Category: Entrepreneurship

Do you want to know what it takes to build a wholesale real estate business that generates consistent profits?

We recently asked a select group of seasoned, successful wholesalers (out of 7,000 investors we work with) what steps they would take to build their business in 30 days versus 6 months.

Here’s what they had to say.

The questions we asked:

1. What are the 5 most important software/apps you use for wholesaling?
2. What was the biggest mindset shift that helped you find success?
3. What steps would you take if you had just 30 days to build a wholesaling business And… What steps would you take if you had 6 months to build a wholesaling business?

1. Favorite Apps and Tools for Wholesalers – What are the 5 most important software/apps you use for wholesaling?

In the fast-paced world of real estate wholesaling, having the right tools can make all the difference.

Our survey revealed a list of favorite apps and tools highly endorsed by successful wholesalers.

From Carrot and Mojo Dialer to Google, and Excel, these tools streamline lead generation and boost productivity.

Additionally, Canva, Propstream, ClickFunnels, Airtable, CRM Podio, Constant Contact, Facebook, and DealMachine were among the top picks to optimize efficiency and maximize results.

2. The Biggest Mindset Shifts for Wholesalers – What was the biggest mindset shift that helped you find success?

The answer I resonated with the most was, “My biggest mindset shift that helped me find success was when I stopped trying to get a deal and started trying to help people.”

Next… “I’m not stealing people’s houses; I am really helping them.”

Regarding the concern some members have expressed about our business model, it’s crucial to carefully assess how we approach closing deals and ensure that we genuinely serve homeowners’ best interests. We must ask ourselves if we are truly providing value and assistance.

If we can confidently say that we are sincerely helping homeowners and addressing their needs, we should find peace in knowing that our actions are not about taking advantage of people. Instead, we are solving their problems in a way that no one else can.

3. Responses: Building a Wholesale Business – 30 Days vs. 6 Months

Here are some of the survey responses to these two questions:

1. What steps would you take if you could do it all over again and had 30 days to build a wholesaling business (not 60 days to close a deal)?
2. What if you had six months? What things would you focus on each month from a lead generation perspective?

Big Takeaways – Mentorship and Long-Term Strategies

Several responders emphasized the importance of mastering a single marketing channel and area before expanding to others. A strong emphasis was also placed on mastering the follow-up process, which accounts for many successful contracts. Delegation and building a team should be considered after six months, as weaknesses become apparent, freeing up time to focus on core strengths.

Moreover, some respondents highlighted the value of seeking a mentor right from the start, as mentors can offer guidance and resources and help avoid pitfalls. In a longer timeframe, building a strong online presence was seen as a powerful lead generation avenue when done correctly.

The consensus among these responses is to take focused, strategic steps, seek mentorship, and progressively expand and improve marketing efforts for a successful wholesaling business.

How to Generate SEO Leads in 6 Months with Carrot

Here are some basic steps you can take to get started generating SEO leads with Carrot:

• Customize all conversion pages with unique content and make them locally relevant.
• Set the location of my homepage to the State that you are operating in.
• Create five city landing pages.
• Create pillar content for each of the situations that you want to serve.
• Write, outsource, or use our Automated Content Library posts to create topic clusters. Already a Carrot member? Learn more about topic clusters here.
• Build 20-30 local citations either by hand or using a service.
• Create or optimize your Google Business Profile.
• Sponsor local charity events in exchange for local backlinks to your city landing pages. Try to create at least one link per month.
• Pitch journalists through a platform like HARO to win backlinks for your site.

Conclusion

Building a successful wholesaling business is within your reach, especially with the guidance of seasoned investors.

By leveraging their favorite apps and tools, embracing the right mindset, and following their time-tested strategies, you can achieve consistent leads, close deals confidently, and create a thriving real estate wholesaling venture. If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to drop them below – we’re here to support your journey to success!

As a real estate investor, you understand the critical importance of having a clear business vision to achieve long-term success.

This blog post will delve into the significance of a well-defined business vision and how it can drive you toward your goals.

We will also address the common challenges investors face when their vision is unclear and the advantages and benefits accompanying a clear business vision.

Recently, Trevor conducted this exercise with the investors in our EPIC program, and the feedback has been incredibly positive. I wanted to share the insights with you as well.

The blog post will follow a structured approach: First, we’ll discuss the struggles you may encounter without a clear vision. Next, we’ll explore the numerous benefits of having a well-defined vision. Finally, we’ll provide the key principles for creating a compelling vision for your business.

