Property Manager 4-16-17

PROPERTY MANAGER EDITION

5 Fresh New Approaches to CONTENT MARKETING When it's Time for a HOME OFFICE FEATURED PROPERTY MANAGERS:

GRID 7 PROPERTIES

COVER STORY

MARCELLA QUEZADA

Daily Habits that will INCREASE YOUR MENTAL STRENGTH DON'T WORRY, Be Happy!

PROPERTY MANAGER EDITION

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MARCELLA QUEZADA

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GRID 7 PROPERTIES

CONTENTS 4) WHEN IT'S TIME FOR A HOME OFFICE

18) DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

13) 5 FRESH NEW APPROACHES TO CONTENT MARKETING

22) DAILY HABITS THAT WILL INCREASE YOUR MENTAL STRENGTH

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When It’s Time for a Home Office

by Nancy Michaels

So, you’re tired of clearing your papers off the dining room table every time someone wants to eat (how dare they!). And you’re still recovering from the business call you were forced to take that time your 5-yearold pressed the phone into your hand just as you stepped from the shower (it’s amazing how professional one can sound while wrapped in a towel and dripping wet).

fairly easily for this purpose. Use bookcases, filing cabinets, plants, screens, even lighting to define your work space. It’s essential that you remain committed to your space as office space. Without this psychological distinction between home and work, the two areas of your life may slide into one another, causing you to lose focus, and thus, productivity.

Sounds like it’s time for a home Choose furnishings that are ergooffice. nomically correct, and which fit in with the decor of the rest of your Ideally, you’ll have a spare room to home. Lighting should come from turn into office space—preferably three sources: natural, ambient and one with a locking door. An extra direct. Give yourself enough storage bedroom, the basement, or attic can space to keep your work area all serve this purpose. If you don’t uncluttered. You may want to store have room for a dedicated office, your supplies in another part of the take a look around your house to see house, keeping just a week’s worth where you can carve yourself some in your office. And schedule a space. A closet, bedroom corner, weekly or biweekly cleanup where hallway alcove or even the area you go through your papers and files under a stairway can all be converted and either throw away or stow away 4

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anything that is not essential to the daily operation of your business.

event of a power failure. An uninterruptable power source supply is also a must for the home office.

This will keep your computer running during a power outage until you’re able to safely shut it down.

Almost every business requires a computer system. Don’t skimp. You want something with enough speed and memory capacity to last into the future. A good-quality inkjet, or Another essential component of the preferably, a laser printer is also home office is telecommunications, essential. Investigate the all-in-one meaning telephone, fax and Internet printer, fax, copier and scanners. access. An account through an These may save you money as well Internet service provider or online as precious office space. I also service shouldn’t cost more than $20 recommend a computer backup per month and it will give you the system, which will protect the ability to send and receive e-mail. contents of your hard drive in the Top Agent Magazine

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It’s essential that you remain committed to your space as office space.

You’ll probably want more than one phone line, three if you’re using one line for a fax and modem hookup.

It’s wise to invest in a business line, which allows you to list your business name and number in the phone book and with directory assistance. To keep costs down, use that line for incoming calls only. If you don’t want the expense of a business line, but can do without a repeat of the shower scene, order “distinct ring” service from your phone company. This is a separate phone number which rings into your home line, but sounds different from your normal ring. This alerts you and family members to incoming business calls. If you’re dishing up dinner or washing the dog, you’ll know to let your answering machine, or better yet, your electronic voice mail system, grab the call. If you’re in the shower, hopefully your 5year-old will know to do the same.

You may also want to order “call 6

answering” from your phone company. It’s just a few dollars a month and sounds more professional than an answering machine, and which won’t break down while you’re on vacation.

A home office can either improve productivity, or harm it. You may find yourself doing paperwork at 2 a.m. when you should be sleeping, or flipping to General Hospital at 3 p.m. when you should be working. It’s helpful to treat your home office as you would an outside office, complete with “starting” and “quitting” times.

This will help you stay focused, organized, and productive. And your family will appreciate having their dining room table back.

Nancy Michaels, of Impression Impact, works with companies that want to reach the small business community and with small business owners who want to sell more products and services. Copyright©, Nancy Michaels. All rights reserved.

