Better Your Inputs

I just received this email message from my Operating Partner, Shaun Rawls. When he mentioned this at the Mastermind lunch last week it really struck a cord with me and the other agents at the luncheon. I wanted to share it with you as well. Perhaps it may have a positive impact on your life. Enjoy!
At our monthly agent mastermind lunch, I urged those in attendance to take inventory of their inputs. “Inputs” are simply the people/tasks/things that have your time and attention, and therefore have an impact on your perspective, your attitude, your energy level, your intelligence and frankly, your future. Now more than ever, who you spend time with matters. Where - and how - you spend your time matters. So, ask yourself… Who and what are you plugged into? What value are they adding to (or taking away from) the quality of your life? How does your environment support your needs, reduce your fears and arm you with strength, knowledge and confidence? The quality of the next 10 years of your life will be determined by your answers to these questions today.
How much time are you giving to the people who contribute the most to the quality of your life? How much time are you giving to the people who take away from it? If you don’t like the answers to these two questions, then you have to ask yourself, “Why?” “Why am I giving too much time to the wrong people and too little time to the right ones?”
Recently, an agent joined us after she told her broker that she wanted to make $100,000 in the next year, and her broker told her that $100,000 was too lofty a goal for her and that she should set her sights on something more realistic in this market! As a leader, I cannot imagine having such a limiting view of someone’s potential – particularly if that someone is in our company! The biggest frustration I have always dealt with is seeing more in people than they see in themselves. As challenging as this market is, making a six figure income is something everyone CAN do. Not earning a six figure income in any market has nothing to do with “can” or “can’t” and everything to do with “will” and “won’t.” My suspicion is that everyone who won’t make six figures is being told they can’t. They’re telling themselves they can’t; their friends say they can’t; their spouse says they can’t; even their broker says they can’t! Those who will are those who believe they can, and most likely, their inputs help shape their thoughts and their successful realities.
To me, the word “can’t” means “impossible.” And since very few things in life are impossible, then “can’t” should be replaced with “not willing to put forth the effort.” There’s no such thing as “I can’t.” There is only “I won’t.” “Can’t” sounds better to most people because it implies that something is outside of your control, which means one is merely a victim of circumstance. “Won’t” is tougher to say because it more accurately says that things are within your control and you are not willing to put forth the effort necessary to accomplish it.
Jennifer Barnes recently said that her favorite word is “Yes” and her least favorite word is “No.” Who’s telling you “Yes, you can!”? Who’s telling you “No, you can’t!”?
All of us need a cheering section of people shouting, “You can do it!” as we run our races. We have a responsibility to choose our cheering section well and to make sure that we are properly cheering others on, too. What we expect and need from others we should provide to them as well. To get good input we have to give good input. Ultimately, it’s the demonstration of the right thoughts and behaviors that will influence us the most.
Thinking bigger than ourselves and bigger than our current situations rarely comes from within without the consistent exposure to others who demonstrate how to do it. For nearly 10 years now, I have enjoyed the pride that comes with being a tiny part of building a company that matters to every agent who wants to make a difference and who wants to succeed in a positive, caring, learning based and productive environment. Our sources of input are unrivaled. Culture, productivity, profitability and personal and professional growth are demonstrated every single day in our market centers.
If you are reading this and thinking that you need to upgrade the inputs in your life right now, I can think of no better place to start to do that than our offices. I doubt that there is any company, in any industry, that is equipping its associates to succeed in any market like we are. Abundance lives here.
Better your inputs, better your life.
Your #1 Fan…
SHAUN RAWLS
Multiple Operating Partner
Keller Williams Realty
www.RawlsGroup.org