Why the 1% rule and the habit of “showing up” are the only things that separate the elite from the average.
We often talk about “excellence” like it’s a destination—a trophy to collect once you’ve sold enough houses or hit a certain production tier. But that’s looking at the equation backward.
By definition, excellence is the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. In our world, it isn’t a result; it is a state of mind. It is the internal standard set before ever walking through a front door or picking up the phone.
So, how do you actually get there?
The Standard of “Showing Up”
Excellence starts with one simple, non-negotiable habit: Showing up. This sounds basic, but many fail here because they show up physically while their minds are elsewhere.
To truly show up for clients, family, and the people who matter, you have to be present:
- Presence is Binary: When working, be 100% working; when with family, be 100% with family. Excellence is realising these are two separate things and refusing to let one dilute the other.
- Real Estate Application: In this business, showing up means more than just attending an appointment. It means showing up to market, showing up to learn, and showing up to solve problems for your clients every single day.
The 1% Rule of Compounding Growth
Excellence requires a mindset of continuous, conscious improvement. If the commitment is to improve skills, mindset, or processes by just 1% every single day, the math of success becomes exponential.
Consider the formula for compounding growth over a year:
(1.01)^{365} is approx 37.78
By improving just 1% a day, you don’t just get slightly better—you become nearly 38 times more effective by the end of the year. That is the difference between a stagnant income and a production increase that changes your life.
Performance is Only the Outcome
Performance is what the world sees, but it is only the result of the inputs provided.
- High Expectations: You must have high expectations for yourself and for those around you.
- Professionalism: Professionalism isn’t a suit; it’s a set of high standards and a refusal to settle for “good enough”.
If you want the outcome of high performance, you have to fix the inputs. You have to fix the mindset. Stop looking for excellence in a commission cheque; start looking for it in how you show up this afternoon. If you win the input, the outcome will take care of itself.