The way I approach success (or journey to success) is multi-fold, whether it pertains to RE, corporate world, home life, etc.
- Educate myself, make sure I know enough (will never know all) to be articulate and know what I am getting myself into.
- Recognize there is always some measure of risk and be ok with that (by making sure you are not risking EVERYTHING and then have a just-in-case plan)
- Know my own strengths and weaknesses
- Overcome weaknesses by putting myself in uncomfortable situations that force me to perform or sink. I might sink or bob up and down the first time, but I make sure I damn well swim the 2nd and 3rd times, etc.
Example - I don't like talking to people and don't like to negotiate (never have, never will), but I talk to brokers, sellers, contractors all the time and I negotiate. If you don't ask, you don't get. Even at work, I am now comfortable making presentations to the CEO and 25 other execs all together about the state of the business and forecast for the following year, what's good, what's not good, what we're doing about it. Did I at first hate doing it and get anxiety - yep. But I always make sure I am prepared with the correct data and strategies, then it's a matter of telling a story and reading the audience. I still don't like to do it, but I now know what would make those presentations a success by just doing it so many times. I ensure my prep is spot on.
Also, I used to sell vintage home decor and furniture (loved it!). I went to estate sales every single weekend and negotiated my butt off. Didn't like it, but the more I did it, the more comfortable I got and armed with product knowledge, I usually got what I wanted at the prices at I wanted. I pretended (in my own mind) to be an American Picker, until I actually felt like, thought like and acted like one.
- Be a problem solver, be the fixer. Recognize a problem, if there is one. Don't dwell on it. Plan the fix and move forward. Lay out the issue, lay out the solve and delegate the action items to your team- whether it's your RE team or corporate world team or family.
- Even though I feel like yelling and punching some folks at times, I know sweet is better than sour.
- Bottom line - as I approach 40, I deal with life and obstacles as if I have no time for BS (I don't). Basically, I'm a grown-a$$ woman and I will take care of business. Sometimes it's all fun and games, but the real growth comes when you keep at it even though it's uncomfortable and so not fun. It's just like endurance running and other sports - there is no growth in the comfort zone, push past it and that's where the real magic happens. Runners approaching the 20th mile in the summer heat will know exactly what I'm talking about.