How Clear Are You on the Vision of Your Business 3 Years Out?

Before we dive into the impact of a clear business vision, let’s take a moment to assess your current understanding of your business’s direction. How well-defined is your vision for the next three years?

Do you have a clear roadmap that outlines your goals, strategies, and desired outcomes?

Having a strong vision provides a sense of purpose and direction, which is essential in the fast-paced world of real estate investing.

Problems You Face If Your Vision Is Not Clear

In the fast-paced and dynamic world of real estate investing, having a clear vision for your business is akin to a compass that guides you toward success. However, when that vision is hazy or undefined, real estate investors encounter many challenges that can impede progress and hinder growth.

In this section, we will explore the common problems faced by investors when their business vision lacks clarity. From slowing momentum and distractions to second-guessing and misalignment, understanding these obstacles will underscore the importance of crafting a well-defined business vision for lasting success.

Momentum Slows:

Without a clear business vision, momentum can grind to a halt. Your team may lose focus, and decision-making becomes more challenging. A lack of clarity can lead to inefficiencies and lost opportunities, hindering your progress and growth.

Distracted:

In the real estate investing landscape, distractions abound. A vague vision can make it difficult to prioritize opportunities and initiatives, causing you to chase multiple paths without making significant progress on any.

Second Guessing:

Uncertainty in your business vision can result in constant second-guessing. You may question your choices and strategies, leading to hesitation and missed chances to capitalize on lucrative deals.

Misalignment:

As your real estate investment business expands, misalignment among team members can become prevalent. A lack of a cohesive vision may lead to conflicting objectives and differing priorities, hampering teamwork and productivity.

Bottlenecked Business Decisions:

As the visionary behind your real estate investment business, you may find yourself becoming a bottleneck for crucial decisions. A vague vision makes it challenging to delegate effectively and empower your team to act autonomously.

The Power of a Strong Business Vision

A clear vision is the North Star that illuminates the path to success for real estate investors. When your business vision is well-defined, it becomes a powerful catalyst for positive organizational transformations.

This section unveils what awaits real estate investors who craft a crystal-clear vision for their ventures. With clarity and confidence, you will regain control of your business, eliminating bottlenecks and empowering your team to take charge.

Moreover, better focus, more time, and boundless energy will be at your disposal as you set your sights on achieving your long-term goals. Let’s delve into the remarkable rewards that await those who embrace the power of a well-crafted business vision.

Clarity and Confidence:

A well-defined business vision is essential in the complex world of real estate investment. It provides unparalleled clarity, blueprinting for the future, and guiding you toward long-term goals. With clarity, you can make informed choices, accurately assess risks, and remain resilient in facing challenges.

Having a clear business vision instills confidence in decision-making, serving as a guiding light through the unpredictable real estate landscape. This confidence is infectious and inspires trust and faith in partners, investors, and stakeholders.

Remove Yourself as a Bottleneck:

A clear business vision allows you to delegate with trust, freeing yourself from becoming a bottleneck. This empowers your team to take ownership and drive the business forward while you focus on strategic growth.

When you and your team share a common understanding of the ultimate objective, evaluating opportunities, assessing potential risks, and making strategic choices aligned with your vision become easier.

Empowering Your Team to Lead:

A shared vision aligns your team members with the company’s goals, empowering them to take initiative and lead. This fosters a cohesive, goal-oriented workforce, enhancing overall productivity and success.

A clear business vision empowers your team members with a shared sense of purpose and direction. When they understand how their contributions align with the bigger picture, they become more engaged, motivated, and proactive in driving the company forward. An inspired and cohesive team becomes a formidable force, propelling your investment ventures to new heights. Hot tip: if your team is remote, use a messaging app like Slack or Microsoft Teams integrations to improve collaboration and streamline communication.

Better Focus, More Time, and More Energy:

A crystal-clear vision helps you prioritize essential tasks and avoid distractions. With a well-defined path, you can allocate your time and energy more effectively, leading to increased efficiency and better results.

A well-crafted business vision reignites that sense of purpose, reminding you of the greater impact you strive to create. It fuels your passion, invigorates your determination, and keeps you connected to the reason you chose this path in the first place.

Business Vision Tactics

The most effective way to learn about business visions is through intensive coaching and hands-on implementation, similar to what our EPIC members are currently experiencing. Click the image below if you are interested in learning more about our EPIC program!

