Real Estate and the Emotional Rollercoaster
Ever feel like you have an entire emotional control panel in your head, just like Riley from Inside Out? Running a real estate business can sometimes feel like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, and our newest addition, Anxiety, are all fighting for the controls. Especially when it comes to that pesky perfectionism. Here’s how to keep those emotions in check and thrive without the need for perfection.
Meet the Emotions
Joy is all about celebrating successes, big and small. She wants us to see the bright side, even when things don’t go perfectly. Imagine her jumping up and down every time you close a deal or receive a positive review from a client.
Sadness tends to linger on what didn’t go right. She helps us process disappointment and learn from our mistakes. It’s okay to let Sadness have her moment, but we need to make sure she doesn’t take over.
Anger shows up when deals fall through or clients are difficult. He’s the one fuming when things don’t go as planned. While his fiery personality can push us to be better, he needs to be managed so he doesn’t burn us out.
Disgust helps us stay away from bad decisions and sketchy deals. She’s our inner critic, making sure we don’t settle for less than what we deserve. But if left unchecked, she can make us overly critical and picky.
Fear is the cautious one, always looking out for potential dangers and pitfalls. In real estate, Fear helps us avoid risky investments and untrustworthy clients. However, too much Fear can hold us back from taking necessary risks and seizing new opportunities that allow us to improve and grow.
The newest member of Riley’s team, Anxiety, is always on edge, worrying about every possible outcome. She’s the one who makes us double and triple-check every detail, fearing the worst. While a little Anxiety can keep us prepared, too much can paralyze us. (IYKYK)
The Perfectionism Predicament
Self-critical perfectionism is like letting Anxiety sit in the driver’s seat. It makes us constantly question if our work is good enough, leading to stress and burnout. Just like Riley’s emotions struggled to find balance, we need to manage our inner team to keep Anxiety from running the show.
The All-or-Nothing Mindset
Perfectionism tells us that if something isn’t perfect, it’s a failure. This black-and-white thinking is exhausting and unrealistic. Remember when Riley felt overwhelmed by her new life in San Francisco? She had to learn that it’s okay to have ups and downs and that imperfection is part of the journey.
Social Media Comparison
Social media often showcases only the highlights, leading us to compare our behind-the-scenes with others’ highlight reels. Riley’s constant comparison to her life back in Minnesota didn’t help her adjust to her new environment, and it won’t help us either.
Strategies to Overcome Perfectionism
1. Redefine Success
Success isn’t about being perfect; it’s about progress and growth. Olympic medallist Cath Bishop suggests adopting a “long win” approach, focusing on clarity, constant learning, and connection.
- Clarity: Define what truly matters to you, beyond external expectations. Align your daily actions with these meaningful goals.
- Constant Learning: Embrace a growth mindset. View every experience as an opportunity to learn, rather than a test of your worth.
- Connection: Foster supportive relationships. Collaboration often leads to better outcomes than striving for solo perfection.
2. Set Realistic Goals
Move your goalposts from “perfect” to “good enough.” Achieving smaller, realistic goals builds confidence and reduces the pressure to be flawless. We have a great freebie for you to help map out your goals and plan ways to make it happen! Check it out here!
3. Practice Self-Compassion
Be kinder to yourself. Replace harsh self-criticism with supportive self-talk. Remember, you’re human, and mistakes are part of the learning process. Just like Joy had to learn to appreciate the value of Sadness in Inside Out, we need to understand that Anxiety can also help us grow, as long as we don’t let it take over completely.
4. Limit Social Comparison
Social media can distort our perception of success. Limit your exposure to curated perfection and focus on your own journey. Remember when Riley compared her new life in San Francisco to her old life and friends in Minnesota? It didn’t help her, and it won’t help us either.
5. Seek Support
Don’t be afraid to seek help from mentors/coaches, leadership, or therapists. They can provide valuable perspectives and strategies to manage perfectionism. Just like Riley found support in her friends and family, we need our own support systems.
The Bottom Line
Running a successful real estate business doesn’t require perfection. Embrace your imperfections and view them as opportunities for growth. By redefining success, setting realistic goals, practicing self-compassion, limiting social comparisons, and seeking support, you can overcome self-critical perfectionism and thrive in your career.
So, let’s ditch the all-or-nothing mindset. You don’t have to be perfect at everything to run a successful business. In fact, embracing your imperfections might just be the key to unlocking your full potential.
Final Thought:
Wouldn’t life be boring if everything was perfect? Embrace the chaos, learn from the missteps, and enjoy the journey. After all, real estate is about finding the perfect home, not being a perfect human.
