2017 Is All But Over

With 2017 all but over, I have to ask, how well you did this year? Did you stretch yourself? Did you accomplish your goals?

If you think this post is three weeks old and has a glaring typo (namely the year), you’d be wrong. Now I will admit to using a ridiculous gimmick to draw you in, but I don’t think the premise is way off-base. The year is all but over if you haven’t resolved to make it different than last year.

There are a few types of folks in real estate. If you are a super goal-oriented go-getter, then you probably don’t need this. Of course if that’s you, you probably aren’t following this blog to learn how to kick butt in business. You are, however, welcome to hang out and laugh at my screw-ups.

A second type of investor is just slugging along – unhappy, but not about to take any action beyond wishing things were different. Don’t let that be you.

If neither of those describes you, good deal – you may see where I’m coming from. I’m the third type. I desire more, but have to get the proper motivation to get moving. Left to my own devices I don’t want to try things differently, I do okay but not great, and 2017 is largely over because nothing is going to change – left to my own devices.

So what to do. Well I don’t have all the answers for you, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to make 2017 my best year yet. I’m going to thrive and not merely survive.

Unfortunately it’s a process – like losing weight. You chip away at it, it doesn’t happen all at once, and most frightening, success or failure lies on your shoulders alone. There is no magic pill . . . or blog for that matter.

If you were hoping to find all answers here, sorry. I offer you our lovely parting gift – disappointment. But don’t give up. Let’s talk about a few things. This isn’t going to be an exhaustive look at how to have a good 2017, but stick with me, it’s a topic that will be coming back up in this blog.

First off let’s talk goals. Do you have goals? Do you know what you want? Are your goals written down? That sounds so obvious but really it isn’t. Particularly if you felt stuck in 2016, you may be unsure of what to aim for or even apprehensive about setting a goal. If you have no idea, talk with someone more experienced and ask for input – there’s a bunch of places you can do that now online. I say aim high. If you fall short you’ll still be way ahead of the results of having no goals.

Second how are you going to get there? Do you have a plan? What will you do when the first obstacle appears (it will appear in no time)? Again, networking and talking to others can do wonders for you. What may be new territory for you is a well-worn path for somebody else.

Last, how will you be held accountable? Do you have a mentor, how about peers who you share your goals with? I encourage you to share your goals with others and check in with them regularly.

This is a huge topic – too much for one quick article. But we will be coming back to these ideas again down the road. For now I need to go and follow my own advice.