In this month’s issue, we’re talking about goals. Maybe you’re on track with your goals or maybe you’ve drifted, but no matter where you are, the Coach’s Tip, Member Spotlight and everything else we’ve included will help ensure those goals get achieved.
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Enjoy!
In coaching conversations, by mid-February we often hear our clients say: “I started strong… and then life happened.”
The best intentions often fail because something crucial was missing. It could be the goal isn’t important enough, there’s no structure or milestones to keep you on track, or there’s a lack of accountability.
Setting goals is an important part of creating — and sustaining — a successful business. Brian Buffini believes in this concept so strongly that he often teaches it in his events, trainings and on his weekly podcast. “Having a set of goals will give you a reason to get up in the morning,” he says. “If the goals are real and are meaningful, it will build a fire and a desire in you.”
Follow these tips to get your goals back on track.
1. Revisit the SMART framework:
SMART goals provide clarity when motivation fades. If a goal feels heavy or vague, ask these questions:
If any of these elements are missing, the goal may need refinement, not replacement. Small adjustments may quickly lead to a win and restore your focus and confidence.
2. Reverse engineer the outcome:
Rather than figuring out where to start, work backward from the desired end result.
3. Use mile markers as recalibration points:
Think of each quarter as a built-in check-in. What worked? What didn’t? What needs to shift? This approach replaces pressure with curiosity and keeps progress realistic and sustainable. Work with your coach to get an honest assessment so you can stay on track before you start feeling overwhelmed.
4. Focus on the next right step:
Looking too far ahead can create pressure. Instead, ask: What is the next simple action that moves this goal forward? Clarity reduces procrastination while action restores belief. This is where having mile-markers can help you gain clarity.
5. Remember, this is a long game:
Success is rarely a straight line. Every meaningful goal includes pauses, pivots, and resets.
And just because the calendar says a specific date, it doesn’t mean you need to give up. Goals can be set at any point in time.
This is where coaching can make a difference. Goals are easier to set than they are to sustain, especially when momentum dips or expectations need adjusting. Coaching creates space to evaluate what is working, adjust what is not, and move forward with intention instead of frustration.
With the right structure, accountability, and perspective, goals do not disappear when progress slows. They evolve. Commit to working with your coach to create a strong plan and before you know it, you’ll not only reach your goals but surpass them!
Your Next Goal Strategy is 30 Minutes Away!
Need a little help reaching your next goal? Contact us for a free Business Consultation. In this impactful session, we’ll help you: get clear on your vision, uncover what’s holding you back, see what’s working for others just like you, and discover your next step. With this one 30-minute call, you’ll be one step closer to reaching your goals this year.
Many of us eagerly look forward to a new year and what we hope will be a fresh start. We start off strong and promise ourselves this year will be different. But there’s a reason many abandon their resolutions by mid-January. The calendar may change, but the habits holding us back often don’t. And if our habits are the same, our results will be too.
I’ve taught on this subject a lot over the years, so I thought it would be a great topic for our recent Buffini Coaching LIVE™ event held in Las Vegas. I was thrilled that two of my favorite guests from over the past few years, Dr. Henry Cloud and Jon Acuff, agreed to join me in a discussion on “Breaking Through What’s Holding You Back.” The conversation was brilliantly moderated by Ken Coleman, a three-time bestselling author and co-host of The Ramsey Show.
Here are some of the key highlights I came away with from the session:
Are You Burned Out or Just Tired?
I know for myself it’s easy to work nonstop, especially when there are a lot of people relying on you and there’s so much on the line.
So I was interested to hear Ken note that the number one challenge business professionals face is “burnout.”
Henry offered an interesting perspective on this, suggesting that you ask yourself, “Am I burned out? Or am I just tired?”
Being tired is not a bad thing, he added. “It means you took on the mountain.”
But just as important, you need periods of rest, recreation and unplugging so you can refresh.
This discussion reinforces why the Work by Referral system is the best (and in my opinion!) only way to run your business. Rather than running yourself ragged and chasing after dead leads, you’re building a fantastic business working with people you know and like. Many of our clients work hard but also take up to 8 weeks a year off!
Overcome the Narrative Holding You Back
Like myself, Henry and Jon grew up in modest households. Success was not something they were necessarily taught to reach for in their careers. And for Henry, a comment from a teacher made to him when he was a young student really derailed his confidence for many years after. A chance encounter with a pastor helped him realize that he had gifts and an obligation to share them.
Henry and Jon shared that it’s important to shut out those negative voices (both internally and externally) and focus on what you can control. It’s also important to surround yourself with people who not only cheer you on but remind you of what you’ve overcome.
For our Members, we have so many opportunities to tap into those who have your back when your internal soundtrack is playing a bit too negatively. Our coaches and the Buffini Member Community — they’re all here for you to cheer you on.
Don’t Let Comparison Steal Your Joy
In today’s competitive world, it’s really hard not to compare yourself, and your success (or lack of it) to others. That’s why I really try to remember to celebrate others’ joy. And that’s easier to do when you’re not attached to things.
In our session, Jon agreed, adding, “I feel better when I’m cheering for others. And when I focus on my own goals, I don’t have the time, energy or creativity to worry about competing with others.”
“One of the worst comparisons you can make is comparing yourself to who you used to be,” he wisely said. “New seasons deserve new scorecards.”
That’s just a taste of the great insights Dr. Cloud and Jon Acuff shared in our session. Be sure to watch the full replay where you’ll get even more tips and strategies that will help you move past the roadblocks holding you back.
