You Don’t Have a Time Problem. You Have an Attention Problem—and Your Business Is Getting Whatever Attention Social Media Leaves Behind.

Written by Devone Richard

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APPARENTLY, 10 MINUTES IS JUST TOO MUCH TO ASK

Your brokerage sends you a 10-minute video explaining how to use your CRM.

“I don’t have time to watch that.”

No problem.

We understand.

You’re extremely busy.

You have important things to do.

Like opening Instagram.

There’s a woman dancing.

Better watch that.

Now there’s a dog barking at another dog.

Obviously, we need to see how that ends.

Two people are fighting in a parking lot.

WE DEFINITELY CAN’T MISS THAT.

Somebody bought a new car.

Somebody’s on vacation.

Somebody’s cooking dinner.

Somebody’s mad at their boyfriend.

Somebody you’ve never met is arguing with somebody else you’ve never met about something that has absolutely nothing to do with your life.

And somehow…

TWO HOURS JUST DISAPPEARED.

But that 10-minute CRM training?

“I’ll get to it when I have time.”

😂 Give me a break.

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YOU HAVE TIME—YOU JUST DON’T GIVE IT TO YOUR BUSINESS

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Let’s stop saying:

“I don’t have time.”

Open your phone.

Look at your screen-time report.

Your phone will tell the truth even when you won’t.

How much time did you spend on Instagram last week?

Facebook?

TikTok?

YouTube?

Now compare that with how much time you spent learning how to become a better Realtor.

How much time did you spend learning your CRM?

Studying contracts?

Improving your listing presentation?

Learning how to convert leads?

Studying your market?

Learning new technology?

Practicing negotiation?

Calling your database?

THAT’S WHERE THE CONVERSATION GETS UNCOMFORTABLE.

Because you probably do have time.

You’re simply spending it somewhere else.

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YOU’LL WATCH PEOPLE DANCE—BUT WON’T LEARN THE CRM YOU’RE PAYING FOR

This is the part I really don’t understand.

Your brokerage provides a CRM.

Maybe you’re even paying for it every month.

Inside that CRM are:

Past clients.

Old leads.

Potential buyers.

Potential sellers.

People from open houses.

Homeowners you’ve talked with.

People who said:

“Call me in six months.”

There could literally be future commissions sitting inside that database.

But you don’t know how to use it.

Why?

BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T HAVE 10 MINUTES TO WATCH THE TRAINING.

But you somehow found two hours to watch people dance.

That’s incredible. 😂

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THEN SIX MONTHS LATER: “THE CRM DOESN’T WORK.”

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Here comes my favorite part.

The agent never watched the training.

Never learned the system.

Never organized their contacts.

Never created follow-up tasks.

Never learned the campaigns.

Never consistently called their database.

Then announces:

“I DON’T LIKE THE CRM.”

What exactly don’t you like?

You don’t even know how it works.

That’s like buying a treadmill, never turning it on and complaining that it didn’t help you get in shape.

The CRM isn’t magic.

It’s a tool.

TOOLS ONLY WORK WHEN SOMEBODY USES THEM.

Your CRM can’t make the call.

It can’t build the relationship.

It can’t make you follow up.

And it definitely can’t force you to watch the damn training.

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SOME OF YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT INSTAGRAM THAN YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Ask a Realtor what happened online yesterday.

They know.

Who’s fighting?

They know.

Who’s dancing?

They saw it.

Which celebrity said something stupid?

Already watched it.

What video went viral?

They sent it to five friends.

Now ask:

How many people are in your database?

“I’m not sure.”

How many follow-ups are due today?

“I’d have to look.”

How many leads haven’t heard from you in 30 days?

“I don’t know.”

How many past clients have you contacted this month?

Silence.

YOU KNOW EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN EVERYBODY ELSE’S LIFE AND NOTHING HAPPENING IN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Think about that.

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AND THEN YOU SAY YOU NEED MORE LEADS

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This is where it becomes insane.

You have hundreds of people sitting in your CRM.

You haven’t followed up.

You haven’t learned the system.

You haven’t watched the training.

But now you’re asking:

“Does the brokerage provide leads?”

What happened to the leads you already had?

Before you ask somebody to spend more money generating another lead for you, maybe we should find out what happened to the last 50.

Some of those people may still buy.

Some may still sell.

Some may still refer someone.

BUT THEY CAN’T DO BUSINESS WITH A REALTOR WHO FORGOT THEY EXIST.

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SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T THE PROBLEM—YOUR PRIORITIES ARE

I’m not anti-social media.

Realtors should be on Instagram and Facebook.

Use them.

Build your brand.

Market listings.

Educate homeowners.

Stay connected with your sphere.

Create content.

Generate conversations.

Social media can be an incredible business tool.

BUT ARE YOU USING SOCIAL MEDIA—or IS SOCIAL MEDIA USING YOU?

Thirty minutes creating content for your business is marketing.

Two hours mindlessly watching strangers is entertainment.

Nothing wrong with entertainment.

But call it what it is.

And don’t tell me you didn’t have 10 minutes for your career.

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YOUR COMPETITION FOUND THE 10 MINUTES

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Here’s the part that should bother you.

While you were scrolling, another Realtor watched the training.

They learned the CRM.

They organized their database.

They scheduled follow-ups.

They called the old lead.

They contacted the past client.

They learned something new.

Then six months later, they’re closing more transactions.

And you’re looking at them thinking:

“Why are they getting all the business?”

Maybe they’re not lucky.

Maybe they simply spent their time differently.

THEY GAVE THEIR CAREER THE 10 MINUTES YOU GAVE TO INSTAGRAM.

Do that every day and eventually the difference becomes enormous.

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YOUR BROKER CAN’T MAKE YOU CARE

Your broker can provide training.

Your brokerage can provide technology.

They can provide videos.

Classes.

Systems.

Support.

Coaching.

But eventually the agent has to press PLAY.

I can’t learn the CRM for you.

I can’t make you follow up.

I can’t force you to improve.

AND I DEFINITELY CAN’T CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR CAREER THAN YOU DO.

At some point, you have to decide that your business deserves some of your attention.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Watch Instagram.

Enjoy Facebook.

Watch the dancing.

Watch the dog bark.

Hell, watch the fight.

Enjoy yourself.

But don’t give social media two hours and then tell me your career couldn’t get 10 minutes.

Because that’s not a time-management problem.

THAT’S A PRIORITY PROBLEM.

Before you scroll tonight, watch the training.

Learn one feature.

Call five people.

Improve one skill.

Do something that could actually enhance your career.

Because your next commission probably isn’t hiding in your 97th Reel.

IT MIGHT BE SITTING INSIDE THE CRM YOU STILL DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE.

YOU DON’T HAVE A TIME PROBLEM. YOU HAVE AN ATTENTION PROBLEM.

YOUR PHONE GETS MORE OF YOUR BEST HOURS THAN YOUR BUSINESS DOES.

— Devone Richard

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Written by Devone Richard

Broker/Owner | OYT Real Estate
California Broker #01857383
Nevada Broker #1002115

📞 626-500-1212 | 702-941-0202
🌐 OYTRealEstate.com

Own Your Tomorrow