Monday Morning Match

Do you have a junk drawer?

Maybe it’s in your kitchen or perhaps in your home office?

You know that spot where anything that doesn’t have a specific place usually gets stuck. It has pens and pencils, phone chargers, local restaurant menus, receipts and hundreds of other items that you probably wouldn’t miss if you emptied the entire drawer into the trash today.

Yet we often find time to clean out our junk drawer every now and then, don’t we? Sure, we do end up parting with some items – mainly because we have no idea what it even is or where it came from. Or we’ll end up moving some of the items to other parts of our house. We put a pile on the stairs for someone to take up with them as they pass. We grab a handful of “stuff” that would be better dumped in or on the tool bench. Of course there is the pile we feel should be on the kitchen counter with a “you need to do something with this now” thought behind it.

Have you cleaned out your junk drawer recently?

And what do you have to show for your efforts? Go take a peek at your junk drawer right now.

Go ahead…I’ll wait.

When it comes to your business, what’s in your junk drawer?

How many things do you have distracting you from what you should be doing?

Is your junk drawer filled with electronics and all of their flashing lights and beeps and pings?

Do you really think you’ll ever get to that pile of emails you’ve been saving to read “when you have time?”

Speaking of email, how many of those attachments like offers, counter-offers, addendums and email communication do you need cluttering up your email folders? Could you move them to a flash drive or cloud storage space to free up some space on your server?

Is your junk drawer filled with over-priced, under-commissioned listings that are keeping you from the right clients or are you spending too much time with “lookers” instead of “buyers”?

Are the mismatched items and loose papers getting in the way of your follow-up efforts with past clients?

If you have junk…or whatever you call it, keeping you from building relationships, solving problems or having fun, it’s time to clean it up.

Go ahead…I’ll wait.

Photo Credit: Derek Gavey via Creative Commons

Some people drink whiskey or a scotch on the rocks

While others enjoy their Cabernet from a box.

Some like tequila but I think it’s quite gnarly.

I prefer a drink made with hops, water and barley.

I’ve had beer in the mountains and beers by the sea.

I’ve enjoyed beers in big cities and out in the country

I like it on tap or straight out of the can.

If its beer in a bottle, I’m always a fan.

It can be craft-brewed or imported or even domestic,

However you serve it, I think beer is fantastic.

When its hot outside and I need something wetter,

I really like beer and the colder the better.

A 6-pack or a 12-pack is just fine by me

but I really like beer if it’s provided for free.

No matter where I drink beer, or when or with who,

There’s one thing I find that will always be true.

If you ask me my favorite beer that I ever have had,

I’d have to say my favorite beer is the one each year that I share with my Dad

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad and all the Dads out there.

I’ll raise my glass to you all.

Cheers!

The question is “where are you looking?”

If you’re looking to grow your business, you just have to realize that you’re only two contacts away from a million people.

Sure, you could capture lightning in a bottle with a blog post or tweet that gets shared through the social webs. Your next video could be just funny or inspiring or unique enough to go “viral.” You could always run in to the next Donald Trump or Mark Zuckerberg in line at Starbucks.

Or you could just start talking to the people you already know and harness the power of the ripple effect.

Think about this. If you know one hundred people and they each know one hundred people, that’s 10,000 people. Multiply that by their one hundred connections and you are just two steps away from…

*puts pinky finger into mouth like Dr. Evil*

ONE MILLION PEOPLE!!!!

You don’t need all of them to buy from you, just some.

The key is understanding that you don’t need to know all of them, even a little, but you do need to get to know the first layer really, really well. You need to know their names, their spouses name, their kids names. Where did they go to school, what is their favorite beer, band or baseball team? Learn their birthdays and anniversaries. Find out where they work and what their Twitter handle is. Do they have pets?

It’s so much better to know a lot about 100 than nothing about 10,000.

If 100 is overwhelming, learn a lot about 50 instead of nothing about 5,000. Or start with 20 people and go from there. That’s still over 2,000 connections and let’s be honest, you don’t have time for that many clients.

Relax. What’s your hurry?

You have your entire career to start building relationships, solving problems and having fun.

Monday Morning Match 

Changing the Channels

Have you ever noticed that you often get really engaged with the television shows that you just sort of stumble upon? One minute you’re surfing through the thousands of channels available to you and the next minute you’re thoroughly engulfed in a documentary or news story.

