Posts Tagged ‘success’
Your Optimism Advantage
Friday, March 12th, 2010
What would your business, relationships and life look like if you always had an optimistic outlook, regardless of circumstances? Some people might say, that’s being a Pollyanna. Perhaps, but is that so bad?
In today’s crazy and increasingly uncertain world we have very little direct control over our circumstances. But we have absolute control over our attitude about them. Which do you think is the most empowering: constant worry and frustration, or being optimistic that your actions and circumstances will eventually prevail? After all, most of our fears never materialize so think about all that wasted energy worrying about them (and frankly, worry never fixes anything).
An optimistic outlook is one where the glass is always half full and filling rapidly. Sure there will be disappointments, but “disappointment” is just a feeling, it has no real power to hurt you unless you give in to it. I still remember my Mom’s best intentions in telling me: “Don’t get your hopes up, otherwise you’ll be disappointed!” Now there’s a sure-fire formula for a life of mediocrity and a dulled sense of living…
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”.
Helen Keller
Can you imagine Helen Keller saying “Don’t get your hopes up.” Sorry, moms aren’t always right and optimism, even in the toughest of times, will serve you better than any of the alternatives.
Speaking of optimism, don’t forget to register for a very special free LIVE video keynote by Dr. Terry Paulson who just wrote “The Optimism Advantage”. He is a world-class speaker (and past President of the National Speakers Association). Just CLICK HERE to register for this extraordinary live session on April 7th from 3:00pm – 4:00pm EDT. I guarantee your glass will be overflowing by the time he finishes :0)
The Secret to Online Lead Conversions
Monday, March 8th, 2010
For most sales professionals, converting online leads is the bane of their Internet world. Online consumers just don’t behave anything like those you meet face-to-face or on-the-phone. Now imagine if there was just one thing you could do that would suddenly convert cold online inquiries into serious clients.
Small Steps to Solve Big Problems
In their new book: “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard” authors Dan & Chip Heath explore how big problems don’t always require big solutions or worse, big changes in behavior. Big problems can often be solved by leveraging just one simple, small change in behavior. For example, real estate companies and their agents have been struggling with how to boost online lead conversion since the inception of the commercial Internet. They often approach this with massive training programs and/or constantly introducing even more complicated strategies (like social networking) when agents haven’t even mastered the basics of speaking the language of online consumers.
If companies and agents would use just one thing consistently, they would see their online lead conversions soar. That one thing is what I call the Critical First Response Email script. This is an email script engineered to be used specifically as the first response to online inquiries. I crafted this script and have been teaching it since the 1990’s and always receive email from incredulous agents who are astounded at how well it works. Here’s one that I just received a few days ago:
Last week I had used the email lead response script that was provided in the course. I had been going back and forth with the prospect and finally met to show her the rental property this week. Very nice, professional gal and we hit off very well.
She thanked me profusely for my quick replies to her emails AND said, the first email I sent to her was the reason why she trusted me!!! It was non-threatening and she felt I totally understood where she was coming from making an internet inquiry. It was EXACTLY as you and Michael said!!! Amazing…
RuthAnne Salvatore, REALTOR/Broker Associate
C.R.S. Certified Residential Specialist
ERA Goodfellow Homes
203.994.4860 (Mobile)
Just One Thing…
Remember the movie “City Slickers”? Billy Crystal’s character asks “Curly” the trail boss (played with dead-eye aplomb by Jack Palance) “What’s the secret to life?” And Curly responds by holding up his finger and says “Just one thing…” Well, I don’t know about the secret to life, but I sure as hell know the secret to boosting online lead conversions and it’s just one thing —consistently using the Critical First Response Script for every initial inquiry that comes your way via the Net.
Here’s Where You Find It
If you’ve read this far then you deserve to have access to this incredibly powerful, yet simple tool. Just go to www.FaceBook.com/OnlineDominance and click on the “Cool Tools” tab at the top (you will need to be a fan of Online Dominance to get access to this tab’s contents.) You will be able to immediately download this script right from there.
Remember, big problems can often be solved by very small changes in behavior. Here’s your chance to find out just how powerful this thinking really is…
How to Turn F.U.D. Into Carpe Diem
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
If you were to make a list of all the problems affecting your life and business chances are that list would be long. Yet, given the state of world affairs, it would pale beside the ones we are all likely to face in the near future.
The stark reality is that most of what happens to us, or is likely to happen to us is out of our direct control. Sure, there are things we all can do to mitigate the negative outcomes, but they won’t eliminate all or even most of them.
As a result, most people live in a state of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). They are either debilitated to the point of being paralyzed by it, or they engage in furious action thinking somehow they can thwart what they fear most. While taking action is almost always better than doing nothing, there is still something missing here. And that is, how we internalize and react to those things of which we have no control…
It’s not what happens to us that matters, it’s how we react to it.
W. Mitchell
The only thing we have control over really is how we react to something. We have been given a gift that no other living being has, and that is the ability to choose. We can choose how to react to outside circumstances in a way that empowers us rather than enslaves us, which effectively gives us a way to “bend” our own reality…
Is there something outside of you that’s troubling you? The distress you’re feeling is not from the thing itself. The distress you experience is from what you think of it and the way you feel about it. You can change that in an instant.
