Look, people, I just came home from my second tour overseas and am trying to get my business going as quickly as possible. I haven't had much opportunity to work in real estate!

I agree motivation comes from within and you are your number one accountability partner. But, it can't hurt having someone to bounce ideas off of and to call your [censored] when you slack off.

If the concept is, too, new age and sissy for you I'd suggest you talk to the United States Marine Corps, because while we are outside the wire, searching for and destroying the enemy, we have an "accountability partner" called a battle buddy. He makes sure you remain vigilant because in war there is no room for complacency!

I really appreciate everyones input! The suggestions and comments you made were a GREAT gut check!!

I don't think looking for a accountability partner is dumb at
all. My mother was a big agent in the area that I grew up in
and when I started real estate she sent me to an area were I
knew nobody and didn't know the area either. I had very little
money and needed to get things going. Off I went door knocking
speaking to 50 people a day face to face, I listed my first
home the second week and the rest is history. Were an accountability partner can help is making you feel less lonely.
There was nobody else in my office that made calls, there was
nobody to compare notes with and or share ideas. After a morning of prospecting in -10 weather and an afternoon of follow up calls with no results can weigh very heavy on you.
Having a friend in the same boat I suspect can be comforting
during these times. In time I made friends with agents from
other companies that also made calls and this helped, although
we were competing with each other.

The prospectors I know only call me when things are not working, I do not call them, I think it's a sign of weakness
and will be remebered for a long time. Although a lady friend
of mine was out door knocking last winter in -17 weather and
she wasn't complaining, this made me feel like a girly guy
because I wont go out if it's below -10, my mouth gets so
cold I cant pronounce words properly, kinda sound drunk.

Find a guy with a lot of experience who doesn't work in your
area and hook up with him, you will learn a lot and it will
help keep you going through the trying times.

I guess what I'm trying to say is to have someone to speak to would make
the whole experience less lonely and scary, that in it itself would be helpful.

USMC, I am glad you are back, safe and sound! congratulations on your career choice. My son just arrived in Afghanistan, his third tour in the "sandbox".
I have found it difficult to find fellow agents that had my work ethic to partner with. I have been fortunate to find a great broker with a team of agents willing to give me advice and encouragement. I think your office and broker are paramount to your sucess. When I re-entered this career, I spent many hours at the office, listening and learning and my broker gave me many opportunities with leads. I have been sucessful over the last 4 years.
You have found a great website to lurk and learn but don't get bogged down by the negative comments that are sometimes posted here.
If you still need someone to direct and encourage you, don't hesitate to reach out to me! PM if you would care to.

I think for some people, this is a great option, but you have to remain consistent. If you know what you need to be doing on a regular basis, then do you really need someone else to tell you to do it? I see myself as my biggest motivator; if I don't do what needs to be done, I don't eat. Therefore, I have to be the biggest influence on myself. Find what drives you and hold yourself accountable.

Real estate is much tougher than the military. The military is constructed so that everyone functions together under a tight command structure. Creativity, spontaneity, and individuality are condemned. That's probably as it should be, given the danger of the mission. But the military "mentality" is much like the "union" mentality and is generally a detriment to being an entrepreneur. There's no one to tell you what to do, and many returning vets are lost without someone giving them orders.

What you have going for you is DISCIPLINE. If you follow a daily routine similar to what Mike Ferry advocates you will be in the top 20% of realtors within 6 months.

One of the top agents in Toronto is an ex Olympic Athlete, he
designed a schedule and followed it religiously, one component
of his routine is to consistantly go out and look for business
every day no matter what. All the agents are in awe of his
consistancy and discipline, none of them can touch him.

Use your strengths, just pretend your routine is written by
your CO and of you go. One last thing selling real estate is
not rocket science, all you are doing is helping people.

Hunter I appreciate your help, and I know your son will be well!! I sent you a PM

@Brent. Your absolutely right

@Navarac, I don't know what service you were apart of but the majority of your post is B.S.!!! The Marine Corps' entire premise is decentralizization of command. Even as a boot Marine you are given an assignment and you have to figure out how to get it done. Ingenuity and adaptability are EXTREMELY valued.

I don't know. Seeking an accountability partner would seem to illustrate the union/military mentality which I referred to. Attributing creativity to the following of an order is novel, but it neglects the presupposition that an order was given in the first place. That is the problem many returning soldiers face. There is no one to tell them what to do...

Navarac, it is ridiculous to think that it's harder to be a Realtor than to be in the military. Where do you get your information on what problems "many returning soldiers face"? Do you just make this @#!# up? It's beyond insulting!

usmcrealtor deserves our thanks and respect for a job well done. If you don't have anything helpful to add, how about showing a little respect?

usmcrealtor

Semper fi and many thanks for your service.

I am sure that if you direct any questions you may have to this forum, that any one of the readers would be more then willing to help you in any way they can.

Welcome Home

I have an accountability partner. This is one of the reasons I decided to work as a team instead of on my own.

A person does not get my respect for simply entering the military. For many, it is simply the equivalent of a civil service job choice. And let's face it, many of the kids who enter the service are burnouts who do not see a lot of other options.

You do get my respect if you actually see combat and face actual risk, but otherwise, it is just a job for the VAST majority of entrants.

And, I am quite tired of the mentality that exists that because someone enters the military, they automatically get to demand entitlements such as free education and all kinds of free services for the rest of their lives.

Military service is NOT selfless service, nor should it be, nor should it be admired for that aspect. Most Americans do not understand that.

I think the majority of Canadians and Americans share and have shared one thing in common for decades and which is described in the words of a song by Merle Haggard.


http://www.classic-country-song-lyrics.com/thefightingsideofmelyricschords.html

Probably not the best idea to take ones philosophy from country music...

A modern version of a traditional Irish song used to welcome home and to thank the returning soldiers. Still in use by the IRA, it's in Gaelic but basically means "thrilled to see you back, thank you for killing the foreigners and keeping us safe". The song is over 200 years old.


Oro, Se Do Bheatha 'Bhaile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JmUYF7kHro&feature=related