You Can Have Superpowers for $22.58!

There are two secret items that are paramount to success in today’s digital age. No one talks about them. No one brings them up on those Must-Have Lists. You probably already have them but aren’t even using them! If you come real close, I’ll tell you what they are. Now, don’t go around telling other people! This is our secret, okay? Pinky swear? Get close. Okay? You ready?

The most amazing items you can own today, or probably at any time in the near future, are a good journal and a good pen.

Careful now.

Don’t go around spreading this information. Keep it close to your chest, and tell no one!

But seriously, get yourself a good journal and a good pen! If you want, you can get really fancy and spend like $50, but I did a quick search and found some decent journals and pens for just over $11 for each. With tax, the pair came out to $22.58. What you are really buying when you purchase these items is more than just the items. You are actually buying Superpowers; that’s why a journal and a pen are so amazing. What you’re getting is the Power of Listening, the Power of Being Present, the Power of Clarity, the Power of Professionalism, and the Power of Trust! All for the insane price of $22.58!

There are some steps you must follow, though, in order to truly unlock the above-mentioned Superpowers. The steps can get tricky, so you must follow along precisely!

Step 1) When you are with a client, you must take your phone in your hand and then put it away. Any pocket, purse, or briefcase will do. (Those items are sold separately. They won’t come with your journal and pen purchase.)

Step 2) With your phone away, open your notebook up to a clean page.

Step 3) Now, this is a combination step. You must listen to your client and write down what they are saying. (This is the hardest step: listening and writing.)

Step 4) After listening, you may ask your client questions or address your own concerns. It is most important to do so when your client is not talking.

Step 5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 until your client is satisfied.

Done! You have now unlocked your very own Superpowers!

Case in point: Last week, Natalie and I showed a new client a few homes. As this client walked through the homes, I took notes. Before I started with each home, I separated the homes on the page by their address. And as we toured the homes, I began to write her concerns about each home. I wrote what she loved about each home. I wrote her questions down she had with each home that Natalie nor myself could answer on the spot or that needed verification. By doing those simple things, I showed her I was listening (Power of Listening), I was professional (Power of Professionalism), I was only focused on her (Power of Being Present), and I cared (Power of Trust). As we saw more and more homes, they started to get confusing to her. I turned back some pages and clarified what the other homes had to offer and also her previous concerns (Power of Clarity).

She began to rely on me. Our conversations began to revolve around what was in my journal (which were full of her thoughts I had written she could use later). She began to say, “Adam, write this down…” and “What was wrong with the last house again?” She began to use me as an asset to her because I was showing her my value—all from a journal and a pen!

It’s amazing what you can hear when you listen. It’s also amazing how people will react to their own thoughts and feelings when you have them written down. You won’t be interpreting their reactions, or embellishing them. You are just dictating and detailing the experience so that your client can enjoy it even more. They’ll start to open up. They’ll start to investigate the process more. They’ll ask you questions, and you can give them answers. Even given this, they might stray from their own wants and needs, and (thank goodness you have your journal and pen) you can remind them of what they had said previously. “Jane, you had said you needed a two-car attached garage after seeing 321 W. Wood Lane. Is it okay with you that 422 Franklin Way has a one-car detached?” How awesome is that! You have it! Right there on the page!

A journal and a pen—they’re like getting superpowers!