From the moment I started my real estate career I wanted to learn as much as I could as fast as I could. Like most, I didn’t like being the inexperienced newbie (especially at middle-age). Some things, of course, one doesn’t learn until experience comes with each unique transaction. Of course I had my education, which was a good starting foundation, but on-the-ground experience teaches as much, if not far more, than the textbooks. In the meantime, though, I would absorb any and all information like a sponge. This meant learning from the more experienced, watching coaching videos, reading books, attending training seminars, webinars, speaker conferences, and so on.
This type of hunger and/or discipline – depending on how you want to look at it - doesn’t necessary apply to all jobs. People in commissioned sales positions, those seeking to climb the corporate ladder, or the self-employed trying to grow a small business, are usually the ones that feel that pressure.
However, I soon found that there can be too much (information, advice) and too many (conflicting opinions, coaching programs). Information overload tends to muddy the waters and result in overwhelm and then stagnation. So, as I started to find my footing and get a feel for how I wanted to operate as a real estate agent I took a step back and became more selective about what and how much I absorbed. I took in what felt relevant and helpful to me and tuned out all of the other ‘noise’. After all, we are a variety of different types of people working with a variety of different types of clients. There can’t possibly be a one-size-fits-all real estate agent!
I found that was a common contradiction in the world of real estate advice: be yourself, be authentic, find your niche, establish your own brand, ….but also, listen to what the veterans and coaches say, imitate what they do, follow their programs, their time-blocking schedules, sales methods and conversation scripts to a ‘T’ and you will be successful. Wait, what if their methods don’t feel authentic for me? What if I want to be successful by being who I already am? See what I mean? It doesn’t make sense. So, as I mentioned, I started to tune out what didn’t resonate with me and focus in on what did. Much of what did was what came from within. Only I know what I’m good at, what doesn’t come naturally to me, and what I need to do to succeed while being who I authentically am. That’s when I realized that I didn’t want to try and fit into someone else’s mold anymore – especially while paying them as I try to do so. So, I started my own brokerage. I didn’t even want to become a franchisee under an existing banner. I started a completely independent brand. I make 100% of the decisions on how I run the company, its image and branding, how I operate as a real estate agent, and what type of people I sign on as agents. And I reap 100% of the rewards for my efforts. My efforts are great too. I am passionate about and committed to this career. It is definitely hard work, but I thoroughly enjoy it.
Starting a brokerage isn’t for everyone of course. I questioned for a good while why I felt I ‘had the right’ or ‘deserved’ to start one. I hadn’t been in the industry for a long time by any means. In the end I did it because I wanted to. I knew I was capable. It felt right for me at a time when I had hit a bit of a plateau throughout the pandemic. But I knew I didn’t just dip my toe in with this career. I never took it lightly and I wanted to go all-in. It didn’t matter what others might think. My work as a real estate agent wouldn’t change (much). All it meant is that I had to manage the back-end of the company. I’d had my own company before. I know bookkeeping and taxation. I’m very office-oriented and organized. I’m excellent with paperwork. I’m intelligent and I’m passionate. And although it was a lot of work, it was fun and gave me a great sense of pride and accomplishment! It was the most creative I’ve ever gotten to be – deciding on branding, logos, signage, the website, and so on. It was all my own and it was pure freedom. The risk is mine alone so I know I will work hard to avoid failure, but the rewards are also mine and I will work hard to achieve them. And I know I will. Being successful may not mean advertising on billboards about churning out the highest number of deals, having the highest sales volume or being the biggest brokerage with the most agents, but it will be success to me nonetheless. It means serving a small but cherished clientele who value the time, attention and energy we spend on providing personal and professional service with the utmost integrity.
Sometimes it’s best not to weigh your options just based on sensibility, but also on feeling and passion. There are very few hard-and-fast rules when it comes to life so we need to do what feels right – what seems to keep pulling at us – even if it feels daunting. As long as you know your craft, you take pride in your work, you do your due diligence in obtaining knowledge, minimizing errors, and following laws, and you work ethically, you should be just fine!
Post a comment