I thought I might start sharing something a little different.
Not advice. Just some of the lessons I seem to keep learning — in business, real estate and life. Things I know, forget, and then somehow find myself learning all over again.
When I was younger, I had a quote tattooed on my arm:
“Never get too busy making a living you forget to make a life.”
It’s one of those tattoos I’ve looked back on over the years and thought, what was I thinking? I’ve even regretted it at times.
But lately, I’m starting to think maybe I shouldn’t.
More than 20 years later, I still need the reminder.
Real estate is an industry that talks a lot about being number one. Number one agent. Number one for sales. Number one for listings. Number one for market share.
And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best at what you do. I’m competitive. I want great results for my clients and I take what I do very seriously.
But I’ve learnt that “number one” means something different to everyone.
For me, I want to be number one to the people who choose me.
I want to be known for looking after my clients. For listening. For being honest, even when the conversation isn’t the easiest one to have. For working with their timeline and their circumstances, rather than pushing my own agenda.
I still get caught comparing myself to other agents. I still feel that pull of more — more listings, more sales, more stats. And I have to keep reminding myself to stay in my own lane.
Don’t compare yourself to someone whose version of success you don’t actually want.
My health matters. My family matters. My life outside of real estate matters. And having the time and headspace to properly look after the people who trust me matters.
Maybe being number one isn’t about being ahead of everyone else.
Maybe it’s about knowing what your number one is.
Mine is people.
And maybe that tattoo I’ve spent years regretting deserves to stay after all.