I'm SHOCKED...or Should I Be?

I sent out a short survey last week and got many responses.

I want to thank you if you filled yours out.

If you haven't had a chance to take 1.5 minutes to fill it out, it's not too late. Just click survey link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GZHFM87

One of the questions asked in the survey was:

Have you completed your 2010 business plan?

I was SHOCKED by the response!

As of this moment, 80.6% of the agents said 'NO'.

Now the holidays are almost here and people are easily distracted, so that's one excuse.

Maybe some agents wait until after the holidays and New Years Day to work on their business plan.

Yet I wonder how many of the 80% will even get around to writing their business plan at all.

But then I asked myself should I really be surprised?

Real estate sales is a numbers business, where you have to do the activities and then track your results.

If you're not doing either, then you're probably doing no where near the amount of business you COULD be doing!

A simple, written business plan is a POWERFUL tool in helping you achieve your goals and dreams.

Without a business plan, it's like you're sitting in a boat in the middle of the ocean without a GPS system. You don't know where you're headed and you'll probably never get there. You may pick up a few listings or buyers by accident, but you'll continue to be 'lost at sea'.

A business plan that you personally write and decide which target markets you want to focus on can help you stay focused on what you need to do every day, so that you don't get off track.

I believe there's too many business plans floating around in the industry are far too detailed and laborious to follow.

If you're earning $500,000 - $1,000,000 per year in commissions and have a large team, then there's nothing wrong with using a more detailed business plan. Yet for most agents, simple is better!

I have my main goals and target markets selected for 2010. I'm working on designing a simple, 2-page business plan that I can laminate and review every morning and every night.

My business plan includes:

• income/transaction goals
• database size goal
• daily/weekly activities
• monthly transactions goal
• my top 4 target markets
• periodic rewards when hitting my goals
• 2010 year-end vision for my business
  

Finally, I believe that by just having and following a business plan can help you stay on track to do at least an additional 15% - 25% more business, because you'll have fewer lost sales falling through the cracks.