6 HABITS OF HIGHLY consider myself lucky to have so many friends from

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6 Habits of Highly Productive Agents

In a business that can be constant chaos, you’re constantly on the go and dealing with things as they hit you. It can be difficult to take a second and regroup. But there is a better and smarter way to work. If you take the time to create some better habits, in the end, you may end up being more productive. If you want to make better use of your time, as well as have more focus, here’s some habits that you’re going to want to pick up - all common to top-producing agents.

1. Learn how to prioritize

Although it might be your instinct to get some of the boring work out of the way first, things that actually generate income (or are time-sensitive!) should be the first thing you focus on when you start your day.

Lists are your friend! Make a list of things you want to accomplish for the day, the week, and even the month. Always list them in the order of priority. If things get cut off when you run out of time at the end of the day, at least it’ll be the things that are not as important or time sensitive. As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list, you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as

well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s and don’t ever waste it.

As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s, and don’t ever waste it.

2. Remove distractions when you need to focus

This is especially hard when you’re a Realtor®. Most are constantly connected to their phones. But, unnecessary distractions can get you off schedule and make you lose your focus instantly. If you can, turn your phone off for the half hour it takes to do a task. Interruptions make everything take twice as long, especially when you take that text and then decide to check Facebook for a second. We all do it!

Complete your task, then take ten minutes to respond to all texts and messages before you start up the next thing on your list. You can even schedule those ‘text backs’ into your schedule. A concentrated effort is always more effective than going back and forth between things.

3. Set daily goals

This is so key. What do you want to accomplish for the day and what do you need to do to accomplish it? Write it out and then incorporate that into your prioritized ‘to do’ list. You’ll be amazed at how driven you become to reach that goal when you actually write it out with clarity. And, the sense of accomplishment you get upon completing it will carry over to the next day. It’s important to remember to be specific. Once you get into the habit of meeting your goals, exceeding them won’t be far behind.

4. Don’t make excuses

There’s that old saying, “The buck stops here”. Well, take it to heart. This is your business and you are responsible for doing everything you can to make it successful.

Sure, there are reasons for why you didn’t get a listing or why your business is slow, but what are you doing to change things and make them better? Successful Realtors® work harder and come up with innova-

tive ways to stand out when times are tough. They don’t look for excuses, they look for solutions.

5. Be deliberate about everything you do

When you’re making your list, it helps to have a goal in mind for even the smallest task. If you’re calling past clients to touch base, have a specific reason why you’re calling. Are you letting them know some market news? Thanking them for a referral? When you’re meeting a referral partner for lunch, have a goal in mind for what the outcome of that meeting will be as well. Yes it’s good to socialize and build relationships, but if you have a reason, make sure it isn’t put off until the final moments, when things are wrapping up. Always having a purpose in mind will also help you prioritize your list better.

6. Always look for ways to get out of your comfort zone

Yes, you are prioritizing what is most important or urgent to your business, but it’s also important to make an effort to break out 30 of your routine as much as you’re comfortable doing. Trying out new things or taking some time to learn about new and innovative real estate techniques and technology, can have an energizing effect on your business. Not only might they lead to things that make you more productive, but it keeps you sharp and engaged. And, ultimately keeping yourself at the top of your game is what it’s all about. Top Agent Magazine

KATRINA SOUSA

KATRINA SOUSA

After beginning her real estate career with part-time clerical work, Katrina Sousa quickly grew into a local real estate expert in the Merced County area. In 2007, an agent from the brokerage PMZ offered Katrina a job while she was looking for work, and by 2018, she was ready to get licensed and go out on her own. Today, Katrina is a solo agent and manages all aspects of her business serving several counties within a two-hour radius that includes Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Santa Clara and Fresno Counties. Within her first year, Katrina received the ‘multi-million dollar’ sales award at her brokerage. She prides herself on providing great service while also keeping a steady balance in her life, as she is very present in her family life but is also incredibly dedicated to her career. “I really just want to do the right thing for my clients,” she says.

One way in which Katrina has set herself apart from other agents is that she has created a network of other professionals, including lenders, title companies, cleaning companies, handymen, photographers, home inspectors, and more to provide a more seamless transaction for every client. “I just try to offer as much as I can,” she says, and she appreciates that this entire network can count on each other for any project. Over half of her business is made up of repeats and referrals, which is a result of Katrina’s focus on forming relationships and connections with her clients as well as professionals. “I really try to keep in-person contact with as many people as I can,” she says, as learning more about each person allows her to more easily add value to their lives. “It’s really about going above and beyond for every client I serve.”

In addition to typical methods of communication like phone calls, greeting cards, and social media, Katrina has also branched out to expand her web of connections. For example, she hosts a pie drive each year, which consists of delivering a pie to every client in her database. These clients notice that Katrina goes the extra mile, and as one former client shared in a review, “I could not have asked for a better person to sell my house. Katrina is knowledgeable, professional, a problem solver, and a tireless worker. Her communication is great. There are so many things involved in selling a house and Katrina is there to take you through the entire process. Thank you Katrina!!!!”

When it comes to her personal life, Katrina says, “My family is my joy.” She often spends her time with her husband and two daughters, whether that means weekends at the race track watching her youngest race, or weeknights at sporting events watching her oldest daughter from the stands. Additionally, Katrina volunteers when she can and is involved in her daughter’s schools, serves as a leader for her children’s 4-H group, the treasurer for the LB Ag Boosters, and manages the rentals for the American Legion Hall in Gustine, CA.

