Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Bob Tompkins, RE/MAX agent from Greenville, South Carolina, and marketing aficionado. In fact, in the week since its release, Bob’s music video parody of “Old Town Road” has amassed more than 800,000 views. Bob’s parents are both Realtors, and 3 years ago Bob got into real estate as well and he has found great success in the industry. Bob is an advocate of developing a strong personal brand to build awareness, and he has been able to let his customers come to him rather than using old school methods like buying leads or cold calling. By being a presence on social media and in the community, he is recognized as an expert in real estate in upstate South Carolina and remaining top of mind for most people in the community drives his business organically.He is one of the handfuls of real estate agents who have embraced the video platform and he uses a straightforward and genuine approach to educate and entertain his customers. He is proving that a well-thought-out and the well-implemented video does not have to be high budget in order to be effective, and while he has invested in some professional equipment in the past few months, the key with video content is to just get it out there. Video is a long game of consistently getting in front of potential clients until they are in a position to buy or sell a house and you are the first person they think of. Bob is inspired by Gary Vaynerchuk and Ricky Carruth when it comes to building his brand and focusing on relationships and by his dad day-in and day-out to be the best he can be. His latest endeavor is his podcast “Real Talk” which is growing and further building his brand awareness. Bob’s key to starting every day with a win is being the first call, text, email, or message of the day to your clients.Links:“Crushing It” by Gary Vaynerchuk: https://www.amazon.com/Crushing-Great-Entrepreneurs-Business-Influence/dp/0062674676Connect with Bob:https://www.facebook.com/BetterCallBobTompkins/https://www.instagram.com/bobtompkinsrealtor/https://www.youtube.com/user/bobtompkins93http://bobtompkins.greenvillemoves.com/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Our special guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Tony Drees, a Desert Storm veteran, Purple Heart recipient, life coach, motivational speaker, podcast host, and Executive Director of Veterans Passport to Hope. Tony has undergone 74 surgeries in the years since his combat injury and recently lost his right leg to amputation. He has received some recognition over the years for being a war hero, including a spotlight in People Magazine after his 58th surgery. Tony was heavily impacted by his adoptive parents and the empowerment they demonstrated to their many adopted and foster children, and this influence in conjunction with his military service and the adversity he has faced led him to come up with these 3 rules to live by:No lies – Do not believe the lies that people say about you and what you can accomplish.No excuses – Pursue your own expertise and decide how to live your life.Never quit – Do not believe in limitations but stick with what you have set your mind to.Veterans Passport to Hope began in 2012, and they pursued Tony to be the Executive Director after becoming acquainted with him through an award they gave him. The purpose of the organization is three-fold: (1) Advocacy, (2) Cooperation, and (3) Fundraising. VP2H does not provide services, but rather provides recommendations for veteran groups and maintains an extensive grant process for awarding funds to those organizations.Tony starts every day by practicing gratefulness and he welcomes change when it comes, seeing it as a new inevitable adventure. He believes that everyone has a superpower, which is usually the thing that people “accuse” you of as if it is a bad thing. Inspired every day by his children, he says that the key to success is to “manage your beliefs and you can manage your results.”Links:“The Magic of Thinking Big”: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Thinking-Big-David-Schwartz/dp/0671646788/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PYSOXUOLW8IE&keywords=magic+of+thinking+big&qid=1557933130&s=gateway&sprefix=magic+of+thinkin%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1 Connect with Tony:https://www.vp2h.orghttps://www.instagram.com/superpower.institute/https://classes.superpower.institute/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shock-awe-2-0-saluting-veterans-with-grace/id1459893480 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Do you ever feel like there is a slow leak in your productivity throughout the day? It can be so easy to lose focus and get distracted by social media, reading the news, watching “just one” episode of a show, March Madness. But on this quick episode of Start with a Win, Adam gives some suggestions for preventing this productivity leakage:Build in some accountability by convincing yourself that wasting time is wrongJust try to be more committed to focusing – it will make a differenceSet up a system of time blocking and stick to itWork on your emotional maturity and choice managementTry a technique like the “pomodoro” technique – focus on the task at hand with no distractions and then take a 5-minute breakUse an app like Focus@WillLinks:Pomodoro Technique: https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique Focus@Will: https://www.focusatwill.com/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXadamcontos/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Ruben Gonzalez is a 4-time Olympian in the sport of luge, and he talks with Adam about the winding road that brought him to where he is today. Ruben has dreamt of participating in the Olympics since he was 10 years old, but after riding the bench in soccer throughout high school, he realized that he needed to find a different sport. Always one to accept a new challenge and never back down, he decided to pursue a sport that has a high turnover rate due to injuries: luge.Living in Houston, he knew he would need to train elsewhere, so he wrote a letter to Sports Illustrated and – surprisingly – received a response. He talked to a coach in Lake Placid, New York, about his ambitions, and was laughed at for attempting to start an Olympic career from scratch at the age of 21. However, as Ruben told the coach his life story and mentioned that he was born in Argentina, the coach suddenly got excited and agreed to coach him if he would compete for Argentina. The sport of luge had been declining in participation, but an athlete from South America would breathe new life into the sport.After cramming 10 years of training into 2, Ruben qualified for his first Olympics. The lessons he learned began with that first phone call, which instilled in him the importance of perseverance. Over the years, he also learned to be mentally tough in preparing for the fight ahead of him, from the next curve to the next race. On a daily basis, Ruben writes down his goal (which right now is “Beijing 2022”) and he focuses entirely on doing whatever needs to be done to get there. Specifically, he works in 90-minute increments which allows him to be extremely disciplined and productive with a sole focus during that time without being tempted by distractions.Ruben tells the story of his coach telling him after 20 years that he is still too tense. Ruben changed his focus from avoiding the walls on either side of him to a spot 30 feet in front of him, putting on blinders to not even acknowledge the presence of the walls and instead just keep his gaze ahead. He describes this concept of “changing the focus changed the experience” in the business sense as well, encouraging listeners