GUEST COLUMN: Mirror, Mirror

It’s that time of year when you start reflecting on the past 10 months and analyze what you’ve accomplished and where you may have fallen short.

Did I close as many deals as I wanted?

Did I follow up with clients and customers the way I set out to do at the beginning of the year?

Am I any closer to my professional and personal goals?

Don’t be too hard on yourself if the answer to any of these is “No;” there’s always tomorrow. The key is to note that the year isn’t over until it’s over—there is still time to make use of the knowledge and/or any new systems that you haven’t implemented that you were fired up about at the beginning of the year.

When looking at 2023 in review, honor your successes and be grateful for the progress you have made. Hold onto the sense of accomplishment and pride. The energy you generate when reflecting on achieved goals, and the excitement you feel for “what’s next” is the fuel that will elevate you to the next level. Don’t look to blame others for any shortcomings. “My broker didn’t give me enough leads.” “Susie selling agent stole my listing!” Your 2023 outcome rests in the hands of the person you see when you look in the mirror. That is where all successes and shortcomings begin and end. Owning that reality gives you the power to control what happens next.

Start now. When you decide you are ready, that is the perfect time to shift the dynamics of your current situation. Don’t throw the last month and a half of 2023 away. Instead, utilize the remainder of this time to make progress. Reflect on and consider what you may want to change, improve, or implement in the new year. Get motivated about your goals and use that momentum to rock out the remainder of the year.

What new programs have you wanted to try? Which professional development courses are you considering? Is there someone you want to connect with for possible mentorship or just to bounce some ideas off of? Have you signed up for that art class that you have been thinking about? Did you farm the area that you wanted to hone in on?

It’s all about your mindset. Start by visualizing yourself as successfully accomplishing the tasks that you set for yourself. It’s not just about saying it but seeing it. Start to imagine what it will feel like to accomplish your goals and hold on to that feeling. Rest in it. The more you can get yourself to feel your success, the easier it will become to make it a reality. Refer back to some of the mindfulness exercises I shared with you in January’s Real Estate In-Depth column, “2023 The Year of Breakthrough.” They are just as helpful today as they were at the beginning of the year.

Look over your vision board and/or list of goals. Which of these can you still make happen this year? Start working on those today. Pick up the phone to set up that appointment. Go online to register for that class. The outcome of the next seven weeks is in your hands. What will you do with it?