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Do you ever feel unmotivated in your real estate business and in need of some inspiration, new ideas and out-of-the box strategies but not sure where to turn?
That feeling is completely normal! Every real estate agent goes through periods when we are looking for a little motivation.
For me, whenever I start feeling that way, I turn to books. Specifically books that have nothing to do with the real estate industry. And, I’m always surprised at how much of what I’m reading can be applied to my real estate business.
I wanted to share this discovery with other agents I knew at the time, so I created a book club back at the brokerage with our agents.
The ten of us would take turns picking a nonfiction book that had nothing to do with real estate at the beginning of each month. Then we’d meet again at the end of the month to discuss what we thought of the book and how we could apply the strategies to our own real estate businesses.
The book club was surprisingly enlightening and business-changing.
Books I never thought would be helpful to my real estate business became something I’d reference time and time again.
Oftentimes, the strategies in these non-real estate books became talking points with clients who were stuck in their search for a home or stuck deciding whether they wanted to sell.
Many times, I’d give a client a copy of the book and a few weeks later, they’d come back after reading it and suddenly be able to move forward when all they saw were obstacles in their way before.
There are three books in particular that I go back to again and again and I use every day in my real estate business.
At first glance, these books may seem like they have nothing to do with real estate and couldn’t possibly be helpful in growing a real estate business. However, they are foundational in how I approach not only my business, but also how I work with clients every day too.
I wanted to share these books with you and help you apply the strategies in these books to your own real estate business all summer long.
Here’s how the summer book club will work:
We’ll read one book per month between Memorial Day and Labor Day — June, July, August. At the end of each month, we’ll have a book club discussion on the podcast about how to apply the strategies from each book to a real estate business.
Here are the books we’ll be reading this summer. Take the time now to order them from your favorite bookseller or borrow them from the library. That way you’ll be ready to follow along each month.
June’s Book:
The Paradox of Choice: Why Less is More By Barry Schwartz
This book will completely change the way you work with your buyer clients.
Here’s how.
We all have this natural tendency to think that the more options we give ourselves, the better our decisions will be. Like when it comes to finding a home, buyers think if they are open to many neighborhoods, price ranges or types of homes, that means it will be easier to find a home.
The Paradox of Choice uses scientific studies and hard data to explain the exact opposite is actually true! The more we narrow down our options first, the more quickly we can make a decision, the happier we will be about our decision making along the way, and the happier we will be with the decision afterward.
In other words, if we can help our buyers narrow down their search criteria first, they will enjoy the process of buying a home more, buy a home more quickly and eliminate buyer’s remorse.
Yes please!
July’s Book:
So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love By Cal Newport
This book is especially good for new real estate agents, those thinking about becoming a real estate agent, or those who have become uninspired with their current real estate business and are looking for some guidance on how to reignite the fire.
The title and premise of the book comes from a comment Steve Martin made when once asked how to become a successful comedian. He replied: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
The entire premise of the book is that skill and ability, not passion, should drive us in our work. He has the case studies to prove that this is the path to a successful career.
More than anything, this books reminds us that getting back to the basics and taking the time to hone our skills is the path to the success we are all looking to achieve.
August’s Book:
Turning Pro By Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield talks about the great lengths he took (and suggests we all take) to go from being an amateur to “Turning Pro.”
This short, but impactful, read will have you questioning whether you are a true “Pro” or whether you are acting like an amateur in your business. He doesn’t hold back and asks what you are willing to do or give up in order to create the success you want to see.
When we read this book in our office book club, it was by far the most controversial and the one that caused the most heated of discussions about what it takes to be a “Pro” and whether it’s even worth it. I’m excited to see what you think!
Get Started
Go grab these books on whatever online book seller you like best, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Target or borrow it from your local library.
To your success,
Jennifer
Want to make 6 or even 7 figures per year – no matter what the market is doing – AND still have time to have the life you want without hustling for clients, working 24/7, or needing a team to do it? Learn how here.