to consider focusing on what is in their sphere of influence rather than being distracted or discouraged by what is going on around them.Finally, Ruben simply states the key concepts that he wishes to convey to listeners: be a student of success by reading biographies and focusing on personal development and by carefully deciding who you spend time with. Those who you allow to speak into your life have the potential to greatly help or harm you.Links:“Think and Grow Rich”: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331Connect with Ruben:Website: https://ruben-gonzalez.com/“The Courage to Succced” book: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Succeed-Unlikely-Four-Time-Olympian/dp/0975554719/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2SVVWBFZ10H3R&keywords=ruben+gonzalez&qid=1557076578&s=gateway&sprefix=ruben+gon%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-5“Dream, Struggle, Victory” book: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Struggle-Victory-Olympian-Realize/dp/0975554751/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_5?keywords=ruben+gonzalez+olympian&qid=1557076685&s=gateway&sr=8-5-fkmrnullConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam and Mark talk about building your own personal and/or professional brand. Now “branding” has become a buzzword in today’s business world, but most people do not adequately grasp what is means to build a brand, so they aren’t reaping any of the benefits. For the purposes of this episode, we will define your brand as “the thoughts and emotions evoked when people think about you.”Your brand should encompass your values, persona, passions, and focuses in whatever industry you are serving. This needs to be define-able and easy for people to understand, so sit down and really take the time to think about what you want your brand to include. Consult some of your friends and colleagues, and perhaps even go through a 360-degree evaluation process to see how others perceive you. This will help you determine how to tailor your image or and begin to live out your brand through social media and your other platforms.Once you have found your brand, reach out to people who can help you with things like a logo, a website, business cards, etc. as you prepare your content. Based on your brand, determine what types of content you should create, how it should be distributed, and what platforms should be used. It is crucial to understand that you cannot post the same video on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn because each of those platforms encourages specific content types and elicits different interactions or engagements from your audience. You also must recognize that “doing Facebook” does not mean scrolling through your news feed and liking one of your clients’ statuses and calling it a day. You would be amazed how easy it is to set up Facebook ads to promote your brand, and the results from just a $5 ad could bring in several new leads with minimal effort on your end.After this episode, Adam challenges you to build your personal or business brand. Go to a freelancing site and hire someone to help you with the deliverables you aren’t strong in, and just launch into the world as a well-defined value-creator.Links:360 rating site: https://www.selfstir.com/Freelancing: https://www.fiverr.comFreelancing: https://www.upwork.com/Brand Viva Media: www.brandvivamedia.comConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

“Opportunities look like threats because they are if you do nothing with them.” When you come to a fork in the road and you are faced with the decision to do something or not do something, how do you look at that decision? Do you see the road before you as an opportunity, filled with abundance and creating value for you and your clients? Or do you perceive it as a threat, characterized by pessimism?In life and in business, it is important that you be in the right mindset to accept and adapt to your new situation, always being ready to eliminate threats and capitalize on opportunities. Once you grasp these concepts for yourself, you have the unique ability to coach your client through this same process, providing them with value beyond their limited interactions with you. RE/MAX takes this idea seriously, even offering the Momentum Training Program for agents through RE/MAX University.Links:Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Our guest on this episode of Start with a Win is The Productivity Pro, Laura Stack. Laura’s father was a Colonel in the US military, so she grew up in a very regimented and structured environment, and since her friends were all living in similar households, there was actually peer pressure to be productive so then you could go have fun. By the age of 21, Laura had earned her MBA. Her local Kiwanis club asked her to speak about her motivation to complete her degree so young, and it sparked in her a desire to share with others who had not had productivity engrained in them from birth how they could jumpstart their productivity.During her years as a consultant and speaker to businesses and entrepreneurs, she has found some common themes about the way people have organized (or not organized) their lives and barriers to productivity. When it comes to distraction, many people know exactly what they need to be doing, but they are looking for any excuse to be distracted. Sometimes they are being lazy, but sometimes distraction creeps in because of the lack of systems and organization to keep them on task. It is a proven fact that it takes 7 minutes for people to gain back their attention after being distracted, and the average person gets one email every 4 minutes, so if you do not have a structure telling you not to check your email every time you hear the ding, you will go through entire days and weeks without being truly productive.Time blocking is an excellent way to combat this and is very easy to do through an Outlook or Google calendar. Then it will just require the discipline to stick with the times and tasks you have set out for yourself. Perhaps you can’t block every moment of every day for specific things, but at least you can block off 1-2 hours every day that is dedicated to working with no interruptions. You will be amazed what you can accomplish if you are not receiving alerts of any kind. Finally, being productive today means preparing for today yesterday. At the end of every work day, take a look at what you didn’t get done. Transfer those tasks to the relevant to-do list – by taking an honest look at your priorities as well as the “soft” time you have in your schedule coming up, you can properly schedule when tasks can be completed. Honestly evaluate which tasks provide you with the highest ROI of your time and do them – even if you don’t want to.Laura relies heavily on Microsoft Outlook Tasks to keep her organized. This is also a reliable method for maintaining a record of what needs follow up. For more information about Laura’s tips and strategies for productivity, check out the content on her website.Connect with Laura:https://theproductivitypro.com/https://twitter.com/laurastackhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYlWxFWalwouknQpizSPM6Q Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

