Bubba Watson won The Masters golf tournament yesterday.  Bubba Watson.  Bubba.  Watson.  Not Tiger.  Not Phil.  Not somebody who was expected to win.  Bubba Watson did.  It was a fantastic event to watch.  It was fantastic because it was a dramatic finish that hinged on the last shot.  It was fantastic because we were able to witness the joy of things happening beyond our expectations.  It was fantastic because Bubba Watson thought he could hit a shot that NO ONE even thought that he could hit.  And he did.  And he won.

On the 18^th hole, Bubba missed a putt that everyone watching hoped he would make.  Had he made it, he would have won The Masters right then and there, without any sudden death playoff.  Had he made it like so many people wanted him to, we would have never had the chance to witness one of golf’s greatest shots of all time.  Regardless of what Bubba Watson or anyone else wanted on the 18^th hole, he was supposed to miss that putt.  Sure, he would have won, but he would have lost the chance to prove something to himself and the entire golf world about who he is and what he is capable of.  Missing that putt on 18 was one of the best things that could have ever happened to Bubba Watson.  Had he made that putt, he would have quietly won The Masters with expected, consistent play.  As it stands, he shocked the golf world with a shot that exceeded every viewer’s expectation and catapulted him and his finish onto the list of golf’s greatest finishes.

For me, this underscores the importance of understanding – of believing – that what we are going through is what we’re supposed to be going through.  Our toughest times set up the greatest of our good times.  Even when we miss the most important putts of our lives, we have to know that our greatest shots live just beyond our most difficult times.

The other thing I loved about Bubba’s win is the shot he hit out of the woods on the 10^th fairway to set up his victory in sudden death.  I’m sure there are people out there that will say they “knew he could hit that,” but I’m pretty certain that the only person who was even thinking about Bubba trying to hit the ball onto the green from that spot was Bubba Watson.  Everyone was hoping…was assuming…that he would just try to get the ball onto the fairway in a good enough spot where he could still have a shot at chipping one close enough to the pin to keep his chances of winning alive.  What happened next was awe-inspiring.  With a full swing, Bubba Watson hit his ball off of a floor of pine straw, through Georgia pine tree limbs and onto the green, which, for all intents and purposes, was a 90 degree angle to his right.  In one swing of a golf club, Bubba Watson brought belief, imagination, focus, determination and skill together for one heck of a memorable golf shot.  And it won him a green jacket.  “I hit a crazy shot that I saw in my head,” he said in an interview after winning the tournament.

There’s a huge difference between thinking about your possibilities and thinking about your limitations.  It takes courage, vision and imagination to think about possibilities.  It takes none of those to think about limitations.  Personally, I have found that I have to have people in my life who fuel my desire and my ability to think in terms of possibilities.   The environments that we’ve created in our market centers are environments where possibilities and people collide, where collaboration and healthy competition bring out the best in those of us who work here.  Where you play and who you play with matters.  I find it curious that two of the greatest golf shots in the history of The Masters were hit on the same day, by two guys who were paired together by chance, maybe even by destiny.  Who you spend your time with matters.  Having the right people in your life challenges you to be better, to be your best.  Having the wrong people in your life allows you to be worse than you should be.

As Realtors, I feel that we have something in common with professional golfers.  We get to do something that we love to do for a living.  We get to bet on ourselves, take chances, experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, and work with people who inspire us to be better by playing our best.

As you read this, I hope that you find a smile on your face as your mind wanders off, imagining all that is possible for you.  Regardless of the shots you’ve hit, your best shots most certainly lie ahead.  And your best shots will always be the sum total of all of the shots you’ve ever hit before.  So don’t wish away the bad shots.  Know that they are a necessary part of the formula that will help you create some of your best work.

Here’s to missed putts, bad shots and a guy named “Bubba.”

Your #1 Fan…

SHAUN

Shaun Rawls

OP – The Rawls Group – Keller Williams Realty – Atlanta

RD – Keller Williams Realty’s New York Tri-State Region

www.rawlsgroup.org

In the South there’s a saying, “Run like you stole it.”  I love that saying.  Just saying it creates a visual image that both makes sense and makes me smile.  Run like you stole it.

