I show up to work terrified, everyday.

Jon, your a success because you challenge yourself.  To become comfortable and not keep striving for better is for most people that start of failure.  Your a prime example of what a lot of us hope to become one day.

John, I know just how you feel.  I get the same way everytime I meet a client.  But like you said, if I don't meet them, I don't eat.  So running away is NOT an option.

Hey Great Story Jonathan...Nothing wrong with being scared, I might think some was wrong if you were not,or me many times. We all get sacred at times, it's healthy, and shows you care and you're human.

Cheers, thanks for sharing!

Profoundly inspiring J-Wash !

Not that you need it, but you are part of the reason that over 130,000 members here have a little smile every time they sign onto this website.

... thems some pretty big numbers partner !!!!

Fabulous job you have done, and great story.

Cheers mate !

Sheldon

Jonathan-  This is incredible... blasting through the fear everyday.  I love it!

I may be going against the grain here, but being terrified every day doesn't sound very healthy.  Should we all be worried about your blood pressure?

That terror is one of the most healthy feelings you can have as a leader, Jon.  Not only does it drive you to overcome it, it drives you to get to that point where you're no longer afraid.  I think all of us are, at times, afraid to come into work everyday for fear of what news may come or what might explode, but still...we come to work.  I think you've hired a staff that feels that pull, that lullaby of fear that pushes us all to get the job done.  Without that fear, your cockiness would run away with you and you would be so lost in the future in your head that you would forget the present.  As my grandmother used to say, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Red."

It isn't always about your comfort level, is it?  It is more about stepping outside your boundaries and trying something new and different.  Congratulations to you for persevering through not knowing what's coming!  You've done some incredible things as a result.

~Renae

Jonathan- Fear is the misuse of the imagination. Or at least that is what I tell myself over and over again when I take risks. You have to take risks in order to be successful, it is working through that fear that we grow into better leaders. Congrats on moving forward! Katerina

This is very motivating (which was probably the point, huh?).  You need to push yourself because you just don't know what's right around the bend!

Kathy

I guess this falls under "the greater the risk, the greater the reward" category.You may be terrified but there must be some inner drive that keeps you going.  There are lots of people who would rather just go in 9 to 5 and pick up a check wvery two weeks.

Maybe, at some point, you could share the "why" of what you do.  What is it that drives you to "...do at least one thing that is well beyond my knowledge level, skill level, talent level, or experience level; often times it is beyond my level on all four fronts."

Just curious.

Jonathan,

And how cool is that? It makes life intersting.  I felt that way when I was raising kids and I feel that way now. Something new crops up everyday.  I may not know the answer, but I'm really good at finding someone who does. Ain't life grand!

I have only two words.  Loved that.

Yes but those with energy, passion and vision - always succeed  AND have fun along the way !

That is a great blog post and it is so typical of what so many of us go through but will never admit to.  Love your posts and read them all.

Every reward worth having in life involves some element of risk.  Successful entrepreneurs weigh the risk vs reward and act accordingly.

I'd say your risk has paid off quite well so far wouldn't you?

Jonathan - love your persistence despite the fears!  Very good writing style, too!  I loved your post.  Have you thought about getting a job at ActiveRain?  ;-)

Great post, very inspirational. As a newer agent, I know the terrified feeling a little too well- looking forward to gaining more confidence in the future.  Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for putting yourself out there and admitting that you're terrified every day but at the same time, looking forward to the challenge and would have it no other way. I worked for someone else for most of my 25 year career and was in a way forced to do something else. For the last three years that I've been in real estate, I would say that I wake up scared almost every morning. But like you said, you can't call in sick and have to get up and face every day and take what comes your way. After 38 months in the business, i would not say I'm a roaring success, but I am more successful than I was my first two years and all my transactions to date in 2010 are referrals. And this is in a very unconventional market so I am starting to see how this business can build on itself if you hang in there, do a good job for people and don't give up. In fact, a lot of my friends still working at the large corporation that eliminated my position are starting to see me as a credible, experienced Realtor who is in it for the long haul and complimenting me for my persistence and tenacity. As I said, I am by no means a roaring success yet and still wake up scared every day, but it is getting better and I am starting to believe "you reap what you sow."

Fear is one heck of a motivator for me:)  I star in the RealEstateEffie reality show every day, before I meet new customers for a showing I get that little tickle of fear in my stomake every time.