Embracing Challenges = Growth

Think about this for a second: What is the greatest challenge you’ve ever overcome in your life?

Maybe it was something in your personal life or a problem you faced in your career. Whatever it was, think about it for a minute…

Even though it was an immensely difficult challenge, how did you feel when you finally conquered it?

Probably accomplished. Successful. Complete. Relieved. Proud. Grateful. Stronger.

The list goes on and on, but the bottom line is: You felt good.

Hey Moguls, Cody Sperber here to explain why embracing difficulties can help you grow.

I particularly want to share a little metaphor to help you reframe the challenges that you will inevitably face as a real estate investor…

Any time somebody tells me that they have a problem that they need solved I immediately say,

“Hey, you don’t have a problem. You have a challenge.”

You see, problems are annoying by nature, and just the word “problem” has a negative connotation. So I like to call them “challenges” instead. To me, a challenge is an opportunity for growth, and that’s a much more positive outlook, isn’t it?

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
~Joshua J. Marine, author

To help you understand this concept, let’s take a look at that metaphor I mentioned with some helpful graphics...

Back to the Drawing Board: Problems vs. Challenges Metaphor

That’s’ you in that circle below…

The circle around you represents your being and your sphere of influence. Your current ability to handle any situation happens within this circle.

You’re going about your day-to-day life, and then one day, unexpectedly – BAM! – a problem arises that kneels to the side of your circle and settles just outside of reach. Naturally, you head on over toward the problem, but as you get closer and closer to it, you reach the perimeter of your circle.

You panic because inside you start to feel uncomfortable. You don’t know what to do or how to handle this problem - so, naturally, you retreat back to the center of your circle, feeling like a bit of an #EpicFailure.

For a while you just ignore the problem like it’s not even there. But then one day, out of nowhere – BAM! – another problem arises just outside your circle again.

Once again your brain says, “Hey, go and deal with this,” so you charge toward the problem, smack against your own personal barriers, panic, get uncomfortable, start to get afraid that you’re not going to be able to find the solution, give up, and retreat right back to your comfort zone.

Over time, the problems just keep coming and coming until the pain of so many unsolved problems starts to become unbearable.

This is the point where you finally stop seeing them as problems. You start to shift your mindset and begin to look at them as challenges that must be figured out – and figured out right now, for your own sanity’s sake.

This time, you charge toward the challenges, break through your comfort barrier, and something awesome happens...

Your abilities start to grow, your comfort level starts to expand, and now you have a newfound energy to handle many more challenges that you once thought were way too hard to overcome. *High fives all around.*

Now, the whole moral to the story is that in your real estate career, you can have many experiences like this, but…

I want you to look at each problem as a challenge that you’re just so excited to take on. Because you know that with each solution that you find, you’re going to get the result that you’re looking for and you’re going to experience professional and personal growth.

And that’s called winning.

“I’ve been motivated by overcoming challenge and overcoming the hurdles and obstacles that face me. There is still plenty out there to get motivated by.”
~Andre Agassi, tennis pro

What Were Your Challenges?

What was the first major challenge you faced in your real estate investing career – and how did you handle it? Let me know in the comments section below.

Strategize like a boss. Write down 1-2 potential challenges that you foresee (or maybe are currently experiencing). For each challenge, jot down 3 steps you could take to conquer it.

Don’t hate – collaborate. Find another real estate investor and ask them about the challenges they’ve faced with their business. You might be surprised to find that they’re pretty much on the same page as you. (And, as the song says, we all need somebody to lean on – in a non-cheesy way, of course.)

Set yourself up for success. When a problem arises, make it your priority to address it within 3 days. That should give you time to consider a strategy but not so much time that you procrastinate until it’s too late.