As I study the real estate market and try to offer commentary that will help agents find new opportunities for success, my best advice for 2012 is just that… “Run like you stole it.”  I say that because I believe that we are in the midst of a prematurely good year in real estate.  By my estimations, 2013 should be the beginning of notable improvement in our industry.  However, 2012, serendipitously, is an election year.  And regardless of one’s political persuasion, the media is going to shower our country with more and more positivity in an effort to create momentum for the current administration’s bid for re-election in November.  That’s not a political statement.  It is what it is.  And whatever it is, it’s most likely going to result in a tail wind for many industries, not the least of which will be real estate.

For those who back up their belief in the market with actions that cause results, this will be a phenomenal year.  Belief in the opportunities that are here and that will continue to come is critical.  If you’ve struggled for the past five years, it doesn’t mean that you have to struggle for the next five.  Likewise, the real estate market over the next five years will likely be very different from the past five.  I believe that this year is going to be a gift for us.  And judging by the level of activity we’ve seen already in 2012, I’m certain of it.

As Realtors, we’re betting our life on real estate every day.  It’s one of the realities that I love most about this business.  How many times have we heard the phrase, “Buy low, sell high?”  I don’t think that real estate can get much lower than it is today…certainly not when coupled with unheard of low interest rates used to finance the purchase of property.  Even Warren Buffet and Donald Trump are touting the opportunities that real estate presents for building wealth today.  If you can’t confidently pick up the 10,000 pound phone and tell people that they should buy real estate NOW, then you might want to consider a new career!  Don’t own a home?  Then buy one…NOW!  Already own a home?  Then buy another one…NOW!  As Realtors, we have to be having these kinds of conversations every single day.  If the past five years have taught us anything, it’s that there are no guarantees and nothing lasts forever.  Therefore, we have to strike when the iron is hot and make the most of any momentum.  And right now the iron is hot!

Diligence in lead generation has always been, and will always be, the shortest distance to the most successful version of yourself.  Why take any other route?  I’ve said many times, “If you’re lead generating with the same enthusiasm you have when you’re paying your bills, then lead generation might be a waste of your time!”  On the other hand, if you lead generate knowing that what you are doing will help people and will create the life you’ve always wanted, then your results will be nothing less than spectacular over time.

BOLD shows us what an unlimited mindset can do when it dances with confidence and consistent lead generating activities.  I had the privilege of participating in our BOLD graduation today.  The mindset, the strategies, the skills, the scripts, the team responsibility and the relentless pursuit of lead generation produced an average of 18 contracts per person over a 7 week period!  What can you do to be “BOLDer” tomorrow?  Whether you’ve taken BOLD or not, you can take steps towards the life that you want to live.

What are you waiting for?  Be BOLD!  Pick up the 10,000 pound phone and be excited about the opportunities you represent for your clients.  The equity that develops from today’s real estate purchases will fund the next real estate boom…YOUR next real estate boom!  Your momentum is yours for the taking.  All you have to do is “run like you stole it!”

Here’s to you!

Your #1 Fan…

SHAUN

I remember having a conversation with my grandmother when I was a kid.  I was in school and we were discussing my interest in participating in an extra-curricular activity.  She was trying to determine my level of commitment to what I was signing up to do, while I was trying to explain that my desire to participate was evidence enough of my commitment.  At some point during our wise versus not-so-wise dialogue, my grandmother said, “You know what they say about breakfast, don’t you?”

“She’s losing her mind,” I thought to myself.  “What does breakfast have to do with anything?”

“They say, when it comes to breakfast, the chicken’s INVOLVED, but the pig’s COMMITTED,” she said. Then, she just sat there and looked at me, waiting for me to connect the dots in my tiny, little brain.

I felt like I was failing the test for a second as my mind quickly repeated her obviously mature and clever quip.  “The chicken’s involved, but he pig’s committed.  The CHICKEN’S involved, but the PIG’S committed.  The chicken’s IN – VOLVED, but the pig’s…”

“Ohhh, I get it,” I said.

