Yes, I am sitting here watching the BNP Paribas Open tennis matches held at Indian Wells near Palm Springs, CA right now. Frankly, I had hoped to be there in person but "spring" happened in my real estate business and, as happens, I had to cancel my plans. And, no, I am not complaining, not really. But tennis has always been my favorite sport dating all the way back to my teens. I have even taught my yellow lab to play; I hit the ball with an old wooden Wilson racket and she retrieves it, over and over and over.
Here are some observations about tennis imitating the real estate business:
1. When you start getting angry at yourself, you start losing it even more. Find a way to calm down and find the SOLUTION why you are not making those shots, or not getting the listing, or the leads don't pan out. Banging your racket on the court looks dramatic but no one is impressed!
2. Grunting and groaning while making shots. Does this really help? It must help Sharapova because she grunts at EVERY point, but is that really necessary? In our work, do we talk too much because we are nervous, stressed, need to dominate the conversation? Calm down, keep control, THINK your way through a problem.
3. Getting intimidated when you are getting trounced. No, no, start your brain working because the other guy has weaknesses. In our business, don't let the "big boys" intimidate you because you have "skills" that they don't.
4. Don't play THEIR game, they obviously have been working a long time to perfect it. In real estate, you need to have your own game plan and follow it no matter what the other guy does.
5. Keep up your energy and don't look wounded. If you look lethargic out there, it signals to the other guy to move you around the court. In real estate, others can smell "blood in the water" and use it against you. Yep, it's a very competitive business.
6. Learn how to improve your game all the time. Not one of these tennis players just show up for "work" every day on the court and play a match. Nope, they train and practice each and every day. And so should we in real estate. There is always something new to learn, improve or strive for.
What is your favorite sport and has it taught you anything that relates to real estate?
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