Oct. 8, 2009 - The Fourth Quarter CAN be the best this year!

Can you believe it is already October? It was still hot (106) until last week here in Tucson and the crisp fall air hadn't shown up. It has been a very dry summer. It's easy to get cranky. My garden needs lots of love and renewal having suffered through the long hot summer. I am off the road for a few weeks and I have the time to pretty up the view out my office window. I need to do some cleanup, some planning for my winter garden and then plant or buy the flowers and veggies that will bring a smile to my face.

It's easy to get cranky about business these days too! But, in thinking about business, it seems these same questions and actions are appropriate...

I'm asking myself:

• What do I want to create for the rest of the year?
• What cleanup needs to happen? I know completion releases good positive energy! It's like pulling the weeds & clearing the dead plants open a nice fresh space to plant anew.
• What actions can I take now to increase results?

Many folks I am talking with are frustrated by the number of seeds they are planting that are not popping through the ground. They are trying to stay optimistic, but feeling a little like it is whipped cream on dog poo....not enough results to BELIEVE they are doing the right things and not REALLY believing what they are doing is REALLY going to make a difference. Just saying positive affirmations doesn't turn things around. A result now and then makes it easier to believe we are doing the right things, but what if that is coming more slowly than we feel it should?

How do you manage your mind, your attitude and your budgets when the results aren't forthcoming? Do you keep doing what you have been, stepping up the pace? Do you get resigned and give up, feeling a victim of the economy and circumstances? Do you know how to get yourself excited and energized?

Here are four elements I believe are necessary to achieve optimum results for the final quarter of the year:

1. Check in with your vision - It is easy to be pulled into the busyness of the day to day activities when trying to make results happen, but your vision is really the energizer all by itself. Think of those times that you have accomplished results that made you proud. I'll bet you were unswerving in seeing what you wanted and doing whatever it took to get there. I am reminded of our early efforts to achieve what we want and the perseverance and focus that is attendant to it when my 7 year old granddaughter, Lily, decides she wants something. I think most children BELIEVE they can get what they want if they ask enough people, enough different ways without giving up until they get there. When was the last time you thought about what you want for the rest of this year and pictured in your mind including thinking about how you are going to feel when that happens? What emotions are there? Write down this vision and these emotions and read it over every single day. Post a picture of it in your office (I love doing a yearly vision board) You CAN have your vision. What would a 7 year old do?
2. Re-evaluate and Economize - I don't want you to think I am a complete Pollyanna, out of touch with the fact that there are real, different, circumstances in the economy these days and I know the world out there does have an effect on us. I also know there are always opportunities and the successful people don't buy into the gloom and doom. The most useful way to approach this is by looking at your situation and seeing what you CAN do. Don't overspend if the money isn't coming in. Restructure your expenses. Downsize and cut the unnecessary items. Find ways to do what you need to do in creative, inventive ways. Use coupons. Spend an afternoon with your personal and business accounts and take a good look at where you are year to date. It's scary to me how many people tell me they aren't looking at this because they are scared to know. HELLO!!! You have power when you know where you are and where you want to be, but give up your power when you become an ostrich without a vision. The one thing NOT to economize on is your branding, marketing and visibility. The good news is the social media venues mostly won't cost money and you have an opportunity with blogging, tweeting and friending to be even more visible and connected than ever!

3.       Get Creative - In my GRI Business Planning classes, I've been asking agents if they only had $1000 and were starting their real estate business, what would they spend it on. Try this for yourself, or brainstorm the question with a few friends. One group talked about joint marketing with materials that the title company had available. Give thought to doing more with other strategic partners. Put together that plan for social networking, in person and online. Identify the profile of your perfect client and go join a club or do activities that will put you with them. Think SUBTLE!!!! Relationships are gold. Maybe, right now, doing some volunteer work will help you feel more grateful of what you do have, give you an outlet to make a difference and, perhaps, connect you with some other wonderfully generous people who will be the key to your next transaction. Most of all, every day, include something that makes you feel good, is fun and keeps your spirits high. Take care of YOU and find happiness each day that doesn't depend on money.

4. Build Your Stategic Partner Team - How many strategic partners do you have? Most agents have only scratched the surface of what is possible with other business people and service providers that are interested in the same demographic and psychographic that they are. NOW is the PERFECT time to be making, expanding and deepening connections.

• Who is interested in the same people that you are? Take your perfect client and dissect their profile: How old are they? What is their income? Where do they live or want to live? What do they like to spend their time doing?
• What services or businesses do these people frequent or need?
• What is covered? And what isn't? Make a list of cool services that would bring a smile to the face of that ideal client and make connections to expand your value, your referrals and your marketing reach. My Team 100 list might give you some ideas.

Having a wonderful rest of the year IS up to YOU!!!!

If you find you are holding yourself back, it may be time to do some work on that part of you! The WCR Harnessing The Power Course is one way to break free of the self-limiting thinking that you may not even be aware of.I am teaching it in Phoenix on October 13! The earlybird price is still good and there are seats left!