In the blink of an eye, winter turned to spring, spring turned into summer, and Melanie Everett & Company turned six months old. I can hardly believe it.
The first half of 2019 has been filled with late nights, team meetings, prayer, closings, cups of coffee, a few (or more than a few) tearful meltdowns, and too many calls/texts with Courtney and Candace (the best team!) to count. Plus, a new husband, who keeps everything under control behind-the-scenes.
Now that I have a little bit of experience as a business owner under my belt, I want to share the lessons I’m learning. This is the first entry in a blog series I’m titling “Lessons Learned at M&Co.” My hope is to be vulnerable, but also, provide value for anyone else out there trying to do her (or his) own thing.
Lesson 1: Expectations
I am the queen of unrealistic expectations.
Looking back, I can think of plenty of examples: Like too many Christmases, when I expected my family to be merry and get along all day. (Try growing up with two little brothers.) Like college, when I expected to be the most popular girl in my sorority. (I only lasted one-and-a-half years.) Like my wedding, which I expected to be the most magical, flawless weekend. (More on that story here.) Like Andrew’s 30th, which I expected to be lots of fun thanks to my A+ party planning. (I ended up anxious over a deal all afternoon and evening.)
My work life dutifully follows my personal life. As I’ve grown my business over the past almost-five years, I have noticed similar thoughts wrecking havoc on my emotions. Here’s a shortlist of unrealistic expectations I have in real estate:
The market will always be hot.
Every deal will close.
All of my clients will love me.
I will continue to sell more every year.
My Instagram posts will get hundreds of likes.
Rates will never get too high.
My listings will sell quickly and easily.
Every SYWTBAC seminar will be packed.
Ultimately, having too high of expectations (for anything, big or small!) will lead to disappointment. I can keep working hard and putting the hours in, but there are going to be discouraging moments — these are an undeniable part of life.
For me, my faith teaches me to set my sights on something greater. In this world, we will have trouble — not might have trouble. We will. This verse totally applies to real estate. The market will have trouble, my listings will have trouble, my team members will have trouble. I need to accept the reality of life on Earth before I can experience the Heaven-sent peace that comes from adjusting my expectations. Once I get out of my head and realize that success in my career is not a promise, I find freedom.
As a business owner, this is a lesson I have to learn almost daily. But it is most certainly a humbling one!
