It’s the last lap in the Mile Run and you’re feeling fatigued. It’s been a long 3 laps around the track with one to go. On the other hand, it feels like time has flown by. Unfortunately – a few other racers have zipped past you and you’re struggling to keep up in the pack. Can you do it? Can you pass them and cross that finish line before everyone else? If you don’t, have you failed?
Is your first response yes? Yes, if you didn’t cross that finish line in first place you have failed? Well, I’d say it is about perspective. Of course, if you’re a competitive athlete, primed and in top condition you may see anything but number one as a failure. But what if you’re not that primed competitive athlete? What if you’d been knocked down in a previous race and had broken your ankle and this was your first race back? What if you had never competed before? What if you had a physical disability that wasn’t going away? Imagine even if you were competing against these seasoned athletes and you had only one leg? Would your perception change as a viewer? Would someone with one leg, someone who was running injured, despite the injury still appear a “loser” to you? Or would you consider them valiant and associate words like perseverance & strength to them?
We may not be out running an actual 4 laps around the track against others. But sometimes our lives or jobs or even both can seem like a competitive race. Working in a field measured by sales figures for me, makes things at minimum, semi-competitive. Having been the number one agent four of the last five years makes me feel like that should continue. Certainly every transaction for me brings excitement – the joy of finding the perfect match, the creating of professional videos to market and making that call to sellers that “We have an offer” and to buyers, “It’s Accepted” are highlights and the most important part of my job. Those are what I work for, not the numbers. On the other hand, if I’m not “#1” am I a failure? I hope not but it is sure easy to be hard on ourselves.
Again, I say it is all about perspective. I have to look at the major changes that have occurred in my life this year. I need to look at all the people and families that I have impacted for the positive. I need to focus on all of my successes. I hope you can do the same. What race are you in? What goals did you set that you either blew by or blew off? Maybe you’re just lagging behind a bit and lack some inspiration to finish strong. Whatever it is you’re hoping to accomplish – recommit, reconfigure, restart, regroup and get going! A full court press in the 4th quarter is an excellent jump start for a successful 1st quarter. Get Going!
Your Real Estate Matchmaker 