Week 1 Reflection (I'm still catching up!)

Week One Reflection

What was your biggest win this week?

I had three major wins this week.

First, I learned how to use Manus for the first time and used it to completely revamp my listing presentation. Within about 40 minutes of refining and customizing it, I had a polished, highly professional presentation that I could immediately send to clients. The speed and quality of the result showed me how powerful AI can be when used intentionally to improve client-facing materials.

Second, I completed the brand work on Day One of the challenge. That process helped me gain real clarity about who I am as a person, a Realtor, and a leader for my team. At 56 years old, I felt like I already knew my values, but seeing them articulated in a structured brand format gave me a deeper understanding of what I want to stand for moving forward.

Third, I had an opportunity to coach one of my agents during a listing appointment. Instead of leading with pricing or presentations, I guided the conversation toward understanding the client’s goals, timing, and motivations first. By focusing on listening rather than presenting, we learned far more about their situation and ultimately didn’t even need to discuss price before they told us they wanted to hire us. It reinforced for both of us that success comes from serving the client’s agenda, not our own.

What was your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge this week was time management and staying disciplined with my schedule.

I allowed some lead generation activities to slip because I became distracted by other work that felt productive in the moment. I also spent significant time helping a teammate prepare a new listing that was about 45 minutes away, which effectively took half a day out of my schedule.

Another challenge was getting excited about Manus and AI possibilities and jumping ahead into projects instead of following the structured progression of the 30-day challenge. While the creativity and momentum were positive, it pulled me away from completing the program sequentially as intended.

What did you learn about yourself or your brand?

The biggest thing I learned is how central trust is to both my identity and my business.

I realized that I feel the most discomfort when I don’t live up to what I say I will do. Because of that, preparation matters deeply to me. I am not someone who wants to “build the plane while flying it.” If I position myself as a specialist, especially in areas like senior relocation, I want to be fully prepared to guide clients with confidence.

For example, I am currently helping a senior client who needs to leave her home but has limited financial resources and uncertainty about housing options. I realized that if I claim to specialize in helping seniors, I should already have a clear understanding of available options so I can immediately provide guidance. That experience reinforced the importance of building systems and knowledge ahead of time.

I also gained clarity around my positioning. My longtime tagline has been “Your Real Friend in Chicago Real Estate,” but this process helped me recognize that my true role is to be a trusted advisor. Many people have a friend in real estate. My goal is to be the person clients trust to guide them through complex decisions.

Finally, I learned that I would rather handle fewer transactions and execute them exceptionally well than take on every opportunity and create unnecessary stress. Quality relationships and strong service align better with who I am and how I want to build my business.

What is one thing you will do differently next week?

Next week I will be much more intentional about structuring my time.

I left too many open blocks in my schedule for flexibility, which allowed distractions to take over. Going forward, I plan to schedule my days more deliberately, especially protecting time for lead generation and the core activities that drive business growth. My goal is to maintain flexibility while still ensuring that my highest priorities happen consistently.

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