“When you dedicate time to sit and reflect on your strategic approach to building your business you’ll recognize that there is always so much more to learn and implement that is easy but not if you’re not open-minded”

CRITICAL THINKING IS A KEY REQUIREMENT FOR SUCCESS

Strategic planning requires critical thinking in any business, and especially in real estate. Are you thinking critically about marketing, for example, or are you dismissive when someone tries to give you advice? The person who is constantly thinking, watching, learning and analyzing critically is more likely to succeed than someone who remains static and doesn’t think about their business. Especially in this day and age!

SEEK DISAGREEMENT BEFORE ALL MAJOR DECISIONS

Disagreement that collides with the way things are helps us to think critically. Think of a debate coach who’s really tough on a kid to help sharpen their skills. I will always agitate you to THINK critically before making any business decision. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me every time I hear agents making whimsical decisions because they heard someone is “killing it with this message.” Stop and think, people! You should always seek disagreement before making a major decision. Your brain will actively try to avoid disagreement – but you should be looking for it.

ALWAYS CONSIDER THE OTHER PERSPECTIVE TO LEARN WHAT YOU’RE MISSING

The other perspective can often reveal something you’re missing. You might think something is a great idea initially, but a colleague with another perspective could reveal that a new marketing fad might not be the best way to spend that money. What if an even better idea is revealed when you seek out the other perspective?

DEDICATE TIME TO WORK ON YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN

At my live events, I press agents to think strategically about their business. It’s all modular, like these podcasts, only it’s a deeper dive into specific modules. And it is dedicated time. Sometimes you need to shut everything down, get away from your marketplace and dedicate time to work on that strategic plan. We agitate attendees to think about these things, write them down and then debate the points with each other and disagree. Get serious about sequestering yourself away and dedicating time to work on your strategic plan.

BE HUMBLE & RECOGNIZE THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

This is a great piece of advice for life in general. I happened to get it from a guy whose work I really respect: Michael Gerber. I met him a few years ago and he told me, “Remember, you don’t know what you don’t know.” That was a humbling experience for me. The minute you lose your humility and fail to be a learner, you begin to lose traction. Think, “What don’t I know today?” and keep moving, because business is relentless.

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