What is failure to you?
To me, it was not getting a single listing in the first 11 months of my real estate career – no matter how hard I tried! It was difficult enough entering the industry, and the sense of failure I felt came from not seeing results. I began to second guess myself; it felt like I simply didn’t fit the part.
As much I tried to not let this define me, it was a big slap in the face at the time. The idea of putting in more effort and reaping no results was truly crippling. I was even considering resigning up to three times each week!
But the flame of passion that I had never burnt out; after much deliberation, I picked myself up and decided to assess where I had been going wrong. I was going to exhaust all my options – because even if I hadn’t reached my desired result, I could still say I had given it my all.
Looking back, it seems like it’s been an eternity since that period of time in my life. Yet had I never gotten through that experience, I would never been able to realise how strong of a person I was. With any new challenge in life, it’s our fear of failure that holds us back – and being determined, I wasn’t about to let it happen again.
It became clear to me that there are factors beyond our control that can take a hit on our self-esteem and interfere with our current path. However, what you can control is your mindset and how you choose to move forward. As a matter of fact, giving up is the easy option.
So to all the agents out there, never lose sight of how far you’ve come. We have all been there at some point! Empower yourself and use your energy in your favour.
Another important tip: for those who don’t set any key performance indicators (KPIs), I implore you to do so. Goal setting is one of the most essential ways to grow and improve as an agent. After all, how do you know if you are working towards your goals if you’re not measuring your performance? All the falls and stumbling along the way are just a part of the process. Give yourself the room to and learn from your mistakes; you will come to thank yourself for it.
When things finally start looking up, have no shame in celebrating the smallest of wins! Then vest your confidence in knowing that you are fully capable of moving onto bigger and better things.
As they say, the sky is the limit – and don’t forget, success already lies within your journey.