And don’t forget to register for our next Buffini Coaching LIVE on April 9, 2026. We’re busy working on a program filled with inspirational and motivational content that you won’t want to miss!
Like many agents in the Buffini system, I’d describe myself as a bit of a free spirit. Big ideas? No problem. Structure and follow-through? That didn’t always come naturally.
Over time, I had to face something uncomfortable: if I didn’t tell myself what to do, nothing consistently got done. I wasn’t lacking motivation — I was lacking clarity and accountability.
Why I Needed a Scoreboard
I’m a huge sports fan, and one thing sports always give you is certainty. You know the score. You know if you’re winning, losing, or tied.
Life and business don’t work that way for most people. We hope we’re doing okay, but we don’t really know. I realized I didn’t want hope. I wanted proof.
That’s when I leaned into a simple truth I live by: out of sight, out of mind. If the things that matter most to me aren’t visible, they slowly stop mattering at all.
So I built something simple but powerful: a personal scoreboard that’s always visible. Not to track production alone, but to track who I’m becoming.
How My Personal Scoreboard Works
My scoreboard includes both personal and professional categories, because growth doesn’t happen in silos.
On the personal side, two of my daily goals are intentionally simple:
On paper, that sounds small. In reality, consistency is rare.
Now, every time I eat broccoli or intentionally take in something positive. such as a book, a podcast, or encouraging content, I check it off my scoreboard. And yes, I get a little dopamine hit every time I do!
More importantly, I can see my progress in real time, both daily and weekly. The scoreboard gives me proof that I’m moving in the right direction, even on days when motivation feels low.
The Shift That Changed Everything
Over time, my scoreboard became non-negotiable.
Instead of comparing myself to other people, I compare myself to yesterday’s version of me. I can instantly see where I’m winning and where I need to step up — personally and professionally — every single day.
That visibility changed my behavior. It made progress tangible. And progress you can see is progress you can sustain.
One Key Action You Can Take
Start small. Choose a few habits that reflect the person you want to become — not just the results you want to achieve. Make it visible. Track it daily. Let that consistency build momentum.
You don’t need more motivation. You need a way to see your progress.
Jeff Wu will share more about this scoreboard technique on our Community Connection webinar, Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. PT. Register here to join and learn more.
For Rosio Robison, the Bible verse Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, which states in part, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” is one that resonates deeply.
Right now, that season is one of the professional success and serving others in her community with both financial and emotional support. But it was an earlier season, when she was only 16 years old, that became the foundation for the woman she is today.
‘Survival’ as a Young Mom
At 16, Rosio’s world turned upside down when she became pregnant.
“The only thing I could think of at that moment was survival,” she recalled. “How am I going to provide for this little guy? And that became my why. That became the reason I continued to move forward even when it became really challenging.”
With the support of her loving family, she was able to forge ahead and attend a community college. It was there she signed up for real estate classes as electives.
Although she had not planned on becoming a real estate professional, she soon realized it would be a great way to build financial security for herself and her son.
A Perfect Alignment
Rosio noted it was about 10 years ago that she was introduced to Buffini & Company.
“I originally started with the CRM and the notes and Pop-Bys and the tags. That was like in such alignment with who I am and what felt good. And I knew that I didn’t want to do like cold calling or any of that. And so for me, immediately it felt good because I love working by relationships,” she said.
She eventually moved into One2One Coaching, which was even more transformative.
“It has just really helped me develop my business and has given me clear direction on where I want to go, and then being able to further dig into my business and create,” she said.
“My coach has helped me and guided me into how to incorporate the things that I love into my business. And so I feel so blessed that I get to incorporate the things that I love, like servicing my friends and family and being able to give back,” Rosio explained.
She added that working with her coach has also helped her through the challenges in her personal life.
“It can be so tough in real estate when we’re doing this alone. Many of us are independent contractors and we’re figuring out business on our own. But I’m not. My coach has been by my side now for several years, and she knows my heart,” Rosio said. “She knows my family, she knows my business, and she understands what I’m good at and my struggles.”
“I am just so grateful for the accountability and for me, it just brings me so much peace knowing that I have her support and that I have a system that I can rely on that is in such alignment with who I am and where I’m going in my real estate business.”
A New Season of Giving Back
The 16-year-old girl Rosio once was is never far from her mind. In fact, that girl was the impetus for a new season — the creation of the Rising Rose Fund, which provides tuition scholarships for young single mothers to attend local community colleges.
“It’s not my doing. It’s because God has called me to show up for these women, and we all get different assignments,” she stressed. “It’s to bring awareness to our cause so that we can support young single moms in our communities. And by helping one woman, we’re making a lasting impact in their lives.”
“And it’s my life mission to continue to support those young women without expecting anything in return. This is what God has called me to do,” she said. “And whether it’s one woman or 100 women, that is what I will continue to do. Just one woman at a time.”
Rosio’s ‘Good Life’
Rosio admits that for a long time, even though her numbers indicated that she was on firm footing, she still felt financially insecure.
“That was really, really hard to let go of. But I’m in a new season in my life where I trust in the foundation that I’ve built. I trust the business that I’ve created. I trust in the financial decisions that I’ve made over the years and investing. I trust that the foundation that I’ve built over the years is there, and that if anything happens, God will provide and that I have the tools to overcome any obstacle.”
And thanks to her Buffini Coach and the systems she has consistently followed, not only has she changed her own life, but she’s also impacting the lives of other young women as well.