There are nuggets in every episode of the CarrotCast that will help every single person who wants to do this.
– Matt Slowik
The 6 Biggest Real Estate Investing Hacks to Implement from Listening to 255 CarrotCasts w/ Part-Time Investor Matt Slowik
Matt Slowik has always been interested in real estate, but he is just now taking it up a notch by launching his business and his Carrot site. Last year, he stumbled upon the Carrotcast, listening to 255 episodes last year alone!
Currently, he is working on his Master’s Degree and is employed full-time as a safety compliance officer. That said, he was probably our top listener in 2020. Last year alone, he listened to over 250 episodes, which equated to about 10,555 minutes!
I know what my favorite episodes are, but we felt there was tremendous value in seeing which episodes resonated most with a newer investor.
Today we are chatting with Matt to learn about his business, what he’s learned, and how he balances his busy lifestyle!
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
This episode of the CarrotCast was very exciting for me. I had the opportunity to look back at all of the cool episodes my team and I have done and I felt very proud of the impact we are making.
What was even cooler, was having Matt on to hear about what he has taken away from our show. Having just started his business in the Western Massachusetts area, he found the CarrotCast to be impactful – so much so that he spent over 10,000 minutes of his time listening to us last year alone!
Here’s a quick look at some of the past episodes that were of the most value to him:
CarrotCast Episode 5: Tips On Building Your Wholesaling Team To Gain More Freedom And Purpose w/ Alex Pardo
This episode takes it way back to the early days of the CarrotCast. We love chatting with Alex and this episode dove into how your mind works and how to utilize the Kolbe Index to identify compatible mindsets.
Immediately after heading the episode, Matt signed up for the Kolbe assessment, learned more about how his mind worked and changed the course of his accordingly.
CarrotCastEpisode 39: Why The Kolbe Score Is Critical To Knowing What Person You Should Hire First (or next) w/ Trevor Mauch
Episode 39 also discussed the Kolbe Index and how to implement it within your own business. For Matt, listening made him realize that it was time to disassemble a long-help partnership.
Because he understood the reasons why and the strengths and weaknesses each other had, he was able to end the partnership while still remaining great friends. The Kolbe Index helped Matt to justify what he was doing, helping him get to know himself better.
CarrotCast Episode 69: Get Rich But Not Quick With Carrot Client Edward Beck
This episode once again focused on motivation and mindset. After hearing the episode, Matt immediately bought Edward’s book and applied the information to his own business. It gave him a jump start into his business and helped him learn exactly where he needed to grow.
CarrotCast Episode 210: 56 Deals in 2019 w/out Looking at Houses, Working 12 Hours/Week – Part-Time Investing w/ Dennis Fassett
The episodes with Dennis Fassett are great for those just starting out or for those who want to get involved in real estate while still working a regular job.
These episodes help to drive home the point that there isn’t just one way to do this. You can find what you love, and make the business all your own.
In this episode, we dove into Dennis’s website and SEO. These critiques helped Matt determine exactly what he needed his website to look like and how to best lay everything out. Today Matt’s website stands out and is looking really great.
Don’t Forget the Truck Talks
The Truck Talks started by accident when I was running late delivering an episode and I decided to record something right then and there while I was driving.
While I love having guests on, the Truck Talks get straight to the point and are very clear about taking action. They are delivered from the heart, with very little filter.
Tips on Time Management
One thing Matt and I talked about which can be a hurdle for many entrepreneurs, is how to effectively manage time. While I don’t know if I am the best person to ask about this, I have found some methods that have helped me greatly.
The first thing I did was shift from thinking about time management and shifting to priority management. Long to-do lists can be overwhelming and often we will focus on the things we can most easily get done so that we feel accomplished and excited about crossing things off.
Meanwhile, the big, important stuff keeps getting passed on. If we focus on just getting those things done, the smaller things can often be delegated or eliminated altogether.
Of course, time blocking helps as does saying no to things more often, but focusing on the priorities instead of the tasks will help you move more quickly toward your goals, creating a business of freedom and impact.
Once you figure it out and repeat the process just a few times a year, real estate becomes a very lucrative and profitable business, with very little overhead.
– Carter Crowley
How Credibility and the Right Partnership Led to 38 Transactions in 2020 w/ Carter Crowley
The importance of the agent and investor relationship is something we’ve been talking about for a while now here at Carrot. We’ve often said that in the future, agents will need to invest, and investors should be licensed in order to better serve their leads.
Well, the future is now.
Now, more than ever, people are looking for ways to sell their homes. With the rise of iBuyers, people are looking to other sources when they are thinking about putting their home on the market. The agent or investor who is able to offer multiple solutions, is going to be able to complete more actions and help more people.
