So much good secret sauce in this article.

I think the main paradigm shift that is happening is to really get into `It`s not about me` for agents and brokers.

Do what you can to be a pillar for the community.

Do what you can to streamline and maximize on your marketing dollar.

Invest in your people.

Ian

It would be great if what’s here gets folks in your brokerage focused on a course of action. From what I see, those who are taking steps to take on the reigns of leadership are gaining market share, reducing costs, affiliating with better technology partners, recruiting the better local agents, closing sales and whipping this market downturn in the rear.

You broke it down nicely with your three points Dane.

Intuition – Trust that voice inside your head. Play devils advocate with yourself, like “why hire 4 people for my social media department or is there not a more efficient way about this?” Perhaps you have folks already working for you that possess hidden SM skills who can be repurposed to newer and more effective and progressive positions. Or better yet, maybe you have folks in your organization whose traditional and old school skills can be easily be assimilated into a new job description and a new hire. In this manner you’re simply replacing people rather than adding them to your payroll.

Prioritize. Having lots of ideas is typically never the problem. Executing the right ones typically are. I have found the easiest way through this obstacle is to remind yourself of what your brand promise to the world. Then look at the ideas facing you. Ask yourself which of these ideas will best deliver on my promise.

Here at 1000watt we have an inner brand promise which simply regards the the desire we have to insure our clients get good nights sleep. It’s simple but yet fulfilling on that promise guides us across every decision; from the sort of people we hire to work for us, the disciplines we establish for the quality of work we deliver and all the way down to the topics we blog about, the programs and applications we invest in and even the vendors we recommend. On a personal side, that promise also makes it real easy for us to respond to late night or weekend emails and texts from clients who should never have to wait overnight for an answer to a concerning question.

Finally, I’ve learned that when faced with many priorities, the best place to start anywhere. I tend to go for the most difficult one first and get it out of the way. Conquering the hardest idea leaves ya feeling considerably empowered to take on the next one.

Details. Yup. You said it best. The final polish. Honestly, if there is one thing that plagues brokerages it’s the lack of meticulous review of everything and everyone. Do better. Hire better. Shopping price when it comes to all the investments you make to support and grow your firm should be second versus shopping for the best in class.

Good luck and thanks for the contribution to the post!

1) R.O.I.
2) Prioritize
3) Details

R.O.I., because I could easily hire 3 more staff tomorrow to add to our existing social media department, and keep them brilliantly busy every minute for the next year! At the same time, I have to be able to communicate effectively with my partners about the costs of this campaign and the revenue it generates — sometimes challenging to quantify, since we’re smack dab in the middle of a huge cultural shift! I find I have to engage my intuition a lot.

Prioritize, because there are so MANY great ideas to execute, that every day I have to decide between them — where best to channel the time, energy, and money? …not generally or conceptually, but *specifically* It’s all very real.

Details, because in the end, it’s the final polish that makes the difference (as you illustrate so aptly with your Four Seasons experience). In the case of digital content, that often means one more pass through the editing process — fine-tuning that headline, adding drop-shadow to that photo, changing the music in that video. It’s the quality that’s differentiating.

Regarding BarCamp, I think, if you were to communicate with those individuals who were really at the heart and soul of BarCamp – the originators – you might be surprised to learn that my stance is a) not as off color as people have assumed it is and b) actually more on target that most people realize.

In short, the ideal and spirit of BarCamp is a beautiful one. What it was when it first began and what it could have been was something special to behold. Andy, Brad and others were visionaries in this regard. The Michael Lang, John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, and Artie Kornfeld of Real Estate. And that first BarCamp was indeed real estate’s Woodstock.

Today, it’s different.

Should you and I ever find ourselves in conversation (I would encourage that) I will share with you my beliefs and expand on things in hopes of assuaging any ill feelings or doubts about where and about what my position is today.

Peace and Love!

A superb encapsulation! Inspiring and a validation that with the assistance of one Jim Marks, we are on the right course to “crush it”. So appreciated our input in assisting us with the ultimate design of our web site designs and structure at Partners Trust.

Drew and I over at WebRealEstateTools would like to offer your readers a free ebook download “SEO for Realtors & Brokers” – using these principals and a little work you can compete with the Zillows and Trulias on your home turf …

Here is the link: http://webrealestatetools.com/seo-ebook-download-page