Business Vision Key Principles

The key principles outlined below are Trevor’s own. He shared these insights during one of Carrot’s EPIC strategy meetings, and they are written in the first person.

Key Principle 1: Planning 3 Years Out

It’s crucial to dedicate the right amount of time to crafting a vision that both excites you and stands the test of time. While the market does undergo changes, a three-year timeframe allows for a solid strategy without anticipating drastic shifts.

This period offers enough space to achieve significant milestones and make substantial progress. Simultaneously, it isn’t so long that you feel trapped in the same approach for an extended period. The three-year interval provides the opportunity to refresh and adapt your vision every three years, ensuring it remains relevant and aligned with your evolving goals.

Key Principle 2: Defining Your Why

Define your “why” – Why do you want to do business? What is your company’s mission, and why does your company exist?

At Carrot, we have significantly emphasized defining our “why.” Our mission is to help you build businesses of freedom and impact, enabling you to lead a life of freedom and make a meaningful difference.

This principle extends beyond just our customers; it also applies to our employees. We believe that simply striving to be the best in a particular industry won’t resonate with you or your customers on a deeper level.

That’s precisely why we launched our EPIC program. We created this program because we identified a gap in our business model. While we excel at helping people secure consistent and predictable leads, we realized we could do more to support them in building businesses that embody freedom and impact.

Identifying your “why” gives you the energy and purpose to align your values with your business objectives. It goes beyond merely seeking success and focuses on creating a positive and meaningful impact.

Key Principle 3: Key Priorities

I prefer to focus on three key priorities, which could be termed priorities or strategies. Over three years, we set clear revenue targets, establish three to five core values defining our business, and craft a concise mission statement explaining our company’s existence and significance.

Then, we determine the three most critical actions we should undertake to achieve those objectives over the next three years. For instance, one of these strategies could involve adding multi-family properties to our portfolio, especially if we haven’t ventured into that segment before and want to transition from hamster wheel income to evergreen income.

Another strategy might revolve around building a strong team to bolster our capabilities. Alternatively, we could focus on expanding into multiple markets, transforming our company into a multi-market entity.

Every year, as we plan for the upcoming year (2024 and 2025 in this case), we refer back to our business vision with the three key strategies in mind. This helps us prioritize our actions for the year and determine what’s most important to accomplish.

Key Principle 4: Key Strategies

I will select what I refer to as key strategies. You can choose 10, 12, or even just one or two. However, I prefer four to five as they represent the most important strategies that form the foundation of the business’s overall health.

The business vision should not be cluttered with 20 different strategies. Instead, I prefer to focus on what we call the four P’s:

1. People: This involves considering the team and the talent that will drive the business forward.
2. Process: Refers to efficient and effective workflows and systems contributing to the business’s success.
3. Product: This relates to the specific offerings the business provides. For example, if you’re a wholesaler or house flipper, that’s your product. If you’re involved in multi-family rentals, that’s also a product. It’s essential to be clear about the products the business will pursue.
4. Profits: This aspect pertains to the financial side of the business. It involves understanding how the money flows, revenue generation, and overall profitability.

By addressing these four key areas (People, Process, Product, and Profits) in the business vision, we can lay a strong foundation for future success.

Key Principle 5: Communication

The last and arguably the most crucial aspect of your business vision is communication. Without active communication and integration into your company’s operations, the business vision becomes merely a document with interesting content, but the team doesn’t understand its purpose or significance.

An integral part of fostering effective communication within your real estate investment endeavors involves implementing robust contact center software. The latter facilitates seamless interaction with stakeholders, clients, and team members, streamlining communication channels for optimal efficiency.

Creating this document is not enough; it cannot just sit there without active engagement. To make the vision truly impactful, it needs to be prominently displayed on the walls of your office and discussed regularly.

It should be a central topic during team meetings, including Monday and Friday calls. It should be woven into your overall business strategy and annual plan. Without active communication and integration into your company’s operations, the business vision becomes merely a document with interesting content, but the team doesn’t understand its purpose or significance. To truly have a business vision, it must be communicated effectively and consistently throughout the organization.

A well-defined business vision instills confidence and clarity in entrepreneurs and their teams. This clear direction facilitates decision-making and renews a sense of purpose.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a well-defined business vision is the catalyst for success and growth in the world of real estate investment.

Instilling confidence, clarity, and purpose empowers you and your team to navigate the industry’s complexities with confidence and determination. With a shared vision, your team is united, enthusiastic, and dedicated to achieving your long-term objectives.