Here’s how Carter Crawley is doing it.
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
Carter Crawley is a Carrot client who is mastering the agent-hybrid model. His business has a healthy mix of deals, and his volume is double that of other investors or agents who try to fit everyone in the same box.
His versatility and ability to offer more than one solution have allowed him to serve more people.
Building That Credibility
Carter Crawley is generating a lot of leads from his Carrot site. His marketing is working amazingly well because he isn’t afraid to put himself out there and let people know what they are all about.
They are currently using Google Ads, Facebook, and a little bit of YouTube for retargeting purposes. They are also running cold calling campaigns and setting up mailers. However, video surrounds the brand.
Their website is laid out very well, with videos explaining exactly who they are and what they do. The website conveys trust and lets them know that Carter and his team can solve their problem.
With his videos, Carter is building rapport and credibility with his clients before he ever meets them.
The Power of 3
There is something about the number 3 that leads to higher conversions. Giving your customers 3 options will often lead to more sales. One option leaves your client with the ability only to answer yes or no. Having two options can make one seem expensive, while the other seeming cheap.
But having 3 options really makes people think. The highest price offering has all of the bells and whistles. The lowest-priced offering is just bare-bones service. While the middle option is the best value and the best service. Everybody wins.
As a hybrid investor agent, Carter can offer several options to his client. He can list the property. He can buy it outright for a lower price. Or he can present it to his network of buyers, allowing his client to sell fast while still receiving competitive offers. Again… everybody wins.
Don’t Be Afraid of Having a Partner
For Carter and his business today, his perfect partner is his dad. They can balance each other out and pick up where the other leaves off. Dad handles the contracts, service providers, and business management, while Carter goes on appointments, handles the financing, and gets the deals locked down.
That said, your partner doesn’t need to be your family member. It needs to be someone you trust who is just as motivated as you are to close deals and help others. Many people avoid finding a partner because they are worried about giving away half of their profits.
When you work with the right partner, your volume will go up, they will handle the aspects of the business that you don’t like, and your volume will go up exponentially.
You will be able to spend your time on the things that give you energy, which will lead to better service, happier clients, and more closed deals.
Loving What You Do
For anyone watching or listening to this podcast, it is evident that Carter is passionate about his work. You can see how every aspect of real estate excites him, especially when he is able to find solutions that truly help people.
Carter and his team aren’t just after the money, they are a true helping hand for people when they need it most.
If you are a person of character, integrity, and honesty, you can do really well in this space.
– Eric Sztanyo
How to Balance Being a Real Estate Agent and Investor While Keeping Your Marriage, Faith, and Family Intact w/ Eric Sztanyo
With so many people out there bragging about their wealth, lifestyle, and real estate conquests, it can be difficult as a new investor or agent to find your place. So often, people see what others are doing and feel that they need to do that too.
But luckily, there are many ways to get where you want to be in the real estate business. You can do things your way, without having to compromise your family, lifestyle, or moral compass.
Today, Eric is going to share with us how he has built his business from the ground up, always keeping his great, great, grandson in mind.
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
Eric has been a Carrot member for awhile now and we are so excited by what he has been able to achieve in such a short amount of time. His story is extremely relatable, especially to those who are new in the game.
Today, we are going to dive into his struggles, how he grew as an agent and investor, and the decisions he’s made to intentionally craft his business so that he is in control and not the other way around.
The Place Where Faith and Real Estate Meet
Eric’s faith is something that is very important to him. Building wealth and collecting assets always seemed greedy. It made him feel as if he was going against the things he had been taught.
At one point, he thought the flashy lifestyle seemed appealing, but he quickly learned, that isn’t the version of himself that he wanted to be. However, one day he had an epiphany. He realized that he was good at generating leads. And by doing what he was good at, he was fulfilling his purpose.
If we were created in God’s image, God worked. And by doing so, we are honoring our creator. Once Eric mastered this mindset, it no longer was about greed. His work became worship and everything began to fall into place.
The Best of Both Worlds
For the past few years now, you’ve heard us talk about being hybrid. Real Estate Agents should also be investors, and investors should also go out there and get licensed. It’s about serving sellers better, giving them options, and letting them choose the right one for their situation.
Eric is an agent who also invests in Cincinnati-area real estate. He is able to serve sellers better by providing them with options, and his first-hand knowledge of the local market is a great asset for those ready to buy.
The best part is, he is no longer kicking leads to the curb. He is able to capitalize on more leads by offering a number of great solutions for those who are ready to sell.
