what moves you
I have been officially a Real Estate Agent for 3 months now. I could say I have accomplished nothing. On my own, I do not have a single confirmed client or listing, nor do I have any closings under my belt. While some may find that seeming lack of progress disheartening, discouraging or reason to give up, I choose not to see it that way. I have continued to learn, to absorb, to let my mind run completely amok with ideas of how to find clients. Some ideas have been put into action, some are still percolating, and some have been discarded as ineffective, too expensive, or simply just bad ideas. I am still gaining experience with every lead I speak to, every document I review and every meeting I participate in or Open House I attend.
I do have to remind myself how long I felt like an imposter when I began my career in events. How with each new position or advancement that little thought in the back of my mind was “I don’t know what I am doing!” I learned, I did the little tasks, I observed, I eventually became a leader in my field, and I will do the same in this position. I am finding it easy to stay motivated this time because I find this industry so interesting!
I also have a part time job. I got it about halfway through my furlough when I had enough of sitting at home and thought I just needed something to DO. Get out of the house, talk to other HUMANS in real life. It was serendipitous that at that exact same time of restlessness, I noticed an opening for a Zipline Guide at Adventure Works in Whites Creek at Fontanel. I thought, “I could do that!”. I did something similar in college when I worked at YMCA Camp Kern as the Adventure Specialist (a job title I am still proud of). On almost a whim, I applied and am so happy that I did. This job is FUN. I literally get paid to have play in the woods twice a week.
So, what MOVES me in my career?
Fear? Not fear of failure, but fear that I did not try hard enough, that I didn’t do enough. That I did not take every chance or seize every opportunity. I could accept failure, as long as I know that I at least tried.
Money? Maybe a little? But I don’t honestly think so. Sure, I would like to earn and contribute to my household. I would love to be able to surprise my husband or loved ones with an incredible unexpected expensive gift – but I know that they love me anyway and I can show them how much I love them in other ways. I am always delighted when a guest gives us a nice tip, but I don’t ‘try harder’ as a guide to be fun and engaging because I think that will earn me tips. I try to be a fun guide to make the guests have a great experience. I just want them to have fun! If they decide to tip, great – not everyone does and that is totally fine too. I will still tell my jokes, talk them off the ledges and try to get to know them throughout their tour. Just like I do not find myself seeking out the expensive homes to market myself as an agent to that homeowner. While I do love houses of all shapes and sizes and do not deny some are more beautiful than others – I think it is more important for me to serve my client by being that support, that resource and that lifeline to a potentially stressful and life-changing experience of buying or selling a home. I am motivated by that feeling I will get when the transaction closes knowing that I helped, that I advocated for my client, guided them, helped them to avoid problems and made sure that whether they were buying or selling that they got the best outcome possible.
So, there it is again – that a soft warm glow of triumph from completing a goal. The satisfaction of accomplishment. The FEELING is what moves me.
That is what MOVES me to do a good job; but what moves me FORWARD? …To be continued