I Do Solemnly Swear...

before the entire innerwebs, as Gawd is Mah Witnuss, that I will be the best little Business Kickstart Bootcamper Ever in September.

I have task lists and things to do, and I'm really pumped and looking forward to it. This is going to be FUN! As part of it, and just to keep me on track, I'm going to do another Blog Every Day Month. I will try to keep it out of the real estate shop talk weeds, I promise, but it probably will get into the non-real-estate-specific issues of being me, self-employed and freaking out at 3 a.m.

 I am still struggling with this self-employment life, it's scary and challenging and also fun and fulfilling. I'm liking it but I'm FAR from hitting my stride, or hitting a level of business that lets me sleep like a baby at night. I did feel a bit better after a meeting last week, when one of our top producers, a gal I want to be when I grow up (though she's probably 15-20 years younger than I am) said that in her first year in the business, she made $8k and spent $12k. I'm feeling better about my own year now!

But this is a do-or-die quarter for me, I MUST bust my ass for the rest of the year, not just to close more deals between now and Christmas, but to get positioned for a great year next year, and today my broker held a "90 days to success" meeting with a handout she created. It all sounds fun and is totally do-able, and I shall just freaking do it. I will not give in to fear, insecurity, or NCIS marathons. I will stay focused, busy, and productive. No bullshit, no excuses, and no Muppet flail lurching from one bright idea to the next. Focus on the basics - meet people, study the market, keep in touch, be helpful, be present.

One of the things my broker introduced us to last week was this really nifty website called Lifetick.com. It is NOT a real estate or sales program, you can use it for any goals, and in fact it encourages a balanced plan that incorporates core values. I've only played around with it a bit using the free version (though it costs a whopping $20 a year for all the bells and whistles) and it's pretty damn cool. I like the way it guides me through setting a goal and doesn't allow for wishy-washy, non-specific stuff. If you're an old corporate war horse you've probably been through goal-setting seminars, and this program incorporates the S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Specific) goal concept, and it really made me think about what I will do next week, and the week after that, and between my broker's 90 day plan and this program, I feel like I have drawn myself a roadmap. At least, the start of a roadmap. I'm sure it'll get much more complicated in the next 90 days, but it's a start.