I'm recording this episode on Jan 8 2020 and it's difficult to imagine the impact the fires are having on Australia and Australians.

The news networks here in North America feature Australian fire stories at the top of most bulletins and I wake each day hoping not to hear another one.

I'm aware that a number of my real estate friends have been forced to relocate and my thoughts are with you.

It's also difficult to imagine the toll the fires are taking on all fire fighting personnel and their families. These are difficult times but like all of us, I have unlimited faith in the ANZAC spirit and the skill and courage of the teams to tame the beast.

Let's hope this passes quickly with no further loss of life and property.

Well, it's been a big year and as we get ready for Christmas and 2020 it's interesting to reflect on the last 12 months and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Late last year I spent some time with super-agent Garth Makowski in Sydney.

Garth and I are working on a project and I'll share more about that soon but it was a great chance to pick the brain of a guy who's built an amazing brand and business (with the help of wife Laura I must add) that will do more than $6 million for 2019.

If you're looking to shake things up and make next year your best ever, I'd like to share some takeaways I picked up from Garth that you might like to incorporate into your own 2020 vision.

Garth's operation is impressive, In fact, seeing how he and his business operates is a little bit like when Michael Keaton, playing McDonalds founder Ray Kroc, first sets eyes on the McDonald brother's business in California in 1954.

You've probably seen the movie, The Founder, which chronicles Kroc's journey from Milkshake maker salesman to multi-millionaire owner of what would become the biggest and most successful restaurant chain of all time.

Like McDonalds, Garth works a system and as Ray Kroc famously said, "the system is the solution"

So... my BIG takeaway from my time with Garth was the power of the system that runs his business.

He's also a meticulous goal planner and can go back years with his journals to illustrate the power of planning and how it's helped him achieve so much.

Right now, he's calibrating his goals for 2020 and I have his permission to share the 5 goal planning areas he focusses on around this time each year.  They are;

1. Business Goals. What numbers do you want to do for the year ahead?
2.  Financial Goals. Do you want to reduce debt? Reach a ‘rainy day’ savings target, buy real estate or save for a mortgage?
3.  Critical Friends and People. Who are the critical people you want to spend time with in your life? How are you going to make it happen? Who are the chief advisors and mentors that will help you reach your objectives?
4.  Family Goals. What’s important to you and your family? Time together? Where and when?
5.  Personal Goals, Health and fitness. Your mindset. What’s fueling your personal energy each and every day? 

It's worth reinforcing the effect of number 3, critical friends and people. Nobody ever achieved anything alone and I believe, in fact, I have proven, that building your personal advisory team is one of the best things you can do to go after the results you're looking for.

So let me summarise a proven plan for 2020.

Plan your goals around the 5 areas I've just mentioned and build your personal team to help you execute.  They might be key people in your business, a business partner, a key employee, a trusted relative, a mentor or coach. And please, if you're going to invest in a coach, make sure they really know real estate and can produce evidence of a successful career. 

Speaking of systems and success, my guest today is living, breathing proof that the system is the solution in real estate.

I first learned about this guy from my business partner at LockedOn Luke Newton.

Super agent Chastin Miles from Dallas, reached out to Luke when he discovered LockedOn after a Google search and wanted to know more.

By the way, in case you don't know, LockedOn is a real estate specific, cloud-based, customer relationship management system.

Anyway, one thing lead to another and before long, Luke and his team of developers started working on a North American version of LockedOn which we launched during 2019.

Chastin loves the platform and gave Luke a heap of awesome feedback and ideas to get the new version to where it is today. 

I met Chastin at NAR in San Francisco last month and I promised him this episode would be out before Christmas.

So Chastin, thanks for your time, great to meet you and a Happy New Year to you and your family. I'm looking forward to catching up and setting up that Jigglar demo I promised.

Also, please let me extend New Year wishes to all my listeners and real estate friends. Your feedback and support has been invaluable during 2019 and I can't wait to inspire and motivate you with lots of fresh ideas in 2020. I have a feeling it's going to be a very big year!

All that and more, coming right up!