Whose Yardstick Measures YOUR Success?

WHOSE YARDSTICK MEASURES YOUR SUCCESS?

Does your company give awards for a job well done?  Do you crave the accolades that the company offers sometime in March for achieving a certain level of production? Most of us, whether we admit it or not, derive a certain sense of pleasure when we get our "cookies".  And if you don't, that's all well and good, but honestly, I appreciate a tangible recognition of a job well done.  We are mostly competitive by nature, and it never hurts to see how we stack up against everyone else.

This got me thinking.  This past year, I sold half the amount of homes in 2006 than I did the years prior.  Bottom line?  No kudos, no piece of paper to frame for the wall, no little statue, or pin, and worst, half the amount of income I expected.  A bit of a blow to the ego to be sure, but it makes me rethink what makes one successful. 

At first, I thought: well, folks, the fat lady's singing now.  Truly pessimistic of me, I'm sure you will agree.  It was a rough year for many - not all, but many - real estate agents.  I, unlike many agents, can ride through the downtimes as I have a spouse earning a regular income with good benefits.  Without that, I, like many this past year, might have had to go punch a clock somewhere. (I did take about 2 months off - that didn't help!)

Even in this market, there are new agents.  They will look at the achievers in their offices and their communities, and feel daunted by the level of success those super-agents have attained. 

But here's the scoop folks: if you had only ONE DEAL, ONE transaction, and you did it well, maintaining highly ethical standards and behavior, you have attained a level of success that makes you a winner. Building your reputation, one client at a time, is how you will gain success.  Those clients will return in the coming years, and those clients will send others your way in the meantime.

Good luck to everyone this year, no matter what field you are in, and however you measure your own success, may that success come your way.