You had no intention of watching the show but before you know it, you’re watching a show on Animal Planet or The History Channel or National Geographic and you just can’t turn away.

Sometimes you’re so engaged that you even put down your phone or tablet and just get lost in the show.

The Sunday Run

This morning I went out for a run.

I hadn’t really planned on going for run today but when I decided to skip golf this morning I found myself just having an easy Sunday morning (you know, like The Commodores sang about?)

Sure, I ran all 31 days last month so it’s not like going for a run was something new but it just wasn’t a major commitment or something that was on my “to do” list today. The amzing thing was how easily I ran.

I broke the 9:00 per mile pace which is a much faster pace than I had run all last month. I didn’t leave my house planning to run at a quick pace but, for some reason, I just felt good out there. Now an 8:56 pace is nothing impressive and it won’t set any records but that’s not the point. The fact is I went out and didn’t over think my run. I never analyzed my gait or my breathing. I felt good from the very first step and never really checked my time or pace along the way.

The less I thought about it, the better I did. When you think about it, I actually sped up because I slowed down. I was thinking about less. I wasn’t rushing to get done. It wasn’t just one more check mark in a month-long challenge.

I guess you could say I was more focused on the activity and not the results.

Grab Your Remote

Imagine what could happen to your business if you allowed yourself to disconnect every once in a while. What if you just went out and did what you know how to do without overthinking anything? If you just scrolled through the menu until something looked good.

If you stopped checking your clock to make sure you were on pace and just allowed your body and mind to react, what do you think might happen?

When you find yourself “flipping through the mental channels” in your head and decide to get comfortable with the show that comes on the screen in front of you, it’s amazing at how much you will enjoy the story.

Running isn’t hard. When you really break it down, it’s just about putting one foot in front of the other.

My guess is, you’ve been doing what you do for a while now too. When you break it all down it’s pretty simple, isn’t it?

Build relationships, solve problems and have fun.

Photo Credit: Derek Gavey via Creative Commons

Monday Morning Match

The Muirfield Village Golf Club is just two miles from my office. It’s the home of The Memorial Tournament, the PGA Tour stop hosted by the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus. The event always boasts a great field of players because of the legendary host as well as the tremendous golf course at Muirfield Village and the fact that the course helps tune the players up for the US Open which will occur in two weeks.

The 2013 Memorial Tournament took place this past week and Matt Kuchar earned his 6th PGA Tour title. I was lucky enough to spend some time out at Muirfield Village watching the 2nd round with some co-workers and it’s always neat to see people who are considered the absolute best in the world at what they do. There are millions of people who play the game of golf but only 120 of them get to tee it up in this tournament. As I watched these guys “do their work” it got me thinking about…

What Realtors Can Learn from PGA Tour Players

Practice every day – Before every round the best players in the world will show up before they “go to work” and practice. They will hit balls, chip and putt and get ready for their day on the golf course.

When was the last time you practiced what it is that you do? Have you rehearsed your listing presentation to make sure it’s still sharp and focuses on your value proposition? Have you reviewed your market analysis with a co-worker or manager to identify any areas of concern or stumbling blocks? Do you ever practice scripts and dialogues so they sound natural and effective?

Are you using the best equipment? Sure, PGA players get their clubs, balls and apparel through sponsors and have the luxury of using free equipment but they wouldn’t use a product if they didn’t believe it would help them execute at the highest level. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have both endured some difficult stretches of play as they transitioned from one golf club manufacturer to another and current #2 player in the world, Rory McIlroy is starting to excel with his newest equipment. These players are constantly chnaging equipment if they feel it will make them better and increase their chances to succeed.

Would you be willing to endure one step backwards if you knew it was going to help you move three or four steps forward after you became accustomed to the new tools, systems or techniques?

Do you have the best digital equipment? Have you downloaded the newest and best apps to best serve today’s clients? Do you know how to utilize the features of your local MLS system or the newest CMA research tool? Are you comfortable that your company/broker is equipping you with the best tools and technology?

It’s okay if you haven’t upgraded your tools but you should probably assume that your #1 competitor has.

They think through each shot. It’s amazing to see the concentration of these players on each and every shot. It’s probably one of the biggest difference between a pro and an amateur is how focused pros are on every shot, no matter how easy they may make it look. They stand back and visualize every single shot they will make. Nicklaus was famous for “seeing” shots before he hit them.