As you continue your journey as high-level real estate investors, remember that a clear business vision is a compass that will lead you to unparalleled heights of success and fulfillment.

Everything in my life from the outside in looked amazing. My friends, family, and colleagues in the industry thought I was an example of “success.” 

I owned 3 separate companies, the world’s best family, amazing business partners in 2 of my businesses, and great customers, and felt I could do anything I set my mind to.

The only problem was… I was overwhelmed and unhappy.

In this blog post, I’m going to walk through how I fell into the “too many great opportunities” trap, how it nearly crushed my entrepreneurial and life dreams, and how the advice of a pumpkin farmer changed my perspective on business and life.

Why am I opening up and writing this right now?

First, I wrote this post a few years ago, and a lot has happened since then. Good stuff. We’ve grown Carrot to over 8,000 active members and multiple 7 figures in revenue… and I’ve had to use this process multiple times this past year to clear out the “distraction” and focus on the “big pumpkin.”

So just know… this process I went through a few years ago is one I still use to this day… that’s how much it’s changed my life.

Also…

Now is the perfect time of the year to make some mindset adjustments so you can hit next year hard and make it your best year yet. Also, this one shift in my business has made the single most dramatic impact on my income, fulfillment, and impact on the world of anything I’ve ever done.

This article is for you if you… 

• Are a high achieving entrepreneur and don’t want to settle for living an average life
• Feel like you’re working your butt off but not getting closer to your ultimate goals
• You have all kinds of revenue coming in, but your bank account isn’t growing as it should
• Find yourself saying “yes” to almost any opportunity that looks “good” and is profitable
• Start each day feeling overwhelmed at everything you have to do and the little time you have to do it
• You wish that finally one of your businesses or business ideas would grow to its full potential rather than doing “decent” and leveling off

If you’re feeling any of those, you’re not alone.

That Was My Life For 2 Years. Busy. Long Hours. Unfocused. Less Happy. Less Fulfilled.

The frustration that I felt like I was doing all of the right things and I was “successful” in many people’s eyes… but I just never felt that I could crack through to my potential.

It seemed like I’d start a bagillion projects because they all had “promise”, but I would rarely take the important things through the finish line.

I’d always have a backlog of “to-do’s” and always seemed to carry the important “to-do’s” over to the next day for weeks and months on end.

I’d get to the end of the day and feel totally wiped out because I was really “busy,”… but I’d look back on the day and always felt like I couldn’t pinpoint what important project I actually pushed forward in a measurable way that day.

Vision… most of the time, I really couldn’t clearly articulate what I wanted in life and what impact I felt that I was made to make on the world… because I was torn by making a vision too specific that it would alienate some of the “important” projects and businesses I’d already committed my time to… but that didn’t jive with what in my heart I knew i loved to do.

And worse, I felt that the more I took on and the more things I had going in my business and life, the better off I was.

In that life, being “busy” was a good thing, and when people asked how I’ve been my default answer was always…

“Really busy as always!”

… almost like it was a badge of honor to be “busy.”

I Hit A Breaking Point, And Things Had To Change. So Here’s What I Did…

I couldn’t do things like this anymore. You can maybe relate.

If I wanted to live the life I knew I was made to live and to make the impact in life I knew I could make, I had to figure out how to change the way I lived and worked.

Then, a deceptively simple mindset shift helped me break through to a new way of living and thriving in life and business.

I now work less, am focused and excited about the vision, am extremely fulfilled, I’m making more money than I ever have, have an amazing team of A-players around me, and I’m helping more people than I’ve ever been able to help.

Enter the pumpkin farmer. 

How A World Record Pumpkin Is Grown (and why it matters to you)

Take a look at this picture below.

Let it soak in for a few seconds.

This picture is from the book “Essentialism – The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg Mckeown

On the left… 

… you have the “busy” and unfocused entrepreneur. Likely you. It used to be me.

That overwhelm, lack of finishing things, achieving below your potential, lower income, always being “busy” but nothing to show for it, etc.

That’s how I was during those 2 years of my life.

I started to see success in my businesses, and that success opened up more and more opportunities.

I didn’t realize it then, but opportunities are often times just distractions in disguise.

Each of those arrows is a different project, focus, or thing… that required my energy and time.

And as you may be able to relate… when you are working on so many things… none of those things can really grow to their full potential.

