Are you holding on to something that is hurting you?
Gather around children and let uncle Billy tell you a story.
Long ago in Southeast Asia natives learned they could catch a monkey with a nut in the bottom of a jar. They tied the jar to a tree so the monkey couldn’t turn it over or run away with it. The jar had a mouth just large enough for the monkey to slide his hand in, but once the monkey closed its fist around even one nut, it couldn’t get its fist out of the jar.
Now imagine this: a monkey is sitting there with a fist full of what it thinks is going to be its next meal. But the only way to get its hand out is to let go of those nuts. This is know as “the monkey’s dilemma”. The monkeys would holler and scream about their situation, but few would let loose of what they thought was a sure thing.
Do you need to let go?
Let me be very clear. I am not equating REALTORS with monkeys, but I do see many get caught in some nutty situations. Just like the monkeys, REALTORS sometimes have to let go of certain things to free themselves up for greater success. Here are three areas I’d like to look at.
Bad Listings
Bad listings, those you regret having. Week after week you waste time and advertising dollars on these duds. Let go of it and remember this the next time you go after a listing. Do you really want your hand stuck in jar with that listing when you could be doing other things?
Bad Clients
How do you know when you have a really bad client? When you come home to your significant other and say, “Guess who called today?” and he or she guesses right.
You can’t have only wonderful clients, but when a client starts to drain your energy and effectiveness it is time to let go.
Bad Staff
Nothing will drain your energy faster than a bad staff member. They are double trouble because not only do they under achieve, they divert your attention from your good staff members. Cut that staff member loose.
Why is it so hard?
Letting go is difficult because it requires change. If you think it might be time to change something or someone, in your office, just ask yourself one little question: Would you enter into that situation again if you had a chance to do it over? If the answer is clearly no, then you have to let go!