Today’s real estate market is getting very busy. We all seem to be rushing from one thing to the next and that can cause some problems. Take a moment or two throughout your day and ask yourself, “what am I trying to accomplish now?” What will it look like if it happens as planned and how will that help you and your clients? If you don’t see it clearly, don’t act until you do. Take a deep breath, re-think your action steps and then execute the vision.

Are you looking at things from all sides? -  Even what seem like the shortest, straightest shots are reviewed from multiple angles. Golfers check the wind, test the ground to see how firm or soft it may be and review their yardage books on almost every shot. They read putts from behind the ball, behind the hole and even look at it from the side to confirm the elevations and slopes they will be facing.

How often do you see each transaction from other points of view? Sure, you think you know what needs to happen but how will your client see it? The co-op agent? Their client? What about the affiliates that might be party to the transaction? If they lender or title company was expecting one thing and you delivered something else, can you see how that could cause the deal to get stuck in the rough?

Can you rely on others to help carry the load? On the PGA Tour it’s the golfer that gets all the glory but there are many people who helped that player get to where he is. The caddy, swing coach, sponsors, psychologists, trainers and friends and family all help in their own way to contribute to the end results.

Who is on your team? Does your branch manager offer support and coaching? Do you feel comfortable with your lender, home inspector, attorney or title company to get every transaction to a successful close? Are you surrounding yourself with a positive group of co-workers and peers that challenge you to become better every day?

It helps if you know where you are going and always know where you stand. – Golfers are constantly checking their yardage books or pacing off distances they need to know in order to choose the right club to use. They also need to be aware of where they stand and how many holes are left so they can best position themselves to win the tournament or finish the week in the best position possible.

When was the last time you checked your business plan or goals? Do you have a clear understanding of where you are and where you want to go?  How comfortable are you with your understanding of the rules and regulations that govern the “game” you play?

Play against “the course” and not the opponents – Golf is an individual sport, especially at the professional level. Sure, there are some team events like The Ryder Cup and The President’s Cup but usually, each week on the PGA  Tour, it’s all about identifying the best golfer that week. Golfers only need to worry about one opponent – the golf course. There is nothing a golfer can do to physically affect another golfer’s game so they each need to assume responsibility for the results they get.

Who are you competing with? Do you really have control over interest rates or inventory levels? Can you control how long an appraisal takes or what happens in the back offices of a mortgage company during a loan approval? Make sure you have dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s and feel comfortable in playing your best.

Forget bad shots quickly. It’s amazing to watch these guys recover after a bad swing or missed shot. Sure, they could be like most amateurs and throw their club or get angry but they know that isn’t going to help them with their next shot. They have to move on and get re-focused.

What happens to your business if you worry about the listings you didn’t get? How long will you lament your clients losing out in a multiple offer situation? If the words didn’t come out right during that last client interview, learn from your mistake and move on. There will be another round soon.

And finally, remember that regardless of how you may play, a cold beer on the 19th hole helps get you ready for the next round.

Until we meet again on the first tee, good luck building relationships, solving problems and having fun.

Photo Credit (Match): Derek Gavey via Creative Commons

Monday Morning Match

Happy Birthday to Slammin’ Sammy

Today would have been golfing great Sam Snead’s 101st birthday. Born May 27th, 1912 in Ashwood, Virginia, Snead would become one of the all-time greats to ever play the game of golf. Considered by many to have the finest golf swing ever, Snead still currently holds the PGA Tour record for career victories with 82. (In case you’re wondering, Tiger Woods passed Jack Nicklaus last year for second place on that list and now trails Snead by just 4 wins).

While I didn’t have a chance to watch Snead in his prime, I do remember seeing him play and will always think of him as one of the original honorary starters of the Masters Tournament. He, along with Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen, would hit the ceremonial first tee shots early on the Thursday morning of Masters week  to signify the start of the year’s first major tournament.  Today, golfing greats Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Nicklaus carry on that tradition.

Lessons from the Legend

Snead had plenty to teach young golf professionals and many are better players today because of his example. He uttered some legendary quotes from his years on the tour and while, at the time, he wasn’t talking about sales or real estate when he said these statements, there sure is a lot we can learn from the following quips.

