I think it's fairly safe to say that when you enter the real estate game, actually any business for that matter, you tend to want to be the best. A competitive nature and a desire to succeed is what drives small business owners, and every franchise owner within the Century 21 network is running a small business within the greater network. They have the support and commitment of an international brand behind them, but at the end of the day they are still running their own real estate show. You see the passion when a new office comes on board – they want to be number one in their area, their state, their country even. Most people driven enough to run their own business are aiming for top dog status.
I may sound biased but I believe Century 21 franchisees get a bit of a head start in regards to attaining top dog status purely based on the training they receive and the fact they're taking on a brand that's known worldwide. But if you don't have that behind you, one of the best ways to make your own way to being a top dog is to spend time with those who you consider have already reached that status. If you are physically unable to spend time with them, spend time with them online – that's the joy of the internet. If they're contributing to websites, make sure you're subscribed. The same goes if they have a blog. Make it your business to find out why their business is so successful.
Once you know how they're doing what they're doing, you'll be able to work out which strategies are applicable and likely to work for you. They say that imitation is the finest form of flattery, so if you're not top of the heap and you want to be, start acting like someone who is!