Growing up as a competitive athlete I have always worked to implement the most efficient tactics to reach peak performance.
Operating at a high level is not about working harder and exhausting yourself – it’s about working smarter. But what does that even look like?
In business, we should be working towards this same ideal. If you consider any elite athlete, or top performer in any industry for that matter, they all have one thing in common. They have an incredible team and support network. This network is what I like to call the ‘pit crew’.
A pit crew constitutes your go-to team that help you get your metaphorical car running to the best of its ability every lap of the track.
I believe that coaches and professional trainers allow you to take your game to the next level. No matter what profession you are in, or what sport you are playing, having someone push you and stretch you allows you to develop and grow more than you thought possible. The mind is a powerful thing and we are only human, so we tend to doubt our capabilities. Having someone in your corner to give you constructive criticism, encouragement and advice is so powerful.
Let me tell you a little about my personal pit crew.
Mentors
My personal mentors are a combination of real estate professionals, such as Chris Hanley from First National Byron Bay and James Tostevin from Marshall White, and business mentorship from Paul Gregory our Marshall White Bayside CEO. I also take counsel from coaches such as Chris Helder, Jet Xavier and Tom Panos.
Assistants
Successful people are usually busy people, so don’t be afraid to hire an assistant. Hiring someone to manage the administration of your business will free up your time for other things, like acquiring new business, providing existing clients with the best service possible and also to give yourself the opportunity to have a life outside of work. An executive assistant or manager should be someone on your wave length. Don’t just hire someone because they sound good on paper. Hire someone who ‘gets you’, because you will be undoubtedly be spending a lot of time together. Consider experience, personality and also what their expectations are – you could potentially become their mentor in the future if they want to follow in your footsteps. It becomes a relationship of mutual leverage that can blossom into a special bond over time.
Experts
No matter what kind of entrepreneur or professional you are, it’s not a great tactic to try and be a jack of all trades. For example, I outsource a team of experts to manage my social media, PR and media creation, including photography and videography. I am a real estate professional, not a media savvy expert. Without my communications team, my Instagram feed would likely be subpar or nonexistent.
Find people who understand your personality, take the time to know what you stand for and who are experts at what they do. Place trust in them to take care of what you have hired them for, so you can expend your time and energy on growing your business, or in what I call ‘dollar productivity’.
With this essential trio, you can build a powerful pit crew that will take your professional performance to the next level. It might feel like a huge leap, but the best way to attract new business is to allow space for it. With an awesome team that support you and help your grow, you can exponentially up your game.