It’s About Much More Than Your 80-Year Lifespan
Eric is a family man. He has 5 kids aged 10 and under who keep him on his toes. A mentor once asked him if he had ever thought about his great, great, grandson, and that question alone made Eric realize he wanted to leave behind a legacy.
He wanted to provide for his family in a way that would not only benefit them today but for generations to come. After bouncing around in different careers, once Eric discovered real estate, he knew it was going to help him build something real for the generations that come after him.
Eric has discovered a way to have it all. When you hear stories like his, it makes it impossible to feed yourself any more excuses about not having the time.. With a busy family, career, and lifestyle, Eric has been able to rise up, stand out, and help more people than other agents in his area.
In just 3 years, he has become one of the most trusted agents in his market, with nowhere to go but up.
When creating your master-plan, make peace with the fact that you may get hurt a little bit – but you’re going to be fine.
– David Greene
Double Your Commissions Without Doubling Your Team w/ David Greene of Bigger Pockets [HYBRID Part 1]
David Greene is an award-winning agent, investor, businessman, and the co-host of the Bigger Pockets Real Estate Podcast. His “ecosystem” of services is changing the real estate game.
By being a one-stop-shop for his clients, David is able to provide service that is superior to many others in his field. Today, we’re diving into how he has built his incredible team, what he is doing today that is unlike other agents and investors out there, and why you don’t need to have it all figured out… you just need to take action.
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
I’ve been looking forward to this podcast for a long time. I’m a huge fan of the Bigger Pockets Podcast, and I appreciate how they have brought the world of real estate investment to the main-stream.
David Green and Brandon Turner help explain the fundamentals of real estate while featuring some awesome guests along the way. But David is much more than this podcast. His team-building skills and ability to adjust his mindset are second to none.
Here’s how he does it…
Monkey See, Monkey Do
When it comes to team-building, David has the process down. Between his real estate brokerage, mortgage brokerage, investment business, and other endeavors in the works, it is important that David has the right team of people on his side, operating in a manner that he has deliberately designed.
He calls it his “Barrel of Monkeys” approach. We all remember the game with the hanging monkeys from when we were kids. One money would have one hand up and the other down.
As it relates to agents, the agent would be learning from the vets, while passing their knowledge on to those who are newer on the team.
Veteran agents don’t want to show houses, enter property data, or call listing agents. But agents who are first starting out, need this experience. Partner the veterans with the rookies and everyone wins.
Creating Your Master Plan
David was a cop for a long time before falling into real estate. He fell into it when a friend was under contract with a home but had to move at the last minute. He was going to lose his money, but David stepped in, took over the contract, saw the possibility, and the rest is history.
He didn’t go in knowing all the answers or how things were going to turn out. He went in knowing he had a lot to learn, and one of the best ways to learn was by making mistakes.
As David began investing in real estate, he was saving up money, buying rentals, and getting his butt kicked. Then he learned the BRRR method, and he began to do things better.
He became an agent and he got his butt kicked there too. He realized he needed to hire out, and gain assistance in the areas he lacked. Once he had the right team in place, his business took off. Last year, he and his partner sold over $93 million in real estate.
Action is More Important Than Perfection
Yes, running the numbers is important. But studying every analytic, crunching every number, and getting so caught up in what may be can keep you from closing on some of the very best deals. When looking at a property, David will look at these three things:
Start with the 1% rule. This rule states that the property should rent out for 1% of your purchase price each month. As the home value goes up, the percentage goes down. For example, a $100k house should rent for $1,000 per month, whereas a $500k house should rent for $3500 or so.
Buy in an area you know. David doesn’t buy in areas with snow. These properties have problems he isn’t familiar with, so he sticks to investments in sunny CA and AZ.
Never buy in a rough neighborhood. While it can work out for those looking to get their feet wet, most of the time the properties are more trouble than they’re worth.
If you look at every potential factor or what-if, you will get paralysis. Get your momentum going, then figure out step 27.
The Podcast
The Bigger Pockets podcast is the perfect place for agents and investors who are just starting out. In the episodes that do not feature a guest, David and Brandon really get down to the fundamentals, providing a deeper perspective on a general concept.
As David puts it, just like in basketball, you’re not taught to slam-dunk right out of the gate. Instead, you are taught footwork, you run drills, and you scrimmage with your team. The podcast breaks it all down, so you can get started confidently in your real estate business.
David brings invaluable wisdom and experience to the table. He’s written a number of books, packed with information that will help agents and investors succeed. We are excited to be giving away 5 copies of his latest book to the first 5 people who leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
All you have to do is screenshot your review and send it to brady@testcarrot.xyz.
