Myth Two: “It can’t be done in my market

No matter what your circumstances may be at the time, when you set out to achieve something, always begin with the belief that you just might do it. Real estate agents who succeed at high levels understand how debilitating thinking “I can’t do it” can be. They understand that the very first step to discovering their potential is trying. You can’t know what you’re really capable of doing until you try and never give up. In fact, many people have said that they believe that failure is not the worst thing in the world. They believe the very worst is not to try at all. It’s been observed that many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

It’s funny, but a person once pointed out to me that “ultimate potential” is a goal-less pursuit. I had to think about it for a bit before realizing it’s true. We can never reach our ultimate potential. There is no goal, no finish line. So your focus must be on continual pursuit. Maximizing your potential is simply about trying and trying and never giving up.

THE SECOND COMMON MYTHUNDERSTANDING

MYTH: IT CAN’T BE DONE IN MY MARKET. TRUTH:YES IT CAN, BUT YOU MAY NEEDA NEW APPROACH.

The second MythUnderstanding we’ve encountered is closely related to the first. It seems that even when people are able to see that something is possible, they tend to fall prey to another unknowable assumption. They say, “It may be possible elsewhere, but it will never work in mymarket.” And then comes the justification: “To do that in my market, I’d have to have an X percent market share, and that has never been done before.” “To do that in my market, I’d have to have X number of buyers,

and no one has ever done that before.” “To do that in my market, I’d have to list X or more properties a month, and it’s never been done here.” . . . and so forth. Here’s the truth: If it has been done in another market, it can be done in your market. What I want you to realize is that once it has been done, no matter where, it’s just a matter of finding out how that can be possible in your world.

“You must seek ideas, training, and consulting outside your own area.” Millionaire Real Estate Agent Big Bear Lake, CA Sales volume—$38 million

What you’re really saying when you say “It can’t be done in my market” is “I haven’tTim Wood

found the right way to make it work in my market.” Frankly, you’ll need to start by trying approaches that have proven successful elsewhere. Similar to the point we just made with the first MythUnderstanding, until you try an approach that worked in another market, you will never know whether it can or can’t be done in yours. While your marketplace will certainly determine what some of the variables are, your plan of attack and your implementation of it will always be the key determining factors.

I know a lot of tremendously talented real estate agents who will achieve far less than they are capable of because they are stuck on a two- or three-listings-per-month business plan. It distresses me. They are perfectly capable of great success but become victims of the wrong plan. If you go to the back of this book, you’ll find lots of real-life examples of Millionaire Real Estate Agents. They have done it in widely varying marketplaces. But they are doing it. If you’re willing to adopt a milliondollar plan, you may find you are able to do it as well.

And here is a great truth I have personally experienced: The first one to overcome this MythUnderstanding enjoys a distinct advantage in his marketplace. If you believe and your competition does not, there is one less obstacle between you and your goals! And it’s a big one!