Grit.  No, it does not refer to the fine dust that gets tracked all over your house when there has been no rain.  According to the author Angela Duckworth, Grit is the “power of passion and perseverance” – and the title of her new book.  I just finished reading Grit and learned how having “grit” as part of our character moves us to do bigger and better things with our lives and to serve others.  

GRIT IN RIO

Grit was on display at the Olympics. It is fair to say that an Olympic athlete does not make it to that level of achievement on talent alone. It is the exceptional level of commitment to doing the hard stuff. It is finding the path and sticking with it even when it is repetitive and the sacrifices are great. I watched an interview with Missy Franklin, a US swimmer who won four gold medals in the 2012 Olympics in London.

Franklin was disappointed in her performance in Rio where she won ”only” one gold medal in a medley event. She said she did not live up to her own expectations. But that did not discourage her or make her want to quit. Her response to her self-diagnosed inadequate performance was a great smile and enthusiasm for the future of her career. Acknowledging that  injuries, coaching changes, and starting college distracted her over the past four years, Franklin said that she learned so much from those struggles. She looked forward to competing again in four years and trying it all over again. Watch the interview and you will see she that she has true Grit.

GRIT IN REAL ESTATE

Many professions require grit and determination much like athletics. Real estate is one of them.  While the business of real estate encompasses more than just selling. It includes understanding  financing, home maintenance, advising, problem solving, marketing and so much more. At its core, real estate is sales. If we don’t sell the house, our client is not happy. If we don’t find the home that fits our clients’ needs, they are not happy.

Grit becomes our guiding force as we serve our clients and move them toward their goals despite unforgiving markets and other challenges.

The ultimate mission is client satisfaction. Discouragement is easy in our business. The vast majority of agents drop out after only a few years (87% after five years, according to the National Association of Realtors). To be number one in your field is not only about working more hours, working smarter, and making more calls. It is about never giving up on your client.  

Real estate agents must constantly evolve by understanding changing markets and relating to the needs of a variety of clients, from the first time buyer to the downsizer. We are always working to improve our knowledge and skills because we understand that is the best way to serve our clients. We have survived as agents for nearly 25 years because of the grittiness we have acquired through the process. When times get tough, we don’t give up. When the market is strong, we don’t become over confident. We know there are good times and bad times in the market for our clients and for us. But we always keep working and we never give up. That is the essence of Grit, I am grateful to have acquired some.

If you need a real estate agent with proven Grit, please reach out. We take pride in helping our clients navigate the joys and challenges of buying and selling. When we have happy clients, we’ve done our job.

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