Before I was writing with Google in mind in an effort to rank number one. I now focus on writing content that will convert people once they are on my website.
– Cristina Kudlock
Site Not Converting? Make These Tweaks to Your Site for More Traffic & Better Conversion with Cristina Kudlock
Cristina doesn’t come across as your usual home buyer. Her website has lots of pink, lots of smiling photos, and even some emojis tucked in there for good measure. But what the site doesn’t show is the massive amount of effort, learning, and trial and error that got her here.
Her website may not look like other Carrot sites you have seen in the past, and that is exactly why she is converting so well. She’s ranking in the number one spot for many keywords in both Los Angeles and Arizona because of her unique approach and high-quality content.
Today we are going to learn how she had built the perfect team, modified her marketing, and what she is doing to make herself even stronger.
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
I first met Cristina at our last CarrotCamp. She is a powerhouse when it comes to real estate wholesaling. She has tacked two highly competitive markets with her genuine ability to get things done.
She keeps it real, offering homeowners the information and services they need. While she is the force behind it all, she hasn’t done it alone. In fact, her business is a famly affair with everyone playing to their unique strengths and abilities.
Building the Team
Today Cristina’s mother, sister, and husband all play a role on the team, but it wasn’t always like this. When Cristina was first starting out, the first people she hired to help her were her team of VA’s.
Choosing the right VA can be difficult, especially if they are in a different county and you aren’t able to meet with them face to face. Cristina has two techniques she uses when vetting VA’s.
First, she will have them record themselves reading a script she provides. Cristina’s first two VAs were hired for cold calling, so she wanted to make sure they were easy to understand and had a big enough grasp of the language to be able to respond on the fly.
Next, she will have them do a small excel project such as mining agent information. This will help her see their skills while weeding out any unmotivated candidates. Hiring her Vas was a game-changer.
Instead of having to hit the phones, she was able to focus on managing leads, closing deals, and learning the art of SEO.
Making the Shift
When Cristina first started wholesaling houses, she hit the phones hard. Cold calling was her bread and butter, something she was good at, but she realized it wasn’t’ sustainable. When she expanded into Arizona, she realized people were so inundated with calls and offers for their homes, her VAs didn’t stand a chance on the phones.
Today, Cristina focuses on getting her leads through SEO. She took the time to learn it herself and with the help of her team, she s able to create eye-catching content that brings people to her site.
She doesn’t just write for Google, she writes with the goal to provide valuable content to her readers, converting them once they are on her site. Today, her website offers robust content that shows who she is, while tearing down any potential objections home sellers may have.
Challenging Herself
You may have heard me talk about 75 Hard in a previous episode. It is a program designed by Andy Frisella to challenge your mind and help you build healthy habits. I knew going into 2021 that if I wanted to be able to keep up with my team, that I would need to grow.
On January 1st, I went all-in with the program and I am already seeing growth from these challenges. Cristina is already well ahead of me on her journey and has learned a lot about herself on the way. To complete 75 hard, you must…
Take a progress photo
Drink a gallon of water everyday
Complete 2 45 minute workouts. One must be outside – rain or shine
Pick a diet, any diet, and sick to it for the duration of the program
No alcohol and no cheats
Read 10 pages of any self development book every day
The goal isn’t to get in the best shape of your life or learn something entirely new. The goal is to build healthy habits, while cutting out the bad ones. For Cristina, this was giving up TV for reading, something she has found sh enjoys much more. Working out twice a day will force you to look at how you are spending your time and will (as Cristina puts it) make you feel like a badass.
Reserve your spot at the next CarrotCamp mastermind at Carrotcamp.com
There are thousands of deals happening in these larger markets. It’s an abundance mentality – there’s enough for everyone. There’s more to gain by working together than working apart.
– Adam Mitchell
From a $40k loss to $500k Profit – How the Home Buying Guys Pivoted Their Strategy to Win Their Competitive Real Estate Market w/ Adam Mitchell & Lance Doty
Adam Mitchell and Lance Doty are two amazing dudes and I was super pumped to have them on our first ever LIVE edition of the Carrotcast. They are the perfect example of a business following the plan, following through, and reaping the rewards. However, this wasn’t always the case.
Just a couple of years ago, Lance and Adam lost over $40k, but they stayed the course, pivoted their strategy, and are now seeing profits well over 6 figures. This is how they did it.
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
Everyone has a different path to success. At some point along the way, you will likely hit a setback that will cost you time, money, and most likely, both. However, if you’re smart, you’ll learn something that will help you completely change your strategy.
This is exactly what Lance and Adam did when they spent the whole year working for 1 deal, only to find themselves out $40k which they had spent on marketing that didn’t work.
