Momentum is a concept not talked about enough. It hit me last week that creating positive momentum and protecting it might be THE ingredient that separates the average from those that produce at an elite level.
The more I thought about it, the more I’m convinced that this is an area that all of us have to be hyper-aware of as we go about our days, weeks, months, and years. I see it every day. Those that are crushing it are always in motion. It doesn’t matter what might be happening in their lives or business. They stay in motion, they stay moving.
Those who do not focus on creating and protecting momentum see massive swings in their business and lives. They see themselves concentrate for a couple days or weeks, maybe months. They have some success, and then they quit doing what created that success. By stopping their focus, they see less positive progress in their business which results in a “slump.”
An extended slump wreaks havoc on your daily life. They go on a search for “the answer” to get back on track. Then they come to the conclusion that what they need to do is get back to what it was that they were doing when things were in flow. If they had stayed consistent, they would not have lost momentum. This cycle done over the life of a career costs a broker years of productivity, significant revenue, and undue stress.
I was reminded of the “The Pump Well” metaphor that Darren Hardy describes in “The Compound Effect.” On pages 114 to 115, he starts by saying “When you start thinking about slacking off on your routines and rhythms, consider the massive cost of inconsistency. It is not the loss of a single action and tiny results it creates; it is the utter collapse and loss of momentum your entire progress will suffer.”
He goes on to describe the concept of the hand-pumped water well. He reminds us that to prime a well, you have to pump consistently to create the suction needed to bring the water up through the pipe and eventually out of the spout. When you start the pumping process, you are enthusiastic. The enthusiasm decreases with every pump that does not result in a consistent flow of water. Many get impatient, give up, and stop pumping. You have to push through and keep pumping until you see results. Hardy goes on to describe that “the magic happens” when you continue to pump the well and get that steady stream of water. Then you have your success. Now that you have a steady flow of water, you don’t have to pump the lever as hard or as quickly. All you have to do is keep the pressure stable is pump the well consistently.
This is also the concept in which “Take Flight” was created. You have to plan your “flight,” do the necessary actions to get the plane off the runway with a focus of getting to 30,000 feet where you can pull the engines back and work less.
As a real estate broker, how do you create and maintain momentum in your business?
- State your goals consistently throughout the day. By doing this, you reprogram your mind and set new neural pathways.
- Build your ideal day and stick to it. Last week’s call focused on “Scheduling It to Achieve It.” You have to create lifestyle habits to have a chance for long term growth.
- Focus on creating a better version of yourself. Self-development is key. Once you start studying high performance, you’ll begin to see key similarities amongst elite performers.
- Make “Me Time” a priority. Add a meditation practice to your schedule. 20 minutes of meditation equals 2 hours of sleep. Rest and recovery are essential.
- Be self-aware. Check your MOMENTUM level like you would check the fuel level in your car – daily.
Darren Hardy says that “winning the race is all about pace. Be the tortoise. Be the person, who with enough time, will beat virtually anyone in any competition as a result of positive habits and behaviors applied consistently.” He warns that it is not easy to maintain your MOJO. It takes planning and effort.
You are starting to see a theme of what my area of focus will be as I launch these “mastery sessions” starting next week. I’ve referenced three thought leaders in my first three #MMPT of the year. They all saw massive growth in their businesses by being supremely consistent, disciplined, and focused.
Martin Luther King suggested “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward”.