Are you inches from getting what you are capable of?

An article I read earlier in the year was profound and I read it often.  It really impacted me and encouraged me to always strive to do better and make every effort to achieve more in my life. After reading the article I looked back at my life and said "What if I had tried a little harder?  What could I have accomplished?"  It was only a thought and I can't change yesterday and don't dwell on it.  But I certainly have a lot do with what happens right now at this moment.  I can also impact my future and my perception of what I can accomplish and what is possible. 

An excerpt from the article I mentioned

1. At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 degrees it boils. Boiling water produces steam and steam can power engines.

2. During the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, the margin of victory was;

• Men's 200 meter Freestyle (swimming) 1.42 seconds
• Women's 200 meter Freestyle 0.59 seconds
• Men's 800 meter (running) 0.71 seconds
• Women's 800 meter 0.13 seconds

3. The average major league baseball player has a batting average of .250. This is three hits for every twelve times at bat. The average salary is one million. Now contrast that with the super star. The super star hits .333. This is significantly higher than the average. It's 83 points higher. The average super star salary is in the millions and Alex Rodriguez of the N.Y. Yankees made $24 million last year. However, it is only a small difference that is producing the significant result. The super star gets only one more hit every twelve times at bat. One more hit produces the significant result.

4. Look at the seconds that separated 1^st and 2^nd place or how one more hit at bat could mean the difference in between being average and a super star.

My own experience at the 2002 Winter Olympics

I was at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and watched the Freestyle Jumping and was in awe.  My friends and I actually stood 10 feet from where the jumpers were taking off from!  Any of the 2^nd through 5th jumpers could have won it all.  The only thing that separated them was one more flip or landing a slightly better landing.

I like to think that we Realtors are a lot like athletes.  We too are sprinting towards the goal line and striving to be better.  Make a decision to put just a little more effort in everything you do. When someone says it can't be done just smile and say "Thank You".

Sometimes we just need to give ourselves permission

I recently wrote a post about a Realtor in Maryland Howard Brinton interviewed by the name of Elaine Northrop.  My friend Elaine in her interview with Howard recalls attending a seminar where the instructor had all the students write down what their goal was in terms of income for the following year.  Elaine said she wrote down $500,000.  When all the students were done the instructor told all the students to cross out what their goal was and double it.  Elaine's first thought was WHAT!  She quickly changed her thought process and said "If not me why not me?"  The following year she earned just under on million in earned commissions and the following year exceeded one million dollars in earned commissions. Elaine explains that when she gave herself permission to go beyond her self imposed limitations her world exploded in many ways.

This can apply our personal lives as well

A few years ago I was tired of being owned by my cell phone 24/7 and made a decision to stop answering it in the evenings and late Saturdays and all Sundays.  One day my daughter said "Dad your cell phones ringing" and I responded by saying "Let it go to voicemail".  My daughters jaw dropped.  You see I was always owned by my clients and had no life.  I knew my income would drop and that was O.K. with me.   Not only was I happier and with my decision to be a better Father but my income continued to grow  beyond what I thought possible.  To me I compared this to a sprinter that tried just a little harder to cross the finish line.  I am glad I tried a little harder to be a better Father.

Make the decision to put the effort in

Whether you want more income, to be the top producer in your office, be a top listing, agent, top sales agent, or a better Father or Mother.  Make the decision to try just a little harder and make the sacrifices that need to be made.  If you don't make it you will be proud of yourself for trying.  If you do make it, pat yourself on the back.