This article was written for Southern Nevada CCIM newsletter called the Perspective – SPECIAL EDITION January 2022.
By: HAYIM MIZRACHI, CCIM – President | Principal | Broker
I have been a mixed martial arts (MMA) fan since the early days of UFC. Since those early days fighters have evolved from only needing to master a single martial art to having to be well rounded in several martial arts in order to be a champion. In addition, a champion must have the three A’s.
- Attitude – they have to believe they can be and are worthy of being a champion.
- Activities – the have to engage in training cardio, strength, nutrition, sparing, etc.
- Approach – they have to refine technique. If Activities are engaging in the training, Approach is improving performance within each activity.
One of the things an MMA commentator will say when there is a new champion is, “you’re not truly a champion until you defend your title.”
It turns out, to the best of my research, the concept of defending your belt is attributed to a quote by a world champion tennis player.
In 1956, Althea Gibson, became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title – the French Championship. She went on to win Wimbledon and the US Open in 1957 and again in 1958.
What can CCIM’s learn from a Champion like Althea Gibson?
- Did she have the right Attitude? I Always Wanted to be Somebody. That was the title of her autobiography published in 1958. Althea had the attitude of a champion. She had the mindset that she would rise from the slums of Harlem to stand center court in Wimbledon meeting the Queen of England.
- How about Activities? Well, here’s another Althea quote… “most of us who aspire to be top in our field don’t really consider the amount of work required to stay top.” Althea knew. She engaged in the activities necessary to be a great champion. And she did this at a time when diversity, equity and inclusion wasn’t exactly on trend.
- What about Approach? Perhaps my favorite of Althea’s quotes to bring this to life… “it has been written that I have the best women’s serve in tennis history… and I believe it!” I love this quote because it both depicts that Althea practiced her approach in serving at a championship level and reminds us that she had the attitude of a champion.
It’s the new year.
While “New year new me” is a cute meme, it’s a false premise. You are still the same you when the clock strikes 12:00 am on January 1.
Setting goals and resolutions like “I want to try to eat less and exercise more… have less screen time… or make more money…” These don’t address the most powerful force that controls us.
That force is our behavior or habits (activities). What drives our behavior? Our beliefs (attitude).
Althea believed she was always going to be somebody and became the first African American women’s tennis champion. Her belief (attitude) drove her behaviors (activities & approach).
This is how this shows up for me. If I believe that I am a runner training for a ½ marathon (attitude), my behavior will follow my belief. My behavior (activities) will be to gear up at 7:45 pm when I’m tired as hell and go for a 45-minute run in 41-degree temperature because that’s what runners training for a ½ marathon do.
If I’m training for a ½ marathon you know my approach has to be refined along the way. I have to do interval runs to build speed. As much as I hate them, I have to do core exercises to build strength.
Beliefs drive Behavior
In 2022, I want you to ask yourself, who do you want to be or who are you?
For me…? I am a healthy person. I am a present father and husband. I am a market leading broker.
If I believe I am these things my behaviors will follow. A healthy person doesn’t polish off the 4 chicken fingers his kids didn’t eat (yes, I struggle with that). A present father and husband doesn’t scroll on his phone in the evenings. A market leading broker is disciplined in executing his prospecting campaigns.
Ladies and gentlemen – who are you going to be in 2022? Let’s end with a final Althea quote.
At CCIM Southern Nevada, we are professionals. We are professionals who are defined by what we do. In 2022, let’s be about action. Let’s be about championship action!
***The concept of the three A’s comes from sales expert Greta Schulz.
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