“You can not go into a shop and buy a good game of golf.” - In real estate, you will never be able to buy your way into success. You could be born into money or you might have 5,000 friends on Facebook but neither will insure success. Sure, investing in the right tools, systems and products might help a little but it still boils down to building relationships with people. You can join a fancy country club or belong to the best gym in town but if you’re a jerk to everyone there, it won’t help you secure more business.

“Practice puts brains in your muscles.” - Like in the game of golf, the more you practice, the quicker you will start allowing your brain (and mouth) to act instinctively. Scripts and dialogues will feel as awkward as hitting a 2-iron from a tight lie does when you’re a beginner but with practice and repetition, you’ll start building confidence. Before you know it, the words will come out naturally and sound like your own.

I always say, we all have a “mental rolodex” in our brains and instead of business cards, it’s filled with dialogues and responses for every situation you will ever encounter. As a newer agent, the rolodex has few cards and rotates very slow. In fact, most new agents think of the right thing to say 24 hours after they needed it. Experience will begin to oil that wheel and those cards will start accumulating quickly as you start facing more and more scenarios and learing new things to say and ways to say them.

Think of the golfer feeling comfortable and playing better at a course he or she has played hundreds of times. Nicklaus played hundreds of rounds (both practice and competition) at Augusta National so it makes sense that his skill coupled with his intimate knowledge of the course allowed him to win 6 coveted green jackets that are awarded to the Masters Champion.

 ”Correct one fault at a time. Concentrate on the one fault you want to overcome.” - No golfer will ever hit every shot in a round of golf exactly as they wanted. Likewise, no Realtor will ever have a “perfect” transaction. Something is sure to go wrong along the way. The sooner you can identify your strengths and weaknesses in your daily business, the sooner you will be able to identify how to best focus on your strengths and manage around your weaknesses.

You can’t fix all of your faults at once. If you tried, you would have to take time away from the things you’re good at and that you enjoy (your strengths) and dedicate them to things you aren’t good at and don’t enjoy (your weaknesses). Figure out the best ROI you can get from your efforts and go “all-in” until it is adding positively to your business.

“Of all the hazards, fear is the worst.” - Seriously, what do you have to be afraid of? Real estate is a relationships business. There is rarely any physical danger involved.  It’s not about the houses. Those are just the widgets we use. Our entire career is built instead around the people who live in (or want to live in) those houses.

And just like when you’re playing golf, focus on where you WANT to go, not where you DON’T WANT to go. See the large fairway in front of you, not the bunkers or water off in the distance.

It’s almost your tee time. I hope you play well this week!

Photo Credit: Derek Gavey via Creative Commons

Photo Credit: By ABC Television (eBay item photo front photo back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

We’ve all heard the saying “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” It has probably applied to all of us at one point or another on both sides of the saying. We’ve been the eager learner one day and the sage prophet the next.

Ever Been Inspired?

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”  - William Arthur Ward

Who was it that made you want to become better? Where were you when someone’s words, lesson or sharing of ideas lit the pilot light underneath your motivation tank and started you running? What do you still do or believe today that, thanks to that person being committed to the relationship he or she had with you, has helped you achieve the levels of success you enjoy today?

What is it that allowed that person to “reach” you? Was it a sense of humor that helped you lower your shield vulnerability? Did they just connect with you ona  verbal or mental level? Maybe something about their teaching style just made you feel that they cared. Did they just have more faith and belief in you than you had in yourself and through their dedication to their role, they helped pull it out of you?

“The best teacher? One who makes you want to learn.” - Earl Nightingale

I’ve had many awesome teachers in my lifetime. Some were paid to be teachers, others just happened to “play the role” at the time we interacted. I’m thankful to all of them…even the ones I didn’t like. Now that I am a teacher/instructor/mentor/coach to others, I have come to realize that it’s not always about people liking me (although that is a bonus when it occurs), it is about the lessons I can deliver that will help the student learn and be able to apply it.

I wanted to share this short presentation from a recent TED Talks Education session in New York City. It features a lady named Rita Pierson, a passionate educator sharing her thoughts on why “Every Kid Needs a Champion.”

Click here if you don’t see the video below

Now that you’ve seen Pierson’s passionate message, who did it make you think of?  Who are those “teachers” who have helped you through your personal and professional careers?

Here’s the bigger question. Who do you think would hear that same question and answer with your name?

Keep building relationships, solving problems and having fun!

