail mix. They have one with raw almonds, pumpkin, flax, and sunflower seeds with raisins. Also take a peek in the produce juice section and pick up some "naked" smoothies. Green Goodness is my favorite. I know it looks gross but trust me... you'll wake up in the middle of the night craving it... yeah... it's THAT good. Pick up some of those items, pack them into a cooler, and grab as you need throughout the day. We may live in chaos but our body doesn't have to suffer because of it. You'll feel better and your body will thank you... :)

-Angela

Angela K. Simanek, Simply Consulting

Call us! 347-374-1379

Email us! angela.simanek@gmail.com

Check the site! www.SimplyConsulting.info

Friend on Facebook! www.facebook.com/angela.simanek

Follow our tweets! www.twitter.com/angelasimanek

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When is it time to switch brokerages? If you've been with your company for a long time or have been unhappy with the ways things are going, you may be wondering what else is out there. What things should you look for in a new company and why should you really make a switch? These are questions I get from agents.

The truth is... not every agent found the right office to join to begin with. They didn't ask the right questions, take their own needs into consideration, or sufficiently shop around to see what's out there. So let's assume you have your license with a brokerage and you are "curious" for whatever reason. Here's what you need to look for:

• What kind of support will you get?

I'm not talking admin and marketing here... I'm talking coaching and training. One thing the top producers will tell you is they all have coaches. As a coach, I can tell you... yeah... they do. That's exactly why they consistently produce so strongly. Having a strong broker and/or sales manager/team leader who is there for you (non-competing with an open-door policy) is definitely a big help to your business. Make sure it's someone you feel comfortable with, someone you trust, who can direct your focus, offer lots of on-going training at every level, and will listen to your thoughts, ideas, and opinions without being overbearing or condescending.

• What is the office environment like?

Working in an office full of nasty, negative people is not going to be a boost to your business whatsoever. If you plan on working from the office, is this an environment you can thrive in? Do the other agents seem warm and friendly? Would they help you if you needed it? Does it feel like a family there or does it feel more like you're just a face in the crowd? Even if you don't plan on working out of the office, knowing that you have a helpful group of fellow agents to network with, share ideas, tips, etc... that's what you need to keep your eye out for.

• What's the bottom line?

It's not about the commission, it's about what you put in your pocket at the end of the day. it's just like you tell your sellers when they ask about your commission during the listing presentation... So add up all the expenses associated with being part of any office you're considering, and figure out what the bottom line is. You know what you need to have to be an agent so what is the office providing you with and how much commission are you getting in relation?

• Is brand really important?

In today's world where every listing is pasted all over the web, the brand is not as big a deal when talking "is it gonna get me the listing?". YOU get you the listing by how the seller feels about you. It's not as much about the brand as it used to be. (don't send me hate mail on this one... I understand some of you will get defensive on this answer) It's about how you connect with the seller, how much the seller trusts you, and how confident the seller is in you being able to sell their home. Most agents are promoting their own team brand ahead of their brokerage brand these days anyhow...

So when do you know it's time to switch companies? Anytime you feel you would be better served somewhere else. It's doesn't have to be because you had a big blow-out with your current broker or got into it with a fellow agent you found snooping through your papers. I will tell you though... a strong broker/sales manager who cares, listens, guides, and coaches is a rare and priceless commodity that deserves unswerving loyalty... SO if you have already have that, the commission split is not near as important.

If you have any other questions about brokerages/franchises/offices or ifyou've been thinking about making a switch and you're unsure and want to talk about it... give me a call. I'm happy to point you in the right direction for you personally. :)

-Angela

Angela K. Simanek, Simply Consulting

Call us! 347-374-1379

Email us! angela.simanek@gmail.com

Check the site! www.SimplyConsulting.info

Friend on Facebook! www.facebook.com/angela.simanek

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Accountability is a huge problem in the real estate business. As chaotic-minded people, we get distracted, we procrastinate, and we are disorganized. We do not manage our time well. Now throw into the mix all the little fires that creep up and need putting out and where does the day go??? How many of your tasks are being pushed to the back-burner because you simply run out of time?

If you had someone to report to, would that help you? What if that person also organized your activities for you? Imagine sending out an email every evening with all your mixed up crazy things you know need to happen the following day and by 8am the next morning, you have an itemized, prioritized to-do list, timed out and broken down waiting for you in your inbox or set up within top producer, wise agent, outlook tasks, or google. Now, by mid-day you get a status update check-in to see where you are in your list of activities and anything needing to be added or shifted is processed. By end of day, you get another status check-in to confirm completion and analyze anything that needs to be delegated out so it gets done.

Now remember accountability is NOT coaching. Coaching is about knowing where you want to go but not being sure how to get there. Accountability is knowing how to get there but not being able to make it happen. Sometimes we need one but not the other although sometimes we need both.

If organization is what you need in your life... Simply Consulting has just added Accountability Sessions to its list of services. Check the site for info: http://www.simplyconsulting.info/ and get ready to say good-bye to distraction. Accountability can be combined with "Embrace the Chaos" Coaching at a discounted rate. Call 347-374-1379 for details or to sign up.

Happy Organizing to You!!!

-Angela

Angela K. Simanek, Simply Consulting

Call us! 347-374-1379

Email us! angela.simanek@gmail.com

Check the site! www.SimplyConsulting.info

Friend on Facebook! www.facebook.com/angela.simanek

Follow our tweets! www.twitter.com/angelasimanek

Read the blog! www.simplyconsulting.wordpress.com

Watch the videos! www.youtube.com/user/angelasimanek

Connect on Linkedin! www.linkedin.com/in/angela.simanek