Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
I recently purchased a new car. I have a long-time college friend named Trey who runs an automobile dealership in Northern Virginia. I worked with Trey a few years ago when I purchased my last vehicle and had a great experience, so when it came time to make the process happen again, reaching out to Trey was an easy call to make. Now that I’ve been driving it for a few weeks, I made some observations about the process that I think might be some good lessons for anyone in the real estate industry.
It doesn’t have to be “new.” – Well, let me clarify that it was a new car for me but it was a “pre-owned” vehicle, meaning that it didn’t just roll off the assembly line. There will be plenty of things in your career that won’t be “new” but they still will work just fine. Trust me when I say that “old school still works.”
Take things for a test drive – Even after flying over to Virginia to buy a car I hadn’t see before, I took it for a test drive. Driving through the neighborhoods and streets around the dealership gave me a chance to make sure everything worked the way I expected and I understood how everything worked.
Safety matters – seat belts, air bags, and other mechanisms to keep me and my passengers safe should seem like an obvious “must have” but knowing you can rely on the safety measures you cant “see” or test is something all of us should pay attention to. Protecting ourselves and those in our care should be at the forefront of everything we do.
All the bells and whistles? And the horn, blinkers, stereo, leather seats and on and on and on. No matter what we systems and tools we use in our business, if it doesn’t help us provide a better experience for our customers and clients and help us to achieve our goals, it might not be necessary…or worth any extra costs or fees. It’s like getting seat warmers for a car you’re going to use in Arizona.
The view from inside – When you’re behind the wheel of your car…or your business, can you see where you’re going? The rear view mirror is great to remind us of where we’ve been but there’s a reason the windshield is bigger. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and you’ll be getting closer to your destination.
The view from the outside – it may be an old cliche but perception is reality. When people look at you car/business from the street, what do they think about the driver? What story does your car tell?
Keeping in clean – There’s something calming about rolling your new car through the automatic car wash and rinsing away the dirt and grime of the day. Take a few extra minutes to dry off the water spots, vacuum up the dust and debris (and occasional french fries that might fall beneath the seats), and clean the windows and mirrors.
That new car smell – Whether its the fresh leather from the seats or steering wheel or the freshly shampooed carpets, the aroma of a new car hits your senses and reminds you of that fresh start. Start your daily journey with a deep breath or two and get your mind where it needs to be before you turn the key on your new day.
Check the manual – Most new or pre-owned vehicles come with an A to Z book for all the systems and parts of your car. Most car owners keep it in their glove box, always within reach and refers to it with questions or concerns arise. While life doesn’t come with a manual, it does provide many lessons, links, and locations to find the answers you need.
Get yourself a trusty advisor – Almost everyone has a doctor. We have a dentist we can call on when our teeth need cleaned. Most professionals have a financial advisor, attorney, or accountant. I know I can rely on Trey to help me with questions I might have or service inquires I might make. Trey started as a friend and became my advisor for cars but it could just as easily work the other way.
Relationships lead to business and business leads to relationships.
Do you have access to answers you might need in your business from a manager, broker, owner, or mentor? Are you earning that “top of mind awareness” from your customers, clients, and communities to be that “trusted advisor” when it comes to real estate help in your daily business?
Stay fueled up – Between rest, a healthy diet, and proper exercise, make sure you will have the energy to keep you moving from showings with buyers to listing appointments with sellers, classes, coaching sessions and eventually…if you do these things right, you’ll be driving to the closing table.
Regardless of your make and model, no matter how old, new, or refurbished your car/business may be, it’s critical that you show you have “pride in your ride.”
Let’s turn up the radio, plug “success” into our GPS, and buckle up for a great week ahead building relationships, solving problems, and having fun.