Naysayers. Why do their words linger in our minds longer than the ones cheering us on?
I had a day this past week that just weighed on me. It started with a call from someone telling me all the things I “should” be doing to ramp up my business. It left me wondering, Wait a minute—can we take a moment to acknowledge what I’ve already put into place? And also—what if I just don’t like the advice? Just because a strategy works for one agent doesn’t mean it’s right for me.
With a background in marketing, I know this much: if you’re not being true to yourself and the brand you’re building, people will see right through it.
Later that day, I took someone to lunch—someone who started their own business years ago. I shared that I’m fully focused on real estate now, and what I got back was:
“How long can you go without a paycheck?”
Umm… first of all, I don’t know you well enough for you to be asking that. Second, I’m here for advice, encouragement, maybe a little networking support. And I’m buying lunch!
By 3pm, my mind was shot. I felt deflated.
Which was frustrating, because the rest of the month had been amazing.
I’ve defined what I want my real estate brand to stand for.
I launched an Instagram account.
I’m writing posts like this one each week so there’s content when my blog goes live.
I’m out there networking.
I’m joining organizations (and let me say, I am not a natural joiner).
I’ve set new disciplines—and I’m sticking to them.
Momentum is happening.
And then—SPLAT. Hit by the naysayers.
But instead of sitting in that dungeon of self-doubt too long, I did something else: I paused for an audit. I asked myself why I chose to build this business in the first place. Were those reasons still real and valid?
They were.
I don’t want to be tied to someone else’s agenda.
I don’t want to spend my days behind a screen.
I want to engage with the community around me.
I want to stretch my business acumen.
I want the freedom to think creatively and solve problems—not just follow the “shoulds.”
So yeah, I’m proud of how fast I rebounded.
Because honestly, I can be my own worst naysayer—and I’m better at it than anyone else.
What that day gave me, though, was a Teflon moment.
I’m not letting other people’s doubts or judgments stick.
I’ll keep building something that offers real value—to my clients, to my business, and to the humans I meet along the way.
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