They paused, hit the reset button, and have come out stronger than ever before.
Finding the Ying to Your Yang
Adam isn’t new to real estate. He has been flipping homes for about 15 years but took a bit of a hiatus when he got married and started his family. A few years back, e partnered up with his best friend Lance and decided to get back in the game. Adam quickly discovered that the market had changed and the deals weren’t as easy to find. He focused on bringing in the leads, while Lance focused on closing the deals.
What’s really awesome about Adam and Lance is their partnership. They are complete opposites, who are able to complement each other in every way. Where one may have a weakness, the other shines. This incredible partnership has helped them to both grow and get out of their comfort zones.
Today, the business has become a family affair as both Adam and Lance’s wives, Rachel and Denise, have left their full-time jobs to help run the real estate business full-time.
Making the Shift
After spending all their money, borrowing from their 401k, and spinning their wheels on marketing that wasn’t working, they realized, it was all or nothing.
Instead of putting their efforts into five different kinds of hamster wheel marketing, they shifted their focus to SEO and PPC.
They launched a brand new Carrot site, changed their business name, and rebranded themselves as the nice guys in real estate… something they truly are. Instead of spending all of their time and money looking for houses to flip, they began wholesaling.
Shifting gears was a bit daunting at first but they asked themselves…
Has anyone done this before?
What are the steps to make it happen?
What are we willing to put in?
Once they realized it had been done before, they knew they would be able to do it too. They buckled down and got that first deal.
After they received that first commission check, they knew that this was a real thing, and if they were able to repeat the process, they would be successful.
Staying the Course
One thing I really admire about Lance and Adam is that they didn’t let the initial set back deter them from the vision. They kept pressing forward, following proven strategies used by many successful investors before them.
I often remind myself that if something has been done before, then it does work. Direct mail works. Cold calling works. SEO works. When you are able to master one marketing channel, you can then stack on other lead gen sources to even further increase your volume.
Not Worrying About the Competition
Adam and Lance are in a competitive real estate market. The challenge to compete with the other buyers out there seemed a bit intimidating at first. What Adam and Lance have done is learn to embrace the competition instead of casting them aside.
They have successfully built relationships with other investors, showing that they value relationships over dollar signs. This, combined with their strong SEO game, has allowed them to generate new leads every day.
Because of their great partnerships, and the ability to serve clients on the retail side as well, they are building a strong business that will be able to scale and grow in the future.
There are so many cool opportunities out there for agents and investors. Even if you aren’t both, try to think like the other so you can best serve your clients.
– Aaron Amuchastegui
Diving into Member Data, Foreclosure Data, and the Real Estate Industry as a Whole Post-COVID w/ Aaron Amuchastegui
Aaron Amuchastegui is an investor, developer, dad, husband, and the host of the Real Estate Rockstars podcast. He has bought and sold over 1,000 foreclosures and has developed his own software to help other investors do the same.
Most importantly, Aaron is a data nerd who lets math guide him in all aspects of his business.
Today, we are talking about foreclosure data, member data from our Carrot sites (our members raked in over 500,000 leads this year,) and the steps you should be taking as an agent or property investor to stand out from the pack post-COVID.
Read the Full Show Notes Below…
From time to time, Aaron and I will sit down and create content together to be shared on both of our platforms. This is such a time! I am super excited to share this episode where we will dive it to talk about member data, foreclosure data, the impacts of COVID and much more.
Your Website = Your Authority Hub
During COVID, those agents and investors with a strong online presence have done really well. In fact, some are reporting that 2020 was their best year yet career-wise. However, those agents who were just starting out or who lacked any sort of online presence have seen their numbers drop significantly.
No longer are sellers interviewing multiple agents, looking for the right person to sell their home. Instead, they are heading to the internet, doing the research for themselves, and calling up their chosen agent to say “here, take my listing.”
Agents and investors with informational, evergreen content are making themselves seen and becoming the local authorities in their area. Instead of relying on Facebook, Zillow, or Instagram to share content and reviews, savvy real estate professionals are making sure all of their great content is front and center on their website, where they can control 100% of the conversation.
Whenever you receive a positive review on one of the many platforms out there, make sure that it is also shared on your website.
Asking for Testimonials Without Really Asking
The need to solidify your credibility in 2021 is going to be huge. Actively sharing testimonials from your happy clients will be one of the best ways for you to set yourself apart from the competition. However, getting testimonials that don’t sound generic isn’t always an easy feat.
Video testimonials have the most value, but most people aren’t comfortable getting in front of the camera. If they do agree to do it, their responses will likely be boring and sound just like everyone else out there.
