Launching without a launch pad

[Dirk Fisher]

Hey BP, I'm a new realtor with a few concerns that I want to bring up to hopefully ease my worries. I'm wanting to make sure that I'm doing all that I can do right now to build my business and stay on the right track. Sometimes I feel like I can (and should) be doing more, but other times I feel like I'm not knowledgeable enough to continue. It seems like the RE state exam teaches you the do's and dont's, but it doesn't tell you the how's. I work a full time Monday - Friday 9-6pm hourly job, and I work on my RE business after work and on the weekends.

I passed the FL state exam just over a month ago, and since then have found a reputable family-owned firm that is aggressively growing in my area. I'm also in the process of registering with both the local and state realtor associations as well as getting my MLS and Supra-key access. I've been assigned a mentor and everyone I speak to at the firm is telling me to start building a database, updating all social media, taking several training webinars and configure my CRM account.

Would it be too early for me to start knocking on doors, cold calling, advertising my services and talking with clients about what they're looking for? I'm just trying to be as proactive as I can, but I don't want to put the horse before the wagon so-to-speak.

Any advice is welcome. I know these types of posts may be common, so if there's a sticky post somewhere in the Realtor forums just point me to it and I'll happily absorb it.

- Dirk

[Gregory Beaty]

Hey Dirk! 

Welcome to the world if RE Agenthood. 

I too got my license. I came out of my test and thought "Umm..... so.... now what?"  Now, nearly a year later, I'm only just hanging my license with a broker and planning to do something with it.  I however will not be doing any traditional real estate work. Mine is 100% focused on investors.  So it's a little different ball game. 
That said, everyone I know in RE tells me that one can never do enough door knocking, local media, cold calling, advertising etc.  In my experience, and this is only in what I've seen in hanging out with other people I went to RE school with and watching their careers progress, they spent the first 90+ days just getting their names out before they really ever got enough attention to do any actual contracts.  That being the case, I'd say START NOW! I look at it this way, if you have someone who moves faster than you're ready for, you've got your mentor and more important, you've got your reason to "figure it out in a hurry!"  

There's a saying you'll see around these forums a lot. "Progress, not perfection."  As much as I hate it when people say that to me, it works. It's worked for me. At least in this arena.  Not so much in my other professional life. I think this is why I was so resistant for so long.  However, once I started just "doing something" I learned a lot from just doing it. (mostly wrong) LoL.

Lastly, like I tell the people who come to my Empowerment workshops/seminars (Firewalking and the like)  "You don't have to be ready.  Just be willing."  I think this applies to all our endeavors.  If you wait until you're "ready" to do this, that time may never come.  

Good Luck Brother,

GB