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MARCELLA QUEZADA Top Agent Magazine

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MARCELLA QUEZADA Top Las Vegas Property Manager Marcella was working in the fast food industry when she decided, on the advice of her father, to change careers. She did so in 2006, and it ended up being a fortuitous decision.

Prior to her career in property management, she worked in residential sales and was Re/ Max’s top agent five times, and was among the top five teams in residential sales.

She was a member of the Platinum Club and President Club, as well as among the 8 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

top 250 Nahrep agents in 2013 and 2014, before switching her focus to property management.

What sets Marcella’s company – Monarch Property Management & Realty - apart from other property management companies is a hands-on-approach. “No matter how many properties I’m managing, my hands are in everything,” she says. “I have some staff to do different tasks, but I still check everything myself.” Currently managing over Top Agent Magazine

“I’ll do pretty much anything the owner wants, whether that’s obtaining bids, preparing the property for occupancy, and once it’s prepared, marketing it and finding a tenant.”

200 properties in the Las Vegas and Henderson communities, she prides herself on providing full service for her clients. “I’ll do pretty much anything the owner wants, whether that’s obtaining bids, preparing the property for occupancy, and once it’s prepared, marketing it and finding a tenant.”

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As evidence of her commitment to client service, whether that’s tenant or owner, Marcella can boast a referral business rate of over 80%. “I haven’t done any heavy marketing,” she says, “most of my clients are referrals from other agents who have investors, and the rest come from the same Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

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owners I currently have who are either buying new properties or are referring friends.

That’s how I get my business.” Her clients come back, she says, because she likes to be clear when it comes to communication.

“I want to make sure they never have any questions. I probably give them more information than they probably want. But that’s how I like it. I want them to know that their property is well taken care of and that they don’t have to worry about anything.”

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Helping people is what Marcella enjoys most about her job, and that applies equally to both owner and tenant. One of her primary objectives is to alleviate any and all worries her owners might have regarding their property.

“My goal is for them to not have to worry about anything,” she says. “And it’s rewarding when they ask me about something and I can almost always reply, ‘I already took care of that,” she laughs. What she enjoys most about her interaction with the tenant side Copyright Top Agent Magazine11

is being able to guide them towards future homeownership. “When I see good tenants who are often paying more in rent than they would on a mortgage, being able to help them achieve the goal of owning their own home is very rewarding.”

Marcella gives back to her community in many ways, though her most personal charitable involvement is with the St. Jude Foundation, which provides assistance to children battling cancer. A cancer survivor herself, she is particularly passionate about this cause.

When not working, Marcella is taking advantage of the fact that her children are now

adults by checking off an item on her bucket list: she is now training to run the grueling Spartan Race obstacle course.

Marcella’s future plans are to continue to grow her business in 2017, while keeping intact the same level of detailed service and commitment that has long been her hallmark.

The mother of six children, five of whom are quintuplets, she wants anyone reading this article to know that there are no limits in life. “If I as a single mother of six children, five of whom were born at the same time, can accomplish my goals…so can anyone.”

For more information about MARCELLA QUEZADA, call 702-412-7189 or email pm@lasvegasyourhome.com 12Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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5 Fresh New Approaches to Content Marketing A couple of weeks ago we were conducting a workshop when we were asked two excellent questions about content marketing:

• People

don’t want to hear from a roofing company every day. So how do you produce fresh and interesting content for social media that goes beyond your core services and yet ties back to your business?

• Can

you extend your social media presence and content to include personal things (like your hobbies) and how does that affect your overall business image?

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The workshop attendee who asked the first question was right. Almost no one wants to hear from any company every day… especially if all the content is about products and services…and yes, even if they’re giving helpful tips and information. Does that mean you should stop producing excellent daily content related to your business? No, of course not! Content is created for two reasons.

First, to provide knowledge, expertise and even entertainment to your ideal customers in order to achieve top of mind awareness as an authority in your industry. And second, to produce SEO-rich results that keep you at the top of search engines. You must strike a

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balance between the two, and try to include content that draws people in by being super interesting and entertaining….and yes, sometimes personal.