Instead, once you have completed a successful transaction, ask your client for feedback on your service. A few questions might be…
Was there anything about our service that surprised you in a good way?
Why did you choose to work with our company?
Did you have reservations before working with us and what made you get past them?
Is there anything you thought we couldn’t do?
How do you feel about everything now that the process is finished?
Once they have answered these questions, you can let them know how beneficial this information may be for those thinking about selling their home. Now is the time to ask if they would mind saying what they just told you on camera so that you can use it for your website.
The answers you will receive will be from the heart and you won’t have to worry about adding generic content to your site.
Expanding Your Offering to Better Serve Your Current Leads
Many agents and investors who try to fit their leads into a tiny, singular box, will end up throwing most of those leads away. Agents are often looking to work with people who need to sell a house with minor repairs and who have the time to wait.
On the investor side, they make offers and when the client would be better served with a traditional listing, they simply walk away from the lead. These are thousands of leads that are being lost each year.
As we are seeing the real estate market grow and change, the services being offered need to change with it. We are encouraging all of our customers to think about ways to serve ALL of the leads they are bringing in.
Many are utilizing the hybrid model you have heard me talk so much about. How can investors help people who would rather list and how can agents help those who need to sell right away? The answer is to offer both.
Whether you specialize in both options personally or you partner with someone to help, by offering more options and a higher level of service, you will be able to maximize all of the leads you are working so hard to bring in.
Foreclosure Data – The Window
Right now, with everything going on the market, agents have a unique opportunity to help those who may be going into foreclosure. Before COVID, foreclosures happened quickly. Agents weren’t able to list properties and get them sold before the bank came as the process happened within a couple of weeks.
Now, foreclosures can take several months which is allowing agents to help homeowners get full-price offers for their homes. This is a finite opportunity that will cease once the foreclosure memorandums come to an end.
COVID and STRs
One thing Aaron brought up during our call was how COVID has impacted the short-term rental industry. When all of this first started, people were canceling plans right and left. However, today, more people are seeming to prefer to stay in an Air Bnb vs. a hotel. In many cases, they are more cost-friendly and people can have a little space without having to worry about putting on a mask or social distancing when they leave their bedroom.
As such, Aaron is seeing more and more hotels falling into foreclosure. There are opportunities here to transform these old hotels into affordable, multi-family housing.
Looking Ahead
When we look ahead to 2021, we are seeing unprecedented circumstances and opportunities. Now is not the time to take your foot off the gas. More groups of people will need your help, and it is up to you to find the best ways to serve them.
Listen to the CarrotCast Podcast and Subscribe Below!
Don’t be so busy following other’s lives that you forget to be the author of your own.
Trevor Mauch, CEO of Carrot
In this annual “Planning An Epic 2021” call, Trevor is giving away his frameworks and strategies that helped Carrot land on Inc. 500/5000 the past three years… 2017, 2018, 2019. These are the resources he is using every single day personally and in business.
What we’ll cover:
Clarity on not just your “what”… but more importantly, your “WHY”
A clear plan you can finally follow throughout the year to hold you accountable to the things actually the most important
My updated & simplified “One-Page Strategic Plan” our strategy for OKR’s we use at Carrot, so you can head into 2021 with confidence
The good bad & ugly of lessons from scaling to $10 Million/Yr in Revenue, including the “Tugboat vs Lighthouse” concepts that helped me crack through my latest “growth ceiling”, and more…
Listen to the CarrotCast Podcast | Planning An Epic 2021: Make This Your Best Year Yet!
We want to hear how we can make our products better and what we can do to help you! Drop them in the comments section below or hit us up on Facebook or Instagram
Now is the time to make some mindset adjustments so you can hit 2021 hard and make it your best year yet. We’re going to walk you through how to gain momentum in the New Year, gain massive clarity, and focus.
This might be you…
Are a high achieving entrepreneur and don’t want to settle for living an “average life”
You’ve already achieved your “someday goals” you set years ago… but still not as happy and fulfilled as you thought you’d be
OR… you feel like you’re working your butt off but not getting closer to your ultimate goals (or your goals keep shifting)
Every year you have the same goals you set, then re-set… and have thought “Maybe I should aim lower” or “Maybe it’s just too hard for me”
You want a better system for setting and achieving goals that set you up for success in the new year
You dip into “Entrepreneurs Funk” but don’t know how to get out
You’ve been grinding for months (maybe years) and things just don’t seem to be breaking through for you…
Start each day feeling overwhelmed at everything you have to do and the little time you have to do it
You keep hitting up against a wall and can’t crack through to reach your Vision for “success” and are getting discouraged…
You want to find ways to create more happiness and joy in life and business
My Process For 2021 Planning to Achieve Laser-Focused Results
Diagnose where you are (mindset)
Clarifying your vision story
Eliminating limiting beliefs
Crafting your critical number’s
Crafting your objectives and sticking to them
Pre-loading the year for success (Winning the day)
1) Time For A Mindset Reset
What’s actually important in the grand scheme of things??? Clearing Your Mind For The Important Things.