Episode Transcript
Need Some New Strategies For Your Real Estate Business These three books can help Welcome to this episode of Confessions of a Top Producing Real Estate Agent I’m your host. Jennifer Myers listen in, as I share exactly what I did to go from not being able to sell a house for years to becoming one of the top 1% of agents in the US. So even opening my own brokerage full of agents, help me serve all their clients that were coming my way. I taught those agents to the same strategies I used in day two became the top producing agents. Now through this Podcast and agent, rod School dot com, I’m sharing those same modern marketing and business strategies with you. Most of which I learned from looking outside of the real estate industry, no fluff, no theory, no outdated sales techniques or paying for leads, just the exact steps to get you the real estate business you’ve always wanted.
And the life outside your business, you’ve always wanted to let’s make it happen and dive into today’s episode. Do you ever feel unmotivated in your real estate business? And you’re just looking around for some inspiration new ideas or Some out of the box Strategies, but not really sure where to turn first and foremost know that that feeling is completely normal. Any entrepreneur, any person who is in a career long enough is going to have some ups and downs and sometimes where they need a little extra kind of a boost to what they’re already doing.
So if you’re feeling that way, there’s nothing wrong. Just know that there’s a place that you can go for some answers for me, whenever I start to feel that way, which happens at some point, at least every year, every couple years, whenever I start feeling that way, I turned to books specifically because I’m trying to kind of rethink, you know, kind of get away from, from real estate. I tend to go for books that have nothing to do with real estate. And I usually pick a business books that are kind of outside the real estate industry, but I’m always surprised how much of what I’m reading can be applied to my real estate business. And that wasn’t even necessarily my goal.
So back a few years ago, I wanted to share this kind of discovery and learning about how to motivate yourself and look for new Strategies in your real estate business from completely outside the real estate business. I wanted to share that discovery with other agents. I knew at the time, this was at my real estate brokerage dwell residential, and we had 10 agents and we created a little book club. The 10 of us would take turns, picking a non-fiction book that had nothing to do with real estate. So it had to be some kind of business book or some kind of, you know, not like a fiction story type of book. And it had to be outside of the real estate industry. Those were, those were the parameters of, and each agent could choose any anyone or submit a suggestion.
And then we would all pick one for each month. So we’d pick one in the beginning of the month and at the end of the month, or maybe six weeks, depending on how long that the book was, we’d come back together and we discuss our thoughts and how are we going to apply those strategies to our own real estate businesses? The things that we were learning in art in that book that had nothing to do with real estate, how could we apply these tactics to our real estate business? And truly the book club was really surprising. It was so interesting to hear how different agents read the same book and had different perspectives, really enlightening about how each person thought about applying the strategies to the real estate business.
And it truly was Business changing for me books. I never thought would be helpful to my real estate business became something I’d referenced time and time and time and time again, not only for myself, not only when I coached and was training real estate agents, but also to directly to my clients. Oftentimes the Strategies in these non real estate business books became these talking points that I would use with clients who were stuck in their search or having to have a tough time making a decision about whether to sell or not. Oftentimes I carried these books in the trunk of my car. I always kind of had an extra one or two. And if I felt like I couldn’t really get a client to get to the next level or their criteria was way too wide.
And they thought they had to look at every house. If I felt like it would help them make the decision or help them in their search in any way, I would hand them a book, same thing with some agents, I would just hand them a book. And I say, you really got to have this kind of mindset and this mentality, if you wanna be successful in this business. So chances are, if you meet me, I’ll probably hand you a book at some point or another. And usually that’s kind of softly telling you kind of rethink the way that you’re thinking about this and learn what are the strategies are in this book. So it was a fascinating as many times when I give a client a copy of the book, a book that I thought would actually help them in their search. They’d come back a few weeks later, having read at least some of it and suddenly be able to move forward or se you know, how that strategy.
I never really thought of it that way. I never really thought of my real estate decision-making that way. And those books were able to help them overcome the obstacles that were in their way. And you know, that that is our goal as real estate agents, we want to help remove obstacles for our clients. So there are three books in particular that I go back to again and again, and I truly use every day in my real estate business and my real estate coaching business as well. Agent grad school at first glance, these books may seem like they have nothing to do with real estate and couldn’t possibly be helpful in growing a real estate business. However, they are truly foundational in how I approach all of, all of my businesses.
