"A goal without a plan is just a dream." This quote, by Financial Consultant Dave Ramsey, was an eye opening one for me a few years ago. There are similar quotes like this from other sources, but this was the version that came across my computer.
Like many of you, I have lists upon lists of things I want to do. From financial ones: Vacation homes in New Hampshire and the Outer Banks, a $10,000 entry into the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, a healthy retirement savings...to more practical ones: to play more basketball, to get back to my college weight (Freshman year, not Senior year), to getting my backyard to look more appealing. The fact of the matter is that I have dreams of getting all of these things accomplished in the next five years (the vacation homes part; hopefully the backyard comes together a bit sooner), but haven't really put a whole lot of thought into how I was going to achieve any of them.
When I got my real estate license, I heard a ton of statistics on how unlikely it will be to last long in the industry. Something like 87% of Realtors quit the business within 5 years, and most of them are out of the business well before year 5. We hear things like this all the time. Did you know that around 80% of New Year's Resolutions fail? Did you know that about 50% are abandoned by February?
We need to be better about making plans to reach these goals. I'm a list guy. I make a daily checklist of the things I need to get done on any given day. Sometimes, I push one or two of those tasks to the next day, but I've been getting 95-100% of my tasks done because of my lists! I made a plan and it's working for me!
You may not be a list person. You make like to mark things on a calendar, or go without notes all together and that's totally fine as long as you have a system that works for you.
I started June with goals about weight loss, income, and personal and business accomplishments to achieve by the end of August. Unfortunately, I'm not on track with some of them (although I am doing very well with my goals of getting my clients to the finish line) but I'm getting back to it. I hiked Blue Hills this morning and then shot 100 free throws before starting my work day. The goal is to lose some weight. The plan is a much better commitment to a daily exercise routine and an attempt to eat a little healthier. One of my goals is to get at least 3 clients under agreement and on the way to a new home by the end of August (one is under contract as of today!). The plan is to work really hard to find new clients that are ready, and to scour every source to find homes for my current buyers (it's been a little tough, but making strides).
I'm telling you all of this so come the next few blogs or posts, you can see how if I'm holding up my end of the deal. I'm dreaming big, I'm making my plans, and I'm working hard to achieve my goals. I hope you're finding a way to do the same.
(Oh by the way, I'll have had my real estate license for 5 years come September. I'll be one of the 13% that makes it!)
Until next time,
Dave