As Adam has talked about before on the podcast, failure is often the key to understanding success in business. During this episode, he outlines the 5 reasons real estate agents (and people in business in general) fail:No System – You likely have a plan or vision for what you want to do, but if you don’t have a system in place, you will not accomplish anything. Think about: What? How? How much? How will I measure?No Accountability – You must be accountable to yourself first. Many people think that if they have a coach, they have accountability. But a coach is only capable of increasing your performance based on the accountability you have set up for yourself and communicated to them. If you are not getting better every day, you are getting worse.Just Watching – If you are not trying to master something by executing habits over time, you are just sitting on the sidelines. Adam has seen this play out many times with people using social media as a business tool, and he provides specific examples of what works and what doesn’t.No Follow-Up – The majority of business comes from repeated customers and referrals, so connect with your customers person-to-person and maintain a relationship with them beyond the initial “transaction.”No Value – People fail in business because they don’t help people with their known or unknown challenges. Meeting customers where they are and anticipating their needs or problems is essential to success.Links:“Atomic Habits” by James Clear - https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

The topic of this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is running a business as opposed to just being a real estate agent. The two might seem unrelated, but Adam explains why the most effective real estate agents actually focus their energy on running their operations like a business.There are 4 key components of running a business:Constantly building a customer base – Whether by networking or marketing, it is imperative that you always have new leads and prospects in your pipeline.Creating value – Make clients want to do business with you. Use your knowledge and experience to truly get to know what makes your clients tick, then use what you learn to help them overcome challenges they are facing. By serving them in this way, you create top-of-mind awareness that will make clients keep coming back.Repeatable systems and processes – There is an initial time investment involved in setting up these systems, but once you are up and running, you will be able to consistently execute and find success.Scaling – Now you are ready to work on your specialty and organize, outsource, expand, and increase your margins. The more time and effort you put into building your business, the more value you will create and the more success you will achieve.Links:Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

On this episode of Start with a Win, our guest is Ward Morrison, President of Motto Mortgage. He explains to listeners the difference between traditional banks and mortgage brokerages when it comes to getting home loans and demystifies the mortgage process for those who are considering purchasing their first house. The main thing to keep in mind is that mortgage professionals at brokerages such as Motto Mortgage are able to shop around for the best loans for their customers. Gone are the days of a mandatory 20% down payment and only being able to choose between the few loan options presented to you by your bank. Much like independent insurance agencies are able to curate policies from multiple sources for their customers to review, mortgage brokers put in the extra effort to find loans that fit their customers’ specific situations. For instance, the typical down payment for conventional loans such as FHA is 5%, but sometimes 3.5% is all that is required. Through VA loans, veterans are able to secure home financing with 0%, and people living in rural areas can take advantage of the 3-5% down payments through USDA loans. If homeowners do not put 20% down, they are subject to monthly mortgage insurance payments, but a loan professional would be able to talk them through that process and ways to avoid these payments with things like piggyback loans.Overall, Ward wants to encourage potential homebuyers to be aware of their credit scores, take any necessary steps to improve them, and think through their sources of funds before seeking a home loan. But once you are ready to take the first step, a mortgage professional will be right there to meet you and guide you the rest of the way.Links:Motto Mortgage: https://www.mottomortgage.com/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

During this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam shares is top 10 quotes, plus Mark’s bonus quote:“People seem to think that they lack motivation when in fact what they lack is clarity.” Clarity creates action. Take the time to hone in on your goals, seek counsel, come up with an action plan, and then execute. “Burn your boats, not your bridges.” Find a way to commit to a new thing without ruining your relationships associated with the old thing. Be able to gracefully walk away from an employer so that the door remains open for you to go back in the future. “The largest decision you will make will be to choose between fear and confidence.” When you are faced with a big decision, you will likely have to choose between the known (confidence) and the unknown (fear). Either choice is good; just don’t turn around and go backwards. “The most important asset you can own in your business is the attention of your customer. If you don’t own it, someone else does.” So much of your success depends on your ability to build relationships and provide value to your customers. “The quietly successful laugh behind the backs of the critics.” Critics are noisy, but happy people know how to be quietly successful. “Do common things uncommonly well.” The brain recognizes perfection and sloppiness. The way your customers are greeted and taken care of, the appearance of your facility, and the gratitude your employees express to customers could be the key differentiators between you and your competitors. “The level of your success will be in direct proportion to the level of discomfort you are willing to tolerate.” Learning a new skill is uncomfortable, but you will not earn the benefits without putting in the effort. “At the end of the day, your priorities should reflect the time that you spent during the day.” Intentionally plan your day based on your goals, and then assess how your actual day compared to your plans. “You really only have three things to choose from in life: give up, give in, or give it everything you’ve got.” Giving up is not an option. Giving in is not productive. So giving it everything you’ve got is really the only choice. “The noise you almost always hear in life and business is the scream of the urgent drowning out the whisper of the important.” Important things are those that make the biggest difference. Urgent things get in the way and distract you from the important. Don’t try to make everybody happy by responding to their urgent requests; just stay focused on the important. “If you’re committed to it, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.” If you want a refresher on this idea, listen to the two previous episodes about commitment. Links:Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

