Recently I gave a speech on high performance to 50 of the most successful real estate agents in Australia.
But I want to talk about the guy who spoke after me.
I think he’s a great example of how passionately some people are playing the game of work.
And if you’re looking for some inspiration or a bit of a wake-up call, I think you’ll find him very interesting.
The agent’s name is Maclay Longhurst from Sotheby’s Woollahra – and this year he will personally make a net profit of several million dollars.
He is literally in the top .0001% of real estate agents.
Here are the top 7 takeaways I got from his on stage interview, (at top estate agent coach Ivan Brescic’s excellent conference):
1. Lowly beginnings did not stop him from succeeding.
Left school in Year 10 and worked at an oil refinery. Started part-time in a real estate agency and eventually won the owners over to get a full-time job.
2. He has an incredible commitment to personal excellence.
Maclay is up at 4:30 am each morning, doing a pre-set daily ritual that includes exercise, goals reading and mind techniques.
Regardless of how he feels he does this morning ritual.
In fact, when he feels down he goes harder. For example, sometimes he makes himself smile for the entire time he goes for a run.
(Although I’m sure he gets some strange looks from the people he runs past, he swears this helps him get in a better mood).
3. He focuses on the quality of the energy he gives out to others.
Maclay is a big believer in making sure the energy he exudes is very positive and strong. He firmly believes that by transferring high quality energy to others he becomes magnetic to potential clients.
That’s part of the reason he so diligently does his morning routine – he thinks the effort he puts into his morning physical and mental training is instrumental in enabling him to put out high level positive energy to others.
4. He is constantly striving to improve himself.
Despite his position at the very top of the Australian real estate industry, Maclay still pays to have multiple coaches and mentors helping him get better.
5. He is relentless about bouncing back.
If he has a bad day, rather than slack off the next day, he makes a point of setting his alarm for the next morning even earlier, so he can put more effort in and fight his way back.
6. He takes recovery seriously– Maclay schedules at least 4 major recovery breaks/holidays a year, including 4 weeks solid in July.
Holidays aren’t just a reward they are a form of therapy that ultimately improves his performance.
7. He is super disciplined about switching off from work and focusing on his family.
This is particularly surprising.
At 6 pm the phone is turned off and stays off until the next morning, so Maclay can be fully with his family.
Many mornings there will be 15 texts and voicemails waiting for him from the night before, texts that he chose not to answer that evening to protect his family life.
Now I’m not suggesting Maclay is a super man, or that you should do any of these things, if it doesn’t suit your way of life.
But I do think his way of working is an impressive example of someone truly striving to be great in their career.
The people who get to the top don’t get there by accident.
And reflecting on Maclay’s examples, ask yourself this: are any of his ways of working worth considering for yourself?
