New Year’s Resolutions never have done much for me. It always struck me that if it was something I couldn’t pull off before, or lacked the motivation to do, the completely arbitrary turning of a calendar page isn’t going to push me over the edge.
This isn’t to say there aren’t things I want to accomplish in 2008. But the idea of making the resolution to start January 1 always has seemed more than a little silly.
Business plans, however, are different. My business plan always has been results oriented though the last two were built on a shaky foundation. Century 21 has sales awards that come with neat little statues if you bring in a certain amount of gross commissions. Being the recovering corporate wonk that I am, I always would start with the amount needed for the cute little statute and work my way backward.
It was a stupid way to go. The number was arbitrary and didn’t reflect what I really had to bring in to live the life I want, or at least the life that would be more worth living than the one where closing checks need to go in the bank instants before my mortgage payment.
So this year I scaled the plan back. Roughly speaking I need $4 million in non-relocation business to hit the mark. (I make about three-quarters of one percent on a relocation sale or purchase after referral fees and broker splits.)
That number can vary for a number of reasons. But the biggest variable is one that will be decided early in January. There’s a large decision looming and it will play a big part in what my final business plan looks like. I know that sounds nebulous but it’s necessarily so. If you are in the biz, you probably have an idea what I’m talking about.
If there’s anything outside the business plan I want to pin my hat on, it’s spending more time with family. It sounds odd coming from someone whose office is located 25 feet from my kitchen, but I don’t emerge from said office nearly often enough.
My fear of not being on the computer to immediately respond has turned into a borderline mania where I fear being away from the computer lest I not be working hard and prospecting every waking minute of the day, at least electronically.
Then again, electronic prospective serves as a great excuse for not taking out the trash.
Mariana
December 30, 2007 at 9:30 am
“But the idea of making the resolution to start January 1 always has seemed more than a little silly.”
Regarding business, I could not agree with you more! (Personal goals are nice to have a “starting point”) I create business plans – and re-create business plans, but they are an ever-changing and have different launching points all year – Jan 1 is no different than Aug 5, in my world.
ines
January 1, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I’m with you – arbitrary dates like “I’ll start dieting on Monday” or “I will stop smoking on the first of the month” seem really silly to me. As for the family time – AMEN!!!
I feel the same way you do – when my kids say “hurry, let’s get out the door, mom’s not blogging!”
Happy New Year to you and may you surpass that business plan and more!