“So, which is it,” she asked.  “Are you just going to be involved in this activity or are you committed to it?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not sure I want anyone to eat me for breakfast, “I joked.

Up until that time, I think I thought that there were different levels of commitment, when, in reality, commitment either IS or IS NOT.  I think we’ve all been guilty of being less committed to people and things than we would want them to believe.  If we’re not careful, then such behavior can snowball into a life that lacks in focus, direction and results.

Our faith, our family and friends, our professional priorities, our standards and our vision for our life are the things to which we must be committed.  Just like love, commitment is proven through our actions.  Saying we are committed to someone or something is easy; proving it is altogether different.

Matthew Kelly, the author, once said that “our goal in life is to become the very best version of ourselves.”  What we choose to think, what we choose to read, who and what we choose to spend our time with, what we choose to do, what we choose to eat…all of these leave clues as to whether or not we are committed to being the best version of ourselves that we can become, or not.

Gary Keller says, “When we say ‘yes’ to something, we say ‘no’ to something else.”  When we say “yes” to the right things (most important) and “no” to the wrong things (least important), we can live a great life that creates great results for ourselves.  Saying “yes” to the least important things means that we say “no” to the most important things, which is where a lack of productivity and a world full of regret live.

If someone asked you, right now, “What are you committed to?”  What would your answer be?  And better yet, could you prove it?  People who have clear commitments in their life produce the outcomes that others merely talk about achieving.  I always love seeing our agents who start AND finish 4-4-3, 36-12-3, Ignite and BOLD, as well as those who attend Family Reunion and Mega Camp, because these are the people who are committed to the results they seek.  There will always be more reasons NOT TO DO certain things than there are reasons TO DO them.  However, the power and purpose behind the reasons TO DO things will always outweigh the many frivolous reasons NOT TO DO them.  Without commitment, you will always find the excuses you are looking for that will keep you from reaching, risking, growing and achieving, and you will most certainly become a lesser version of yourself than the version of which you are capable.

As I write this, I can’t help but think of Kevin Costner’s character in the movie, “Bull Durham,” when he replies to the question, “What do you believe in?”  Boy, did he have an answer and was he clear!

In my role, I am committed to many things and many people.  If you are reading this and you are a part of my world, it is my hope that you know that creating the safest and most compelling environments that support love, growth and success for all who dwell here is of the greatest importance to me, and you can bet that I will always be able to prove it.

I pray that the remainder of 2012 proves to be a year of great commitments and great results for you.  Get clear, get focused and get ready to become the best version of yourself that you can become.

“Be the pig.”

Your #1 Fan…

SHAUN

 Shaun Rawls
OP – Keller Williams Realty, The Rawls Group – Atlanta
RD – Keller Williams Realty – New York Tri-State Region

As I sit here watching the final sunrise of 2011, I’m “speed thinking” about every single thing that has been a facet of this year for which I am grateful. I won’t bore you with the list of things that come to mind, but suffice it to say that it’s a very, very long list. Some things big, some things small and many things that we so often take for granted are on my list. In fact, the longer I play this game, the smaller the items on my gratitude list become…and the better I feel.

The renowned life and business coach, Dr. Fred, has a scoring system for accomplishment and for appreciating things that would suggest that the quantity of small, daily things that we seek to enjoy and appreciate will be in direct proportion to the large, momentous things we will experience. This is one of my favorite exercises, and NOW (New Year’s) is the BEST time to do it!

Dr. Fred’s scoring system requires that you make a list of things with assigned values, as follows:

