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TOTAL
SUCCESS™
HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR PERSONAL BEST, EVERY DAY
By: Bill Sparkman,
The Coach
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Is
there a secret to success? Does one idea, concept, belief, or
strategy enable you, if mastered, to achieve fulfillment and improve
your skills and abilities that can lead you to "Total Success™"
in your life and the mortgage business?
I believe
there is really no secret formula to a successful life or career,
but there are concrete steps that can be taken, and if practiced
and perfected with the right attitude, can lead to continued improvement
and sustained success. Winners in the mortgage business, and in
life, are constantly trying to improve on their best performance.
Each day they raise the bar to achieve a new personal best.
Most people
want things to be different, but few are willing to do the work
that is required to produce breakthrough results. The fact of
the matter is most people don't want to work; they just want to
be better. They aren't looking to do what is required to get in
good physical shape; they just want to look and feel better. They
want to win the lottery, but aren't buying a ticket.
To achieve
better results you must be willing to do everything that is required
to become a champion. There are no shortcuts and you have to be
ready to pay the price for measurable change. The first step is
identifying the areas of your career and life that must be improved
upon so that not only measurable change can occur, but also lasting
change. I've highlighted seven of these areas that need to be
practiced and perfected daily.
- PREPARATION -
It begins with clarity. You must have a clear picture of what
you want, and when you want it. Less than 20% of all mortgage
originators have a written plan or strategy that is directing
their actions on a daily basis. They are reactionary in their
daily efforts and chaos seems to be the theme of their business.
Most people think that goal setting and planning are wonderful
things. Yet most people spend more time planning a two week
vacation than they do creating their own successful mortgage
business. They talk about being in business for themselves,
but don't have a business plan clearly written.
If
you are experiencing the results you desire, it may be time
to revisit your business plan and make the adjustments necessary
to be successful. If you don't currently have a written plan,
it is a perfect time to create one.
- CONFIDENCE
- When you set high goals you will face challenges along the way.
How you respond to those challenges will ultimately determine
the level of your success.
Two of the challenges you will face on a daily basis are fear
and confidence. Your business will be driven from one or the
other. Confidence moves you forward while fear keeps you stuck.
Confidence comes form the greatest gift you can give yourself,
the gift of believing in yourself. Self confidence is a required
step in all great undertakings and achievement.
Vince
Lombardi said: "Life's battles don't always go to the stronger
or faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the
man who thinks he can."
Confidence
is truly a choice. If you don't know how to be confident, or
think you need more experience before you can be confident,
start by pretending. Often acting as if you have confidence
will bring on the real thing.
Go
for it, take the plunge into the pool of self confidence. You
can't get wet by standing on the edge. Strike out with confidence
today.
- POSITIVE
ACTION -
A positive mental attitude is simply not enough to effect changes.
Positive action, sustained over time, is what will produce the
results you are seeking. The world is filled with positive thinking
and positive talking underachievers. The common denominator
of all greatness is finding purposeful meaning in your career
and life, and having the energy required for keeping yourself
in action long enough to get to the finish line.
In The Art of Worldly Wisdom it tells us that mediocre people,
who apply themselves with a white hot burning desire, go further
than people with superior talent that don't apply themselves.
It takes no talent or extra ability to hustle. Do it now!
- CONCENTRATION - What you focus on, you bring on. Underachievers find it very
easy to get distracted from their goal. To achieve what you say
you want you must stay focused on the goal and the work at hand.
Great mortgage originators are not easily sidetracked, and when
sidetracked, they get back on track quickly.
Look at your business and your life and get rid of all your
current distractions as soon as you can. They may be in the
form of people, unfinished projects, a messy desk, or even the
latest technology. Keep your eye on the ball.
- PASSION - Truly loving what you do can attract more customers to you
than anything else. Most people want to be around positive,
powerful, high energy individuals. You become a magnet for people
of those traits when you live your life passionately and enjoy
what you do. If you can't be passionate about the loan business,
you may be in the wrong business.
You can do, be, or achieve anything you want with enough enthusiasm,
fortitude and passion.
- ENDURANCE - All significant achievements in life comes from sustained
commitment. Being committed once in a while, or selective commitment,
isn't sufficient enough to maintain career-best performances
or the results you desire in any area you truly care about.
Life and the loan business is a marathon, not a sprint. You
gain on your competition by outlasting them. Most people give
up on their dream too soon.
Success is often inconvenient. Winners have the ability to tolerate
the obstacles to success that striving for a worthwhile goal
provide. It is their stubborn persistence that separates them
from the pack. Don't give up.
- CELEBRATION - You must take time along the road to success to celebrate
your wins no matter how small they may seem. You must become
your own best cheerleader, it isn't anyone else's job. Don't
become so attached to obtaining your goal that you miss out
on living life along the way.
Stress, burnout, and anxiety stem from not creating balance
in your business and your life. Your capacity to enjoy the mortgage
business and life,is in direct proportion to your ability to
create and maintain balance along the way. To excel in the mortgage
business you must be in great shape mentally, spiritually, physically,
and emotionally. Celebrate life daily. Slow down and enjoy.
"Total
Success™" in the mortgage business and life comes from
total commitment. Achieving your personal best takes work. Real
change begins by matching insight with action. The first step
is identify the areas of your business and life where you could
improve and get better. The second step is to make the necessary
adjustments in your behavior as quickly as possible to ensure
new results. Do more of "what is working" and change
"what isn't working."
Don't hesitate.
If not now, when? Having a career-best year starts with having
a career-best day. A career-best day comes from giving the best
effort you have to give again, again, and again.
Bill
Sparkman, The Coach, is a mortgage industry sales trainer,
consultant, speaker, and seminar leader. To receive product and
seminar information call 847-721-6200.
Bill
Sparkman, "The Coach"
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