Pressing Forward to the Goal and Not Looking Back
In reflecting about my real estate journey I so easily identify with the athletes in the Olympic Games. Winners have people rooting for them, cheering them on and offering encouraging words in times of trials. Winners practice and train and visualize their goals. Winners go through pain and anguish but don't stay down long. They press forward and know they can do it.
Have your cheering section: My husband is my biggest cheerleader and supporter. He has always seen the potential in me and expected the best. In those moments of devastation and discouragement, he helps clear the clouds and gets me refocused on the goal to move forward. He doesn't allow long pity parties as they have no purpose. He is my rock.
You will make mistakes: Many times I have messed up and some of them have been doozies. That is part of life and knowing that I am not perfect. I adopted a mantra many years ago ... there is no mistake so big that there isn't a possible correction. This started me on the path to resolve problems and find a way to make things work.
Look for solutions: Educate yourself. Know your product and your business. Equip yourself with resources so when you mess up you can reach into your reservoir of solutions and find a good fit. Though they may not be prefect solutions the process of resolution and moving forward is the goal. Remaining stagnant is not a quality Olympians have. When they fall down, they immediately get back up. They focus on the goal, start moving again and put the fall behind them. My goals are clearly visible in front of me.
Don't settle for second place, show your passion: I have never liked coming in second. In getting listings, in losing the bid on a house, in being the top agent in the office...I crave first place. This makes me give my all and shows others that I want it, too. Sometimes that alone clears the path for future successes. In a listing competition it can be the difference between winning the listing and losing the listing. Sellers want a highly motivated and passionate agent on their side.
Setting your sights beyond your comfort zone: Many years ago, I had a terrible fear of getting up in front of people. My voice would shake, my lips would quiver and I shook all over. This just wouldn't do in a real estate career as I had to present myself as the expert in front of buyers and sellers on a daily basis. I had to learn to talk with people, be confident and show them I was in control. I had bigs plans to manage an office, teach real estate and become a leader in my Realtor Board.
Equip yourself with the knowledge then use it: The problem required getting the knowledge I needed to do these tasks. I studied, took train the trainer classes to get the knowledge to be able to move forward. I learn real estate backwards and forwards. Next I had to tackle my greatest fear of public speaking. Rigorous training was needed which included standing in front of a mirror, talking and practicing in private places and doing presentations in front of my husband.
Do something very uncomfortable and unnatural: I knew the only way to get control of this fear was to do it over and over again. I volunteered with my local Chamber of Commerce to go out into the community as an ambassador to promote a memory seminar. This required getting in front of community groups, huge companies, top executives to present the techniques of training your memory. At first I thought I would die. I was terrible at it but each time I presented, it got a little easier. I spoke to hundreds of people over a few weeks time and it made a difference in me. I grew and got stronger.
Continue the training, don't let up: I continued to volunteer to be in places of leadership where I had to speak. Yes my lip still quivered at times and the butterflies still resided in my stomach. I pressed on into becoming a trainer and managing real estate offices. An additional part of my training was learning to be comfortable on camera. I did a TV show for my company for 9 years and it was great training to be myself, poised and to not use those bridge words like ah, you know, and uh, etc.
Even the best in their fields still get jitters: I practice and now made getting up in front of a buyer or seller a piece of cake. I still get occasional nervousness but extra preparation help me overcome that. Now when I speak to my Realtor Board it is easier and not intimidating as they are my friends and i look at them that way. I still get a butterfly passing through but it passes quickly.
Olympians don't settle: All and all, to be an Olympian you just can't settle for mediocrity. Nobody wants a mediocre real estate agent. Get the education you need, train, work long and hard at it, exercise your talents and discover new talents buried deep within yourself. Move out of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself.
Life is about learning. When you fall, get back up and continue toward the goal, looking for new opportunities that are waiting to be discovered. That is the Olympian Spirit.
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