Willpower and stubbornness are close relations. One attribute you want. The other you don’t.
Stubborn people steadfastly hold onto ideas and, right or wrong, will not be persuaded to see any other point of view. You could argue that this is misdirected willpower.
When it comes to forming new habits, willpower is what you need. With willpower you can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to yourself and mean it.
If you feel that you lack willpower, take heart. Willpower can be exercised. Start small. Make a short-term commitment and stick to it. Then increase the time and difficulty of the commitments. Your willpower will strengthen.
Following is a list of commitments. Add to this list, please. Pick something – one item that you want to instil into your life – and work on it.
Promise yourself that you will stick faithfully to this commitment and use your willpower to ensure you do. Don’t accept any excuses from yourself. Don’t wait for New Year.
Never make Resolutions. Make Commitments.
Keep trying.
WeightWatchers ® have a saying that I love:
“If you eat more than you planned, don’t wait until the next DAY to get back on track,
start at the next MEAL”.
If you have a day when you don’t perform your task, start again immediately. Don’t give up – you are exercising your willpower; you don’t have to be perfect.
OK, are you ready for the list? Pick something (easy to start), and commit to it:
- Search for new listings. Make 25 good prospecting calls per day for 30 days.
- Increase to 40 good prospecting calls after 30 days at 25. Do this for 90 days.
- Write your goals 15 times each working day before 8.30am. Do this for 90 days.
- Telephone 4 of your sellers each day. Make a time to visit one per day. Do this for 30 days.
- Read a motivational or educational book for 30 minutes each day for 90 days.
- Start a new seller source (e.g. FSBO) today and stick with it for one month.
- Set one good listing appointment for each working day for one month.
- Plan a Best Month Ever (BME) and stick to the plan for a one month.
- Send a minimum of 5 Thank You Cards per day for six months.
- Obtain one Substantial Price Reduction per working day for 10 days.
- Eat only fruit each day until midday.
- Save a percentage of everything you earn. Start at 5 percent for six months.
- Attend one seminar per quarter.
- Have three alcohol-free days per week. [If you have trouble sticking to this, you should call Alcoholics Anonymous (seriously). The number is in the White Pages.]
- Do something uplifting with your spouse and kids each week for six months.
- Plan one good holiday and two shorter ‘reward breaks’ per year and take them.
- Obtain one REAL result (a listing, a sale started, or a SPR) per day each working day for one month.
- Write ‘Today’s Forecast’ at the top of your diary and ‘Today’s Results’ at the bottom of your diary each day for 12 months. On days when you didn’t get a result, write 0.
- Walk briskly for 20 minutes three days each week, rain, hail, or shine. Do this for six months.
- Study Winning Ways – Your Path To Mastery. Sit down with your manual and CDs at a set time, either early in the morning or later at night (Don’t burn good prospecting hours). Go through the entire three-day course. Do this once per quarter for a whole year.
- Don’t have your first cup of tea or coffee at the office until you have spoken to 5 clients, either sellers, buyers, or potential sellers.
- Call 10 buyers daily from the Enquiry Log and qualify them.
- Role Play your listing presentation once a week for 90 days.
- Do the hard tasks FIRST. Do this every day for 6 months.
- Call a winner once a week. From that call set actions and carry them out. Do this for 12 months.
Undoubtedly you will think of many more to add to the list. Anything is OK, as long as your life – professionally, personally, spiritually, or all three – improves because you committed to it.
Exercise your willpower with these, or similar exercises.
Get tough on yourself and live a better life.
Gary Pittard