SUCCESSfUL gOAL SETTINg for the Year Ahead

Every year many of us will set new goals for ourselves and have good intentions to improve our personal or professional life. It feels great to start off a new year and think about how we can enhance our lives and make meaningful change. It’s relatively easy to come up with a list of things we want to change, but it’s often difficult to set those goals into action. Goal-setting has its own set of criteria that we need to consider before jumping into implementation. Here are a few things we need to consider.

WhAT IS mY WhY?

Before we set any goal, we need to have buy-in as to why the change in habit or behaviour is necessary. Consider how the goal will impact your physical, mental, social or financial health. Understanding your why builds motivation for the goal.

For example- reducing sugar will improve physical health by leading to less risk of diabetes and weight loss, improve mental health by less emotional eating and cravings and financial health by less money on desserts and snack foods.

WhAT ARE ThE DOWNSIDES Of ThE gOAL?

Ask yourself, if I achieve this goal, what will I lose? Many times we focus on what we will gain by achieving our goals, but we may also need to consider what sacrifices will be required in being successful.

For example - reducing sugar may make it hard for me to say no to sweets and socialize - especially during the South Asian wedding season!

SET S.m.A.R.T gOALS

SMART goals are ones that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time- bound. If goals are too general, unrealistic, vague or don’t have a timeframe it’s easy to lose focus and stay accountable. We have created a SMART goal worksheet that can be located on our website (Future-ready Minds,)

LEARN hOW TO USE YOUR bRAIN TO YOUR ADvANTAgE

Have you ever wondered why setting goals feels so good, but when we don’t accomplish them there is a sense of disappointment? Any time we set a new goal our brain releases chemicals which give a rush of positive emotions and propel us towards action. However, if a problem arises, we get stuck in our thoughts and it becomes difficult to regulate our behaviour. The key to accomplishing goals is understanding how your brain works and how to motivate yourself for success. Often, personal or professional goals are based on changing habits. Changing a routine or pattern can be difficult to do without recognizing how our brains create new habits and what motivates them. Once you’ve re-evaluated your goals to make sure they’re smart and explored the costs/benefits of changing you can then look at ways to use brain science to accomplish them. Here are a few tips on achieving your goals and why these things work.

Dr. Shimi Kang is an award-winning Harvard-trained medical doctor, researcher, and expert on science-based solutions for health, happiness, and achievement.

Dr. Kang is a practicing psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience. She is the author of the #1 bestseller The Dolphin Parent and The Tech Solution, a Clinical Associate Professor at UBC, the founder of Future-ready Minds, Co-Founder of Get Sparky app, and host of the YouTube show, Mental Wealth with Dr. Shimi Kang. She is a proud mom of three and the recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Leadership, and the Jubilee Medal for community service.

PRImE YOUR bRAIN

Priming your subconscious can drastically affect your behaviour. To be more successful, create subconscious visuals to motivate yourself. If your goal for the year is to pay off debt, create a tracker that you can fill out each day and visually see your progress. Perhaps your goal is to exercise more. Create a vision board of all the workouts you want to try and the visual representation of success in your mind. Seeing these things, consciously and subconsciously, can prime our brains and create motivation.

fOCUS ON CREATINg A NEW ROUTINE

The thing with the human brain is that it loves routines. When it comes to goal-setting, we’re often trying to change a pre-existing routine. Want to be an early riser? That means changing an established routine and belief that you’re just “not a morning person.” If you turn your goal into a pattern or a habit, it will be far easier to accomplish. To do this, you have to convert a goal into a habit within your brain. This means moving it into a completely new location, from the subconscious lower brain to the conscious top brain. This can be as simple as changing a few variables like eating popcorn in a movie with your non-dominant hand.

REWARD YOURSELf

Make sure you set mini-goals along the way to measure progress. Say you plan to run a 10km race by the end of June can seem daunting on the days you struggle to run even one kilometre in under 30 minutes. Setting smaller goals within your resolutions will help you stay motivated, thanks to all of the mini celebrations that will excite you and motivate you to keep going. This method works because your brain gets rewarded when you accomplish mini-goals, encouraging your brain to continue to the next milestone for the next reward.

Dr. Jas Hundal is a Registered Social Worker and the Clinical Director of Counselling at Future-ready Minds, She has her Masters of Social Work from the University of Victoria and a Certificate in Advanced Facilitation & Consultation from the Justice Institute of BC. In her career Dr. Hundal has worked predominantly with South Asian men and women, to provide essential services in the Punjabi language. She is trained in a range of therapeutic modalities and has worked diligently in the field of mental health and addictions since 2006. Dr. Hundal is passionate about helping members of her community learn ways to improve their mental health by using holistic and strength-based practices.

ChANgE

YOUR LOCATION.

Some say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. When it comes to accomplishing goals, if things aren’t going according to plan, try changing the technique or method of accomplishment. This change could be as simple as a new location. This location change can make it easier for your brain to learn a new habit or change a pre-existing one as it removes the familiar cues that cause the default routines.