On the right…

… is what happens when you say “no” to 99% of everything (even things that look like great opportunities) 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 expending the same amount of energy doing a bunch of unfocused things. None of them do all that well, and you feel like you’re spinning your wheels.

But what if you focused on ONLY THE BEST opportunity and used that same energy to make that great? The results are a factor of 10x+.

As a real estate investor, you may try to wholesale, fix and flip, and do that new townhouse development you’ve got your eye on. They all seem related (all real estate)… but each of them requires your focus, energy, and time.

So unless you build out an amazing team of people, none of those sides of your real estate business will really grow to their full potential like they would if you focused on just one of them… BUT MAKING THAT ONE THING EPICALLY GREAT. 

That was the decision I made several years back after I read another book called “The Pumpkin Plan“… that hammered home in a very simple way why it was so critical that I trim stuff down in my life and only focus on a few great things.

Enter The Pumpkin Plan And The Farmer

I’ve found over the years that many of the answers we need in business and life can be learned from farmers.

Farming is a 10,000-year-old discipline, and while technology has changed to help make farming more efficient, the essence of what it takes to grow great crops is the same.

You prep the soil, plant the seeds, water and fertilize those seeds, nurture that crop, and harvest it when it’s ready.

But looking back today, at that time when I was overwhelmed, bringing in good money but spinning my wheels… I was spending too much time planting seeds… I had too many crops out there… and none of my crops had a chance to grow to their full potential because I had to tend to so darn many of them.

But in the book “The Pumpkin Plan,” the author talks about an epiphany he had at a similar point in his life after he read an article in his local newspaper where a state record-holding pumpkin farmer was asked how he grows pumpkins that get so damn big. 

How to grow giant pumpkins according to a record-setting pumpkin farmer

And that process has crazy similar parallels in life and business. 

Notice in steps 3 – 6 how focused that farmer is on getting rid of everything except that one single pumpkin that seems like it’ll grow the biggest and yield the best result.

He knows that if he keeps marginal pumpkins that are “good opportunities” just in case, they may be great… or so he has ones to fall back on if that big one doesn’t work out… none of those pumpkins would ever have a chance of growing as big as it could.

The “ok” pumpkins or “good” pumpkins kill the chances of the great pumpkin from being amazing…

It’s that focusing all of that water energy, sun energy, and his own personal energy on that one pumpkin that has the most promise that makes the pumpkins so amazingly large.

If we relate this life and business… it may look something like this.

How to grow the best life, business, and income possible
(following a farmer’s advice)

Notice the same essential themes from farming to business.

• Promising seed = your biggest natural strengths.
• Water = selling (gotta make those offers and market the heck out of your business!)
• Weed like crazy = cut all distractions and things that pose as “opportunities” but are distractions.
• Focus all your attention on the biggest pumpkin = focus on your best and most fulfilling opportunity or strength like crazy.

Most real estate investors and entrepreneurs think that trying 14 different things at once is the path to success.

That “trying” direct mail, SEO, PPC, at the same time, is the path to success.

But it’s not.

Maybe dabble with each of them for a month just to see what gets a bit of traction… but then quickly recognize the one that you feel has the best opportunity to crush it for you if you give it more focus… and weed out the rest of the stuff. Then, focus on being insanely great at PPC.

Then once you’re great at PPC, you may want to add SEO.

Or if you are doing wholesale deals, some fix and flips, or developing an apartment building here or there… you’re likely not doing any of them justice.

What if instead, you recognized that your fix and flip business was the one that was the most fun and most profitable?

Then you’d want to weed out the wholesaling and apartment development and laser focus on being the best fix and flip investor in your area.

Your profits, fun, and fulfillment will all multiply.

Or, if you’re like me, who is a serial entrepreneur… you don’t have to cut off everything else you’re working on and choose just 1 thing.

But you should have 1 main thing that eats up 90%+ of your focus for a period of time.

How I Trimmed The Small Pumpkins

For me, at that moment in my life when I had several companies going on… and people were throwing new opportunities at me all of the time… this is what I did.

1. I got laser-focused on what my unique abilities were (I love business and marketing strategy, I’m a big vision guy, and love amplifying people to think bigger in life and teaching).
2. I trimmed off everything in my business that didn’t BEST help me do those things above.  This also meant a lot of little projects or partnerships that looked like they were a fit at first glance, but they weren’t a “hell ya! I want to do that!” type of project… just a “ya, I could make money on that.”
   
