This year has enjoyed a super robust market. I have had agents from all over the country talk to me about how the pandemic has helped them make some important changes in their business and personal life. A common thread that I see in many of these conversations is comparing this year to last year and previous years. After all, it’s natural to make the comparisons, especially as the year winds down.

However, I want you to use caution you to use wisdom when making these comparisons. This is not the year to rate yourself in terms of number of homes sold or referrals you received. This is the year to celebrate. Celebrate what?

• You have made it through a world-wide pandemic.
• You have learned to adapt and change with the market and industry.
• You have probably developed new skills. (Did you Zoom before 2020? No? There you are, rockstar!)
• You have probably absorbed lots of new information from classes, induvial study, reading, and collaborating with clients and colleagues.

2021 was a year of growth!

Now here’s the good news: 2022 is also going to be a year of growth. We’re going to see growth in sales. We’re going to see growth in vacation homes, as people make decisions about where they want to live and spend their time. We are seeing and will see a lot of migration, both internationally and between states.

People are making big lifestyle changes. By doing that, they are also making changes with their housing. You have to prepare for that in the coming year. It’s going to be another robust year. We’re not caught up with our inventory shortage, yet.

So this is a time for you to not rate 2021, but celebrate 2021. Celebrate that you are here, you’ve done your best, and you have adapted.

2022, however, has got to be a year of planning; as in: you need to make a plan and follow through. In a market where we’re going to continue to see that tightening of inventory, you need to learn how to get out there and work with sellers. That may mean looking at your listing presentation and refining it. That may mean analyzing your lead generation systems, and focusing more on geographical farming. That may mean assessing your business systems and finding the bottle-necks where your productivity slows down. Next year is just around the corner, and this is the time to be planning for your 2022 business.

I highly recommend you keep checking in on our Zebra Report, as I’m going to keep exploring business planning for the upcoming year in the months of November and December.

Remember that 2021 is your year to celebrate. Let’s congratulate ourselves on making it through such an exceptional year, and look forward to 2022.

Join me for Amplify, coming up this October 25th and 26th in Lynnwood.

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By Denise Lones CSP, M.I.R.M., CDEI – The founding partner of The Lones Group, Denise Lones, brings nearly three decades of experience in the real estate industry. With agent/broker coaching, expertise in branding, lead generation, strategic marketing, business analysis, new home project planning, product development, Denise is nationally recognized as the source for all things real estate. With a passion for improvement, Denise has helped thousands of real estate agents, brokers, and managers build their business to unprecedented levels of success, while helping them maintain balance and quality of life.