The best way to approach growth is to reflect on the past year...what worked, what didn't work, what could use a little improvement? After that, start formulating your path one step at a time using these proven methods!

Napoleon Bonaparte once said: 'Dress me slowly, I am in a hurry.'There is so much wisdom in that quote. When we rush, we make mistakes. We miss opportunities" (Araez 2018, 13).
Real estate agents become savants at multi-tasking and have to be quick to move from one task to the next and from one deal to the other. But it’s important that agents take the time to plan for the year ahead by laying out the roadmap to success, step by step. Here are five tactics Mauricio Umansky, founder and CEO of The Agency in Los Angeles, uses when planning for growth (Umansky 2021, n.d.).
1. Step back in time
What worked - what didn't work?
"When planning for a new year, I like to take a step back and really dive into both the personal and professional areas where I have some room for improvement and note what avenues I’m taking where I’m seeing the most success. From there, I typically see what I need to do to be able to move forward and grow" Umansky advises.
"Each agent will find they have something completely different to work on — be it creating more work-life balance, streamlining operations, upping their marketing techniques or enhancing their digital and online strategy" (Umansky 2021, n.d.).
2. Set your goals
Document your goals and refer back to them to note benchmarks to your success. Make them a reality by making it official. "Next, hold yourself accountable for taking the steps to reach those goals. I will say, you have to be realistic when setting goals and be kind to yourself in the process, too.
"For example, if you set a goal of wanting to list five more homes this year than you did last year, and you only make it to four, that’s a huge achievement and by no means a failure. You will always be winning if you set realistic goals and be kind to yourself in the process," Umansky advises. (Umansky 2021, n.d.).
3. Lay the foundation
"Once you have identified areas for improvement, it’s time to put a plan of action in place to achieve your goal. For instance, if you need to reevaluate your work-life balance and feel like your job is consuming too much of your time, it may be time to start growing your team.
"Need to enhance your marketing presence? It’s all about growing your knowledge and expertise, and then ultimately your business will follow. Look for online courses or training that your brokerage may offer. Not to mention, there are so many great articles to read online that delve into best practices and new trends. Don’t be afraid to try something new" (Umansky 2021, n.d.).
4. Think outside the box
Agents consider most of our growth successes in terms of hard dollar figures, but try to focus on another area of the business that is equally as important like your brand identity.
"The real estate industry is one that’s driven by relationships and trust. It is important to set yourself apart from the crowd, to always be deliver white-glove service to your clients and present innovative solutions to achieve their buying or selling goals.
"Make sure you’re constantly growing your creative approach to the job. This will be well-rewarded in those hard dollars and transaction numbers I mentioned above," Umansky advises.
5. Keep yourself accountable
To keep your eye on the prize, agents have to hold themselves accountable.
"If you think outside the box and hold yourself accountable, I have no doubt that success will follow. Make sure to take your time in planning and creating a thoughtful and achievable path for success.
When I find myself hurrying along and racing to check the box, I recall Napoleon’s quote, take a deep breath and take a step back. Success is built with a strong foundation, carefully laying one brick at a time," Umansky concludes.
Aráez, Alex. (2018). Dress Me Slowly, I’m in a Hurry.: A Counter-Intuitive Approach to Getting a Better Job. [E-book]. Independently published.
Umansky, Mauricio. (2021, September 29). Want to level up in 2022? 5 ways to approach growth. Inman. https://www.inman.com/2021/09/28/want-to-level-up-in-2022-5-ways-to-approach-growth/?utm_source=agentedge&utm_term=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Agent%20Edge%2020211001&utm_content=A
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