Regarding her family and clients alike, Katrina says, “I love the people.” Her favorite part about her job as a realtor “being able to interact with everyone and help people out,” and she truly wants to help people feel more secure and make the process more manageable for them. In the future, Katrina wants to improve her work/life balance through growing a team and having an assistant. She hopes that this will allow her more flexibility to spend time with her family and work in the community, and ultimately, she sees this as an opportunity to give back and be able to help more people. For more information about Katrina Sousa, please call (209) 769-1418 or checkout her website at www.KatrinaSousa.com

5 Things You Can Do To Achieve Your Biggest Goals

If there’s one thing successful people can agree on, it’s that setting goals has been key to their success. Whether you’re creating a five year plan or just settling on what you want to achieve by the end of the day, setting goals gives you the focus and direction you need to complete even the biggest tasks.

But there is a method to setting them. It’s a process that takes careful thought and consideration up front, which is then combined with the hard work necessary to implement your plan. Luckily there are proven methods to goal setting that you can start using immediately.

1. MAKE YOUR GOALS SPECIFIC Yes, it’s fun to think in grand terms of where you want to end up in life and in your career, but it’s better to have a specific goal like “Increase my sales by 25%”, than “Get rich.” When a goal is clear and specific, it allows you to figure out the exact steps you need to take to accomplish it. The more general it is, the more paralyzed you might be when it comes to figuring out what to do since, the choices may be overwhelming.

2. MAKE IT ATTAINABLE Making attainable goals might seem boring, I mean afterall, you want to dream big! But you don’t want to suffer through the disappointment of not reaching your goal, something that may not even be possible at this stage in your life to begin with. One solution to that is creating goal levels. You can have the dream goal, but underneath that you have the realistic goals that are setting up a foundation for achieving the big one. Things that are attainable still take work and effort to achieve. Those small victories will keep you motivated and encouraged to go for the bigger dreams. And don’t forget, those little goals may have been things you wouldn’t have gotten done if you didn’t set out to achieve them, so be proud!

3. PUT A PLAN OF ACTION IN WRITING Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. There is something about seeing things in writing and crossing them off the list that is oddly satisfying.The daily goals are especially important in regards to building up those good habits. The first few weeks of your plan of action are critical when it comes to your long term success. Reaching a goal is something you are doing every day, all throughout the day, in numerous ways. Achieving goals is all about creating good new habits.

4. MAKE IT MEASURABLE This is key, since you definitely want to reward yourself for a job well done, and having a goal that is measurable in some way is a sure way to know. Maybe it’s to increase your lead generation or to cut expenses, whatever the case, have a measurable test you need to meet, as well as a time frame. Then calculate what you have to do to reach that goal. Not only should your goal be specific, but the plan and the measure of success should also be set in stone.

5. ADJUST AS YOU GO You can have all the best laid plans, and you still might quickly realize that what you thought would help you reach your goal, might not be cutting it. Commitment to reaching your goals is good, but commitment to a plan you know isn’t going to work is not only a waste of time, but will be a devastating blow to your motivation. Sticking to a plan everyday means adjusting it accordingly.

BARB BORBA

Barb Borba has always been drawn to a career path that enables her to help people. Professionally, she had a successful 20-year career in outside sales and sales management in the beauty industry before settling down to raise a family on a dairy farm in Escalon in the heart of California’s Central Valley. As a stay at home mom, she focused on her two children, the family business and her horses. “My children kept me pretty busy in sports and academics, as well as with the 4H and FFA,” she recalls. She also spent many years at the San Joaquin County fair supporting her children showing dairy cattle, turkeys and art. “Because I was so involved with my community, my transition to real estate was easy,” she exclaims. “I consider myself lucky to have so many friends from so many different walks of life.” She started her real estate career in 2014 and has never looked back.

Barb now works as an agent with REMAX Executive in Modesto, California, serving clients from Merced to Woodland and every place in between, specializing in residential, ranch and ag properties. “I love helping people and making new friends, and I get the best of both worlds, as so many of my clients have become dear friends,” she says. Barb reports that almost all of her business comes from referrals from previous clients who have been happy with her service. “I’m so grateful and honored for their confidence and trust in me,” she says. “I take that trust very seriously and always do my very best. I want everyone’s experience to be smooth and also enjoyable!

“Communication is key, I think people really appreciate a direct and straight forward approach. There are so many moving parts involved in a real estate transaction, and I like to help my clients understand each step of the process. I also want them to understand my role and how I facilitate that process for them. “ When marketing her listings, Barb feels it’s important to tell a home’s story and what sets it apart and makes it special. She does that by using a professional photographer and videographer on all her properties. She takes meticulous care in choosing the photos and creating just the right text to give the home a warm narrative. “To me, home is a safe and cozy haven where you can escape the chaos and frenetic activity of the outside world, relax, make memories, and share laughter and love with friends and family,” she asserts. “I always feel privileged to be chosen to sell someone’s home, because it’s the place where life was lived, and memories were made, and I want to convey those ‘fabric of life’ stories to anyone looking for their own special place to call home.”

Barb stays involved in her community, attends local real estate meetings, goes to trainings and events, and keeps up on current market trends. When not working she enjoys horseback riding, working on her house, and celebrating life with family and friends.

Moving forward, Barb wants to maintain her current successful career path and would like to continue to grow both professionally and personally. She says, “As long as I’m able to help my clients find their happiness through real estate, I’m happy, too!”

To learn more about Barb Borba, call (209) 604-6001, email BBorba@mycvre.com or visit barbborba.metrolistpro.com.