Greg Harrelson : Leading by Example and Being Extraordinary
“If we already know we can, then to me, that’s ordinary, not extraordinary.” Every single one of us has the ability to assess ourselves and our capabilities. When we know that we are able to do things, we usually go ahead and take on a challenge, knowing full well that we are capable of overcoming that challenge. That’s ordinary. We already know that we can do it. Hence, the challenge no longer becomes a challenge. It becomes a mere activity. The true test of an extraordinary person is when he or she does not know if he can overcome a challenge but still works and exerts effort to overcome it and then actually does. This is extraordinary; when you face the unknown, acknowledge the fear that’s bubbling up inside your and still move forward.
I know of such a man. In fact, I have had the opportunity to interview such a man. His name is Greg Harrelson. He has invested more than 20 years in the Real Estate Industry. His team has been ranked the number 1 sales team in Myrtle Beach since their inception. Since their inception – how is that possible? Didn’t they go through the birth pains and the trial and error phases? How did they become number one the first time they ventured out into Real Estate? The answer is simple. They were a team who did not give up. They probably whined and complained, but they did not wallow in their misery. In fact, Greg said, “Sometimes our failures are put in front of us for a purpose, and the purpose is to learn and prepare us for something much bigger than we had actually set the goal to be at that time.” From the very beginning, they knew that they could be something more. They were a team with different skill sets; they were diverse but they learned to complement each other and work as one. They never knew if they will be successful in this chosen field, but they worked together and exerted all the necessary effort and more. They learned that when things don’t go exactly how you planned them to go, quitting is not an option. In the course of their career, giving up was never on the table. This is what made them extraordinary.
During our interview, Greg said that if you know how to get to 100, you can get to 200. It’s just whether or not you’re going to actually choose to make the commitment and put in the time and effort. In the world of real estate, it’s always the commitment that counts. You will encounter customers who, unintentionally, might give you a hard time. You will also encounter customers who would want to have more options. Throughout the course of your transaction, you might get tired or you might get annoyed. It’s how you deal with the situation that counts. Circumstances are what life throws at you. Your attitude is what changes these circumstances to opportunities or obstacles.
Some agents are challenged when it comes to generating leads. They get bored and eventually give up. Some venture to other industries. However, with Greg, he kept reminding his team that giving up is not an option. It is always darkest before dawn. Challenge with lead generation will always be there. What will you do about it? When you bring a problem to the table, always partner it with a couple of solutions. Do not give up. You can generate leads by going online and by creating your own website. You can recycle them or send out email blasts. There are a lot of options. When you don’t like the options available, by all means create another one. Life is what you make it. Do not give up.
The challenges that every single real estate agent is going through have all been experienced by Greg and his team. They are still standing. In fact, they are now coaching and helping other real estate agents fulfill their potential. They did not give up. Sure, there will always be obstacles, challenges and even pitfalls. There will always be people who will banter you and advice you to just choose a different career but ultimately, you get to decide. You know what you’re capable of. You know what you can do and you know your limits. Other people will tell you that you can’t do real estate, that you’re incapable of selling homes and houses or renting vacation apartments. They will tell you a lot of things and you will hear a lot of reasons that will make you want to give up. You will hear a lot of negativity dressed up in positive advice and feedback. You will come to a point where you’re ready to give up. Once you’re there at that very point in your life, remember two things. First is, it’s failure if you quit. Second is when everyone is telling you what you can and cannot do, always keep in mind that you CAN learn. You are capable of learning new things.
You don’t know if you will succeed or not, but therein lies the challenge. You can learn. So I ask you, what are you going to do that’s extraordinary?
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