Have an actionable and results-oriented daily to do list.  

Work that list everyday.

Rinse and Repeat.  

Have a business plan.  Have a daily schedule.  Prospect every day.

Establishing a big database, getting your website up and running and connect all with a CRM.

Define your market area. Study the comps and preview current listings. Get involved in networking that area specifically!

Develop a business plan and stick to it. 

Work every lead until you hear the lead doesn't want to hear from you anymore.

Whenever there is an opportunity, take floor, do open houses, as a way to meet potential new clients.

1. Work

2. Do not follow the crowd. Work on what everyone is ignoring.

3. Work hard

Don't get fooled into thinking "busy work" is an important part of your day!  If what you're doing is not going to take you closer to your goal, rethink it.  I see many Realtors chasing their own tails but accomplishing very little.  Focus on what is going to make you different and bring you one step closer to success.

1. Getting INTIMATELY FAMILIAR with the target market.

2. Gathering RESOURCES and tools to help streamline duties and transactions.

3. Getting SUPREMELY ORGANIZED with files, contacts and resources.

Steve,

My favorite answers are Susan Emo and Joe Pryor .  Combining the two answers is a great way to go.  I would add that if you select an area to work in, learn everything about it, not just the real estate but the types of people that live there.  A

Ken Jones makes some really good points. Make sure everyone you know knows that you are in the real estate business. Work your sphere of influence and keep working it without over doing it. Be prepared to answer the question...how's the market doing?

- Self-education

- Marketing

- Networking

Prospect, prospect, prospect.

have a strong marketing plan for online and offline marketing.... that's the key component ....

steve weiser 1) Work with a mentor; 2) Get as much training as you can; 3) face-to-face networking.

Find a niche and go all in on knowledge and education, work the hours required to gain expertise, and maintain flexibility and patience if it doesn't work as well as you thought it should.

Prospecting & attention to internet Marketing,  2017 is to be the Year of the Millennial's.

1. create your marketing plan with clear do-able goals. 

2. create schedule and stick to it.

3. do not give up. 

bonus: make sure you have a solid mentor/broker to support you. 

1. Planning
2. Preparing themselves
3. Planting their garden.

Do either By Referral Only or a Brian Buffini workshop.  They both specialize in helping you develop and maintain a solid center of influence and how to prospect without dishing out money to Zillow.

Have a plan. Follow the Plan. Stay focused and avoid distractions. 

Prospect.  Prospect.  Prospect.

 You should start building your sphere of influence, keeping a rainy day fund, and get the word out about your services and start prospecting ....

steve weiser - I'd say one thing - lead generation and follow up. Of course, calls notes pop-bys are good, too.

Call People they know...X 3  every 4-6 weeks.  People will forget after the first call.

Maintain complete contact records in your database, effectively market your services and stay on the phone until your schedule is full.

Lead generation for future activity isn't seasonal...  Have a plan, consistently execute tasks related to the plan, tweak the plan and continue.  :)

Hi, Steve. I'm just curious, what's the biggest challenge you've faced so far in your real estate career?

Thanks.

Dr. John McMillen

Michael Jacobs said exactly what I was thinking! 

As Michael Jacobs said, have a daily calendar and religiously work from it! Have a plan for 2017 and begin filling your 2017 pipeline by making those calls this month!

* Create a database of everyone you know and add to it daily.
* Begin blogging regularly.  It is the least expensive, most effective way to create long term lead generation
* Don't let the freedom of setting your own schedule distract you from a daily action plan.  
Bonus: Be sure you have a mentor to learn the business and stay accountable.  

These aren't in any particular order.  They're all important.  

Networking

Get a Mentor or Coach

Have a plan and work it

Prospect.

Get leads and work them - constantly

1. Implementing a CRM

2. Prospecting

3. Becoming totally knowledgeable about their market and market conditions.

Michael Jacobs nailed this one!

I'm with you Richard Weeks !!