“When your intention is clear, so is the way.”

How many personality tests have you taken? I’ve taken at least half a dozen, and they all seem to inform something about my life. No test like this can tell someone everything about themselves, of course. And yet, as I listen I hear patterns. I’ve read that I’m susceptible to: being a glutton, being a workaholic, seeking other’s approval, and fearing limited resources for my family. There are a lot of things that I like about myself, and I love my life. It becomes easier to love myself and my life when I create barriers to the things that cause me to struggle. I spent 6 years of my life in real estate working between 80 and 100 hours per week. That time was not spent efficiently, I was working hard though. My time was rarely my own, and I did not like how I felt about my ability to live the life I wanted to live. That was all forced to change when Mallory told me that she was interested in leaving teaching after 9 years to come work with me. I did not know how to do that successfully, and I had to start researching our options. I knew I could not fail her! I ended up finding out about Keller Williams, which is known for having the best resources and training in the industry - not too many agents would argue with that. Some may not like that it is more expensive at Keller Williams than many other places, and I’ll tell you right now that it has been worth the investment in our own lives. Their design as a company to assist agents in living their best life, and being ranked as the #1 company for work-life balance is no joke! I still have late nights once in a while, and I still struggle with letting go of each day. Some of this is my personality, and some of it is the industry that we’ve chosen to sustain us. Learning the model from the “Red Book”, which anyone can buy, and then being held accountable to its standard by a few hired business coaches changed everything.

When my dad passed away from Covid we were forced to lean into everything that we have been learning, and Mallory had to pick up some of my slack. Refocusing on spending our time together each day, and traveling more intentionally has taught me that there are some lessons that have been taught in different ways that break down to mean the same thing. If you aren’t planning how you will spend your time and your life then someone else will - and hopefully they have your best interest at heart. Who is holding you accountable? What happens if you go back on the things that you say you intend to do? Nothing? I sure hope not. I hired a young man about 10 years younger than I was at the end of 2019, and he changed my life, wow! Matt Holder became my first business coach because he is intentional, and he believes in accountability. When he moved to California last year and started down a new path I hired a new coach in Deana, and her calming demeanor and her story of losing her mom was exactly what we needed in the hardest time of my life with losing my top lender, best buddy, and my dad. These two people have kicked my butt, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

If you are wanting accountability in your life don’t be afraid to seek help. I invest in a psychologist, psychiatrist, a business coach, a gym, and vacations to keep my life headed in the direction that I said I’d like for it to be going. I can’t begin to tell you how much I recommend making a plan, and having someone hold you accountable to an uncomfortable degree. Who can hold you accountable as an unbiased third party? If you are already practicing this do not stop! Keep going my friend.

Matt forced me to purchase something called the High Performance Planner, and for a time I was required as a part of my coaching to send him a picture of my morning and evening entries each weekday. It was very uncomfortable… He wanted me to create healthy habits and cut out my excuses - we all have some. After a few weeks my days and weeks started feeling more on purpose than ever before. Matt would preach a Keller Williams “Bold Law”, that “if it’s not on the calendar it doesn’t exist”. If you want to see a friend put it on the calendar the moment you speak about it. If you want to start exercising more, it goes on the calendar. I have fallen off of using it like I should since my dad got sick, and as hard as that is for me still I’m still making excuses. So here I am, telling you it’s time for me to get back on the wagon.

I feel incredibly blessed, and so I recently bought 60 of these calendars and over time I will be giving them away to people who feel the need to make a life change. And if the last 14 months haven’t made you think about making some changes I’m not sure what will. If you are interested in a free copy of this planner you can search for The High Performance Planner on Amazon, or I’m happy to send you one. There will be a few conditions, and the main one will be that you tell me who will be holding you accountable to filling it out each morning and night, if you have a counselor ask if they’ll let you text or email your entries to them if you’d like. If you need a counselor go get one, don’t wait! Don’t be afraid to live the life you want - no sales pitch. I love you guys, and I hope you have a great day!

Peace & Joy,

Grady Kent Carter