Do you have a particular habit or routine that you’re finding difficult to overcome? Speaking with a professional can help. Perhaps you’re looking for a motivating way to unite your team before accomplishing company goals this year or create healthier habits for your children. Reach out to Future-ready Minds and we can work together to ensure you are successful in meeting your goals.

www.futureminds.com info@futureminds.com

What does it take to become the #1 Century21 agent in Canada? You might think the answer is to just sell lots of real estate. According to Harp Khela, you would be wrong – and as #1 in Canada and #7 in the world as of 2021, he should know.

Buying or selling property is a significant financial decision, carrying implications to multiple facets of one’s livelihood and professional life. The complexities, potential risks, and pitfalls, as well as skill required to navigate massive, commercial real estate deals become exponentially more difficult. It’s an area with few players and high stakes, where trust and relationships are often worth far more than the millions at stake in financial transactions. Commitment to people and commitment to relationships is what Harp credits as the source of his success.

In commercial real estate, it is critical to work with someone who looks beyond the bottom line and believes in fostering genuine connections. Such is the approach of Century 21’s, Harp Khela. His experience, expertise, and extensive connections in the market have been leveraged by massive players to transact hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate deals. As an agent of the Century 21 brokerage — one which boasts 14,000 offices globally across 86 countries — Harp has not only worked within Century 21 for almost two decades, but he has been recognized globally as a leading performer, at the top of the ranks of 147,000 agents around the world. One of Harp’s clients, Qualico’s

Vice President, Kevin Anderson notes, “In an ever evolving and competitive real estate land market, Harp has established himself as one of the top executors in the Fraser Valley. The patient, yet relentless focus he applies in his approach to any transaction is what has allowed him to deliver on some very complicated deals for Qualico. We are appreciative of our relationship with Harp and look forward to its continuation into the future.”

Growing up in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, Harp lived in Abbotsford and Langley for his childhood years. Harp’s parents were hardworking and humble – his father worked as a farmer with land between Surrey and Chilliwack, and also as a home builder and developer with a background in construction. Harp recalls, “As a young kid growing up on residential home sites, I’ve always had that connection to real estate. I’d travel with my dad and learn so much about the industry, and how to build long-lasting relationships with business and industry partners.” After high school, Harp began his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Obtaining his real estate license soon after, Harp was 19 when he first started selling homes and condos.

A few years later, Harp moved to the small town of Vermillion, Alberta, in order to take over the family’s business interests. Here, he redeveloped a much-neglected 26-year old shopping center and turned it into a thriving hub for the community. During his time in Vermillion, Harp launched a grocery store under the “Harp’s Family Foods” brand, as well as “Harp’s Beer & Liquor”. It was during this time that Harp started to appreciate the unique needs of the community and issues facing businesses and the public. Recognizing the lack of large-scale development and land use expertise on the Municipal Council in Vermillion, Harp decided to run for election and offer his time and wisdom in public service. Despite a low population of South Asians in small-town Alberta, Harp earned the second highest votes in the election and was sworn in as Councillor of the Township of Vermilion — and all of this by the age of 24.

During his time in Vermillion, Harp sat on the Planning and Development Committee and Economic Development Committee, and attended numerous Provincial and Federal meetings, such as those with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA). During this time, Harp continued to serve on a British Columbia (BC) provincial board, called the BC Student Aid Appeal committee, which governed all funding appeals for student loans. By his mid-20s, Harp was running a significant commercial real estate property, growing, and managing a grocery store, serving on a municipal council, and engaging in committee work that required collaboration with Mayors and Councilors across the country. Harp reflects, “These experiences were invaluable and I’m grateful I got to spend these years absorbing a wealth of knowledge in urban development, city planning, transporta-

Sky-High Deals, Sky-High Success

Realtor Harp Khela

tion, roads, and community engagement.” Towards the end of his term on Vermillion Council in early 2015, Harp transitioned back to British Columbia and married his wife, a lawyer at Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation. Harp’s return to the Lower Mainland saw the rapid acceleration of his real estate career, starting with residential sales, including farms in the Abbotsford area. As his performance grew, Harp began recognizing his specialized skills in larger commercial development, industrial, townhome, and high-rise properties. He remarks, “As affordability issues took hold in BC, the market shifted where young families and immigrants could only afford condos and townhouses. My clients were large-scale developers that needed land to meet the demand. So, I began brokering land that would then be developed into large-scale housing projects, from townhomes to high rises.”

