A Nod to Og Mandino
By America’s Six Figure Real Estate Coach Roberta Ross
Have you ever read Og Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman in the World? It’s a powerful little book that has help transform the lives and careers of countless people around the world. There is a set of lines in one of the scrolls that says, “I will persist until I succeed. I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins.” It is an empowering affirmation.
There are a lot of ups and downs in our business. We get “no’s”, hit roadblocks, face fears – sometimes all the above in the same day. But all of those things can be learning opportunities more than obstacles. Springboards more than setbacks. What makes the difference for the top tier agents who seem to take it in stride? They keep a solid mindset for success. They persist until they succeed. They don’t let the negative little things affect the bigger goals they have in front of them. That’s good practice for them, and for all agents.
If it’s an attribute you’d like to be better at – then take a look at these five ways to develop more persistence in your life:
1. Study those who’ve mastered it. There are a lot of ‘underdogs’ in the world. Folks people said would never make it because of the challenges in their path. Study those people who didn’t heed what others said was possible and instead persevered despite every odd. What are the common denominators? What did they do differently? How did they think differently? Make note of those things and adopt them into your life as well.
2. Keep your WHY in mind. In a previous post we talked about having a big WHY. Your why is the reason you get up and get going every day. It’s the center of your purpose. What are you working towards? What can you build for yourself and your family if you keep to the goals you’ve set? When the going gets tough, as it often does, remembering what you are working for is a great motivator to stay the course.
3. Keep your expectations low and energy high. Here’s the thing – when we get too caught up in high expectations, that build-up can rarely live up to what we’ve made things up in our heads to be. Instead, keep your expectations low, your energy high and you’ll be more likely to be pleasantly surprised rather than sorely disappointed. ¬¬¬¬¬¬
4. Prepare for the worst, plan for the best. When you’ve got your business model down pat, and you are the most prepared you can be to meet the demands of your market, persistence is a whole lot easier. Top agents don’t worry about the objections they face, because they know them in advance and they know how to handle them. They don’t worry so much about chasing the next commission because they have a business plan that is based on consistently working their referral base so there is a steady stream of business heading their way. For some a plan seems BORING. But a plan – is what keeps you GOING when things go a little haywire. Revisit yours if you have one and if you don’t, there’s no time like the present to write one!
5. Trust your tribe. If you’re not currently part of a mastermind group or integrity partnership, consider it. Having a “tribe” you can turn to when things get rocky and you’ve got quitting in your crosshairs can be the difference between walking away and breaking through a barrier. That whole self-made man or woman thing is a fallacy. Most people at the top didn’t get there, nor do they stay there by themselves! Lean into your tribe – and if you don’t have one yet, get one – quick!
Take a page out of Og’s book and persist until you succeed. Then persist some more. Success isn’t really a destination after all, it is a process day by day, and year by year. There’s not a whole lot you can’t get through with the right attitude, mindset, and strategies behind you. Keep to it! And remember if you need help? I’m here! Now go out there and make something happen!