Want to make significant strides in your business this year?
Most people say they want to do so, but very few make an effort to make it happen for them. There is a secret to making your success happen: Deep Thought Time.
For everyone over 40 years of age, we remember those times where nobody was home to entertain us, or we weren’t allowed to watch TV and had to go outside, or simply had to go sit in our rooms..without electronic distraction! During these periods, we were with our thoughts, and that was perfectly fine. In face, many great ideas and products have emanated from such periods of deep thought.
There are numerous books and podcasts out there that tell the story of entrepreneurs, successful businessmen and women, many who had great thoughts and called them “epiphanies” (an experience of sudden and striking realization), that took their business or themselves to new heights.
So how does this apply to you?
Assuming you truly want to excel in your business and in your life, follow these simple steps:
Step One: In your Ideal Weekly Schedule, find one hour every week where you can be alone and by yourself with just a paper and pen. No electronics whatsoever! None! During this hour, you are not to be interrupted unless it’s a matter of life or death. Be sure that everyone in the house or office knows you are not to be disturbed. Turn off the computer. Turn off the cell phone. No radios, no televisions, nothing electronic to take you away from your intention.
Please permanently schedule this into your calendar on the same day and time for one month. THIS TIME IS INVIOLATE! NO DISTRACTIONS WHATSOEVER!
Step Two: Have one question about your business or your life that you wish to focus upon during each session. Only think about that question and continually ask yourself, “How (or where) can I add value?” As a business person, you must always keep thinking of ways to increase value to your clients. Focus on that.
Step Three: Okay, you are done with your first Deep Thoughts session. Gather up your notes, type them up if you want, and for the next week, focus on this one issue with your team and your staff, as well as vendor partners and clients. Remember, the idea is to continually add value.
Step Four: By the end of the first month, you will have four Deep Thought episodes with lots of ideas you’ve generated or gathered from people around you. Each week, you are to take action on those things that are critically important. If you cannot take the action yourself, then outsource it someone of the team who is interested and willing to take this action over and be held accountable for its completion.
Now, go back to your Ideal Weekly Schedule and add another hour of Deep Thought Time somewhere in the week. You can add it to the back end of your first session, but never have your Deep Thought Time be more than two hours.
By the end of the second month, see if you can add a third hour. What you are doing is removing yourself from the day-to-day drudgery of fighting and working IN your business, and moving yourself to the position of a CEO working ON the business. Most Realtors ultimately fail because they cannot get their heads above the waves long enough to have fruitful time for thinking. That is not You!
Step Five: Each week, follow this path and begin again in Week 8.
In Week two, focus on knowing what business you’re in, and what business you NEED to be in, and where you currently are in your business. Third week, focus on finding more clients and finding the right kind of clients – so this is about marketing. The fourth week’s question is to ask how to create Raving Fans. The following week, the focus is about your Sales systems and understanding that Sales is the life force of any business. Begin to unpack that and look for new ideas, strategies and thoughts. Week Six, you’re going to deal with numbers, so look at your financial and legal sitution. You must know your numbers, and you must protect yourself legally. Finally, you want to look at how to optimize your people and processes.
As always, you want to share your Deep Thought ideas with your coach, because they are your sounding board; someone who is objective, and yet understands your business and your dreams and desires. You can make goals out of some of your ideas, so you will want to have Action Steps and Milestones to make sure they are properly enacted, on time and within budget.
Bubba Mills is the CEO and owner of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching, an international Real Estate, Mortgage and Small Business coaching company committed to helping clients balance success in business, while building value in life. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational and educational speaker, coach and mentor to top real estate professionals and mortgage companies. To find out more about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 or visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com.