Take the time to review the past year. What went well?
Write down five things in the past year you’re most proud of and five other wins from the past year. This will help to shift you into a positive mindset.
Now write down five items for “where I’d like to get better in the year ahead.”
Declutter
What to eat, what to wear, what to read, which direction to drive, and on and on. In order to stay strategic and unclutter your mind, try eliminating some of the mundane decisions.
In decision making and psychology, decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual, after a long session of decision making. It is now understood as one of the causes of irrational trade-offs in decision making.
Next, start thinking about this “how do I define success?” Is it a career that exceeds expectations, lots of money, or bigger toys? Or, is it an abundance of family time, getting into shape and health, or relaxing and enjoying life?
There are five essential elements to include in your planning to be a complete success. You can certainly be successful in one or more areas, but strive to have high scores on all six to be a complete success. Try this little test…
Take This Quick Test of the 6 F’s. Write Down a Score of 1 – 5 (5 Being You’re Crushing It)
Fitness ____
Family ____
Friends ____
Financial ____
Faith ____
Fun ____
So how do these six F’s play into becoming a complete success? As we set goals and strive for success in our lives, our goals should fit into one or more of these areas.
Having goals that will better each of these areas of your life. They will enrich your entire life and help you to achieve the success you desire.
The next obstacle you need to hurdle is how you view urgency.
Urgency (or lack of) Is One Of Our Biggest Problems and One of the Biggest Fixes I’ve Found is to Recognize Your Own Mortality.
Let’s show this visually…
This is human life in 90 years:
And, a 90-Year Life in Months:
And, in weeks. How are you going to choose to spend your time?
… Are you using your time wisely?
Everything You “Focus” on in 2021 Takes Your Mental Energy and Physical Time.
If you start and stop and spread yourself around…
On the left… you have the “unfocused” and busy entrepreneur.
You’ll be overwhelmed, have a lack of finishing things, achieve below your potential, have a lower income, and always be “busy” but nothing to show for it.
I’ve been there. I started to see success in my businesses and that success opened up many more opportunities.
But, what I didn’t realize is, opportunities are often times distractions dressed in disguise.
Every one of those arrows is a different focus that requires you to spend time and energy.
When you are working on so many “opportunities”… none of those”opportunities” are able to grow to their full potential.
But, When You Put Your Energy Into Fewer Things…
That’s when things start to roll and take off in your life.
It’s what happens when you start saying “no” to 99% of everything (even the opportunities that look shiny) and say “YES” to just the essential few things that are going to help you make the biggest impact in your life and income.
If you add up the length of all of those little arrows in the first diagram, they equal the length of this one long arrow here. So you’re using the same amount of energy doing unfocused things.
But what if you focused on ONLY THE BEST opportunities and used that same energy to make that great? The results are a factor of 10x.
At the beginning of 2020, I didn’t think it was possible to run a half-marathon or ride my bike, daily, for a month. I limited myself beliefs. But, after some challenges, I ran a half marathon in June and have been riding through December.
The lack of knowledge and confidence was a limiting belief.
If you want to bust through your limiting beliefs and achieve your goals for not only your real estate business but your financial and life goals as well, you need to…
Identify and write down beliefs that are holding you back
Understand beliefs that fuel you
Create traditional business beliefs
Learn to bust through your limiting beliefs
Find the little red flags that cause limits
4) Creating An Ironclad Yearly Plan
As entrepreneurs, we NEED momentum to be happy… crafting a clear PLAN for the year helps keep momentum.
First off… there’s no one right way to do this.
I think it’s different depending on the “goal” and the phase of your life.
A tactic that I started to implement into my planning is called Ikigai. Ikigai is a term for “a reason for being.” The source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. Use this or find something similar and apply that into your planning.
Image Source: Toronto Star
For me, my personal plan is first, then the business plan supports the personal. (I usually take a full day to detach, dream, and get clear)
The 3 Step Personal Power Process
Read your vision story, edit it, update it, get excited about it! If it doesn’t excite you reading it, you’re reading the wrong story.
Now, jot down your intentions for the year on every important part of your life on the Dreams Now worksheet.