And I have several coaching, real estate agents, helping clients buy and sell houses. And I wanted to share these books with you and help you apply these strategies all summer long. So I’ve created the Summer book club, the Agent Grad School Summer Book Club. We’re going to read and discuss three of the best business books for your real estate business between Memorial day and labor day 2020. And we’re going to do this every summer. So here’s how the Summer book club will work this particular summer. We’re going to read one book per month between Memorial day and labor day. So that means one book for June, one book for July and a book for August at the end of each month will have a book club discussion on the Podcast about how to apply this.
Strategies from each book to your real estate business. And here are the books that we’ll be reading this summer. So take some time down, order them and from your favorite book seller, or borrow them from the library, or you can do those. You know, a lot of libraries are closed right now, as I’m recording this, that we’re still in that COVID world. So, you know, you can borrow them and download them from your library. So the book for June is called the paradox of choice. Why more is less how the culture of abundance robs us of satisfaction by Barry Schwartz. I love, love, love this book.
It will completely change the way that you work with your buyer clients. Here’s how we all have this natural tendency. Whether we are in buying a house, picking a mate, buying jeans, picking a cereal, we have this natural tendency to think that more options, the more options we give ourselves, the better our decisions will be. So this is reflected in real estate where, you know, you have a new client and they can tell you like, Oh, I want to look in this neighborhood. Or I could look in that neighborhood. And I really, you know, I could have a two bedroom. I could have a four bedroom. I don’t know what price range, right? And so they, because they are, they are afraid if they, if they come with too much criteria, they’ll never be able to get what they want.
Right. That seems like a natural tendency. But in fact, when it, what, what this book shows us is scientifically that none of that is true. That actually the more we narrow down our options first, the more quickly we can make a decision, whatever that decision needs to be. And the bigger decisions, you know, the more you need to apply this. So this is perfect for helping our buyer and seller clients. So we first have to work on narrowing our decision on our options first and then making a decision from there. And if we’re able to do that, and in this case, help our clients do that.
The more quickly we can make a decision, the happier will be about our decision-making along the way. And the happier will be at the decision afterward, which essentially means eliminating buyer’s remorse. This is how you help your clients make better decisions more quickly and be happy about it. Not only during the process of making a decision, but afterwards also, which is what we really want really want them to say, my agent helped me make the right choice when I wasn’t able to two on my own. So in other words, for us real estate agents, if we can help our buyers narrow down their search criteria, first, they’ll actually enjoy the process of buying a home.
They will buy more quickly and there are going to eliminate that. Did I make the wrong decision? So this is our first Book, that’s the book’s Book, we’re going to Reed in June. And at the end, the last Tuesday of June, we’ll be doing a book club conversations. If you want to be part of that conversation, pick up this book and email me at Jennifer at agent grad school.com and be part of the book club discussion. I’d love to know how you’re thinking about applying these techniques to your business. And maybe you have no idea of how to apply those techniques to your business. And we can have that conversation too.
So that’s going to be for June and July, we’re going to read the book called so good. They can’t ignore you. Why skills Trump passion in the quest for work you love by Cal Newport. This is especially good. This book especially is good for new agents, but really for any agent. Who’s kinda feeling a slump in whether they choose the right career or not when they chose real estate. So if you’re feeling uninspired or you’re brand new kind of whatever level you are in your career as a real estate agent, this book can help you reignite that fire in your Business.
So the whole title of the premise of this book comes from a comment that the comedian Steve Martin made once when he was being interviewed by the Charlie, by Charlie Rose, that I don’t, I don’t think it exists anymore, but there was a, a interview style show called the Charlie Rose show. And somehow the conversation led to Charlie Rose asking Steve Martin, a question about how, you know, what do you say to aspiring comedians who come to you? And he said, Steve Martin said, you know, I get this question all the time. Every, anytime I had a party, anywhere I go, the question, how do I be?
How do I be successful? How do I get a job? How do I be a comedian? Right? And he says, his answer is always the same. Steve Martin’s answer is be so good. They can’t ignore you. And so coward Newport heard that interview and that sparked this entire book. The entire premise of this Book is that the skills and ability not passion should drive us in our work. And so what that means is don’t feel like you have to be fueled by some love of your work. That in fact, you can be fueled when you get down to learning the skill and learning the ability and constantly honing those skills. And he talks, and he walks us through exactly how to do that in our careers.
