Enthusiasm Is A Key IndicatorOf Your SuccessEnthusiasm: great excitement for somethingThe higher your level of enthusiasm, the more likely you will succeed.The lower the level, the less likely you are to succeed. You can and should re-energize your excitement to increase your likelihood of success. From Exciting to Dull & BoringEarly in my career, I practiced law. For about 12 years I was what we called a general practitioner. For the most part, my clients were owners of small businesses and buyers or sellers of real estate. In the early years, I got really excited whenever a new piece of work came my way. I loved opening files as much as I enjoyed closing them. Whenever a new real estate deal came in, I couldn't wait to meet my clients. The dull, routine legal work was more than offset by the joy chatting with my clients: why were they buying or selling, what were their plans after the transaction closed, and so on. However, as time wore on, I found even the conversations with clients became routine. Certainly new clients continued to be excited about their transactions. But for me, the enthusiasm for my work was no longer there. Clients in my 824th real estate transaction deserved the same level of commitment and enthusiasm from me that clients in my first transaction received. My inability to get excited about transaction # 825, and the ones that followed it, was one of several reasons I decided to sell my practice and leave law. Top Not Just A Legal IssueUndoubtedly you know people who demonstrate enthusiasm for their work—whatever it is.It's also possible that you are finding it increasingly difficult to get excited about what you do. Even real estate agents often find it difficult to get excited about what they do. When I was interviewing agents for the marketing study, a significant number volunteered that they were not as excited about their work as they once were. Many were wondering if it was time for a career change. A decrease in your enthusiasm for your work triggers several serious consequences. The work that you once loved becomes a dull, routine job. Tasks that you once completed passionately are now grudgingly and mechanically completed. From my own experiences, I know about these consequences. And what's worse, prospects and clients will sense your lack of excitement. If prospects get the feeling that you are not excited about helping them, they will find some one else. Similarly, if your clients and contacts sense that you are not what you used to be, they too will find someone else, albeit reluctantly, for repeat business and referrals. The bottom line is that enthusiasm is a key indicator of your success. The more enthusiastic you are, the higher the likelihood of your success. Conversely, the less excited you are about your work, the less likely you are to succeed. Top Reality CheckIn all honesty, how enthusiastic are you about your work? Do you get at least as excited about it now as you did when you first started in the business?Unless your response to the second question is an unqualified yes, you have a budding problem, a problem that can and should be addressed...the sooner the better. Top Here are ... 5 Ways To Re-energize Your Enthusiasm1. Client Satisfaction SurveyPrimarily intended to monitor client satisfaction, you can also use this tool to solicit testimonials. Reconnecting with clients will help you feel better about your work. The survey results and testimonials will help restore your excitement about helping clients.Surveys on any topic are a great way to keep in touch with clients...and help generate repeat business and referrals. 2. Reconnect With Your Referral NetworkKeeping in touch with your referral and social network can have the same effects as keeping in touch with clients. Connecting with these people can help restore your excitement and generate referrals.Chatting with referral partners can help you learn more about your market. You might even come up with some new marketing initiatives and cross-promotional initiatives. It's all good...and also re-energizing. Top 3. More Hands-on Involvement In Your WebsiteIf you enjoy the challenge of learning and doing new things, get more involved in developing and maintaining your website. It's not necessary to be a skilled technician or even know anything about HTML.User-friendly applications such as blogging and social media can energize you, just as they have excited me. 4. Set New GoalsNew plans represent new beginnings, which are exciting and energizing.As part of preparing your new plan you will reflect on what you have achieved in your career. These reflections will help remind you of what you enjoy and do well. A new plan with new goals will help you do more of these things and do them better. Setting new goals is the same as setting initial goals...but this time you have the benefit of experience upon which you base your goals...and plan. Planning Tools for Your Marketing Plan, an e-book will help you set new goals that are based on your past achievements. Planning Tool MP-4 will help you assess your achievements. Planning Tool MP-5 will help you develop a marketing plan that, based on your past experience, will help you achieve the results you desire. Top If that doesn't excite and re-energize you, maybe you should... 5 Take A SabbaticalThroughout history people have taken a break from work or to do something else: write a book, travel or experience those things that your busy life as a real estate agent prevented you from doing.Sabbaticals range in length from 2 months to a full year. If your circumstances allow it, why not take a sabbatical? Thousands of other people have enjoyed the re-energizing and restorative effects of sabbaticals...why not you? Which raises the question...what is your desire? What will get you really excited about what you do? Top
|
