That quality, often elusive, that sets a person apart from everyone else.  In sports it's easy to tell if a person has "it" because they are "hitting on all cylinders", "in the zone" or "can do no wrong".   

There are many definitions, but Marshall Goldsmith, author of Mojo, defines the word as, "...a positive spirit towards what we are doing now that starts on the inside and radiates to the outside".  He goes on to describe it as momentum with direction and speed.

It's not only the rush when you're on a winning streak, but an expression of the harmony (or lack of harmony) between what we feel inside about whatever we are doing and what we show on the outside.

He coined the word Nojo to define the opposite including: satisfied with the bare minimum, feel obligated to do it, tolerate requirements, zombie-like, ect.  Any of those sound familiar in your commercial appraisal career?  

I hope not.  But if you find yourself lacking Personal Mojo, then consider the following for your appraisal career:

·    if each assignment seems arduous, stop and reassess your work attitudes

·    tired of cutting and pasting your life away, consider implementing commercial appraisal-specific technology

·    do you have appraisal production burnout, take some time off then come back and create internal office systems for optimal productivity

Measure your Professional Mojo - what do you bring to your appraisal activity - motivation, knowledge, ability, confidence and authenticity?  Measure your Personal Mojo - what this activity brings to me - happiness, reward, meaning, learning and gratitude?

Many appraisers intertwine their personal and work lives.  Not necessarily a bad thing but make sure your long-term goal is to measure short-term satisfaction (happiness) with long-term benefit (meaning).  Determine if your appraisal career is just a paycheck.  If it is, look for ways to find your mojo.  It's a thought away.

If you would like to join a discussion about this topic or Appraisal Best Practices contact Jeff Hicks