To help answer those content questions above, here are five different types of content (beyond the traditional stuff) that can give your brand a fresh, unique and balanced approach:

1. PHILANTHROPIC Your community efforts say a lot about who you are, and people will make an extra effort to do business with you as a result of this connection. We’ve consulted business owners who are very hesitant to promote these efforts because they don’t want it to seem as though they are exploiting the charities and organizations—and most especially because they don’t do it for the promotional aspects. They do it to give back. I ask you to keep this in mind. Nonprofit and charitable organizations very often have small marketing budgets. Not only do they rely on outside marketing forces to promote their initiatives, they would likely be forced to close their doors without that support. That means that when someone with a strong brand and presence promotes them, it’s a highly trusted and personal connection, and you can’t buy that kind of support. In other words, they not only need you to promote them, they want you to promote them. But your instincts are correct. It’s not about you. So just make sure your entire content focuses on the organization you’re helping, what they do for the community and how 14

others can join in the cause. Then it becomes a huge win for all.

2. HOBBIES You bungee jumped from four of the tallest bridges in the U.S. In your spare time, you go fly fishing. You love playing chef and use only locally grown, organic foods. Your friends are always begging you to go to Vegas with your card shark talents. You’ve done mission work in Africa and would like to start your own group. You almost played professional baseball. You have an insane talent for gardening design or bass guitar.

Your family works at a soup kitchen once a month. Ok…you get the picture. And two more words. Reality TV. People are interesting…and people are interested in interesting people. We remember others based on these unique traits. And most of all, people love the story behind the face. Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies. Quite often, it’s the first thing that will personally connect you to a prospect.

3. CREATIVE CONNECTION This one is perhaps our favorite. While we can’t imagine seeing something come across our news feed from a landscaping company every day, imagine this for a moment. What are we always told to remember in this hectic world? Stop and smell the roses, right? So what if…a landscaping company posted a beautiful flower each day, just to remind you to ‘stop and smell the roses’. And at the bottom of that photo (small print), you included

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the type of flower and type of environment needed to make it flourish (moist soil, full sun, etc.). And then, of course, watermarked it with your logo….and a title like, “Sam’s Daily Reminder: It’s Time to Stop & Smell the Roses”. You could even include some great, thought-provoking quotes. It has the personal connection (Sam), the business connection (flowers & logo watermark) and a cool creative connector (pause the meetings and paperwork to take a moment and appreciate life by noticing this beautiful flower). This is a great idea for staying ‘top of mind’ and connecting business with the kind of creative messaging people wouldn’t mind seeing every day.

4. EXPERIENCES This one is similar to hobbies from the personal aspect, but instead of something that identifies us like our hobbies, our experiences are random happenings that can have great interest and meaning to our audience.

Whether you have a unique experience buying a new car or a fateful conversation with a stranger in the airport, if you feel it ties into a life lesson or business lesson you’d like to share, by all means do. The lesson is to keep your radar up 24/7. Any experiences you have which relate to your

ideal customer are an opportunity to connect beyond the business world. And when we do that, we become a part of the family.

5. INFLUENCERS “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. You’ve probably heard that saying, and the same is true whether you are a teenager or a business owner. Maybe you’ve learned a lot of your business knowledge from Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet…or you like to quote Benjamin Franklin. Perhaps you have some mentors you’d like to recognize and tell why they’re important to you. Sharing the people and things that influence us is what makes us human. No matter how successful your business, you didn’t get there alone. People and circumstances shaped you along the way. Recognizing others for their contribution in our lives, large or small, is important in staying connected and grounded.

We hope these five types of content help you to put a fresh spin on what you share with your audience, whether personal or professional. We believe you must have the combination of both to build an incredible brand.

Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder of BrandFace®, LLC. Michael Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace® partner. Together, they focus on personal branding and marketing designed to help real estate professionals become the face of their business & a star in their market. BrandFace® for Real Estate Professionals is a book, professional speaking series and an exclusive workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com.

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GRID 7 PROPERTIES Scott Schier, the principal owner of Grid 7 Properties, began earning firsthand experience in the real estate industry by flipping homes and becoming a rental owner himself.