“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.”  - Edith Ann

Are there times when you just don’t feel like listening to the same old playlists from your iPad or maybe you’re tired of Pandora or IHeartRadio?

What if you seek help from a difference voice?

Maybe it’s time you start listening to Pod?

In yesterday’s post Double Cutting the Lawn, I referenced that I have been listening to numerous podcasts while mowing my lawn. I also listen to them when I run, travel or sometimes even driving in my car.

I wanted to share a few with you that I really enjoy in hopes that you might also return the favor in the comments below. If you are a fan of a podcast not on the list below, drop me a comment and tell what you’re listening to and why the Carp’s Corner audience might enjoy it.

Sean’s List:

• Raise the Bar Radio on BlogTalk Radio – a real estate focused interview series with Michael McClure aimed at identifying those people doing amazing things to increase the levels of service and perception of the real estate industry.
• Agent Caffeine - The inimitable Kelly Mitchell from Hawaii hosts this podcast aimed at “bringing you the top talent in strategy, tech and marketing with a real estate twist.” She always starts the podcast with “The Buzz” – a spotlight monologue on something big, new or important that has happened in the industry since the last episode. Warning – This podcast will not only make you smarter and more “in the know,” but you also may want to book a trip to Hawaii. The knowledge is free, the plane tickets aren’t!
• One of the newest podcasts – although it’s not really a podcast and more of a video podcast – that you should be checking out each week is the #WaterCooler from the team at Curaytor – Chris Smith and Jimmy Mackin. This weekly show streams via YouTube using the Google+ Hangout technology and usually features one guest. It’s a fast-moving show that is sure to not only provide you with some great technology and sales tips, you just might have a few laughs. It’s also recommended to enjoy the show with an adult beverage or two…just like the hosts do.
• The Human Business Way - Hosted by CEO & President of Human Business Works and best-selling author Chris Brogan, this podcast is ” a mix of interviews and informative advice dedicated to entertaining you while also teaching you a thing or two about doing business in a much more relationship-minded way.” [Side note] If you like Brogan’s style (and I do), you also might want to check out his best-selling book Trust Agents that he co-authored with Julien Smith or subscribe to his weekly newsletter.
• The Work Talk Show - with DJ. Waldow & Nick Westergaard . This is my newest find and I am pretty sure Brogan mentioned these guys in one of his posts. As their “About” page on the site says, The Work Talk show is a mixture of “irreverent and insightful conversations on work habits, work-shifting, virtual teams, productivity, travel, tools, technology, work-life balance, and everything in between as we take a look at how work gets done today.”
• Bigger, Better, Stronger, Faster - described by hosts Joel Runyon and Johnny B. Truant as ” a podcast about reaching your potential as a human being,” this podcast mixes a little health with business and general life.
• Duct Tape Marketing Podcast - from author and speaker John Jantsch. One of my favorite podcasts because it has nothing to do specifically with real estate and is instead focused on small business. If you haven’t read Jantsch’s book The Referral Engine, you need to do so immediately.
• Of course no list would be complete without some reference to Seth Godin and I won’t skip him here. You can find some brilliant insights from Godin at Seth Godin’s Start Up School where he chats live with an intimate group of thirty entrepreneurs.

I listen to these podcasts right from my iPhone and either download them in the Podcasts app or on an easy to use app called Stitcher. Both of these tools have a simple search tool that allows you to navigate an extensive library of other podcasts in almost every realm of topics.

I hope you’ll check some of these people out and see if their messages, stories and ideas might help you. I’m sure if you listen long enough, you’ll find some tips that might help you build relationships, solve problems or have fun!

Monday Morning Match

How often do you do the work twice to insure it is done the way you (or your customer) expects it?

All the way back to our elementary school days we were taught to double-check our work. If you didn’t want your shoelaces to come untied, it was prudent to double-knot them. Most carpenters live by the phrase “Measure twice; Cut once.”

So as the real estate market heats up and we start getting busier than we’ve been in the last few years, what are you doing to make sure nothing falls through the cracks?

Double Cutting the Lawn

I’ll admit it. I love to mow my lawn.

I always have.

I’m not sure what is so appealing about it for me. Maybe it’s the hour or so of solitude – just me and my headphones listening to my music library on shuffle or perhaps the newest podcasts* or perhaps it’s the pride I get when I am finished.

