Coaching Corner: Fresh start!
By "Coach" Marilou Butcher Roth
Well, we made it -- another year gone, bringing fresh hope for our new year. Don’t you love the idea of fresh starts -- I know I do, and along those lines, let’s get a bit organizational. Some of you may do yearly business plans, others not. Either way let’s look at your time and how you want to be spending it.
First, get yourself a piece of paper. I know, it seems old school to actually write on paper, but it does work better. Now, draw a line down the middle of the page, labeling the left side “Personal Absolutes” and the right side “Business Absolutes.” Begin to identify the tasks that fill your week, that you deem to be ABSOLUTELY essential. These are the items that repeat weekly, or even daily. Ideas on the business side might (really might) be “finding new business,” “lead follow up,” “admin work,” plus others that are critical to you running an effective business. Do not factor in listing or showing appointments into this mix. On the personal side, you may have your workouts, errands, date nights, etc.
Your next step is to make sure you do not have projects on this particular list -- they deserve one of their own! Project identification is any task that has a beginning and an end, not the ongoing ones. Look back through your list and move any project items that have made their way onto the wrong list. Create a new list for your projects -- I like to have one for business and one for home. Getting all of your project ideas down on paper also helps to eliminate the mental clutter floating around in your head.
Now that you have the identification process complete (at least for now), plug those items into your schedule. Some of you may like specific times, others prefer specific days without nailing down a time. Do this in a way that works for you. Be sure you create space in your weekly calendar for “projects.”
Obviously, we do not have the opportunity to break this completely down, so you are getting the shortened version. If you are interested in delving deeper into the specifics of this I do offer extended programs about this topic -- please feel free to contact me at or 513-706-4920.
Happy 2019!!!
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