Scott identified a void in the local marketplace of property management companies that genuinely wanted to work for their clients, and for him.

A natural evolution occurred, and he decided to open Grid 7 Properties, a full service property management company with an emphasis on a team solution for their clients. Established in 2011, Grid 7 Properties has since blossomed into the flourishing property management company it is today, primarily serving the northwest suburbs of Chicago and managing about 400 residential units, as well as a collection of commercial properties.

to work with owners to ensure they’re comfortable and that our work is cost-efficient.”

With a comprehensive staff that includes two leasing agents, four office support staff members, two maintenance coordinators, two fulltime handymen, an office runner, and leading business development roles in place, the Grid 7 Properties team is well-equipped to handle the day-today needs of tenants and owners. To market units to potential renters, the Grid 7 team offers options that include an online presence that spans the real estate industry’s leading listing sites, ensuring that each property and unit makes a strong digital impression.

As a full service property management company, the team at Grid 7 Properties focuses on educating landlords on best practices and the overall landlord experience. “A large portion of landlords in our area are “forced placed” landlords. This client is not only looking for a property management company, they are looking for guidance and strength. Our clients, both owners and tenants, are supported with a diversified group of professionals to assist them. We believe in team problem solving, excellent communication, and superior customer support.”

As for Grid 7’s community involvements, their presence extends far beyond their tenant and owner network, making an impact on the local professional sphere, too. Scott serves on the board of the local Boys & Girls Club, and the Grid 7 team is also deeply involved in the local Chamber of Commerce. Likewise, Grid 7 also plays a pivotal role within the Fox Valley Realtor Association, serving on the Government Affairs committee. This aspect of their involvement helps the Grid 7 Properties Team stay up-to-day on regulatory developments in their industry—knowledge they helpfully incorporate into their work and pass along to clients.

Grid 7 Properties provides a range of custom services to meet each client’s needs. From the outset, Grid 7 is the primary point of contact, with a meticulous set of duties that include establishing market rent, implementing marketing, conducting showings, managing tenant application screenings and background checks, directing ongoing management throughout the duration of a lease, maintenance services, and everything in between. Whether keeping in touch by phone, text message, or through their tenant/owner online portal, customer support is a primary focus for the team at Grid 7. Clear and timely communication is also a main driver, keeping clients informed and aware from the beginning of the leasing process through its closure. What’s more, Grid 7’s team ensures a tailor-made approach to service, adjusting their methodology as preferred by owners, whether that means taking a complete and hands-on approach or working alongside owners who wish to be more actively involved. “Because we’re investors ourselves, we understand the value of owning a property,” says Scott, “along with all the fears and concerns the average property owner has. That knowledge gives us insight into how best

Looking ahead toward the future, the Grid 7 Properties team is poised for growth. “We believe in our business solution platform and look forward to growing our market-share while maintaining the hallmark standard of service out clients deserve.” At the end of the day, the Grid 7 team never loses sight of the people behind every transaction.

With a professional ethos that prioritizes quality, communication, and continued education, Scott and the Grid 7 team are enthusiastic about their work and energized by overcoming challenges. “Every day is different,” Scott says. “It keeps the work exciting. Every tenant and owner has different needs, and finding the best ways to serve them and keep them informed is an enjoyable daily challenge. There’s so many facets we take care of in this business—from leasing, to rent collections, to maintenance. Piecing all those elements together to fit a client’s lifestyle and expectations is what we’re here for and what we’re good at.” With several years’ success already under their belt, along with a philosophy squarely focused on quality execution, the future ahead for Scott and the team at Grid 7 Properties seem assuredly busy and bright.

To learn more about Grid 7 Properties, visit grid7properties.com, e-mail info@grid7properties.com or call (800) 581-2471 www.

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Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

– Bobby McFerrin

By Barry Eisen

A gizzillion years ago I had the honor and privilege of spending time with Norman Vincent Peale, Methodist minister, author of The Power of Positive Thinking, controversial thinker and one of the best motivational speakers I’ve ever heard.

He told of a chance encounter with one of his parishioners, George, on a street in New York City. George was despondent. When Dr. Peale asked him about his state of mind, George let go with a tirade of confessions of being so overwhelmed with problems and worries that he couldn’t sleep at night and couldn’t think straight by day. “I’m a depressed mess,” George sadly confided.