The topic of this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is “getting your ass to market.” Adam recounts one of the famous Aesop’s fables about an old man, a young boy, and a donkey. The old man decides to take the donkey to market to sell it, so the three set off walking to the market. Along the way, they encounter several people with opinions about how they should be making the trip, and because the old man takes all of their suggestions, the donkey never makes it to the market to be sold. This results in a large loss in livelihood for the man, but a deep lesson for all those who learned from his misfortune: if you try to please everyone, you never get where you need to go.In the current business environment, everyone has an opinion, and they are quick to give unsolicited and uneducated advice. There are four types of people who give their opinions:Uninvested, uninterested – These people are the most likely to give unsolicited advice; just say “thanks” and move on.Uninvested, interestedInvested, uninterestedInvested, interested – You should consider how much of what they are saying is true and what their stake is in the situation.Even if you don’t take their advice, just listening to them might cause you to doubt or rethink your plan of action and cause unnecessary delays. You don’t make money on things you don’t launch, so just be a “doer” and get things done.Links:“The Man, The Boy, and The Donkey”: https://www.bartleby.com/17/1/62.htmlConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam is joined by Denver mayor Michael Hancock, who shares with listeners his approach towards leadership. Coming from a challenged background, Mayor Hancock as a prevalent sense of empathy for the people he encounters, and he is also able to keep the right perspective on the privilege of serving the great people of Denver. Waking up every morning with a sense of appreciation and humility allows him to stay focused and grounded not matter the good or bad circumstances that may come his way.Throughout his life, Mayor Hancock has come to realize that the most important thing in everyone’s lives is their relationships, and the same is certainly true in his role as Mayor. Over the years, his version of being a leader has shifted from conceptual and structural, focused on setting up the right structure and then finding the right team, to practical and focused on the people, forming the structure around the people. This allows for a more organic give and take between him and his team with clearer expectations and goals guiding their mission for the project or broader environment. When Mayor Hancock is confronted with challenges, he leans on the people around him and systematically approaches the issue one small step at a time. He does not impulsively jump to conclusions or action, but rather relies on his internal fortitude and awareness of the variables at play to lead him forward. Mayor Hancock starts every day by praying for himself and his family to have the strength and grace to approach the day and then having his personal devotions before anything else. He prioritizes touching base with his children – both the human and canine ones – before getting to work. At lunch, he sets aside time to exercise and get geared up for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Show Notes:This impromptu conversation between Adam and Mark evolved into a Start with a Win podcast episode about helping others, and we hope that you are able to get a lot out of it to apply to your daily life. Helping people is all about genuinely caring for what is going on in their lives, either long-term or in the moment, and it provides value to you and the person you help. Adam has had a lot of memorable experiences helping people, from his time in law enforcement and now in real estate, and he has always tried to go out of his way to be kind, especially when people least expect it. RE/MAX has built this into their company culture by embodying the phrase “everyone carries the boxes”, meaning that no one is above helping out a colleague who is carrying boxes and it is expected that you will lend a hand. This idea of being aware of others’ needs and being 100% committed to those around you creates a cycle of positive human interaction that is contagious. Before you know it, your one small act of kindness could have a butterfly effect on your community, and you could take pride in knowing that you were a part of bringing out the best in humanity. This attitude will build relationships and eventually lead to success in business as well, but you shouldn’t use that as your motivation for doing good.So this week, be intentional about treating someone to a cup of coffee, letting someone into traffic, and just giving unconditionally. You will be surprised by the outcome.Links:(none that were referenced)Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Geoff McLennan, a highly-esteemed RE/MAX Advantage agent in New Westminster, Canada, joins Adam for this episode of the Start with a Win podcast. Geoff has been recognized as one of the top 10% of real estate agents in the Greater Vancouver area, was named a Bomb Bomb video influencer in 2018, and co-hosts the Multiple Offers podcast. Geoff grew up in real estate and got his license at age 25. Just one year later, the left side of his body suddenly went numb, and after a whirlwind of tests, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He went through a season of depression and has had to adjust his work schedule and processes as he experiences waves of exhaustion, but he experienced a mindset shift after reading the story of Michael J. Fox who chooses to be optimistic in the midst of his battle with Parkinson’s. Geoff has found that success is taking the challenges that come with MS in stride and not letting it define him or hold him back. Geoff is well-known for his creative videos posted on social media and integrated into digital communications, which he credits to MS. He was secretive about his diagnosis until he posted a video letting people know that he had MS, that he was raising money for the upcoming MS walk, and he would appreciate financial support for the MS Society. As a result of that video, he raised $6,000 for the cause, and he realized the effectiveness of the powerful tool that is video. He took a 2-day video bootcamp (link below) that further propelled him into using this media, and he has never looked back. He encourages others to do the same and remember that the key to effective videos is transparency and authentically connecting with your audience.Links:“Multiple Offers” podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/multiple-offers/id1380449996?mt=2“The 4-Hour Work Week” by Timothy Ferriss: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550192865&sr=8-1&keywords=four+hour+work+week “Lucky Man” by Michael J. Fox: https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Man-Michael-J-Fox/dp/0786888741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550192923&sr=8-1&keywords=lucky+man+by+michael+j+fox Michael Thorne and Jesse Peters’ Video Bootcamp: http://immichaelthorne.wixsite.com/mysite Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/ https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Adam finishes up his discussion on commitment by integrating the attitude from last episode with the execution. Many people fall short of total commitment because they believe that they just need the right mindset and things will fall into place. Think about a relationship: if both people had decided to be committed and then they only give 50% effort, the relationship is going to fail. Both people have to give 100% effort in order to be truly committed to each other and the relationship.So how do you turn your commitment into action?Segmenting your goals into microcommitments – When your alarm goes off, don’t focus on the big goal of making it to the gym or getting to that 9am meeting. Focus instead on putting your feet on the floor, standing up, walking to the kitchen, getting your cup of coffee, and so on. These are microcommitments that are very easy to execute and will give you the momentum to just keep going until you’ve accomplished the main goal without being overwhelmed.Mastering the art of showing up – As we have already discussed, the hardest part of commitment is deciding to do it, so now you are equipped to conquer the last hurdle of showing up. Don’t overcommit early on, and surprise yourself and others by overdelivering.Eliminate distractions – Entertainment is the enemy of execution. Designate time in your day for checking social media and set your devices aside when it is time to get down to business. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will be more productive if you take a “brain break” by mindlessly scrolling your feed.Create an environment that facilitates success – Set up some ground rules for yourself about what you will do and not do, and be consistent. The intensity of your commitments will have an impact on other people as well, creating a culture that is mutually beneficial and productive.Links:“Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform/dp/0979019710/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1550070986&sr=8-3&keywords=miracle+morning “Atomic Habits” by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550070966&sr=8-2&keywords=atomic+habits Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Show Notes:On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam describes the first aspect of commitment: attitude. Commitment paves the road to success and happiness, transforming promise into reality and building character, and just as an attitude of commitment helps you start with a win, it enables you to continue winning.A lot of what goes into the attitude of commitment is the decision to do something and overcoming the fear of failure, because failure is just the beginning. By establishing why you are doing something or reaching for a certain goal, you are able to cultivate the willpower you will need to see it through. This mindset shift opens the door to small changes and improvements that can help you fulfill your purpose and master the task at hand. Adam challenges listeners to sit down and write your “why” for the main things they are focused on. Then take each of those “whys” and ask yourself “why” 6 times until you get down to the true motivation or emotion that is propelling your decisions and actions. This ultimate “why” transcends logic and helps you understand more about yourself and your purpose.Links:Urban Dictionary definition of “commitment”: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=commitment“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550070277&sr=8-1&keywords=the+power+of+why Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, we hear the final installment of Adam’s interview with RE/MAX Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Dave Liniger. Over the past 46+ years, RE/MAX has lived through many transitions, economic swings, technological advances, and generations of homeowners. During that time, Dave and his team have often been called “disruptors” to the real estate industry because of their innovative thinking and structuring of their organization, but this name has always served them well. By having an open and curious mindset, Dave has been able to navigate the organization through many ups and downs, and he has gone from earning $95 per month in his military days to being a billionaire. One of the key concepts that Dave has used throughout his life is his intentional planning of his goals and taking the small steps along the way to get there. He talks about the concept of “the three boxes” and the necessity to integrate learning, earning, and yearning into every stage of life. He is not afraid to say “no” or to listen to the ideas of anyone who has a good one.Dave’s top 3 business lessons are:Personal development – Never stop learning: read more books, attend more seminars, and watch less television.Personal associations – Seek out diversity and inclusiveness in your relationships.Personal balance – Balance does not always happen, but you will make time for what is important.Links:“The Three Boxes of Life” by Richard Bolles: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Boxes-Life-How-Them/dp/0913668583 “The Four Burners” by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/four-burners-theory Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

During part 2 of Adam’s conversation with RE/MAX Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Dave Liniger, Dave discusses the foundations of RE/MAX and how these concepts can be applied to business and personal pursuits. In October 1975, RE/MAX had its first cash flow positive month, and Dave and Gail finally felt that the company was stable enough for them to start taking paychecks. One of the key components of their successful business was the environment that they had created, which allowed agents and brokers to flourish and set up a trustworthy system of leadership when Dave had to be away for several months to take care of Gail after her serious plane crash.The key concepts that Dave set up early on were: (1) product, (2) brand/market share, (3) group purchasing, and (4) unique training programs. It was also during this time that they began franchising and setting up regions within the company, which provided them a way to manage their growth while still keeping the brand cohesive.Dave emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will challenge you and make you a better person, and he references Jim Rohn’s thoughts on the subject. He continues by saying that it is important to stay focused and be a disruptor, always paying attention to changes in the market and being willing to change in response.Links:Jim Rohn: https://www.jimrohn.com/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Ryan Harris, husband, father, author, speaker, and 10-year NFL veteran who won the Super Bowl with the 2015 Denver Broncos. Ryan is a huge advocate of building your mindset and then putting in the work needed to get better or grow. He has used the phrase “I am, I can, I will” throughout his life to push himself to overcome and accomplish whatever is in front of him. It might sound counterintuitive, but Ryan says that your goal is not the most important thing to work towards. In fact, it is critical to develop your mindset and set up your system for reaching goals, because this system will outlive any of your goals and if it is effective, it will help you crush more goals than you ever dreamed you could achieve. Like many athletes, Ryan welcomes failures because he sees them as opportunities for learning and growth, encouraging him to improve and succeed the next time.Ryan has been very encouraged by “The Man in the Arena” speech by President Theodore Roosevelt when it comes to facing public scrutiny, and he is constantly reminding himself that internal validation is more gratifying than external praise. He recognizes that the key component of the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl win was their passion for the details throughout the season and the game, and he applies that passion to his speaking, broadcasting, and parenting.Links:“Mindset for Mastery” by Ryan Harris: https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Mastery-Champions-Reaching-Greatness-ebook/dp/B07JB8P7QB “The Man in the Arena” speech by Theodore Roosevelt: http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is RE/MAX Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Dave Liniger. Dave got his start in real estate by flipping houses to earn some extra money while he was stationed with the military in Arizona. He soon decided to get his real estate license in order to save some money on his house flipping, and he observed the activity of the other agents. When his time with the military was completed, he moved to Denver and applied for real estate jobs. He worked with agencies that used the 50%/50% concept and the 100% concept, and he realized that he liked elements of both setups.He soon decided to create his own company with the goal of becoming a worldwide real estate agency which would