I remember the scene vividly.
I was traveling down the highway with my girlfriend during winter in upstate New York when she started to discuss her job.
She was considering a career shift because she didn’t think she was making enough money for the time she spent there and what she was contributing.
I asked her what she was making at the time and what she thought she should be making. She replied that she was making about $70,000 but thought she should be making closer to $85,000 per year.
I remember the feeling in my gut when she told me that. It wasn’t a feeling of consternation, anxiety, or jealousy. It was an extreme feeling of frustration and deep discouragement that swept over me.
I was twelve months into my path of selling real estate, but I hadn’t made one penny of income. I didn’t have one sale and invested over $40,000 from a loan on advertising, marketing and start-up costs to get going in this business.
She asked why I was so quiet all of a sudden. I responded that I agree she should ask for a raise or consider a career path change because I agreed that her time and contributions were not being reflected in her salary.
But I couldn’t get past the deep-seated emotions of self-doubt and discouragement I had felt.
Why weren’t things working out for me? Why wasn’t I able to make even one sale?
I was told by veterans in the industry that it usually takes three to six months to get a sale and start up. Then it usually takes six to twelve months, or often longer, to start to really build a reliable real estate practice.
But I was already in month twelve! I had been so patient and diligent. I had worked so hard! Why had I not seen any return from the fruits of my labor?
I felt so discouraged and defeated in that car ride, and that feeling persisted for the next few days.
I remember thinking back to other times in my life when I had feelings of discouragement and defeat, where I started to lose hope in the possibility and prospect that I would be successful and be able to create a new life on a new path after what had happened.
Then, I began to think of the mindset-shifting system that I had created at the other three major turning points in my life, where I had managed to generate the courage to move forward, despite extreme adversity and negative circumstances.
I found the will to work harder than anybody else and continue to put one foot in front of the other.
It would all work out soon if I could just get over that little hump.
Less than a month later, my very first property sold!
After that, another one sold, and another one. All of a sudden, the sum of my hard work and determination started to pay off.
I went from not making any money at all, and actually losing $40,000 my first year in the business, to becoming one of the top producers at my company in all of Upstate New York.
I then decided to form my own team to handle the exponential growth we were experiencing from the first two years as an individual agent.
By working hard, being patient, being resourceful and looking for other opportunities, I’ve been able to branch off, start and grow several seven-figure, real-estate-related businesses in hospitality development, commercial and residential property investment and more.
Why do I say all of this, and why does it matter to you?
I was inches from throwing in the towel out of discouragement, self-doubt and a lack of confident. Thinking that maybe this wasn’t the right career path. Maybe I should try something else.
I thought about walking away because I hadn’t made any money for a year. I thought about giving it all up to pursue a traditional job and career path where I knew I would not be happy.
But I didn’t.
I kept going, pushing through and finding a way to manufacture the courage.
You see, most people give up when they’re inches away from success. Most people walk away in the face of adversity and obstacles.
We’re all naturally programmed to take the path of least resistance, much like water always runs downhill. However, that doesn’t get us to a point of greatness and self-maximization.
Never lose faith in our ability to overcome challenges and setbacks, to rise above through the circumstances and the noise and to realize our vision and the success, purpose and impact that we were meant to have in this life.
Each and every one of us is destined for greatness. Each and every one of us is destined to have a massive impact in this world.
Every one of us deserves and should have all of the abundance, prosperity, respect and the fruits of our labors.
So get out there today and never give up on your dreams.
Never let setbacks or challenges frustrate you and your will to succeed. Never waver from the path you know you’re meant to be on.
Always stay true to yourself, your vision and your values.
Let’s GO!
Power Quote
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” —Thomas Edison
Key Insight
Never lose faith in your ability to overcome challenges, to rise above the chaos and to realize your purpose and impact you were meant to have in this life.
Tactical Tip
Think about your goals in life. Do you have them written down? If not, write down your goals where you can see them every day. This will serve as a daily reminder to push through struggles because you deserve to reach your goals.
Day Check
What struggles did you push past today? What was your motivation to push past resistance?