Pick the #1 most important thing you want to live in 2021. For me, I’ve had themes like…
“To look back and KNOW I did the best I could possibly do on everything I did” “Health and activity over everything else” “Building something great with massive focus” “Lead by example in everything I do” “Actions Express Priorities”
Next, I Start My Business Annual Planning Process (1-2 days)
To get past those ceilings… almost always it’s a process addition and a communication change. Even if you’re currently a 1 person show.
Where Are You Going?
Choose a big vision for the year
If you were to look back in 12 months at the year that passed, what would have had to happen in order for you to feel that year was a success?
Now… Get Brainstorming
Mind Expansion … what do you need to tackle to 10x your company. Think bigger and get things in place to make your life easier.
Here Is An Example Of Our Basic Annual Planning Agenda
Day 1:
(1) Set aside time (1-2 days)
(2) Review + reflect on the year
Goals vs. reality
Wins! + What caused not reaching goals
Opportunities and Threats (what could kill the business?)
(3) Expand mindset (10x)
Day 2:
(4) Goals for 2021
Financial and other trackable goals
Should Embarrass You and be scary
(5) What do we need to do?
People / gaps to fill?
Processes?
Projects?
(6) Theme
What are the Core Focus areas to achieve that in 2021? (Write down 3-5)
(7) Create visuals to get in front of people (After)
We started using the “Annual Waterfall” in 2018. It consists of these items for the year:
Vision / Mission
Critical Numbers / Goals
Quarterly metrics
But it also includes a “Quarterly Objectives” so we can look at it from a drilled down view for even better planning.
5. Keeping The Course During The Year
It’s human nature to wander. It’s the “bumpers” you put around you that help you stay on the right track.
Stick to a Planning Framework
I’ve seen some common mistakes in planning. Such as…
Choose a big yearly goal (BHAG)
Their goal / focus is kinda vague
Only do their goal setting and “themes” once a year
Give up on their goals by March
Instead, what they need to do…
Choose weekly/monthly metrics to track if projects are achieving the goals
Figure out exactly what is need to do to reach the goals
Nail down where are we going this year / quarter
Choose an overarching rallying cry for the year
Know why we exist at our core
Start with a Simple 1 Page Annual Strategic Plan
Work your annual goals backward. We use a good, better, best model at Carrot…
Now, break everything down for the first quarter of 2021…
What must you achieve this quarter in order to reach your 1-year goals?
What projects do I need to work on to make it happen?
What resources do I need or help do I need from other people?
Then Create A Simple Scorecard You Review Weekly (sometimes daily)
Here’s one specific to wholesalers…
Download the Wholesaling Scorecard
Add quarterly planning sessions to your calendar now. Utilize those sessions to really build momentum and clarity.
Don’t forget! You need to also schedule a quarterly “out of office” day. 100% away from distractions for each quarter to set your goals and update your scorecard.
6. Winning The DAY And Creating Good Habits
Your habits shape you. Your environment shapes your habits. Shape your environment so you are intentional about what you fill your mind with.
Craft a Winning Environment: Surround Yourself with Motivating Visuals
Your environment shapes you. Shape your environment so you are intentional about what you fill your mind with.
My Habit and Goal Tracker
Getting more energy:
Join running and cycling challenges
Drink 70+ oz of water/day
Stop eating after 8 pm
More centered and present:
Put my phone in the bathroom at night and in the box by the door when I get home
Go to bed by 10:30 pm (most nights)
Wake up by 5:30 am (still working on that)
Reading time in AM and PM
More productive at work:
Plan out the day and week ahead of time (obvious)
Share it w/ my assistant and wife for accountability
It’s all about Habit Triggers. I have found this video to be a great “happiness” habit trigger. This video triggers habits to become more aware of our JOY.
Your Process For Planning An Epic Year
1. Mindset Practices: Your Biggest Asset / Enemy
2. Clarifying Your “Life Vision”
Life list + Vision Story (annually)
Raise your standards
3. Creating An Ironclad Yearly Plan
Ikigai + Energy Audit + 6 F’s
Annual planning + waterfall
4. Keeping The Course During The Year
Quarterly waterfall + scorecard
Productivity sheet / Habit Tracker
Mindset / Habit triggers
5. Winning The DAY And Creating Good Habits
If you want to have your best year ever in 2021, this strategy will help you get off on the right foot and build momentum into January.
The entire purpose of this strategy is to simplify the process of planning an amazing 2021. Creating and executing your goals can be tough. I developed a simple approach a few years ago that transformed my life and I am confident it can change yours!
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But, When You Put Your Energy Into Fewer Things…
