Lessons on the ICE

Last weekend, I took my kids to a birthday party at the ice skating rink.  Keep in mind, that they are five, four, and two.  It started out great.  Got their skates laced and was ready to put them on the ice.

THEN IT HIT ME. They had never skated!  Mommy was going to need to help.

THEN IT HIT ME.  I had never skated either!  Mommy was going to need a little help.

I wasn't about to let that queasy feeling in my stomach make my kids sit out the party.

FASTFORWARD to the end of the party, I was watching Caroline and Rachel walking around in their "walkers."  Howard was between my legs and I was struggling to keep up with him.

I could not help but think real estate while on the ice.  Could have possibly been DTS.  Phone was with husband.  Can't afford my fifth blackberry of the year!

My lessons from the ICE:

DON'T BE AFRAID!  Life is about taking risks.  Just calculate them a little.  You might just add something to your reprtu along the way.  Thomas Edison failed 5,000 times before he created the light bulb.  A young reporter interviewed Edison and asked him, "Mr. Edison, how can you continue to try to invent the light bulb when you have failed over 5,000 times."  To which Thomas Edison replied,  "Young man, I have not failed 5,000 times.  I have successfully discovered 5,000 ways that do not work and I do not need to try them again." Now I was not Michelle Kwan by the end of the party but I felt like I had succeeded. 

FAILURE DOESN'T HURT!  This might be the fact that I have a little more padding then I would care to admit.  At the same token, no one laughed at me for the baby steps I took to figure out what I was doing.  Sometimes just getting yourself on the ice is half the battle.  Remember one NO is just closer to your YES.

FOLLOW BY EXAMPLE!  I spent a few minutes watching peoples skating technique before I ventured out on the ice.   We need to learn that it is okay to not reinvent the wheel.  Active Rain is an awesome tool.  There are some many agents here willing to share their knowledge.  Look at their websites.  Listen to what they have to say. Don't copy them but learn from them.

FAKE IT!  The minute I hit laced up my five year old asked had I skated before.  Without a minutes hesitation I said yes.  That is because I had....roller skated.  Now I am not telling you to lie!  Have confidence to try something new.  If you have never done something, find someone who knows how to do it! 

LEARN FROM MISTAKES!  Even though I tried hard not to fall, I fell skating.  In my office, we have this quote on the wall "If you cannot be a good example, you will just have to be a horrible warning!"   It reminds me that I have survived mistakes.  Let them be an example.  I swear to you I learn everything the hard way.  You just have to get up and shake it off!

DRESS FOR SUCCESS!  Please do not ask for pictures.  Here I stood in capris and a t-shirt on the cold ice.  I felt like I had gone to a pool party in my prom dress. Real estate has become a casual profession.  Get up everyday with the expectation that you are going to meet a client.  The minute you go to the grocery store in sweats is when a client is DYING to see the house that just got a sign in the yard!

GRAB THE BULL BY THE HORNS!  We are in control of our own destiny.  Wake up everyday and tell yourself that you will succeed.  Surround yourself with positive people.  Do not let this down market suck you in.  Reevaluate your business if need be.  I would rather fail and say that I hade tried everything than to sit back and give up.

ENJOY!  Life is way to short.  Seize every moment.