• 10: Anything that you deem a part of a great DAILY experience for you gets a value of 10 points. Maybe a hot shower, a walk or a run, a great cup of coffee, reading a book, calling a friend, laughing, hugging a loved one, appreciating a sunrise and/or a sunset, time in personal prayer or reading with your child? Everything that you say could be a part of a GREAT DAY for you gets 10 points.
• 25: Anything that you deem part of a great WEEKLY experience for you gets a value of 25 points. Maybe a round of golf, a tennis match, a yoga class, lunch with a mentor or wealth determiner, reading a whole book, listing or selling a home? Everything that you say could be a part of a GREAT WEEK for you gets 25 points.
• 50: Anything that you deem part of a great MONTHLY or QUARTERLY experience for you gets a value of 50 points. Maybe a massage, taking a long weekend, attending a seminar or class that helps you grow or contacting everyone in your database by phone? Everything that you say could be a part of a GREAT MONTH OR QUARTER for you gets 50 points.
• 75: Anything that you deem part of a great SEMI-ANNUAL or ANNUAL experience for you gets a value of 75 points. Maybe it’s a motorcycle trip with your friends, a memorable family vacation, a sizeable charitable contribution to an organization that you are passionate about or the number of closings you want to have? Everything that you say could be a part of a GREAT YEAR for you gets 75 points.
• 100: Anything that you deem part of a great LIFE EXPERIENCE for you gets a value of 100 points. These are “bucket list” things. Maybe it’s seeing Victoria Falls or the Taj Mahal, playing golf on a famous golf course or writing a book? Any important thing that you say could be a part of your GREAT LIFE’S EXPERIENCE gets a value of 100 points.
And here’s the beauty of Dr. Fred’s system as I understand it. The secret of having a GREAT life is in accumulating as many “10’s” on a daily basis that you can think of. Focusing on gathering as many 10’s as you can every day helps form habits that prepare your mind to accumulate more 25’s, then 50’s, then 75’s and eventually 100’s. To consistently experience the bigger things in life that we say are important to us, we must take notice of as many wonderful and tiny things that we can think of to squeeze into our days. I love it! How many things will be on your list to experience and appreciate? How many things come to mind to appreciate that you’ve been taking for granted all this time, and how much better and resilient would your mindset be if you’d been appreciating all of the little things in your life on a daily basis?

In addition to Dr. Fred’s scoring system, now is also a great time to take inventory of the people and tasks in your life and group them into one of four categories. The four categories are: (1) People and Tasks that ADD to the quality of your life, (2) People and Tasks that SUBTRACT from the quality of your life, (3) People and Tasks that don’t just add to the quality of your life, but actually MULTIPLY the quality of your life and (4) People and Tasks that suck the life out of you. While this can be a scary exercise because of who and what falls into categories (2) and (4), it’s important to see who and what you need to limit your time with and devise a plan to insure that you do it. If you can minimize your time with people and tasks that drain your energy, you can maximize the time that you spend with those people and tasks that give you energy and give you the greatest chance of improving your results.

Regardless of how you ring in the New Year, this is one of the most ideal times for us to reflect on the past, prepare for the future and count the many blessings that we have enjoyed for the past 12 months. January 1st always signals the start of a new chapter in our lives and businesses – a chance to learn from our mistakes and do better in the year ahead. The resolutions we make come from the reality that we want to do better than we’ve done and we want to be better than we’ve been.

If resolutions are a part of your New Year’s routine, be warned! More often than not, New Year’s resolutions are more like New Year’s “wishes,” rather than New Year’s “game plans.” And just like any successful plan, all we need is a true desire for the results we seek and simple, clear actions steps that will lead us to those results. Action steps and desire. Desire and action steps. Both must be present for any plan, let alone a resolution, to be successful. I’m certain that any failed attempt to reach a goal comes from a lack of desire and/or a plan that’s too complicated to implement consistently over time. So, as you formulate your resolutions for the New Year, make sure you have a burning desire to achieve them and a simple action plan to achieve them before you call them “resolutions.”

I’m off to ring in the New Year with my family. And as I count my many blessings, I count you among them. If you read my “little” messages, I appreciate you for that. If you ever respond to them because you like them (or not), I appreciate you for that, too. While I have the great fortune of enjoying what I do for a living, that pales in comparison to whom I get to work with every day. The people of this great company challenge me and inspire me to be my very best. It is my distinct privilege to work for you and with you, and I pray that 2012 will be a year of blessings for you, your business and your family. Together, we shall reach new heights of achievement in the year to come. I say, “Bring it on.”

