I'm not talking about the "put up your dukes" type of toughness. I'm talking about mental toughness.

"Mental toughness is to see the long term gains rather than be put off by short term pains. Once you have this toughness, you have the winning edge."

To be mentally tough you must have these attributes:

• You cope with the ups and downs better than your "opponents"
• You're more consistent, focused, and resilient
• You have an unshakable belief in what you are doing
• You have an insatiable desire and motivation to succeed
• You bounce back from setbacks with renewed determination
• If plan A doesn't work, you move on to plan B or plan C
• You look at failure as a stepping stone for future achievement

I don't know about you, but I'm mentally tough. I've worked way too hard building my real estate business to end up in a job that requires a paper hat. I'll be around for the long haul.

Of course, this idea doesn't just apply to real estate professionals. It applies to everyone: athletes, students, the stay-at-home mom, the laid off engineer. We all have challenges to overcome. When you read the list of attributes above, do you see yourself? Or do you see your competitor? How tough are you? Anyone want to weigh in?