combine the freedom of a 100% agency and the stability of a 50%/50% agency in the best possible way, and in January 1973, his dream was born. Most real estate agents at that time were white-haired men, but Dave was an advocate for recruiting women to be agents, despite the prejudices of the industry. This model worked very well for RE/MAX, and by the end of the 5th year, 80% of the agents were women and RE/MAX was #1 in Colorado in listings, sales, and commissions.When it came to naming the company, Dave didn’t like the idea of using his own name. The idea of “real estate maximums” came up during a brainstorming session, and the team decided to shorten it to RE/MAX to be more catchy while still keeping the heart of the concept. In those early years, there were many sleepless nights and very few days off, but their hard work paid off and they were able to meet their goals. Dave’s main challenges of lack of management ability and resistance to the basis of the company from the rest of the industry were overcome by the institution of effective systems and processes. Dave also surrounded himself with the best team he could and made sure that they all focused on being persistent and purposeful.Links:Dave Liniger’s Bio: https://www.remax.com/newsroom/company-info/officer-bios/board-of-directors-of-remax-holdings-inc/dave-liniger-chairman-and-co-founder.htm Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam and Mark discuss the goals and resolutions that so many people are going to start in the beginning of 2019. Did you know that it takes an average of 10 attempts before your resolution will stick? This does not have to be the case. In order to have SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals, it is important to avoid these common mistakes:Too vague – Saying that you “want to get healthy” is not helpful in the scheme of things because you have not done the upfront planning to make a goal worth accomplishing. A good way to make sure that your goal is not too vague is to tell people about it so they will hold you accountable.Too boring – If you are not excited about your goal, then you are not going to put in the work to make it happen. Set up a system of routine and reward for yourself and perhaps take advantage of goal-stacking to multiply your efforts.Too easy – Setting a goal that is too easy does not really count as a goal. You should feel gratified after completing it, and it should be a bit of a challenge.Overwhelming – Many people say that they want to “lose 60 pounds in 2019” or “save $5,000 by the end of the year”, but these goals are so large that they seem unattainable. Try making your goals more bite-sized like “lose 5 pounds in January” or “only eat out once per week and save the excess.”Easily forgotten – It isn’t helpful to anyone if you set an arbitrary goal just to say you have set a goal. You will benefit the most by setting goals that are related to your daily life.By eliminating these variables from the equation, you set yourself up to accomplish your goals.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam outlines the six steps to dealing with chaos:Clear your mind. Take a deep breath and try to relax, which will prepare you to see the situation objectively.Assess the situation. Lift your head up from the situation right in front of you and look around. Remember that you have the capacity within yourself to find the solution.Revisit your goals. Ask yourself if this chaotic situation aligns with one of your goals; if it doesn’t, you should remove yourself from the situation. Apply your systems. Refer back to the processes you have prepared for this very moment. Maintain forward momentum by sticking to the plan.Execute. Don’t let fear paralyze you from taking action. Start chipping away to experience growth.Appreciate. Being grateful for your life will provide you with the motivation to execute, and executing will provide you with more motivation.Links:Mr. Rogers bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam talks with us about what he calls “mastering the art of showing up.” He says that today started yesterday and tomorrow starts today, and while the day’s tasks may seem monumental when viewed collectively, tackling them a step at a time is the best system to set up for yourself. Today, you can plan and prepare for the successes you are going to have tomorrow, from exercising to meetings at work to interactions with your fellow drivers to making the most of your time with your family. Find ways to eliminate excuses and commit to starting whatever is ahead of you by having a winning attitude.Specifically, in the morning, get up and away from your bed as soon as the alarm goes off. You will find that after a few weeks of waking up at the same time, your brain will get in the routine and you will be more mentally prepared to get up. Once you are up, your momentum is rolling and it is simple to put on the clothes you set out the night before and make it out the door for work or to go to the gym. These “micro-commitments” that you choose to make throughout the day will result in amazing productivity and the determination to do the same tomorrow.Links:“Atomic Habits” by James Clear – https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1544404331&sr=8-3&keywords=atomic+habits+james+clear “Good to Great” by Jim Collins - https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544404356&sr=8-1&keywords=good+to+great+by+jim+collins Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is James Schwartz, Marketing Director of RE/MAX corporate. With 19+ years in the marketing and real estate industries, James has learned how to connect with consumers during many new waves of technology and he is using his expertise to serve RE/MAX and also speak to agents across North America about their marketing efforts. Referring to the current technological environment, James says that there are lots of tools and platforms available to anyone who will take the time to learn them, but it takes a bit of finesse to use them effectively. It is crucial to remain focused on the consumer’s wants and needs and meet them where they are. Just because you have something to say doesn’t mean that you should blast that message to all of your communication channels. Whereas the number of touchpoints prior to action before the digital age was 3-5, companies and agents now have to achieve 20-30 touchpoints before an action is taken. This emphasizes the importance of keeping the message consistent, catchy, and – of course – consumer-focused.The area of digital communications that really excites James right now is the capability of monitoring and remarketing to the consumer via their digital footprint. Consumers are skeptical of “data mining” until they encounter a company who uses their data ethically and anticipates their needs, which makes their lives easier in the end. For a real estate agent, a consumer’s data can be helpful because it would allow the agent to know when they have changed jobs, gotten married, had a baby, or may be considering downsizing their home. This provides the opportunity for the real estate agent to become part of the consumer’s “tribe” and a built-in lifelong relationship, rather than a one-and-done.Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-schwartz-21798718 https://martechtoday.com/library/what-is-martech Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, our topic is relationships and their impacts on our world. Relationships are the basis for everything we do, and everything we do impacts our relationships, either by building up and investing in them or by losing from them. If you do not invest enough in your “relationship bank”, you wins will be minimal or nonexistent and you will not be able to reach your potential, no matter how hard you try.Dale Carnegie talked about the power of positive affirmation and giving honest and sincere appreciation to those around you. That is a lost art, especially at work. Showing appreciation to your employees or coworkers and giving them the recognition they deserve costs nothing, but people tend to lock it away like it costs everything they have. Those who find true success in their relationships are intentional about appreciating and engaging with their community, and they find that those things are often reciprocated back to them. Though it might not be an immediate reciprocity, the idea of paying it forward can have a powerful effect on society when it catches on. By giving unconditionally and letting go of the desire for instant gratification, we can accomplish anything.Your challenge after listening to this episode is to go do something great for somebody today.Links:“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie - https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1544402926&sr=8-3&keywords=how+to+win+friends+and+influence+people+by+dale+carnegieGiftology by John Ruhlin - https://www.amazon.com/Giftology-Increase-Referrals-Strengthen-Retention/dp/1732095604/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1544402989&sr=8-2&keywords=giftology+john+ruhlin Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Tony Iacoviello, also known as “The Geeky Agent.” Tony is a RE/MAX agent in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which is halfway between Toronto and Niagara Falls. Tony became known as The Geeky Agent several years ago when he was asked to create a character that would narrate his journey to and experience during the annual R4 Convention. Based on his childhood love for sci-fi and comic books, he told his character’s story in the form of comic book pages, and when R4 was over that year, he adopted the avatar he had created and has continued documenting his business adventures to this day. Tony has experienced a few failures that have brought him to where he is today. First, when he went through downsizing in the recession, he started his own construction and renovation company, which eventually brought him into the real estate world where he has found his fit. Secondly, he went through a divorce which caused him to do some self-evaluation and reconfigure the relationships in his life. He now views his time with his sons as truly special and he finds purpose, gratitude, and perspective from his time with them.Another big win in Tony’s life has been the responsibility that has come from being a recognizable representative of RE/MAX as The Geeky Agent. “With great power, there must also come great responsibility,” and Tony has found that The Geeky Agent provides him with both.Links:The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160XSeconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley - https://www.amazon.com/Seconds-Graphic-Bryan-Lee-OMalley/dp/0345529375/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1544109740&sr=1-1&keywords=seconds R4 Convention 2019 - http://www.cvent.com/events/2019-re-max-r4-convention/event-summary-df767bb0c6a84450a31e8ff25770f088.aspx?RefID=Above%20Summary%20LinkConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam discusses the concept of becoming incrementally better every day. The Japanese idea of kaizen means “continuous improvement,” and car companies like Toyota and Honda are excellent examples of this ideology. They are committed to continually improving their quality, even stopping an entire assembly line in order to fix an issue on the spot, rather than allowing defective parts to go through the complete process and being dealt with at the end. By practicing this concept day-in and day-out, they achieve drastic quality improvements over time which sets them apart from companies who do not follow this philosophy.Sir David Brailsford has been honing his craft, which he calls “the aggregation of marginal gains,” since 2002. He was asked to coach the British cycling team in 2003, and he led the team through a series of very small changes such as new seats, adjusted tire pressure, a lighter paint color, new pillows to sleep on, and a commitment to maintaining healthy living, which created a culture of collaboration and collective improvement. The team won 8 gold medals at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and he was then asked to coach Team Sky at the Tour de France in 2012. Following the same model of the aggregation of marginal gain, Team Sky won the Tour in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017.Following these mindsets, consider what small changes you can make to live a fuller and more fulfilling life. Try getting up earlier, exchanging a starch for a vegetable at a meal, smoking one less cigarette, drinking one less cocktail, watching 1 less television show so you can read 1 more chapter of a book, or telling your family that you love them one more time. You will likely be amazed with the results over time from making these small consistent choices.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Podcast Name: Start With A WinEpisode Name: Interview With Sue “Pinky” Benson.On this episode of Start With A Win, Adam Contos interviews Sue “Pinky” Benson. Sue, or “Pinky” as she’s known by, has had huge success as a RE/MAX agent and social media enthusiast. Sue encourages others to really getout there, create content, and own who they are. In this remarkable interview, Sue opens up about her son, Sawyer, and how grief can give you a new perspective on life. During the episode, they discuss how wins can come from failures. The show starts with Sue introducing herself and explaining how she is a mom, RE/MAX agent, and video enthusiast. The discussion segues into the fear that many people have being in front of the camera. Sue explains how people are judging you no matter if you are in front of a camera or not. You have to get out there and really own who you are. Sue opens up about the tragic loss of her son. She shares how that experience has affected her life in all areas. Recently, BombBomb has announced Sue as one of the Top Video Influencers. Sue describes how she got to this incredible place in life. She was able to learn the technology and start creating products that improved over time. She recommends using Facebook Live and Instagram stories as user-friendly platform tools. Her goal for 2019 is for more women to join her in creating videos without fear. Sue shares how she motivates herself at the beginning of each day. She suggests reading Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World and Brave Enough. She closes with two of her favorite quotes and she advises listeners to own their stories. and sharewho you are with the rest of the world!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/Follow Sue on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-pinky-benson/Check out Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary VaynerchukCheck out Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, our topic is fear, which Adam calls False Evidence Appearing Real. If you have an aversion to fear and you dread the feeling, you have an unhealthy and unproductive relationship with it, and you could solve a lot of your own problems by learning to handle fear differently. Many people harbor a known or unknown infatuation with fear as evidenced by their love of the scary or creepy elements of Halloween, craving for the “rush” feeling that comes from roller coasters, or dependence on the “breaking news” elements of the news industry. These are all caused by fear-mongering and maintaining an open loop version of reality that leaves too much room for imagining the worst-case scenarios. An unhealthy relationship with fear leads to unhealthy personal and business relationships and practices and puts you in a cycle with no good results.Adam’s first key to creating a healthy relationship with fear is to ignore the attempts by the media to communicate fear by keeping the right perspective and seeking out the facts. Second, you should convert your feelings of fear to the ability to move forward with confidence and look for opportunities. When you are tempted to think “fear”, you should learn to think “Go!” instead.