2022 - A Review....

2022 – A Review....

As we thunder headlong into 2023, I wanted to take the time to review the last 12 months and take stock of the lessons and the blessings along the way, and to acknowledge how much I've grown both individually and as a business.?It’s truly been one of my favourites, personally and professionally and I reflect on it with an incredibly full heart.?There have been an abundance of happy times, some challenging ones, huge success and some failures.?And I wouldn’t change a thing….

Lessons

Change is always good, whatever the circumstance.?

2022 brought some staff changes for us and whilst we always feel sad when our people leave, it’s always with a sense of love and pride of what we’ve achieved together.?However when this does happen it also gives us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves, and that’s exactly what we did!?In both Colchester and Witham our family grew.?We were able to employ some amazing new colleagues, restructure and embrace change instead of being afraid of it.?As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens and new faces bring new ideas, a new dynamic and different energy.?

Work will work when nothing else will work

We can all agree that the housing market has been changeable and at times extremely challenging.?During these moments of uncertainty, my stabilising thought is always that this is never permanent.?When it feels a bit hopeless and the phone isn’t ringing, this is when we dig deep.?More calls are made, we knock on more doors and hundreds of leaflets are delivered.?The challenge is keeping everyone motivated and happy because it’s all too easy to worry and these thoughts can take hold very quickly and it can be so difficult to recover from that.?Fortunately, keeping life fun for our people is our speciality and focusing on this instead of on the fear of a quiet market is our secret weapon.?Not so secret now!?(You’re welcome… ??)

Blessings

Choose your tribe

Telling you to surround yourself with the right people seems obvious doesn’t it??I’m sure most of you live by this in your personal life but is this replicated in your business life.?It seems absurd if not, after all we’re with our work family more than anyone so it’s surely more important to get this balance right.?This doesn’t mean employing a whole office full of Mini Me’s, it means having a balanced group of people with differing views and skill sets but with the same work ethic and goal.?My biggest blessing is spending time with all of the people at Harris and Wood, past and present.?I’m educated by them, humbled by them and we care for each other.?It’s as simple as that.

The Secret to Success is to do the Common thing uncommonly well

Success comes in all forms and is measured in so many different ways.?It could be winning that instruction from a Landlord, it could be hitting the targets we set over 12 months ago and it could be a thank you from a Tenant who’s struggled to find a home.?To me it’s ending the year with a happy Team and happy Clients and knowing that we’re entering this next year with the same goals.?To lead with kindness and to always have integrity.?That said, 2022 was also the year we hit the Double…. Both offices were awarded the British Property Awards for 2022/2023 and the icing on the cake is that these awards are not self nominated.?The BPA carry out their own research and after shortlisting Agents, they then make their decision.?Any award is of course wonderful, but these felt special and my Team really did deserve them.

Throughout the year I’ve been mindful about the things I’ve ingested, not just the food on my plate but more importantly the things I’ve read and listened to.?I’m constantly looking for nourishment and below I’ve shared some of the standout books, podcasts and audio books I’ve enjoyed in the last 12 months.?I always love a recommendation.

So now it’s full steam ahead for 2023.?I’m left with a sense of huge excitement for the year ahead, for the challenges, the fun times and the new lesson and blessings.?Either way I know we’ll have a ball.

Books

Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz????????????Go For No

Vex King???????????????????????????????????????????????????Good Vibes, Good Life

James Clear???????????????????????????????????????????????Atomic Habits

Kris Hallenga????????????????????????????????????????????Glittering a Turd

Fat Tony?????????????????????????????? ???????????????????I Don’t Take Requests

Podcasts

Diary of a CEO

Happy Place

My Therapist Ghosted Me

Audio Books

Michelle Obama?????????????????????????????????????????Becoming

Matt Haig ??????????????????????????????????????????????????Midnight Library

Matthew McConaughey?????????????????????????????Greenlights

Delia Owens???????????????????????????????????????????????When the Crawdads Sing

James Smith???????????????????????????????????????????????Not a life Coach