Thread by @jt_ryder

15 mistakes I made as a #cre broker that cost me money — and even worse — time:

1. Bounced around CRM’s looking for the magic pill.

The perfect system doesn't exist.

Marry one, upload accurate data, and don't look back.

2. Got stuck as a deal technician vs. new biz developer.

As your pipeline fills more closing skills are required, which eats up prospecting time, which empties your pipeline.

The cycle of death.

Time block peak hours for developing business no matter how busy you are.

3. Seek admin help too late.

When you realize you need assistance and don’t have it, you’re too late.

You will 10x if someone whose gift is to help builds themselves into your workflow.

Hire early.

4. Bounced around product types because fees were flowing.

The essential truth — you specialize or perish.

5. Inconsistent with content.

As CEO of my brokerage business, my personal brand is my responsibility.

Don’t agonize over one masterpiece a week.

Aim for 5 great posts and 5x that commenting.

6. Not firing problem clients OR ditching unsellable listings.

Saying yes to one jerk = no to many realistic partnerships.

And never mind what the market says — Is the property actually salable?

Don’t let your pride become a time-sucking device. Move on.

7. Not building in daily/quarterly/yearly reflection points to optimize performance and mindset.

My emotional life has improved significantly with consistent journaling.

Asking what worked and what didn’t has serious merit.

Put pen to paper and reflect.

8. Attempting to be thrifty with tools.

Don’t go cheap on tech that optimizes your business and puts you in front of people with good data.

You have to pay to play.

9. Not improving writing skills.

Sharpening writing skills has helped me become more persuasive, concise, and confident.

Improve writing and you improve everything.

10. Getting glued to the office/inbox.

You don’t become someone’s trusted advisor at your standing desk responding to emails.

Get out of the office.

See the property, see the people.

11. Ignoring intern programs.

Connect with your nearest college/university on their intern program.

This year I worked with a prodigy that added significant value to our team.

12. Battling working on weekends/trips.

Impossible (for me) to think about checking out completely.

What I can do is get up early, knock it out, and be available after.

Embrace 1 or 2 things and work in pockets while away.

13. Not drilling down on a specific client profile while prospecting.

Build a customer journey that’s repeatable and focus on contacting that person over and over again.

Define your Avatar.

14. Recruiting new clients but losing old ones.

Taking a systematic approach to retention, follow-up, and thanking satisfied customers.

15. Think about my competition.

It took me years to realize I had no competition besides myself.

16. ***BONUS***

I waited too long to get internet in my truck and Delta Lounges.

Make all travel effecient and enjoyable.