3 WAYS TO USE YOUR TIME WISELY DURING SLOW PERIODS

1. Strategize and Plan

Maximize your ability to grow and prosper, both professionally and personally. Start by evaluating any goals that you have previously set and see where you’re at. Devise new plans to reach new goals, or revamp your existing ones to ensure you stay on the path to success. This matters especially once your busier seasons arrive.

Preparing Now for Your Busier Seasons

No matter if you’re reshaping or starting fresh, analyze and strengthen your plan when you have the time. This way, when you hit the ground running during the busier seasons, you know you’re prepared for whatever is thrown your way.

Pro Tip: Put your goals in writing and post them somewhere you will see them often. Create a goal board. Share your goals with those around you. Do something that allows you to be reminded of the things you want to accomplish. It’s a great way to find support in others and keep yourself accountable. The more you share, the more likely you are to stick to your plans.

2. Follow up, follow up, follow up!

Every opportunity you have to complete a loan for a client is valuable. Make sure your borrower knows that you appreciate their business. How can you do this? Follow your loans all the way through. This includes following up with your borrowers even after the loan is closed. Connect with them to say thank you and ask how their time since the closing has been. This can be done 5 days after, 30 days after, maybe even 90. Maybe all three. This is your chance to leave the client with a positive feeling about their experience with you as their loan officer. That positive feeling can directly lead to future referrals.

Pro Tip: Remember, especially in today’s day of mobility and change, people are not married to their homes or their loans. This means that with changes happening daily, all it takes is the right follow up call or email at the right time. That can help you happen upon a former client who is looking to refinance or purchase again.

Down time in the market may not always lead to new borrowers before your busier seasons return. But it can give you an opportunity to work with former clients again. Take advantage!

3. Invest

Invest. In yourself. In your team. In your business. Just invest. There is no better time to better yourself!

You know that class you’ve been dying to take because you’re sure it will be the key to your sales success? Take it! You have come up with a way to build your team and make them far stronger and more efficient? Now is your time! Broaden your professional knowledge, improve your processes, or play a little catch up to make sure you and your business are in tip top shape. Slow periods are also a good time to get your books and tax planning in order before your busier seasons hit. The IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center is a solid starting point.

Take a moment, before your busier seasons hit, to evaluate yourself, your team, and your business. Do a performance appraisal and find out where you or your company can be improved… Decide what is of the highest priority and what is most realistically likely to be achieved during this period. Do your research and find out what resources you will need to accomplish this.  And then… do it!