Here are a few hard truths: around 81% of New Year’s Resolutions fail. Eight times out of 10, you’re more likely to fall back into old habits, and most people give up on new routines.
Why? Because change is hard.
We’re not saying this to demotivate or discourage you — quite the opposite. Our goal is to arm you with the knowledge and tools you need to form new habits and, more importantly, make sure they stick in this new year!
Whether you’re a broker or brokerage owner, keep reading to get our best tips on creating a sustainable routine in 2023.
H2: What is a sustainable routine?
For a new habit to become part of your routine, you must commit to it for at least 60 days, so it needs to be realistic and achievable — two things that we often forget when creating new routines but are essential for sustainability.
If you’re reading this and are starting to second-guess whether the goals you’ve set are a little overzealous, here are some new routine red flags to look out for:
- They try to change everything at once.
- They tend to be overly ambitious.
- The end goals often seek a result, not a ritual.
Now that you know what to avoid when creating new routines, let’s get stuck into the good stuff. Keep reading (or jump ahead) for our tips on creating sustainable routines for brokers and brokerage owners.
Sustainable routine tips for brokers
Choose your fighting days
It’s unsustainable and frankly unrealistic to expect 100% per cent of yourself every day — especially if you haven’t mastered your energy management. That’s why we advise our brokers to choose their ‘fighting days’.
We love a battle metaphor, but these days are when brokers commit to bringing their A-game each week. Start by choosing one or two days each week to be completely in the zone, distraction-free, and ready to kick some serious goals.
Protect your time
Does your new routine include spending more time with prospective clients? Then you’ll need to set realistic expectations to protect your time. We suggest comparing your ‘work with’ hours to your ‘work for’ hours to determine how much time you’re willing to spend with a prospect before billing them for your time.
Whether you decide it’s 45 minutes or an hour, set a time and stick to it at all costs. Of course, we encourage you to pour as much value as possible into your prospects during that time so that you can step back guilt-free and leave the ball in their court.
Seize every opportunity
Nailing your elevator pitch is like gaining a superpower. You become unstoppable, and your potential for building connections is infinite. When you’re out in the world, say doing the weekly grocery shop or school pick-up, think ‘Carpe Diem’ (seize the day, or at least the opportunity). You never know who you’re talking to; after all, they could be a potential client.
We’re in the business of legacies. We’re changing lives. — Ruan Burger
Sustainable routine tips for brokerage owners
Pay attention to your people
People make your business go round, so look after them. Begin with your staff; check in with them regularly so you know how to set them up for success. Next, your clients. How can you better support and nurture them this year? What changes can you make to your customer success routines to enhance these relationships? Finally, your referrers; how will you thank them for their continued support?
Share your brokerage vision
As a brokerage owner, you have a vision for your business. You know where you are and where you’d like to go — but does your team? It goes without saying that your vision isn’t supposed to only live inside your head; it needs to be shared and stored somewhere accessible for everyone to review regularly.
From here, you’re able to provide a brokerage strategy to your staff, which is essentially a roadmap to success. To do this, we recommended reverse-engineering your vision. Take a look at our recent post on goal setting for more ideas on how to achieve success.
Bonus tip: share what you’ve done
We encourage you to be generous with your knowledge and experience; this will help to inspire and get the best results from your team. Looking for more? The Broker Journal™ is your go-to guide for daily, weekly and monthly business growth. Filled with industry insights, activity sheets and handy tips, you’ll be equipped to create better routines, behaviours and outcomes for your business this year.