You can change what you fear into what you eagerly anticipate. You can change a burdensome problem into a magnificent opportunity.
Ralph Marston
So think about this the next time you see something as insurmountable or feel a sense of dread. It just may be the best opportunity to come your way in a long, long time.
Ignorance Is, Well… Ignorance
Friday, February 26th, 2010
My Mom had an expression to describe the innocence of my Dad’s world view: “Ignorance is bliss.” Apparently that particular trait was not passed down to me given one of my favorite expressions is: “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t.”
Unfortunately “Ignorance is bliss” is the way far too many people live their lives or go about their business. It’s easy to see why. It’s a way to avoid the unpleasantness that is a part of our existence here on earth. It’s also the way to avoid taking responsibility to make things better for ourselves and those around us.
Choosing the “bliss” of ignorance is choosing to be unconscious. It also means lost opportunity, failure to see real danger and often being the cause of it…
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Seeing things for what they really are is often not a fun experience. It is necessary however if you want to thrive in a world that is changing at light speed. The key is to not internalize what’s happening “out there”. Observe it, make behavioral adjustments as needed and move on. Reality becomes painful primarily when we turn it into a story about us rather than acknowledging that it is simply “what is”. Easier said than done, I know —which is why so many people opt for the bliss of ignorance. BTW, if ignorance was bliss, then why aren’t there more happy people? Something to think about…
Do You Have the Will to Win?
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Having you been watching the Winter Olympics? These athletes are beyond amazing. They train tirelessly for years just for the chance of competing for a medal that says to the world they are the best at what they do.
And, for the most part they are unstoppable. Lindsey Vonn still manages to shake off brutal injuries and pain to become the world’s fastest women downhill skier. Aside from raw talent, what makes these people champions while everyone else is either a wannabe or a spectator?
In a word, it’s their will to win. Their will is indomitable and laser focused. They let nothing get in the way of their goals and dream of winning a Gold Medal. So is this force of will just the province of lithe athletic gods, or is it something that we all have the potential of tapping into…
You have the means to get it done. There is no question of that. If it’s not happening for you, there’s really just one thing missing. Somewhere, somehow, you lack the will to do what it takes.
Yes, of course there are all kinds of obstacles. Certainly it is not easy and there are plenty of completely understandable reasons why you have not gotten it done. Even so, you know it is possible. And indeed it is possible for you.
Excuses won’t do it. Commitment, and the focused, persistent action to back it up, are what will get you there. It’s your choice and it’s your life. Right now, your greatest possibilities await your will to make them happen.
Ralph Marston
In my business (of coaching sales professionals) I run into a lot of who confuse lip service for will. Then there are those who give their will substance through committed, focused and persistent action. You can tell these individuals are champions right out of the gate. Their actions speak much more loudly than their words.
Fortunately your will is something you have total control over. Unlike native intelligence or athletic ability, your “will potential” is a function of choice —yours.
See Mr. Internet LIVE at the National Real Estate CyberConvention & Expo
Monday, February 15th, 2010
This note is to let you know that I will be the only featured LIVE speaker presenting “Dominate Your Online Competition” at the upcoming National Real Estate CyberConvention & Expo, February 21-27, 2010. To register just go to http://recyber.cyberconventions.com/
This is a wonderful on-line convention and you may attend all events — without leaving home! The event is expected to attract over 10,000 real estate professionals during its seven days (Feb 21-27) and is open to the real estate community worldwide.
This year’s speaker line up, the largest ever, in addition to my talk, includes 50 sessions plus an address by Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS who will tell us what’s going to happen!
You can network in the CyberConvention Social Networking Community, check out the latest business building products and services at the Expo — and of course attend my session! Once again, my session will be the only one that is LIVE (i.e. real-time) while the others are pre-recorded.
Register for your pass at: http://recyber.cyberconventions.com/
Turn Weaknesses Into Strengths
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Think about this for a moment: What’s your biggest weakness that affects your business? Is it not being detail oriented, inability to delegate or is it that technology makes your skin crawl?
Whatever you just identified is potentially the source for the most positive change in your career. My dad often told me to turn my weaknesses into my strengths. It was a great saying that I really never thought much about until recently.
It’s easy and frankly a lot more fun to keep focusing on those talents we are very good at. However by just concentrating on what we do best we risk the potential for becoming out of balance and not very effective. It’s like exercising just your right arm because you happen to be right-handed. Imagine how weird that would look. Just as an aside, I once worked for someone who broke his left arm which caused it to atrophy and become very weak. He took the idea of turning weakness into strength quite literally until he could do seven one-handed chin ups with that “weak” arm!