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, our guest is Ward Morrison, president of Motto Franchising, a US mortgage brokerage franchise brand. RE/MAX created Motto Mortgage in response to the increased consumer protections regulations established after the financial crash of 2008 requiring the mortgage brokers stop using marketing service agreements (MSAs) with customers. This caused a shake-up in the industry while opening the door to more forward-facing business operations between consumers and loan originators under the new compliance and legal guidelines. Motto Mortgage surpassed the 100-franchise mark within 23 months of the company’s beginning, confirming that industry professionals see the start-up resources and coaching available to them through the Motto franchise setup as a huge benefit over starting their own small business. It could be referred to as a “mortgage brokerage in a box”, which eliminates blind spots and surprises from the entrepreneurial journey and provides franchisees with a network of colleagues to whom they can reach out.Ward also spoke about the challenges Motto has encountered along the way, namely recruiting and retaining personal and professional loan originators who can stay up-to-date on changes in the industry and maintain fruitful client relationships. Motto helps set realistic expectations and benchmarks for franchisees to meet that will hopefully allow them to be productive, well-staffed, and engaged with their customers and communities. In fact, Motto is committed to corporate social responsibility, and they are very involved in feeding the hungry in every community that is home to one of their franchises.Ward’s way of starting with a win is being sure to surround himself with the right team: individuals who are customer-focused and committed to the organization. He always tries to hire people who are smarter than him in complimentary areas of business and have a social and emotional intelligence that makes everyone around them better.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

As you can imagine, Adam is a frequent traveler. On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, he shares with us his travel tips and hacks to make traveling a good experience instead of something you dread.Get to the airport early. You never know how long security will take, and you don’t want to start out your travel day stressed that you are going to miss your flight. BONUS: Take an Uber rather than having to worry about and pay for parking.Travel with a carry-on if at all possible, and pack smart by using packing cubes.Get TSA Pre-check or Global Entry to make the security process as quick and painless as possible. Some airports also have the Clear program that is similar, so look into what will be most convenient for your local airport and go through the process to get approved.Take noise-cancelling headphones with you and make the most of your “me” time by listening to audiobooks or podcasts.Choose an airline to be loyal to and sign up for their frequent flier program. BONUS: Invest in their club membership or buy a one-day pass to gain access to refreshments and free wi-fi as well as an exclusive customer service desk that will rebook your flight for you if you have an issue.Stay healthy by taking Vitamin C supplements and traveling with Clorox wipes to clean any surfaces around your seat or in the waiting area.By following these tips, your travel days can be enjoyable and effortless!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam shares with us the 3 ways he has found that leaders fail, and the ways to avoid or adjust these behaviors:Becoming a “me” person rather than a “we” person – This issue ultimately stems from an unhealthy ego that values personal gain over the good of the team. Leaders must remember that one of the main sources of their success is the contribution of the members of their team and their mentors along the way.Ordering people to do things rather than influencing them – Ordering your team members to do things results in lower quality and forced results, but influencing them brings them into the process, allowing them to buy in and want to do the tasks or projects before them, which means better results for the team as a whole.Burning your bridges rather than your boats – Work together to solve problems and face challenges and your team will have the commitment necessary to “burn their boats” with you, but be sure to avoid destroying relationships (“burning bridges”) in the process.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our topic on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is the importance of staying current, relevant, valuable, and present with your customers. It would be easy to get comfortable with the systems and processes that you have in place right now and fall behind as new technology emerges, but this makes you irrelevant and pushes you farther away from your prospects and clients. Every time you let a technological advance pass you by, you lose value and become less accessible. Adam’s 3 key ways to stay current, relevant, valuable and present are:Find and deliver value daily – Recognize that every day is a gift and you are never beyond learning something new. Take advantage of the vast resources out there for your enrichment: books, audiobooks, podcasts, and simple discussions about new topics with friends. Having something valuable and constructive to say in a conversation makes you more able to connect to those around you.Contribute – Ask questions of those around you, always trying to glean all of the information you can from the conversation and maintain your curiosity in life.Reach out – Communicate and network with others by developing fun and deep relationships that are mutually beneficial and edifying.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, we discuss the 3 typical reasons why sales people fail. These ideas can also be easily translated to any area of life, making you well-rounded and more successful overall.Reason #1: Not going out to get new business every day.It is important to continue prospecting and networking while maintaining your current client base. Think of each new lead as food for your business; if you aren’t bringing any in, you are starving your business.Reason #2: Failing to nurture your relationships with your customers.Customers expect to be “handled” by the sales process at companies with which they are involved. What can set you apart is building authentic relationships with your clients by creating mutual trust, communications, and expectations.Reason #3: Never asking for the close.By having too many prospects in your sales pipeline that aren’t being converted into clients, you are clogging up your system and not giving yourself or your clients the breathing room that you need. Asking for the close can be awkward, but if you have a script and role-play it, you can focus instead on being kind and empathetic in the closing conversation and add lifetime value to the relationship, which will result in repeat and referral business.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/