My Biggest Mistake as a Realtor
Anyone who knows me knows that I am pretty transparent about my life experiences and who I am. I wear my heart on my sleeve, love hard the people I am blessed to know and care deeply about my work and community.
I was born and raised in Brantford, so the fact that I have returned to this community to provide my children with the best upbringing and family life is no surprise.
It is also really no surprise that I have found the most meaningful and purpose-driven career I could ever dream of in real estate, right here in the community and surrounding areas I love.
I believe that these life experiences have shaped the person I am today, both personally and professionally. I certainly do not have life all figured out, but I am intentional about learning from my choices and mistakes. Experience is a big word, and in the Real Estate world, it is a significant one and considered an asset to this dynamic and fast-paced career.
Recently, a young entrepreneur asked me what my biggest mistake as a realtor in the Brantford, Brant County and Norfolk Regions was. Naturally, I did not hesitate to respond.
I am very aware.
To become a leading realtor in this area, I believed I needed to have a strong drive, knowledgeable understanding and experience that surpasses others.
I believed that nourishing those things would secure me the next deal and drive up my listings. Therein I made my biggest mistake.
I learned very quickly that no drive, knowledge, or experience can make up for the power of connection.
The fact that I had the opportunity to join The Kate Broddick team with my work family is a great example. Being part of a team that values each other’s strengths and supports each other endlessly is such a gift.
I used to think that real estate was for the overly competitive, but as it turns out, it is for the excessively collaborative. Teams that value each other’s opinions, care about each member and safely embrace mistakes, learning and ideas are a rare commodity.
But it is the sweet sauce to being a great realtor.
Taking it one step further, this mistake has changed the way I approach prospective clients who are looking to sell or buy in the Norfolk, Brant County or Brantford areas. Worrying about the money and getting the deals instead of believing in the positive aspects of developing caring relationships embedded in trust with my clients kept me back from a growth mindset.
Now I don’t worry about the financial or logistical client base I build. Instead, I care about each client as an individual. By doing so, I have deepened compassion and commitment to anyone I feel blessed to work with.
My focus has shifted from the money and the deals to compassionately helping people achieve their goals. Of course, I have gained increased drive, knowledge and experience. Building on my experience and settling in more comfortably with a brokerage team I adore has reminded me of the misperception I had at the beginning of my career.
This mindset allows me to be supportive, empathetic and sensitive as they work through decisions about the largest investments in their lives.
My years of experience have not taught me everything - I am still always learning! However, my pillars and priorities in my business have clear direction and goals about the power of connection and community.
If I had known then what I know now….
The best way to grow your business (and this is any business) is to focus on relationships and the trust you build to establish real clients for life. The rest will follow.
If I had known then what I know now….
The best way to grow your business (and this is any business) is to focus on relationships and the trust you build to establish real clients for life. The rest will follow.