My SOI* has always been around 300 warm bodies, which is more than enough to get plenty of business and referrals without 
much outside effort on my part.
However, as many of you know, I'm getting ready to launch a major SOI Reconnection Campaign, so I'm looking closer at my contact database as part of the getting-ready process.
There were a lot of names in there of people who... well... don't make me feel warm & fuzzy. Either they were a total PITA and I'd never want to work with them again or I have a sneaking suspicion they don't like me. Yes, even Miss Smarty Pantz (me) has had deals go sour, leaving everyone a little disgruntled and uncomfortable.
So, I deleted these names from my database. It felt GOOD! But that left me with a much depleted database and I really want to get back to 300 again. Or at least, 200 in the very near future.
Here's the fun part. I'm going to actively pursue new people to add to my database and they're all going to be people I like! Can you imagine if you added one "nice" name to your database every day for a year? Or even six months??? And then... you'd have a database full of only people who make you smile!
It would make SOI'ing even more fun!
Off I go.
*My SOI = The People Who Know Me
How's the move to Denver going so far? If you click on my profile page, you'll see a picture of me with your former Governor Bill Owen. You are certainly in a beautiful state.
and, I'd be glad to be part of your SOI.
Latonia - actually, I'm a bit stunned at how many names I deleted - I'm now under 100 which blows me away. However, I think it's a good thing. There were so many names on there that I just felt weird about. I'm excited about building a higher quality database.
I have to say that I'm also pleasantly surprised at how warm and fuzzy I feel about the names that are left.
Al - yes, it is beautiful. Fresh snow on the ground today (not my favorite thing in the world; I much prefer a sandy beach), but it is pretty. And thank you for offering to be one of the people in my SOI who make me smile!
Vincent - believe me, I've considered that. Especially since I'm often surprised by who calls me or refers me years after having no contact. But... the mental peace from deleting the troublesome names is worth the risk. I'm pretty darn sensitive sometimes, so just seeing a name that evokes a negative emotion can set me back a step.
Karl - you aren't WORKING, you're being a nice guy! You can do that on Sunday, too!
Missy - wow - you said you had a huge SOI, but 2700???!!! That's a little overwhelming. Do they take care of you?
JA,
How`s everything going with the new chapter of your life?Hope all is well.
Jennifer, I had investor clients that I worked with - one was a GC and the other a plumber. I got them through the plumber who had worked on my house. They bought ok, made all the wrong repairs, took too long, got caught in the market downside, and the plumber's wife got involved and made my life a living hell. They were getting out of the listing when we got an offer in, so I did manage to get the sale. There's been strained feelings since, although on the surface we were ok. I need some plumbing work done, and was going to use him to repair the relationship. The other partner mentioned that the plumber was "mad at me" because he lost money.
You know what? I'm cutting him loose. I can take my business (and referrals - he's gotten about 5 jobs off me) and I'll find a plumber who doesn't have a wife who's a PITA and shows some respect and loyalty to me.
And if feels goooooooood!
Jennifer
I think this is the smartest thing you can do. It comes from that good 'ole abundance thinking, rather than scarcity-needing each and every. If each of those people know 100, you've got access to 10,000 people! That should be enough!!! and you'll like them all
Hugs and Smiles,
Joeann - My thoughts exactly!
Heather - One thing I've noticed is that I am incapable of "repairing" strained business relationships. It just doesn't work. Which makes sense - once someone has disappointed me professionally, it's hard for me to ever feel good about them again. So, those times that I've let someone down in my business (and yes, I can admit to it), I can't really expect them to feel warm & fuzzy about me - after all, there are PLENTY of other agents out there for them to choose from!
Jennifer - I rarely delete names from my database. I do rank them into my A,B & C lists. The A List equals my raving fans; Bs are great clients, but they rarely refer me to their SOI; C's are customers who almost became clients, clients who rarely return those warm calls and other acquaintances that fall into the "maybe someday" category. I spend more time, money and effort on the A List, but the B & C Listers will sometimes surprise me with a call "out of the blue" to list their house or refer me to a friend.
Lori - I use Top Producer, but as much as I love it, it's hard to recommend to others because it's so hard to learn. There's a new kid on the block that I'm investigating - see this blog for details. http://activerain.com/blogsview/365461/New-Contact-Management-Program
Also, see Gary David Hall's site for more information: www.garydavidhall.com
Thanks for the reminder.I need to get intouch with some and to clear some out.Jessica Cordell
PS love your new graphics, so happy and friendly!
Great job at weeding out the riff-raff. The purpose of our SOI (or Book of Business, if you will) is to have a built-in referral base so that you can pick up the phone anytime you need to and call ANY of those people and say "Who do you know who ..." If 2/3 of those names aren't people you would want to refer back to, then the whole point is rather silly.
Good job!
Congrats on going through your list and paring it down. I know that's a tremendous task.
~Renae