Head Down: The Best Advice I Received This Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two simple words: Head Down.

 

That phrase became my North Star over the past year. It originally came from a conversation with Peter Giese, the former CEO of Engel & Völkers Florida when Aaron and I were right in the thick of it. We were building out our new shop, navigating the massive learning curve of running a business, supporting our incredible team of advisors, and—oh yeah—still operating as a top-producing real estate team ourselves. To say we were burning the candle at both ends would be an understatement.

When we reached out for guidance during a particularly intense stretch, Peter Giese gave us the simplest piece of advice I’ve heard all year: "Head down."

And keeping our heads down delivered real-world results. At the beginning of this year, Aaron and I set a massive, ambitious production goal for our team—the kind of target that makes you sweat a little bit when you write it down. I like those! By following that advice, and cutting out every distraction that wasn't producing results, the Bond Collection Group, we didn't just meet that target—we’ve already achieved 104% of our full-year goal, blowing right past our annual objective with months to spare.

It is so easy to get pulled off course. The news cycle is screaming, life brings unexpected stresses, relationship issues, health issues, ours and those of our parents, kids, bills, all of it. Sometimes even those things that seem good for us. 

During a session at EVX, PollyAnna Snyder—a Private Office Advisor out of Engel & Völkers Bozeman / Big Sky Country—shared a message that resonated with me. She spoke about the power of turning down outside industry organizations and volunteer commitments when they stop serving your ultimate goal.

As real estate professionals, we give so much of our time. It’s easy to feel obligated to say yes to every committee, industry board, or networking event with other agents. But if those commitments pull you away from building your actual business, it would be wise to learn to say no. 

At the end of the day, our primary responsibility is to ourselves, our families, our team, and the clients who trust us with their biggest investments. Real estate isn't a hobby—it is our profession and our livelihood. Every hour spent chasing external noise or overcommitting to industry side-projects is an hour taken away from serving the people who rely on us most.

Keeping your head down doesn't mean ignoring the world; it means protecting your focus. It means tuning out the fluff, declining the distractions, and putting your energy strictly into the work that moves the needle.

Whatever season of your real estate business you’re in, my advice to you is the same piece of wisdom that saved my sanity this year: Head down.

 

Virginia T. Bond

License Partner & Advisor | ENGEL & VÖLKERS TAMPA DOWNTOWN

Bond Collection Group

523 W. Cass Street, Tampa, FL 33602