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the end of TODAY. Preparing for tomorrow at the end of today helps you rest well. The mind doesn’t have to spend the night worrying “Remember this and Don’t forget that!”

You wake up knowing how to start and where you’re going! Be sure to prioritize your list with an A, B, or C. Let go of yesterday and focus on your To-Do-List of today. If it was important from yesterday and “George,” Dr. Peale said, waiving his incomplete, it’ll be on today’s list. arm slowly over the horizon, “here Do things, not because you have to, are thousands of souls who haven’t but because you get to. got a worry among them. If death means you have no worries, to worry • Keep your mind busy with the must mean you’re alive! And if you highest priority in the moment. Inhave lots of worries, how much more stead of figuring out why you are the alive you must be!” It’s a matter of way you are, stay on task knowing perspective.” that you can only do one thing at a time. Consider the satisfaction you Worry is something we choose that will feel when that one task is acis not of the world, but rather, in complished and then turn to your how we think. It’s a distraction that next. Of course interruptions will takes us away from confronting our happen. When they do, ask yourself: realities.

Is the interruption or is the task at hand of HIGHER VALUE for THIS Here are nine potentially life chang- moment? (Most therapists don’t try ing ideas. Some you maybe doing, to figure out why a person is worrysome you have done in the past, ing; but will prescribe that a patient and for some may these serve as a do something or learn something on reminder to get back on track. If any which to focus positively. Learning/ would serve you, start now. stimulating the mind can get a person out of their ego-centric predicament.)

• Make your list for tomorrow at Multi-tasking has been proven not to Dr. Peale asked George if he could spare some time to meet a large group of people who might have answers to George’s worries, since this was truly a worry free group. George, at his wits end grunted “sure.” After a long car ride to near the tip of Long Island, Dr. Peale had the taxicab stop in the middle of a large cemetery and the two men got out.

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likely to show you their good if they feel that availability from you. Don’t listen to T.V. or read internet news be• Allow yourself to risk. Enter en- fore you go to sleep at night. Count the ough. A friend of Nan’s had won the things for which you can be grateful grand prize on the American Chop- (full of greatness!) and sleep better. per contest. When asked how he won, he laughed and said, “When the con- • Smile more and hold eye contact test was announced, I ENTERED.” with others. Create a positive posYou’ve got to allow yourself to enter ture. Your positive physiology will the game and know that you aren’t be reflected by others and even if going to win every time, but you’re a you’re faking it, your forced smile, winner by playing and playing your eye contact and positive posture will best. Enter enough! If worrying about feel more natural and comfortable. losing stops you from entering, it Little shifts. guarantees a loss. Enter enough and you’ll find those places where you • Delegate responsibilities. Do what win. And as you enter enough, your you can, but let go of things before skills get better. Make up for lack of you become overwhelmed. If someskills, not by thinking about the lack, one else can do a task only 80% of but with enough activity. Show up... the way you would do it, but it gives you 100% of that time for another most don’t. taks which only YOU can do...you • Focus on what is right, the good, are 180% productive with that time. rather than on what is wrong. So Life is too short. What parts are really much of the media focuses on the worth your attention? isolated disaster story. Happy stories don’t sell. Media stories appeal to • Exercise/eat well/sleep well. Exthe lowest common denominator of ercise is a great idea even though our interests. Don’t go for the easy you may feel stressed about time and “take” or opinion of others. Consider other preoccupations. The endorthe possibilities. Have you ever had phins that reduce feelings of worry, your good intentions misread by fear, adrenaline production, also others? Allow the benefit of doubt by promote a more relaxed mind and seeing good in others. They are more body. As we grow older it’s inactivity be the best way to go. Slow down and focus.

