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The pressure of the business<\/h2>\n
They also don\u2019t see or feel the pressure.<\/p>\n
The pressure to succeed, the pressure to make the highest sale of the month, the pressure to find the client the perfect house even though what they define as \u201cperfect\u201d changes on a daily basis, the pressure to be a \u201cpresent\u201d parent and partake in your children\u2019s lives even though you can\u2019t find five minutes to eat, let alone drive across town after a two hour showing to see a soccer game, the pressure to keep surviving in a business where there is very little job security are all things that the public doesn\u2019t see and people don\u2019t talk about for fear of looking incompetent or weak.<\/p>\n
Keeping it all in<\/h2>\n
Even though the competition is fierce in the real estate business, struggling does not make you any less successful. Every real estate professional I know has gone through a period of wondering whether or not they\u2019d be able to make enough to pay their bills at least a time or two.<\/p>\n
I think when people stop talking about their pain and pressure is when things get tougher. Sure, you may not want to talk about your problems with someone in your office for fear they\u2019ll exploit your problems further (and unfortunately, this has been known to happen), but with any luck there are other people in your circle you can discuss these things with; a friend, family member, pastor, counselor, or therapist.<\/p>\n
Talking things through can often lead to the realization that these are only temporary setbacks and even if you quit real estate tomorrow, your life still has meaning and value.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Agents are just people<\/h2>\n
What am I leading up to here?<\/p>\n
In a business where you\u2019re required to smile, posit your success, and put yourself above your competition, we must not forget that our competitors are still human beings facing their own struggles. Selling a house should never come at the expense of someone else\u2019s hardships.<\/p>\n
In an article that hit close to home with our staff, Chris Lenquist writes<\/a> a moving tribute about losing a competitor to suicide and how this has impacted his outlook on the business and what he plans to do about it in the future.<\/p>\n
He writes, \u201cAs a person of influence in the real estate business here in Kansas City, I resolve this day to take more time to connect, really connect with other agents. \u00a0I resolve to help each agent I come in contact to understand how to succeed in this business and to not let it swallow them up. \u00a0I resolve to recognize pain when I see it and to say something, to do something.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
How you can help fellow agents<\/h2>\n
While we are all responsible for our own actions, of course, I certainly think the world could do with more compassion, especially the world of real estate. Take the time to notice what\u2019s going on around you. Engage with the people in your world, be it family, friends, or competitors. <\/p>\n
You never know how much difference you can make by simply asking, \u201cYou look like you need someone to talk to; I\u2019m here for you, or can I help with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK <\/a>(8255). There are also some excellent resources at Project Semicolon<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n