Confidence is built, not born, but you probably have been building it the wrong way
Do You Have It?
Confidence generally refers to a feeling or belief that you can rely on someone or something, or that you have trust in your own abilities. Let’s build it.
We’ve all been there, trying to find our confidence—especially in the beginning. Confidence is something we have to work to build, and it takes time and a lot of effort if you truly want to become your best. I speak to many new, and sometimes experienced, agents who are struggling. I ask them what steps they are taking to build their confidence. Many will say they are watching videos or listening to podcasts in an effort to gain the power of confidence. Although a good start, I also advise them to limit the videos and podcasts and focus on immersing themselves in their business. The daily work is where true confidence is built.
I don’t want to discourage watching videos or listening to podcasts—wouldn’t that be silly, since I am a creator with an educational channel for real estate agents and investors? What I want to discourage is only watching videos and podcasts. If you do consume content, be sure the creator truly has experience in the field they are teaching. Many are just building a channel and have no real experience in the field they are creating content about. I recommend a 90/10 rule: spend 90% of your time in the business and 10% watching videos or listening to podcasts.
One of the main reasons we like to watch content is to feel like we are actually doing something that will help us build our business and our confidence. However, the content is often vague to appeal to more viewers. What you need in your market is most likely more specific to your area and the asset class you are working in. The downside of focusing on videos and podcasts is that you may experience information overload without any real-life application, or receive information that is not applicable to your market. There is a ton of content that shares quick fixes and expert advice, but in the real world, much of this will not translate to real revenue. If anything, it may only deflate your confidence.
Diving into the actual work on a daily basis will allow you to experience challenges and nuances that you need to work through to actually build your confidence. Each challenge you overcome will build your foundation, and over time, these victories create momentum. The mistakes you make along the way will teach you new ways to tackle problems in the future. This will build resilience and make you more self-assured. As long as you own your results and take responsibility for your actions, you will only strengthen your belief in yourself—confidence.
Take these steps to help you shift from passive learning to active doing:
Start by setting clear and achievable goals.
Limit your content consumption.
After doing some of the work, take time to step back and reflect on what you have accomplished and how you may need to adjust for better results.
Don’t be afraid to celebrate your successes.
Find an accountability partner who will encourage you to continue taking action—and, more importantly, someone you can hold accountable as well.
Confidence is not going to happen overnight, and it will not magically appear. This process takes time and effort. The true path to gaining confidence will come from your own efforts—the courage to try, fail, and try again. There are no shortcuts, but when you start to feel your confidence building, you will be unstoppable.
Your confidence and your enhanced results are not that far away.
