The purpose of this exercise is to identify the strategic and non-strategic costs of a company so that the whole organization knows how to save money and help make a profit.

Position With Overall Accountability: CEO or General Manager (whoever has the responsibility for the financial well being of the company)

Reporting Positions: All

Staff Positions: All

Items Needed: All costs within the company

Standards:

1. All Department Heads shall review budget and direct any and all questions to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or General Manager (GM).

2. All company employees and salespeople shall adhere to company budget.

3. The CEO reserves the right to alter budgets provided that alterations add to the profitability of the company.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Budget Outline Strategic vs. Non-Strategic Costs” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will review my Budget vs. my Actual income and expenses on a monthly basis.
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.” -
Helen Keller

Chances are good that if you’re reading this, given the title, you are not feeling positive about today’s real estate market. Well, let me relieve some stress. The market has been abnormally strong over the last four years, so the market is not a down market, it’s a traditional market. Anyone who’s been in real estate more than four years knows this. The market is doing what it does naturally; it’s adjusting itself.

Stop fretting about the market. If you are not as busy as you want to be, then go over to the phone and start making calls. Before you pick up that receiver, here are five things to do:

I’ll leave you with this thought - we are all given the same opportunities in this life, and what you do with them is entirely up to you. Ponder for a moment what you will do.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Keeping Positive in a Slowing Market ” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will stay positive and choose to be happy!
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”
W. Edwards Deming

You should be used to it by now - the buyer’s market has settled into its big, cushy, leather, easy chair and is resting comfortably. It is like the guest who just won’t leave, so you have to learn to live with him for a while longer. One of the best ways to do this is to sharpen your negotiation skills.

During the last five years of the hot seller’s market, negotiation skills weren’t quite as important as they are now. All you had to do was put the house on the market with a reasonable price and let the bidding begin.

Now things have changed. Today, we’re seeing a more traditional market where buyers have their share of homes to choose from. So the negotiation game among sellers and buyers (and their respective agents) has reached a new level of importance.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Negotiation Tips For a Buyer’s Market” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will work on my negotiation skills and focus on solutions!
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

While this is a great time to do your business planning for next year, there are some other important ways you can tweak your personal operating system to bring success to you with less effort. Shift some attention from working on the “what” to working on the “whom” you are going to be next year and you will tap into a natural flow of attracting what you want!

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “10 Tips to Create Your Best Year Ever” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will plan my work and work my plan!
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.” -
Helen Keller

Chances are good that if you’re reading this, given the title, you are not feeling positive about today’s real estate market. Well, let me relieve some stress. The market has been abnormally strong over the last four years, so the market is not a down market, it’s a traditional market. Anyone who’s been in real estate more than four years knows this. The market is doing what it does naturally; it’s adjusting itself.

Stop fretting about the market. If you are not as busy as you want to be, then go over to the phone and start making calls. Before you pick up that receiver, here are five things to do:

I’ll leave you with this thought - we are all given the same opportunities in this life, and what you do with them is entirely up to you. Ponder for a moment what you will do.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Keeping Positive in a Slowing Market ” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will stay positive and choose to be happy!
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

Some boundary invasion is very clear. Other forms are subtle enough that we may not recognize them for what they are and wonder why we feel irritated when they occur, or if we even have the right to feel irritated. All of the behaviors below involve boundary invasion, if they happen habitually.

Incidentally, you may want to use this list to check on yourself, too. Many boundary invaders are quite unaware of what they are doing.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Ways That People Invade Your Boundaries” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will review my boundaries and make the appropriate changes.
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

Addressing the problem will only work and help you in the short term if you do not look at the source of it! It is not about time management, but personal management. Look at the benefits below. Do I mention the word time?

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Benefits of Your Time Well Managed!” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will Manage My Time!
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

Does your job or business demand that you be accessible 24/7? In an era of ubiquitous cell phones, pagers, Blackberrys and WiFi internet access, it is easy to keep in touch with the office from anywhere. No doubt, many of you find that this is a mixed blessing at best.

While technology gives increased mobility and connectivity, it can also erode the boundary between your professional and personal life. That’s why it is increasingly more important to set reasonable boundaries and stick to them. For most of us, whether we are CEO’s or executives working for someone else, there is a constant pressure to visit another prospect, make more sales calls or get that report in early. It is not easy to draw a line and say things like “I am taking this weekend off, and will not return calls until Monday morning.”

Though we all value hard work and realize putting in long hours sometimes comes with the territory, if you are unable to set reasonable limits on your job’s time demands, you’re risking a lot. When your health and/or family life begins to suffer, it is not only going to diminish your quality of life, it will also reduce your productivity on the job.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Setting Work and Life Boundaries” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will learn from my mistakes.
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

“The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.”
Robert Frost

The secret to success in real estate - and in life - is much closer than many of us realize: it is right inside our head.

During my years of helping agents, I have found three distinctions that separate the successful from those who constantly yearn. It is based on attitude. And the good news is, by shifting your mindset, you can see dramatic results.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Change Your Mindset and Thrive in Your Business This Year ” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will connect in abundance while having fun!
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran

Have you ever had a crisis in your career? Maybe we should ask how many have you had today? Let’s face it, a great real estate agent is first and foremost a problem solver, and because of this, a top producer’s desk will often become a crisis management center. This center is where all problems arrive and are expected to be solved within a short period of time.

How can we become better at crisis management? Before we can begin to answer this question, we need to start by admitting that most of us deep down are cowards at heart. Yes, we may come across as confident and strong, but at our core, we fear like every one else. We fear that we may fail, or worse yet, that someone won’t like us. We often don’t face each crisis as quickly or as effectively as we could; and occasionally, we don’t face the crisis at all. Soon it is too late.

By accepting our natural aversion to crisis, we can then begin to unravel the simple techniques all of us can use to be better crisis managers. There is an old saying, “It is not what happens to us that matters, it’s what we do about it.” This is one piece of sage wisdom that definitely applies to crisis management.

Let us leave you with one thought that we have learned over the years, “The hardest escrow to close is the one you get upset over!” To reduce the amount of stress you feel when dealing with any crisis or problem, there is a simple solution: create more escrows. When you have more escrows, you won’t be depending on that one closing to pay your car payment or your mortgage. This knowledge will free you to be more confident and more courageous when dealing with your next crisis.

For additional information and guidance on this topic we have posted an article on our website entitled “Crisis Management 101” for you to review.

Commitment for the Week:

Show us your commitment by commenting with your thoughts, plan and deadline below!

Make A Commitment: I will implement the five simple strategies for every person to deal more effectively with their next crisis.
Deadline: _________

Bob Corcoran