5. Integrity – Integrity is an often overused euphemism for “doing the right thing.” Here I am referring to the integrity that you have in the relationship with your client, putting that relationship before the results of any particular transaction. Repeat business is the best business, and when the client knows you are always looking out for their interests ahead of yours, that business continues to come.
6. Positive Thinking – It is easy to get discouraged in our business. On average, 2.6 percent of the entire stock of buildings sell each year, meaning that 97.4 percent don’t. If you believe that every “no” you receive gets you one step closer to a “yes,” you will be in a much better frame of mind. You must think positively and remain optimistic.
7. Networking – People in our industry work with people they know and like. Meeting someone face-to-face is significantly more advantageous to relationship-building than speaking to someone on the phone numerous times. Get out there and interact with participants in the marketplace.
8. Time management – All you have in this business is your knowledge and your time. While you can constantly gain more knowledge, it is critically important that you manage your time well, as time past can never be recaptured. Taking a course or reading a book on effective time-management skills will allow you to work smart, getting the most out of every hour that you put into this business.
9. Set goals – Setting goals will serve as constant reminders of things you need to do to achieve your objectives. It is important to write these goals down and to review them periodically. Setting goals for the year, the month and the week will keep you focused on what is important.
10. Self-Improvement – Self-improvement begins with an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. To the extent that you can identify these honestly, you can enhance your strengths and, more importantly, focus on addressing and correcting the weaknesses.
Each of these characteristics and traits are clearly evident in top brokers within our industry. Focusing on these elements creates a path to achieving the success that we all ultimately strive for.
rknakal@masseyknakal.com
Robert Knakal is the chairman and founding partner of Massey Knakal Realty Services and has brokered the sale of more than 1,250 properties in his career, with a market value in excess of $8.5 billion.
