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Ever heard the following statement: ‘Real estate can be a lonely gig’. I’ve encountered that sentiment countless times in my years in this industry.
And yes, I agree to a certain extent. Without the right network and support, it’s an industry that can feel isolating.
Competitive by nature, it requires agents to be self-motivated, self-starters who have the personal drive and ambition to achieve and succeed.
A certain amount of autonomy and accountability is needed to manage your time, manage your energy, and keep your eye on the goal and prize.
On the flipside, the rewards can be immense. You can build an incredible life for yourself and your family where the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to earning potential and ambition.
But it begs the question, how do you build that career for yourself, not by yourself? Because there is a big difference.
A network
One of the key reasons real estate can feel lonely comes down to the lack of a support network.
Regardless of whether you’re with a major brand or are out on your own and independent, it’s important to surround yourself with people who will nurture your ambition, mentor you or perhaps simply provide a sounding board to bounce ideas off.
Now this network can take a number of forms. It can be your peers in the office, an accountability buddy you connect with, a professional or personal mentor, a coach, social network, your family, friends and more.
But having this tribe around you is essential. These people will help buffer you against the highs and lows that occur in both life and within real estate, and of course it’s not a one-way street.
One of the most rewarding things an established agent can do in their career is give back by supporting and mentoring others.
It helps create that network and community that benefits all of us by removing the sensation of isolation.
Ongoing training
Real estate can feel particularly lonely if you feel like you’re beating your head against a brick wall without making headway.
Perhaps you’ve hit a specific level and plateaued. Maybe you’ve encountered some recent setbacks that have knocked your confidence.
That’s where training comes in. I’m firmly of the opinion this is an industry where we should ‘always be learning’. We need to keep sharpening the saw and honing our skillset to remain relevant and achieve the success we each desire.
Importantly, this ongoing training builds confidence and connections.
It’s easy to sit back and think something might just be happening to you but put yourself in a room with 100 other agents and there’s a high likelihood that experience you’re struggling with is shared.
If you’re feeling it, others have likely felt that way too and more importantly, there’s a good chance there are proven and actionable strategies available to assist.
Business support
Regardless of whether you are an individual agent, a franchise office, or a fledgling independent brand, make no mistake, you are running a business.
You are seeking to grow, build a presence, increase your revenue, and perhaps expand your team.
That’s business, plain and simple. But sometimes the skills of running a business are different to the ones required to list and sell property.
And let’s be honest, for many of us those business skills are not inherent. They need to be learned. And support in mastering those skills will be required along the way.
This support can take a variety of forms – it might involve hiring an assistant, outsourcing to a contractor, utilising software, or tapping into the professional expertise of an accountant, bookkeeper, marketing specialist etc.
But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you cannot shrink yourself to greatness.
What I mean by that is you cannot grow a business on your own; you need a team of people. That team - whether they are staff you employ or people you outsource to - allows your business to grow, expand and evolve.
It ensures you are not alone. Yes, you’re building something for yourself, but not by yourself, and you are also building something for that team as well.
Real estate doesn’t have to be lonely
One of the key reasons agents opt to join the Agents’Agency is that they want to be in business for themselves, but not by themselves.
They know real estate can potentially be a lonely gig. But it doesn’t have to be.
Our network is built on the belief that with the right support, training, business assistance and a network of likeminded peers around you, you can build a highly successful business.
We’re with you, every step of the way. Our team becomes your team. Our collective expertise becomes your database of knowledge to tap into. Our network of people becomes your support crew, and your success is something we actively champion.
You are in business for yourself, but never by yourself, and you need never feel lonely in real estate again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Manos Findikakis is the CEO of Agents’Agency, Australia’s first multi-brand real estate network.
For all enquiries and more information on how the Agents’Agency can help you take your career to the next level, please visit https://www.agentsagency.com.au/ or email
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