I've been a real estate agent for almost 20 years, and I've seen a lot of changes in the industry. The one thing that has stayed constant is that success in real estate is about more than just buying and selling homes—it's about building healthy relationships with clients, colleagues, and vendors. And you don't get there by obsessing over your weaknesses or fearfully avoiding risk. No matter what stage you're at in your career or how long you've been an agent, developing a growth mindset will help you lead a more meaningful life both professionally and personally. Here are a few key concepts that help me maintain a healthy and positive mindset in my business.

Forget the competition.

It's easy to get focused on the competition. But remember that they're doing their own thing, and you have your own strengths and weaknesses. Focus on what you can control and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Learn from the competition by doing research, observing them in action, or even asking questions about how they do things differently than your business does.

Don't focus on your flaws.

While it's true that you should focus on the things that make you different from other agents, don't let this distract you from the positive aspects of your business. If all you can see are your weaknesses and shortcomings, then it's almost impossible for any of us to do better.

Instead, take a few moments to remind yourself of what makes YOU great at what YOU do—not everyone else in the world! We all have some strengths and weaknesses, but what matters is how we use them to get ahead. The more confident we are in our own abilities (and unique skills), the more likely it is that others will want to work with us as well.

You're going to make mistakes. Embrace it.

Mistakes are a part of life, and you can learn from them. So embrace your mistakes. You want to be the kind of person who learns from their mistakes rather than letting them hold you back.

When I first started learning how to invest in real estate, I made a lot of mistakes along the way - but I was able to learn from those mistakes and grow my business because I was willing to admit when something didn't work out as planned or if what I was doing wasn't working for me anymore.

Make time for you.

You may be thinking: I don't have time for me! It's true, running a real estate business is never going to be easy. You'll always have something on your plate that needs to get done. However, the more productive you can be and the better you are at prioritizing tasks so that they get done efficiently and effectively, the more time you will have left over in your day.

There are many ways to make time for yourself when running a real estate business. One way is by taking regular breaks throughout your day. This helps keep you focused on what’s important without burning out or getting worn down by stress (which can lead to poor decisions). Another way is by setting aside specific hours each week where you block off all distractions (such as email) so that these times are just yours; try scheduling one morning per week or evening per month specifically for this purpose!

Make plans and set goals, but be open to change.

Have you ever set a goal and then changed it?

It happens to everyone. Our goals change all the time, whether it’s because we learn something new or because circumstances change. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for when that happens: if your original plan doesn't work, what will you do instead?

When setting goals for yourself, there are some key things to keep in mind:

• Make sure they're SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time bound.

If you need help with goal setting, I would love to hop on a 30-minute zoom meeting with you. Goal setting is one of my super-powers and I have some awesome things I can share with you. Here is a link to download a free guide and let me know you are interested in business planning together.

Always have a backup plan.

Your mindset can make or break your business. If you want to succeed in real estate, it’s essential that you develop the right mindset.

Here are some tips and tricks for getting into a positive mindset:

• Always have a backup plan. You can never predict what will happen in life, so always prepare yourself with options and alternate routes. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket; instead, spread them across many baskets!

• Be open to change at all times – even if it means letting go of something that isn't working out as well as you'd hoped. Sometimes we need to let go of things we're attached too just because they aren't meant for us at this specific point in our lives; but don't worry, there's always another opportunity down the road which suits our needs better than before.

It's OK to say no.

There are times when you just won't be able to take on a certain listing or buyer client or open house. That's OK—you don't have to do everything that comes your way, and in fact, it's probably better for your business if you don't.

Don’t feel guilty about saying no to a client or prospect who doesn’t make sense for you. If someone is asking for something very different from what other clients ask for, or isn’t willing to pay what other clients pay, that’s not necessarily a bad thing! It means they aren’t right for this time in your business (or there may be some other reason). If anything, it shows that they see value in the work that YOU do and want YOU specifically (which is awesome!).

Celebrate your wins!

Once you have identified a goal, you need to start taking action. Identify what will get you there and then do it. Don't focus on what didn't work or the things that didn't go your way. Celebrate your wins! Don't compare yourself to other people's successes or failures, because they all have their own story and journey. And don't be afraid of failure—it's part of the journey too!

A healthy mindset will help you grow your real estate business in a sustainable way.

An honest assessment of your limitations is the first step to growing with an open mind. And if you don't have time for things outside of work, it's okay! It's okay not to be able to go out every night with friends or volunteer at the local soup kitchen on Wednesday nights because you need that time to keep up with your own personal life. You'll be happier (and more effective) if you can take care of yourself and address any issues that arise from being too busy at work (like burnout).

Setting aside time for yourself each day is also essential—and often overlooked. To keep this part of my life balanced I find myself saying “no” more often than I used to say yes when asked for favors or extra work outside my job description—and it's made all the difference. Not only has this given me space where I'm not feeling overwhelmed by obligations, but it also helps me feel energized while continuing to make progress toward my goals without losing sight of what matters most: spending quality time with loved ones and maintaining balance between work/home life.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve learned some new things about mindset and how it affects your real estate business. You don’t have to be perfect—that’s unattainable for anyone! In fact, the more imperfections you embrace, the better off you will be in business and life. That’s because people like to work with people who are open and honest about their limitations and willing to learn from mistakes. So if your goal is to grow your real estate business in a sustainable way that helps others along the way, then using these tips should help keep your mind right on track!

-Andrea

p.s. I’d love to connect with you to learn what areas you need help with in your business. Send me a message or download my free business planning guide today as a thank you!