Life lessons from the ski slopes

This has been a phenominal week!  It is spring break for my kids (ages 15 and 18).  We decided to do something pretty memorable and take them on a ski vacation in CO.  We moved from CT nearly 9 years ago, and that was our last time to see snow.  We went skiing ONE TIME, and that was on a mountain outside of Hartford, CT -- MUCH different than the mountains of CO.  But it was an incredibly fond memory for our kids, and something they have long wanted to experience again.

Now, I grew up in IN, and am VERY familiar with SNOW!  I was the kid who walked a mile to school in the snow in sub-zero temperatures, blah, blah, blah......  But it is TRUE!  I really did!   I have great memories of SLEDDING down Indiana knolls.  But I have to say I have only been on skis ONCE in my life -- and that was on the ski slopes outside of Hartford, CT.  I think my ski lesson lasted about an hour, and it was literally 10 years ago.

So as excited as I was to return to the moutains of CO with our kids, I approached skiing with a bit of trepidation.  Actually A LOT of trepidation!  We absolutely LOVE spending time outdoors, and our past summer in CO was nothing short of amazing.  But looking at the ski slopes, and knowing my level of inability -- well, to say I was intimdated would be a huge understatement.

So, I did what I thought would be the smart thing to do.  I started off with lessons.  I spent three days with an instructor.  What a great investment that was!  I learned so much about skiing that I did not know or even realize.  But more than that, I learned that I am my own worst enemy.

Yes -- I said it.  I am my own worst enemy.  At one point two days ago, I was struggling so much with a blue run.  I was incredibly frustrated.  I could NOT seem to make it down the run without falling.  The instructor (a 70 year old gentleman named Bart) came up to me, and literally yelled at me!  He said "YOU are the ONLY PERSON who doesn't believe YOU CAN DO THIS!!!"

He was absolutely right.  But I honestly did not know how to get beyond my fear -- to gain that belief in myself that I really COULD make it down the mountain.  I knew I was my own worst enemy, but did not know how to overcome this fear or lack of confidence.

Today, my kids convinced me that I DID know enough to go out on the runs with them so we could enjoy some ski time together.  I was incredibly apprehensive initially.  Nothing like starting off the morning on a steep BLUE run when your confidence level is on a GREEN run!  But I did it.  And I have to really give so much credit to my daughter, Rachel!  She really showed me so much patience, and was an incredible teacher, and encourager -- even though we literally started from the same place 4 days ago.  I am so grateful to her, because she helped me have an incredible day on the slopes!

My life lesson today does actually relate very much to my career in real estate!  I faced my fears.  I did things on the slopes today, with the encouragement of my daughter, husband and son, that I never thought I would be able to do!  AND I had fun with it!  Yes, I did fall a few times.  But I did not beat myself up over it.  It was just part of the day.  Part of the experience.  Part of the learning.

I started reflecting on my real estate career, and found that there are many parallels.  There are MANY transactions that are incredibly difficult.  Actually most of the transactions are like the blue runs.  Some of them are like the Black Diamonds -- and even some are Double Black Diamonds.  Very few of them are Green runs.  But it is so important that I stick with it to the end, regardless of how difficult things seem.  My clients depend on me to do that.  They depend on me to know how to guide them, and how to instruct them.   Even when things are not comfortable, it is my job to stay the course and stick by my client's side.   The more transactions I complete, the more competent I become -- but I truly never believe I will "know it all" in real estate.

This is also one of the major aspects of my career that keeps me in tune.  I love that every day is a new day.  Every transaction comes with it's own set of challenges.  Every single transaction matters to the people involved.

And I am thankful!