   There’s a BIG difference. I also started having my assistant check my email so I wouldn’t waste time in my inbox every day… but could focus just on the important emails.
3. I weeded everything that was taking me away from my focus. At one time, I used to be subscribed to probably 50+ email lists. I’d get dozens of marketing emails daily from “gurus” just in case I’d need them someday or in case they had value. I unsubscribed from all email lists, but my favorite 1-2, turned off Facebook email notifications, deleted the Facebook app from my phone, and deleted the Gmail app from my phone.
   
   I also started not feeling bad if I didn’t answer back an email from someone immediately… because anything that wasn’t directly contributing to my laser focus became a low priority.
4. I focused on growing that one thing the best I could. That one thing was Carrot. Before making this decision, I had always treated this “online website thing” as a side project. One of my many little projects that had potential that I put a half-ass effort into.
   
   But I started thinking, what if I put all my energy into this and made it an amazing company? What if it was so great I could recruit amazing team members, the ideal customers, and could make my business fun and profitable at the same time… while using it as my way to help the most amount of entrepreneurs as possible?

That’s it.

Sounds too simple right?

Well, it is simple. But it can be hard to take that first step because it feels weird.

It feels like you’re cutting out things that are perfectly fine things that are bringing you money… paying the bills.

But if you don’t get rid of those extra things and if you don’t laser focus on that “big pumpkin”… and give it all of your energy, focus, and resources… you’ll likely be spinning your wheels this time next year.

So You Have A Choice…

And looking back, this choice is pretty obvious now… but it wasn’t easy then.

Choice 1: Focus on what you do best and what you love; focus on that 1 business strategy/opportunity and work it like mad. Grow that 1 thing. And be less busy, make more money, and be happier. Buy The Pumpkin Plan (thanks, Mike!) and Essentialism if you’re serious about it.

And… Listen to Mike Line Out How To Plan Your Business For Less Stress And Higher Profits on His Episode of the CarrotCast:

Choice 2: Keep thinking that “more opportunities” is better. Keep thinking that “being busy” is a good thing. Keep hedging your bets by keeping some of those “small pumpkins” on the table as an option to fall back on and ignore the things your biggest pumpkin needs (your full energy and attention).

And keep settling for your life and a business that runs you.

The choice is yours. 

It won’t be comfortable at first, but you’ll look back this time next year and marvel at how your life changed. A simpler life, with more focus and more time to do epic stuff rather than half-assing a dozen things.

Follow that pumpkin farmer’s advice and trim your pumpkin vines often (especially at the end of each year).

Do you feel “busy,” over-extended, and stuck at your current income level?

Also, do you want more content like this? Showing behind the scenes of our entrepreneurial journey as we build a multi-million dollar company from the ground by doing the right thing and delivering an amazing product and experience?

If so, we’ll write a lot more about growing your team, creating a culture in your business, hiring, creating income streams other than real estate, increasing productivity, investing your money wisely, etc. If we get enough interest… we’ll start sharing our journey. Let me know in the comment section below.

Hit me with a comment below on what you think you should trim out before the end of the year?

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?

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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.

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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.

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Download Your Energy Audit Worksheet

Energy Audit Worksheet

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“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

– Albert Einstein

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2) Clarify Your Life’s Vision

Planning your year will not produce results if you aren’t clear what you want in LIFE

Where do you see your business in 2021? How about in five years? These questions can be tough. They might even catch you off-guard.

You and your business might be missing a vital part of the strategic planning process.

So you know what you and your business need to do?

You MUST know where you want to go.

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Grab a pen, some paper, and find a quiet spot. Write “What’s My Vision Story?” Jot down where you’d like to be in…

• 25 years
• 10 years
• 5 years
• 1 year

Need help? Get started creating your own vision statement now!

3) Eliminating Limiting Beliefs

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.

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

1. 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.
2. Now, jot down your intentions for the year on every important part of your life on the Dreams Now worksheet.
3. Do a quick 15 minute Energy Audit.

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Now, Theme Your Year

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…

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.

Organizing Your Day

Download The Organizing Your Day Sheet

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!

2020. A year of uncertainty, fear, stress, and hostility. But, many kind and incredible things happened too. People are cooler and kinder than we sometimes give them credit for. A few years ago I read a book that really fits what is happening right now. Maybe it will impact you in the positive way it impacted me.

This book, The Go-Giver, changed me not just in some artificial and horribly intangible ways.

