I cancelled a listing the other day. I know that I did absolutely everything I could do to get the home sold. The property was priced well, beautifully prepared and marketed aggressively. As agents, we have to acknowledge that we can only do so much. Although an even lower price may have eventually gotten the home sold, that was simply not a viable option for the seller. 

That being said, there is a tendency when things don't go your way to feel like you failed in some way. The reality is that sometimes you can do your best and it still won't be enough...but it is good enough. 

Similarly, we all know agents who are leaving this business in pursuit of a more stable working environment. Most of us in real estate left our previous careers to become real estate agents, and didn't consider ourselves to be failures for doing so; why would you consider yourself a failure now? A career in real estate may not be the end game at all, but instead a stepping stone to an even more rewarding and lucrative venture. It's all in how you look at it and at life in general.

I've tried to instill this message in my kids. I've told them that sometimes the other guy gets the girl. You can exercise faithfully and eat healthy for weeks and not lose a pound. Teachers play favorites. The other team wins. Sometimes in life you feel like a pawn pushed around on a chessboard. But failure is an event, not a person. 

Regardless of the outcome, if you've done your best, learned, grown, motivated others, been true to yourself, contributed value...you have succeeded.