Your #1 Fan…

SHAUN

Superstars…
 
In sports, the time clock creates urgency. The clock also creates winners and losers when it ticks its way to “zero.” At the end of every game, the people and teams who were playing go home with a “W” or an “L” associated with their name. And when the score is close and there are only seconds remaining on the clock, the energy and intensity of the situation rise to a level that only talent can respond to. In times like this, talent wants the ball. Talent lives for the opportunity to win when losing seems just as likely an outcome. While talent doesn’t win every game, talent always wins over time. Most importantly, talent always takes the shot and enjoys the feeling of victory or learns from the frustration of defeat.
 
I recently read that the single most important attribute that is shared by the most successful entrepreneurs is “a tolerance for ambiguity.” Bryon Ellington with Keller Williams Realty International shared this educational piece with me. It went on to say that it’s possible for a tolerance for ambiguity to be learned, but most often it is not. Regardless of whether a tolerance for ambiguity is a natural or a learned behavior, it is rare, despite how important it seems to be.
 
“A tolerance for ambiguity.” What does that mean? It means that that you must move forward and take action without knowing the final outcome. It means that you hope for the best and plan for the worst. It means that you value the process more than the destination. It means that one’s quest for the thrill of victory will never be held hostage by the fear of the thought that he might lose. It means that putting everything you’ve got on the line is the only way to know what you are capable of, and is therefore, the only way to learn and grow. Stretching, finding our discomfort zone, and facing, fighting and learning from adversity are key components to discovering the power of our potential. A tolerance for ambiguity implies that we actually have to watch the movie in order to know and appreciate how it ends.
 
Whether it’s watching the Superbowl, the Final Four, the Stanley Cup series, the Indy 500, or the Masters, it’s the unexpected thrills and shifts in momentum that draws us to the drama of competition and success. Not knowing the outcome is the most exciting part. And without the journey, without the fight, without the experience of chasing victory that is achieved or not, any outcome would be meaningless.
 
All of us know people who worked their way from nothing to achieve great success and wealth. We also know people who were born into it. Those who had to work for every dollar they ever earned have a different respect for their capital, what it takes to make it and what it takes to keep it, as compared to those who have always had it in their life. Most people agree that the self made men and women of life have learned lessons and developed the confidence in themselves that only their journeys can create.
 
Regardless of our journey towards success, significance or wealth, perhaps it is our own tolerance for ambiguity that will determine our level of effort towards our destination. The great Wayne Gretzky said, “I miss 100% of the shots I never take.” Few people realize that Babe Ruth, the legendary king of hitting home runs, was also the king of strike outs. All or nothing. It’s the only way to play and achieve the greatness we are capable of.
 
Trying our very best guarantees that anything is possible. Yet, the slightest withholding of effort will only insure regret. If developing, or re-discovering, our tolerance for ambiguity can help us become the very best version of ourselves, then might I suggest we do it? If looking at the games being played in stadiums, courts, tracks and on television excite us, then why not look at our own careers and lives with the same sense of excitement, knowing that winners are developed by giving their all, both physically and emotionally?
 
I’ve often described the professionals of the real estate industry as “financial daredevils” because we get up and go to work without any assurance that we are going to be paid. Our assurance comes from our confidence in ourselves; it comes from our passion for serving others; it comes from knowing that productive energy produces positive results; it comes from being a part of a team that gives us every chance of success by supporting us, educating us and holding us accountable to the all-star performances we are capable of. I’m convinced that it’s the uncertainty – the ambiguity – that creates greatness and brings out the greatness in all of us. We must not wish for certain outcomes. Rather, we must wish for the strength and the courage to play at the level that can only insure those outcomes.
 
I love Keller Williams Realty for many reasons. One of the many is that this company continues to find ways to help every associate enhance their tolerance for ambiguity by providing us with the best leadership, training, tools and technology to help us build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.
 
Want the ball. Take the shot, no matter the outcome. “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”
 
Your #1 Fan…
 
SHAUN
 
Shaun Rawls
Operating Partner – Keller Williams Realty – The Rawls Group – Atlanta, Ga.
Regional Director – Keller Williams Realty – New York Tri-State Region