What Three Decades in Business Have Taught Me About Performance
As the 2025 year came to a close, it is worth acknowledging an uncomfortable truth, 2025 was a tough year. Across industries, it tested confidence, patience, and momentum. Markets were uneven, sentiment was fragile, and certainty was in short supply.
In times like these, I am reminded of a simple belief that has guided me for decades through market cycles, personal challenges, and moments of real uncertainty, When behaviour is right, results follow, even in imperfect conditions.
I have always valued numbers. But after nearly thirty years in business, I have learned that numbers are never the starting point. They are the outcome. They are the scoreboard. Behaviour is the game.
Throughout 2025, I found myself returning to the same questions again and again. Why did some people continue to perform well in such a difficult environment? Why did others feel stuck? And what needs to change as we move forward?
The answer, in my experience, is not found in chasing numbers. Doing more simply for the sake of activity is not the solution. Reacting faster is not the solution. These approaches often create the illusion of progress without changing outcomes in a meaningful way. What truly changes outcomes is clarity, clarity in how you show up each day, how you prepare, how you engage with others, and how you act when conditions are not ideal.
There is a well-known insight from Tom Hanks, who has often said that success is not about constant inspiration. It is about showing up on time, prepared, and willing to do the work, especially on the days you do not feel like it. That distinction matters more than ever in challenging markets.
The people who moved forward did not wait for motivation or for conditions to improve. They committed to discipline, consistency, and intention. Over time, that behaviour did exactly what it always does, it produced results.
Today’s consumer does not want to be sold to. They want guidance from someone who understands the emotional weight behind their decisions. Whether the decision involves a home, a career move, or a major investment, trust is built when professionals show up prepared, present, and genuinely engaged.
Leading with empathy, staying disciplined, and acting with integrity are not soft ideas. They are competitive advantages. They earn trust, build loyalty, and create lasting success regardless of industry.
As we look ahead, it is important to be honest. The year to come will not be effortless. But opportunity has not disappeared. It has become more selective and, in many ways, more meaningful. For those willing to show up with discipline and intention, today’s environment is not an obstacle. It is an advantage. That is what excellence looks like now.
I remain optimistic about the road ahead, not because conditions are easy, but because fundamentals still matter. Behaviour still compounds. Clarity still wins. And those willing to focus on how they operate, not just what they chase, will continue to move forward.
I wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, one marked by clarity of purpose, confidence in your decisions, and intention in everything you do.
Steve Tabrizi
Chief Operating Officer
RE/MAX Hallmark Group of Companies
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