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On the top of a full size piece of paper or, if you prefer, a digital memo app, write or type the words WORRY LIST. When a worry comes to mind, instead of letting it interrupt what you are doing, take out this list and jot down/type the worry. Keep doing this for one whole week. On Friday afternoon between the hours of 4:005:00 PM lock yourself up in a room • Take breaks. Short (10-15 minute) alone and take out your worry list. periods of meditation, stretching or Worry about everything on your list self hypnosis have been proven to for that full hour. So, you haven’t minimize mental fatigue, re-direct missed your self-made opportunity thinking to positive vision, and (choice) to worry, but you did it prompt productive, feelings of well under your conditions, and wasted a lot less time. being and energy. that will contribute most to pain and suffering. Do what’s right. Stay active. Cutting back on simple carbs allows the brain greater clarity.

Good sleep patterns promote a healthier brain and better transmission of neurotransmitters (especially dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin -- happy! happy! happy!).

• Do something nice for at least one someone each day. Go out of your way to make some else’s life a little better. Get out of your own head, just a little. Pass it forward.

If this idea seems silly, it is...and it’s not. (You might be surprised at how many people with whom I’ve shared this thought, took it seriously and found great benefit.) Value yourself and those around you by not sweating Worry is not caused by external events so much of the small stuff... And as or situations, but by how we perceive the wise man said, “It’s ALL small those events or situations. But for stuff.” those self sabotaging warriors who are reluctant to give up worrier ways, Copyright©, 2015 Barry Eisen. All here is a great idea: rights reserved.

Barry Eisen teaches personal development seminars and coaches Southern California top producing REALTORS®. “Your business will never grow more than you do” is the theme; self hypnosis and behavior modification are the tools for playing a bigger game. barryeisen.com, barryeisen@LA.twcbc.com 818-769-4300 Top Agent Magazine

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Daily Habits That Will Increase Your Mental Strength When it comes to building physical strength, the solutions are obvious, but keeping up your mental strength isn’t as easy as going to the gym. Although physical exercise does help clear your head and relieve stress, there are other things you can do daily that will help your mind be as strong and flexible as your body after a workout. Here’s just a few things you can do to help clear your head and make you more productive.

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DON’T WASTE YOUR BRAIN POWER That might seem obvious, but think about how much mental energy you might use up worrying about negativity or things you have no control over. Instead of focusing on problems, focus on solutions.

This actually take a lot of effort, we’re all conditioned to let worry paralyze us sometimes. Try and catch yourself when you’re Top Agent Magazine

wasting time thinking about about past mistakes or current dilemmas you don’t have the power to stop. You really only have so much mental energy, and if you have kids and an especially stressful work situation, that might be even less than normal. Start treating your brain like the precious resource it is. You don’t want to be running on empty when it really matters.

BE MORE POSITIVE Eliminating negative thoughts is essential to increasing your mental strength. Carrying around negativity is like swimming with all of your clothes on. You might be okay at first, but eventually you’ll feel like you can barely stay afloat. Don’t drown in negativity, use positive thoughts as a lifesaver. This doesn’t mean you should ignore things you need to improve, just approach them with solutions rather than beating yourself up. Constant monitoring of this is important since it’s really easy to slide back into negative thinking.

STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE A lot of mental energy can go to dealing with anxiety. One way to deal with that is by forcing yourself to try new things and take on new challenges, that you might normally avoid because they make you feel unsure or scared. Challenge yourself daily, even with small things.

This is definitely something that becomes easier with practice. Start small, and in no time you’ll be taking on things you never Top Agent Magazine

thought were possible. The simple task of trying something new every day will have you feeling energized and put you on the path to self-growth.

BE SELF-AWARE Your emotions affect everything you do, even if they’re not at the surface. Recognizing and labeling them is key. A lot of the above exercises require selfreflection. It’s okay to have the emotions you have, understanding why and where those emotions come from allows you to focus on dealing with them rather than just wallowing in them. Being self-aware is also about self-care. Know the things that help relax and rejuvenate you. That way you can handle everyday stresses and remain calm even during the most turbulent times.

BE WILLING TO LEARN A lot of people are still hung up on the idea that learning is a boring and tedious process, but you aren’t in junior high anymore. You can find something you’re actually interested in and immerse yourself in it, which engages your mind like nothing else. Whether it’s learning a new technology that will improve your business or something that will make you a more well-rounded person, the learning process keeps you engaged and open to new ideas. A curiosity about the world and new things is something that all mentally strong people have in common.

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