Tip One: Plan to Succeed. If you want to see almost immediate results from your technology usage, then careful planning should precede the purchase of any tool. Do not purchase a laptop or a PDA until you plan out exactly how you intend to use it on a day-to-day basis. Good planning will result in faster productivity gains.

Tip Two: Get the right tool for the job! A great way to throw money down the drain is to shop for bargain or discount technology. While you’ll get a good buy, it’s really ‘goodbye’ to your money. Most likely, the product will not perform at the levels required of your plan (see Tip One). There is a reason that technology goes “on sale” or is marked “clearance.” Usually, it’s because nobody wants it since the technology is outdated, underpowered or simply targeted to a different consumer (say, home user).

Tip Three: Remember your job! To make technology pay off fast, remember your primary job: to list and sell homes. Keeping your goals and not the technology in mind will have a direct impact on the tools you choose. For example, if your job is to create magazine-quality photo layouts, you would be right to choose a mega-pixel digital camera with sophisticated editing software. On the other hand, if your job is to get a listing and snap off some email-ready photos, a less expensive, simplified camera achieves better results.

Tip Four: Burn your desk! One of the most exciting advances in technology in the past two years has been the rapid expansion of wireless tools. In homes and offices, wireless networking options from companies like Linksys and Netgear have made it possible for agents to sit anywhere and remain connected to the internet. Wireless keyboards and mice from Logitech eliminate the chaos of cords cluttering your cubicle. Wireless projectors from Boxlight make it possible to setup a wide-screen listing presentation in seconds, not minutes. And wireless cellular cards from Sierra and Xircom make it possible to get email and market data from the front seat of the car or the countertop of the deli. In order for technology to streamline daily tasks, it has to be with you no matter where you go. Wireless solutions can cut the “Cordian Knot” that previously kept you fettered to your desk.

Tip Five: Train to Succeed. To achieve impressive results with technology, you must go beyond the basic operations of the device. Training to succeed means pushing yourself beyond the simple uses of any tech tool and mastering the higher functions. To get the maximum results, you have to pursue the maximum training. Imagine your productivity gains if you suddenly found the “fly” button in your car!

Tip Six: Jump on the Cycle. As technology helps your business grow, your needs will expand with it. New tools will be needed to handle new problems and create new growth. Upgrading from older technology to newer versions is part of the upgrading from solving old business problems to tackling new ones.

Tip Seven: Master Email. Many consumers prefer email to postal mail because of its immediacy and multimedia capabilities. Savvy agents must master the art of email. Beyond the basics, focus on mastering attachments, enhancing text, embedding video and affixing digital signatures email. It is not enough to simply click send and receive; mastering email is the key to mastering the art of e-commerce.

Tip Eight: Take a Break. By playing with your computer, you integrate keystrokes, internalize mouse movements and head toward technology transparency. Once a technology becomes invisible, you can maximize its potential. Channel surfing on your TV and using a bank ATM can be done with your eyes closed because you have played enough with these tools that their “commands” have become invisible to you. By playing with your computer, you can move beyond the technology to accomplish the “business at hand.”

Tip Nine: Practice Makes Perfect. No amount of technology purchases, no series of classes alone, no savvy support systems will be able to put it all together for you. In the end, it comes down to practice. If you want to make technology work for you, you’re going to have to pull together the plan, the investment, the training and the support. With help from these ten tips, you’re going to be simply amazed.