No. But, as is the case with very few books I’ve read, I’m seeing legitimate results.

I’m receiving opportunities I never thought were possible. And I’m even enjoying life and work more than ever before.

I know. I’m starting to sound a little bit sales-y. I don’t mean to. I just really love this book and want you to trust me when I say that it can change your life if you let it.

And letting it is far easier than you might think. Most books promise results… but only if you commit to their 12 intricate steps. This book isn’t like that. This book talks about a single thing: GIVING.

That’s the secret to growing your business and enjoying your life. But before I start sounding cliché (I already do, don’t I?), let me explain exactly what I mean and how the book describes it.

Five laws that this book teaches you:

1) The Law Of Value

Many businesses take more than they give. They try to overcharge for their services, refuse pay raises when employees deserve it, and question employee suggestions.

But all of that selfish nay-saying does a lot of damage. In fact, it doesn’t just do damage, it completely destroys your reputation and wrecks your future business. The alternative delivers far more positive results. Namely, giving more than you take increases your business’s worth and your self-worth.

Don’t believe me?

Think of the people you look up to. I’m willing to bet that they’re people who give more than they take — they give away free products and offer free advice to budding entrepreneurs. They meet for coffee to encourage a friend and they put aside work to spend time with family.

Why do you look up to this person? Because they are generous. And that generosity increases their value in your eyes.

The Go-Giver Quote:

“Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.”

2) The Law Of Compensation

What if you could determine your own income? What if you, and no one else, made that decision?

Would you be excited? If you’re anything like me, the prospect of determining your income is akin to living in Hawaii, working remote and living most days surfing and meandering with the locals.

Well, you do determine your income. In fact, determining your income is remarkably simple. There are only two levers that have the power to increase or decrease your profitability.

The first is how much value you provide. Provide more value and your income increases. Provide less and it plummets.

The second is how many people you provide that value for. More people means a higher income. Less means a lower income.

It really is that simple.

If you don’t believe me, start testing it out for yourself. Provide more value to more people and see what happens.

The Go-Giver Quote:

“Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.”

3) The Law Of Influence

Have you ever wanted to have a larger influence in other people’s lives?

Who am I kidding? Of course, you have.

We all want to have a greater influence and make a greater impact. But many people who’re trying to make an impact end up floundering aimlessly in the sea indecisions and indirection. They post content, talk to people, and even try to encourage other at every opportunity.

But to no avail.

People still don’t seem to care about what they have to say. Why?

Well, it’s probably because they’re more focused on gaining influence than they are on caring about other people. In other words, they care more about themselves than they do other people.

Sadly, the path the influence is paved with selflessness. And those who try to get there any other way will never arrive. Or if they do, it will only be an artificial reality that won’t last long.

The Go-Giver Quote:

“Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.”

4) The Law Of Authenticity

Many people in our world are only focussed on rising to the top. That might be the top of their industry, the top of their individual business, or the top of their immediate community.

Whatever the case, they want to surpass their peers. Because of this, they fake it. They behave in certain ways that they wouldn’t normally behave simply to impress their boss or coworker.

The problem, though, is that you can exchange the most value with other people when what you offer them is yourself. In other words, you are your best asset. That sounds cheesy and cliché, but it’s true.

People like Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone and even our CEO, Trevor Mauch, are wildly successful, simply because they are authentic.

They’re okay with who they are and they recognize that they are the most valuable product they have to offer. Since everyone is faking it, people crave authenticity. And that authenticity will win.

The Go-Giver Quote:

“The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.”

5) The Law Of Receptivity

Now all of these tricks to giving are only any good if you’re willing to receive from other people.

I don’t mean to sound too Buddhist, but the reality of how life works is that the more you give, the more you will receive.

And if you’re doing a lot of giving but remain unwill to receive what other people offer you, all of that giving gets you nowhere practically. In other words, don’t get so caught up in giving that you forget to allow other people the chance to give back.

When someone offers, don’t be afraid to receive.

The Go-Giver Quote:

“The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.”

Give like crazy and just see what happens

You want to be more successful. You want a bigger paycheck, a bigger influence, and a more impactful business. But those things only come if you’re willing and able to initiate the cycle of giving. If you are, there are few things in this world that could stop your success.

If you aren’t, then the world would be a better place without your business. Whatever the case, choose one of these laws to apply every day for a week and see if it changes your life.

It did mine. Now go read The Go-Giver book for yourself.