Today, Harp continues to benefit from his unique capabilities of understanding both real estate development and municipality needs. Continuing to foster new relationships in the industry, Harp sits on the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association Board (DSBIA) and is also the Chair of the Nomination Committee. The DSBIA is an organization that builds partnerships for a future-ready, diverse, safe, and evolving downtown Surrey that is seen to be the place to invest, work, learn, live, and play. With the advent of the UBC campus, the long standing Simon Fraser University (SFU) campus, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) presence in downtown Surrey, Harp high-

In an ever evolving and competitive real estate land market, Harp has established himself as one of the top executors in the Fraser Valley. The patient, yet relentless focus he applies in his approach to any transaction is what has allowed him to deliver on some very complicated deals for Qualico.”

- Kevin Anderson VP, Qualico

lights, “The City of Surrey is delivering on its promise to attract investment, employment, and education. These are key to ensure that we can in fact ‘live and play’ in the region, and meet the needs of a growing community.”

In 2021, Harp was ranked #1 in Canada for Century 21, and #7 in the entire world. Not one to rest on his laurels, Harp sold eight high rise sites in the Fleetwood and City Centre area last year, with others soon to come. He was also the deal-maker behind all of Allure Venture’s land acquisitions and acts as the company’s primary acquisitions agent. Allure Venture’s CEO, Garry Sangha, elaborates, “In business, you are always seeking partners that understand your objectives and work creatively with you towards achievement.

I have always found that Harp was quick to understand where we wanted to go with the business and found us real estate solutions and opportunities that were attractive and actionable. It is unusual to find professionals like Harp who are so committed to your success and able to deliver the differentiating factor. His drive and experience ensures consistently exceptional outcomes.”

Ultimately, Harp focuses on developing deep relationships with a limited number of clients, selectively inviting new partners into his portfolio every year. In fact, Harp’s growing team is currently serving a small group of exclusive clients, helping them make a massive impact by crafting growth strategies for the next decade and beyond. Taking into account every city’s Official Community Plan (OCP), Harp is able to pair municipal needs and land availability with developer interests and community opportunities. It’s because of this strategic and focused approach that all of Harp’s deals are transacted entirely off-market. According to Harp, “You don’t need to advertise it to the world if you can just bring the right people to the table and work out a deal.”

Harp’s relationships with his clients are not purely transactional, but have a longterm vision, based on trust that is earned over time. Harp’s client Todd Yuen, Industrial President of Beedie, has experienced firsthand the commitment to steer his clients in the right direction over multiple years, “Harp takes a lot of time to actually do his homework. When he brings you an opportunity he’s already researched all of the critical elements of the project and has applied a clear, unbiased and objective lens to his analysis. Harp doesn’t just try to find an angle to sell something to you. Instead, he makes his own determination as to whether or not the acquisition is worth pursuing and only then, does he bring it forward.”

Acting as a conduit for the Lower Mainland, Harp is currently expanding his network to the United States, Dubai, India, Hong Kong, and Singapore in order to showcase the opportunities in BC’s lucrative market. The Lower Mainland area, especially Surrey-Langley, is often overlooked internationally. However, accelerating immigration numbers and an increasingly constrained housing market is creating a huge gap in the region – a gap he intends to fill by developing relationships with the right people and even finding new, international partners to enter the market.

In business, you are always seeking partners that understand your objectives and work creatively with you towards achievement. I have always found that Harp was quick to understand where we wanted to go with the business and found us real estate solutions and opportunities that were attractive and actionable. It is unusual to find professionals like Harp who are so committed to your success and able to deliver the differentiating factor. His drive and experience ensures consistently exceptional outcomes.”

- Garry Sangha CEO, Allure Ventures

Harp takes a lot of time to actually do his homework. When he brings you an opportunity he’s already researched all of the critical elements of the project and has applied a clear, unbiased and objective lens to his analysis. Harp doesn’t just try to find an angle to sell something to you. Instead, he makes his own determination as to whether or not the acquisition is worth pursuing and only then, does he bring it forward.”

- Todd Yuen, Industrial President, Beedie

For 2023, Harp stresses the importance of investors having the right team, proper education, connections with trustworthy bankers, and consideration of information provided by cities. He suggests that having the right realtors helps investors navigate dynamic market trends, “There are always opportunities in the market. It’s all about uncovering what is best for each client. In 2023, the challenge is going to be interest rates and navigating the difficulties of accessing capital. However, the landscape is shifting from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. Negotiations that once felt odd because of high demand will now be the norm, creating really favorable terms for buyers.” Harp further reveals that although there may be downward pressure on pricing and the market, the drive to purchase more land is largely driven by each developer’s specific needs and deal terms. Large scale proj- ects coming online in 5, 10, or 20 years will continue to have persistent demand for land acquisition.

Looking to the future, Harp reaffirms his commitment to relationships above all else, “I never liked the idea of having a revolving door of low-value projects, and tense relationships with people who weren’t interested in mutual growth. I want everyone to win. I’m cultivating a garden, filled with the fruits of my work and relationships, where I can invite new partners in and find ways for everyone to succeed. I want to be known as the guy who brought billions of dollars of investments into the Lower Mainland and made his partners incredibly successful. That will feel like success to me. Having a small hand in

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