Q:  Is it too late to do some effective planning for 2013? It seems like every year I don’t get this on the calendar until the end of the year. By then I’m so tired I don’t even want to think about next year – I just want a break!

A:  I believe it is never too late to plan for your success, and I’m glad you’re thinking about it even though you’re tired. Are you tired because you have too much business and not enough help, or are you tired because you’re chasing business that isn’t materializing? Or maybe you have a very active family or social life?   

There’s no magic with planning in the autumn or at year-end, as most people do. Instead, turn things around. What time of year do you have the most energy? If it’s April, move your annual planning to that month, so you’re approaching it with the right attitude and you’re enthusiastic about it. You can then simply think of your real estate “year” as running from May through April!