Failure Doesn’t Mean You Are A Failure by Leander McClain, Realtor
See that smiling guy in the picture to your left…..that’s me. Posing in front of one of my first listings. I was a new real estate agent, I was younger ,had more hair (well maybe not ) and didn’t have a clue of what I was doing. However, I decided that I was going to be successful and that was that. If I had to fake it until I made it….then so be it. I once was an adjuct professor at a junior college. My mentor told me not to worry about knowing every lesson ahead of time. He said “as long as you are 1-2 weeks ahead of the students, you will do just fine”. I applied the same logic to my real estate career. I never stopped observing others and studying my craft. I was going to be successful no matter what.
Now let me tell you the rest of the story. My first listing never went to closing. Oh I found a buyer and the buyer and seller agreed on a price. The problem……the township required repairs to the property that neither the seller nor buyer could afford to complete. The deal fell through and the home eventually went into foreclosure. #Fail.
Let me tell you about my second listing. I acquired this listing right after the housing market started tumbling fast. I could not get the sellers to reduce the price fast enough to stay ahead of the falling market. By the time the sellers had reduced the price $45,000, they were frustrated. The listing expired and they relisted with someone else. The home eventually went under contract at the price I previously suggested (the real end of the story is that the deal was finally settled for $20,000 less than the initial contract price). #Fail.
Finally, I will tell you about one of my first clients. I listened to her needs, we drove around and looked at countless homes. I explained to her that the home she wanted in the price range she wanted was available 30 minutes from her current home. She refused to consider it. She did not want to commute 30 minutes to work. I worked tirelessly with her until it was obvious that I was not going to sell her a home. Now the rest of the story……..I contacted her a couple months later and she says….”Her: Oh I just purchased a home. Me: Congratulations, where. Her: In the town you suggested to me 30 minutes away. #Fail.
At one point early in my career, I was handed my license and told that I didn’t work there any more. Basically it was equivalent to the “Kid…..you will never make it in real estate” speech . #Fail. With all of these failures, you would think that I would just give up.
Not so!
I have the faith and courage not to give up even when it seems that things are falling apart. If you have a dream, you have to be careful to avoid the “dream killers”. There are many people who don’t want to see you succeed. There are others who are failing at their efforts. Misery loves company. Faith gives you the ability not to stress even when you don’t have all of the answers. If I had listened to my detractors, I would not be the successful real estate agent you see before you today.
So keep pushing, keep learning and DON’T GIVE UP
Think ~ Then Act
Have A Great Day
Make This Your Best Year Ever
Your Friend In The Real Estate Business
Leander McClain, Camden & Burlington Township Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Atlantic & Pacific Real Estate, 103 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540 856-438-0399 (direct)
lee@njsouthrealestate.com, @leemack912, www.facebook.com/Leander.NJRealtor
Search NJ & PA Home Listings @ www.NJSouthRealEstate.com
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