Working to strengthen our weaknesses by definition takes us out of our comfort zone, but the payoffs when we do are enormous…
…transforming a weakness into a strength can make all your other strengths more effective. When the weakness is no longer holding you back, every part of your life will see the benefits
Ralph Marston
If you had ever met me in high school I would have been the last person in the world you would have expected to become a successful international speaker and author. I had the social skills of a rusty lamp post. So take another moment to think about how your career and life would be different if you turned just one weakness into your strength…
First Time Buyer Niche Success Story
Saturday, February 6th, 2010Take one relatively new sales associate, add liberal helpings of passion and commitment and you end up with someone who comes out on top. Here’s how she did it (in her own words).
Hi Michael
Just wanted to say I’ve loved what having a niche has done for my business from a personal enjoyment point of view. (it sucks to hate your job). Tomorrow I meet with my broker to go over my business plan for 2010 and I am excited and proud of what I’m doing.
I just had my second annual VIP Client appreciation party, and put pix up on my photo blog. I got a lot of community involvement (donations of prizes) which generated awareness of my business, re-grouping with old clients (who now really love me) and the photo evidence is now further marketing material… so I am sure things could be improved upon, but I wanted to share it with you – here’s the link to my latest photo blog entry: http://photos.dreamhomearlington.com
But the point of this email was to tell you how much I’ve personally enjoyed developing my niche of working with First X Buyers – it totally gives me focus, and something more interesting to talk about than “I sell houses” My broker thinks I’m brilliant. (blush) and credit to Mr. Internet!
Also, something I just did that others may find interesting: I had $50 American Express gift cards made up with my logo on them - and I’ve been giving them to buyers at Closing, along with a bottle of champagne. I have also used them as “THANK YOU!’s” for referrals. People remember me when they spend the money, and it’s kind of a hit – so I thought I’d share it in case you think others may want to do this. Thanks again, and I welcome any input on my blog/ site, or whatever!
Bija Satterlee
Bowes GMAC
1010 Mass Ave, Arlington 02476
781-354-4835 c
781-643-1741 f
www.bowesre.com
www.dreamhomearlington.com
http://photos.dreamhomearlington.com
http://blog.dreamhomearlington.com
I received the above email last Wednesday. Bija has since had her annual business review with her broker and followed up with this (received just a few hours ago):
“…I had my annual business meeting review with my broker, and he said not only was I among the top producers in town, and in our office, in his words “Ive never seen an agent put the ‘whole package’ together quite like you have – with your niche, your web site, your blog, the seminars, the whole deal.” I have areas I need to improve in, but he said he was very impressed and proud to have me as an agent in his office. So that was like hitting the jackpot – to get recognition like that from him.”
Do you get a sense of how much she loves the process? That is actually one of her most powerful success secrets. If you don’t believe me, just read the following post…
So that was like hitting the jackpot – to get recognition like that from him.
How Your Lizard-Brain Holds You Back
Friday, January 29th, 2010
How can nature be so cruel? I was just reading a blog by Seth Godin about the reptilian part of our brain —the one that evolved first.
This little nodule buried deep within the folds of our grey matter has one primary purpose —survival. How ironic that this clump of cells, at this stage of our human evolution, threatens at best our ability to achieve full potential and at worst the very survival of our species.
So what does this have to do with doing more real estate deals? Actually, just about everything. You see, you can blame your reptilian brain for:
- Talking yourself out of going the extra mile to realize your dreams;
- Reacting negatively (and blaming others) for set backs;
- Acting like everyone else does in the business, effectively eliminating differentiation;
- Not taking a chance by breaking out of old behavior patterns.
Yes, that old lizard lump thinks it’s protecting you when in fact it is holding you back. After all, it’s not very smart…
Your lizard brain is here to stay, and your job is to figure out how to quiet it and ignore it..
Seth Godin (from Quieting the Lizard Brain)
Unlike other animals though, we do have the ability to overcome what are effectively primal survival urges. However, it first takes awareness (of their influence) then committed action to change our instinctual behavior. Fortunately, we also have a highly evolved Human Spirit that each of us can tap into to rise above just reacting and surviving. We already survived, now it’s time to flourish.
How to Create Extraordinary Results
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
What if a famous and wealthy person came up to you and made this offer: “I’ll pay you $500,000 if you bring in 10 new listings in the next 5 days.” Chances are that your mind will start reeling with ideas on how you are going to accomplish that goal. At that very instant, you have become committed.
Unfortunately, most people don’t know the meaning of the word. They spend more time telling people what they are going to do than actually doing it. Lip service is never a substitute for true commitment.
The issue is not whether we are capable of commitment, it’s making sure the vision of the outcome is strong enough to maintain our committed actions. And this explains knowing why you do what you do is so darned critical to commitment and hence your overall success…
Are you committed to just getting by, to just getting through the day with as little effort as possible? Or are you committed to something greater, something magnificent and exciting and fulfilling?
Whatever you’re truly committed to, is exactly what you’ll achieve. Whatever you’re truly committed to, determines the kind of life that you lead.
Ralph Marston
If you find your energy flagging and commitment waning perhaps it’s time to examine what is truly important to you. So right now, this very moment, take the risk of finding your unique “magnificent obsession”, your fundamental sense of why you are here on this planet. This a choice you can make. And when you do, be ready for your new-found commitment to lead you into a life you never thought possible.
