Ita��s the new year. Are you ready to move that ceiling of achievement youa��ve been batting your head against? 2010 is the year you can do it! Without new skills, we just keeping working harder, not smarter. The really bad thing about continuing to beat your head against that ceiling, is that it hurts more and more. You spend more energy just trying to accomplish the same thing.

A�Too Much Energy, Too Little Results

A�Worse yet, we bounce off that ceiling and hit a new low every thing we get up the energy to try to break through it. Not only that, the last few years have been discouraging for many in real estate. Dona��t give up on yourself! You do have the talent, the skill, and the determination to succeed at a much higher level again.

A�All Performers Hit a�?Ceilings of Achievementa��

A�As a long-time performing pianist and flutist (I spent the first thirty years of my life playing and teaching music), I had to learn how to constantly change up my playing for the better. In these next few blogs, Ia��m going to share what I learned as a musician that will change your 2010 performance dramaticallya��for the better.

A�You Arena��t as Good as You Can Bea��I Promise

A�I just did a talk for our areaa��s Womena��s Council, on how to have a much better 2010a��how to smash through that ceiling of achievement. (Title: Everything I learned about Achievement I learned from Ticklinga�� the Ivoriesa��also the title of my latest keynote).

A�As a four-year old, I climbed up on the piano bench and figured out, by ear, how to play a�?Sue City Suea�?a��with bass notes, chords, rhythm, melodya��the whole shebang. I was acclaimed as a little kid. However, as I got a little older, I found that playing by ear just wasna��t getting me to be a better player. Herea��s what I did to get to concert artistry level, and earn a bachelora��s in piano performancea��and how you can translate these performance principles to your real estate business.

A�Get from a�?By Eara�� via your Talent to Conscious Systemization

A�As a musician, I know that no one can play very well when they try learning only by hearing (playing a�?by eara��). To progress pass a a�?whiz-bang, arena��t you wonderfula�� amateur level, musicians must learn to read music, get a great teacher, and learn to practice perfectly. Generally, their teacher/coach will teach them how to practice, and provide the best editions of music. They will teach them will a specific system. The better the system, the coach, the music, and the practice, the higher the performancea��the sky is the limit.

A�The First Time You Do Something Isna��t As Good as it Gets!

A�What does that mean to a real estate professional? Most of us started selling or managing a�?by eara��. Some of us were talented, and that carried us pretty well for quite a while. But, then, we hit our a�?ceiling of achievementa��, and found we were working 24/7 and expending way too much energya��and money. The way out:

  1. A�Grasp systems (the best systems you can find)
  2. Follow processes and checklists
  3. Get a great coach
  4. Practice as perfectly as you can

A�Practitionersa��Watch Those Actions, Not Just the Words

A�Unfortunately, we real estate professionals dona��t realize that we are judged on our performance, not our knowledge. So, when you get all antsy because you think you need more classes, stop and think about your performance level, not your knowledge level. Spend more time evaluating your performance, and pay someone to coach to you get better (all performers, whether musicians or golfers, do this, by the way). Critique your systems, and keep refining them because they will subconsciously affect your performance levels.

A�If I had a piano, Ia��d demonstrate these points (I do use the piano in the keynote!).

A�What Do You Want to Work on This Yeara��from a�?By Eara�� to Systematic?

A�Do you have some business plan goals for yourself this year to raise your ceiling of achievement? What do you believe is most valuable for you to work on?