He has case studies to prove that this is the path to a successful career, whatever career you choose. And obviously where we want to be successful in real estate, more than anything. This book reminds us that getting back to the basics and taking time to hone our skills is the path we all need to achieve. So I couldn’t agree with that more, the better you are at your job, obviously the more you’re going to love it. And so whenever you’re feeling like I’m losing the passion for my career, look to creating better skills, increasing your skills, sharpening your skills, learning new skills and being better at your job. So the last Tuesday in July, we’ll be discussing that Book as well.
So if you want to be a part of that conversation, please email me and I’d love to talk through it with you and this book and the next book for August, these two are kind of controversial because some people think, well, if you don’t have a passion write in your career, how could you possibly get even be good at it or have a career long enough to be good at it? So this is going to really kind of turn that idea of like, I just love houses are I love real estate upside down. So I really am excited for this conversation. If you want to be a part of it, you email me in Jennifer at agent grad school.com. Now the last Book for the, for the Summer the book in August, we’re going to read is called turning pro tap your inner power and create your life’s work by Steven Pressfield.
This book caused the biggest controversy and our office conversations. Oh my gosh. So he talks to Steven Pressfield talks about the great lengths he took and said, suggest that we all take to go from being an amateur to going pro turning pro Steven Pressfield. If you don’t know him, he now is a famous author, but back in the day, he wanted to be a movie maker. He wanted to make a screenplay and he ended up finally being successful at that. And he created, Oh gosh, what’s it called? It has will Smith in it for about a golfer. I’ll put it in the show notes on age in grad school.com.
So you can see, you can see it, but there’s a movie he wrote and he was wildly successful. And now he writes, he writes books about, you know, turning pro and how not to be an amateur. Also the war of art and trying to bust through that resistance that we all experience. And we’re starting to create things that will bring success. So this is a very good book for real estate agents, but it will be interesting to see what you think of that ’cause in our office when we were discussing this Book there was people who said, I would never do what he’s saying. It takes to quote unquote, turn pro. And they were fine with being an amateur because he says, you know, you have to give up so many things in your life and really have this kind of do whatever it takes kind of attitude.
And my question to you is whether or not you think his is taking it too far. So this one will be a really great conversation. And in short, it’s a very short book and it’ll really be questioning are the things that you’re doing kind of in the amateur category or the pro category. And he talks about what the difference is between the two. He does not hold back and he asks truly, what are you willing to do? And what are you willing to give up in order to create this success? You want to see some people in our office that I was way too far, and we’re like, no way that is just completely unrealistic. So I’m curious what you think, and that conversation will occur on the last Tuesday in August.
And so that will be our Summer Book Club. So go to agent grad school.com go to the podcast page, and I have links there. So you can see all the books and I have links to Amazon Barnes and noble target, or just borrow them For from your library. You can download them if you’re a library is closed. So get on the wait list because sometimes your, you know, your library takes a while. So get these books start diving in. And if you want to talk to me one-on-one or be part of a larger group conversation that we’ll record and we’ll include in this podcast, I would love to have you on this show, go to Jennifer at age in grad school.com. And let me know if you’re interested. So I’d also love to know what your favorite book business book is because I’d like to have this book club every summer.
And I’d love to hear from you on what book inspires you the most. So go over to the art of being a Top Producing real estate agent. That is our FREE Facebook mastermind group with agents from all over, not only the U S but we have Asians as far as South Africa in that group. So tell me and tell us all what your favorite business book is, and maybe we’ll feature it next summer. I’d love to do that. And we can have a book club conversation about it together as well. So go over to Asian Grad school.com and go to the Podcast, look at the books, order them, and then go over to the art of being a top Producing Real Estate Agent let us know that.
I want to see pictures of all of you reading the book. I want to know what your favorite book is. I want to know how you are applying these subjects to your real estate business all summer long. So I will see you over there. And I look forward to talking to you next week on Confessions of a Top Producing Real Estate Agent. Yeah. Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Remember change happens when you take action. So apply what you learned today to your own real estate business. If this episode has helped you subscribe, leave a review and share it with all your real estate agent friends, and as always, if you want even more great resources to create the real estate business you’ve always wanted and have the life you want outside of your business, to head over to agent grad school.com and sign up for the free weekly trainings, you’ll get free classes, discounts, and other goodies that only go out to real estate agents on that email list.
See you next week, right here on Confessions of a Top Producing Real Estate Agent the Agent Grad School Podcast.
