If limited to only one.....which is woefully inadequate.....it would be

DON"T BELIEVE ANYONE.  Look at the RESULTS.

As a newbie you are merely part of a highly developed food chain and YOU are on the menu.

Don't ever buy leads, learn how to market and generate leads yourself. Always from the start own your own websites don't use your brokers or buy one.

Prospect, Prospect & Prospect dailey!  This will make you money.  Find good scripts to use to get you to the next level.  I prospect 3 to 5 hours dailey.

Don't settle for the basics, go beyond what is required.

Learn to be a great salesperson, learn to be a great negotiator, don't settle for being a clerk who opens doors and fills out forms.

NEVER stop networking and introducing yourself to others. Don't be a secret agent!Be honest and professional.Learn something new EVERYDAY!
I know there's more than one, but these things are of great importance to be successful.

One piece of advice would be to get up everyday and network & market yourself. Make phone calls, schedule meetings with friends, clients and affiliates you may work with. The more consistant you are with getting "face-time or phone time" with potential clients the more clients you will get. The real estate market has its up's and down's. Your networking & marketing shouldn't.

Do open houses for everyone in your office every day of the week.

Consider a 9-5 job.

Dedicate your first year in real estate to obtaining excellent traiing and mentorship.

Understand what you will have to do to get business once you are licensed

Be sure to get with a company that has a good training program.

Have enough money saved to work full time for at least 6 months, a year is probably more realistic.

make sure you have at least one year worth of fees tucked away.

Find an office where your manager can be your mentor and the manager loves being a mentor!

Get a mentor, make a business plan with clearly identified goals and a realistic budget and marketing strategy.  Most new agents grossly underestimate the cost of doing business!

Partner up with a mentor; there's much to learn and share; be patient.

You have to put in the time, long hours, long days, be available and work hard and you will start to see results. It is not a 40 hour a week job.

Have patience! Do the right thing and business will come to you - is what I'll tell them Heather Seiuli .

And one more thing - Join ActiveRain...

Be well prepared for the challenges and select the best office for a successful career.