As a lifelong golfer, I always am impressed with the precise mowing lines that the groundskeepers get at the top courses in the world.And who hasn’t been to a Major League Baseball game and marvelled at the decorative designs etched into the outfield grass just from a lawnmower and the imagination of its operator.

Maybe the grass is longer than I like so the additional mowing allows me to drop the deck of the mower shorter. When I do that I want to make sure there are no loose clippings in the lawn that will show up once the morning dew hits overnight so it usually requires a second “sweep” of the yard.

Maybe it’s a pride thing and I just want my lawn to look nicer than my neighbors.

I don’t always double cut the lawn but when I do it becomes a commitment of at least an additional hour and that could stretch even longer if I decide to bag the grass (which requires stopping every so often to empty the fresh grass clippings into a lawn bag) and edge and sweep up afterwards.

One thing is for sure. I am always proud and satisfied at the results when I put the mower away at the end of my efforts.

How often do you dot your i’s and cross your t’s?

If you do not have time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over? – John Wooden

When your buyer clients express interest in a home, do you race back to the office and draft up a purchase contract, ask for scribbled signatures from the clients and send it to the listing agents because “time is of the essence.” When setting up showings do you just start calling the co-op agency without putting the homes in some logical viewing order? Have you ever been negotiating a contract and been so excited to pull it together that you missed a critical piece of information? I know I have… and it almost cost me a transaction and perhaps a client. (That’s another blog post but needless to say, my failure to notice a very significant change could have been catastrophic).

When tasked with looking out for your client’s best interests, it’s so important that you are looking over everything more than once. Don’t assume that the other agent has used a standard “boiler plate” offer sheet and rush your clients into accepting (or rejecting.) Don’t rush through a listing because your client says they didn’t think they’d like it as you pulled into the driveway.

I always get worried when agents are meeting with friends or family because that usually means they’ll give them the “friends or family abbreviated version” of the information because they didn’t want to waste time. And it’s never a good idea to skip the final walk through before closing because you and/or your clients just don’t have enough time.

Your fiduciary duties should never be taken lightly. Take your time and do things the right way and make sure that your client understands why it’s so important to do things systematically and diligently.

One thing I have found in my years of mowing the lawn and selling real estate; After a hot afternoon mowing your lawn or at the end of a successful real estate transaction, a cold beer always tastes better. Esocially when you know that you didn’t miss anything.

Have a great week building relationships, solving problems and having fun.

Photo Credit: Derek Gavey via Creative Commons

Photo Credit: Sean Carpenter via Camera+

*  Click here for a list of some of my current favorite podcasts that you might want to start checking out.

Monday Morning Match 

Lawrence Peter Berra was born on this date, May 14th,  in 1925. Most people probably better remember him as New York Yankee catcher and legend Yogi Berra. As each day goes by however, fewer people will remember Berra for his incredible skills and leadership playing for one of the greatest baseball teams ever. Instead, Berra will be immortalized and remembered by the next generations for his funny quotes and confusing quips.

That’s okay. It’s good to be remembered for something.

“You can observe a lot just by watching.” – See what I mean?

“A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” – Simply priceless.

“Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.” – Everyone loves this one…except the ones who don’t.

Do you sometimes worry about saying the wrong thing? I’m not talking about saying something inappropriate or rude, I’m just talking about sitting back in a conversation or being fearful to jump into a conversation on social media because you’re worried about what others will think of you?

How about times when you’re with clients and you’re afraid of sounding stupid? Or maybe you’ve had times when you don’t want to come across as a know-it-all so you bite your tongue?

“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.”

“Never answer anonymous letters.”

“Half the lies they tell about me aren’t true.”

It’s not always easy to say what you’re thinking. Some people really struggle to get the perfect words in every situation. It’s really uncomfortable to be on the spot and not have a good answer to a serious question.

How often do you practice or rehearse your scripts or dialogues? Do you sit down and review all of your offers and paperwork before you have to present to a client so that your words come across as knowledgable and professional?

“90% of the game is half mental.”

“It gets late early out there.”

“It ain’t over till it’s over.”

The more competence and confidence you have about what you do, the easier it will be to avoid situations that might throw you off.

And always remember, it’s usually your actions, and not your words, that will be what people remember about you.

Unless, you’re Yogi Berra.

And you can quote me on that!

Photo Credit: Derek Gavey via Creative Commons

Photo Credit: Baseball Collection via Creative Commons