Once new agents get into an office, they discover that their hours are not as flexible as they had hoped and the hours can also be quite long. Agents are often ruled by the floor time schedule and the needs of their clients. You will surely find that your services are needed at odd hours and other areas of your life could suffer as your career takes off.

It's important to take control of your time from the beginning. This does not mean that you will not put in a ton of hours, working five, six, or even seven days a week, especially when you first start out. It does mean that you control your time; no one else should control your time. Of course, you will take floor time, be present in the office, hold open houses, show property, and perform all the tasks that add up to success, but you will also be in charge of your own time. Protect your time — before it gets filled up by things that do not contribute to your success or your quality of life.

If you create a schedule, you will also find that you are accomplishing the tasks on your to-do list instead of listening to the latest gossip or playing solitaire on the computer.