Life is rarely without obstacles. Failure is an inevitable part of the journey toward achieving your goals, both personally and professionally. What truly defines us is how we respond to those failures. Resilience allows us to learn from disappointment, adjust our strategies, and turn setbacks into steppingstones toward growth and success.
When you encounter an unexpected challenge, try to see it as feedback rather than failure. Ask yourself three questions:
- Why did this happen?
- What can I learn from this?
- What can I do differently next time?
This mindset helps transform failures into valuable lessons and ensures that every setback contributes to your long-term success.
Let me share a personal story with you about a setback I once faced. A few years ago, I suffered a heart attack. During surgery, doctors discovered I had 100% blockage in my coronary artery. Although the procedure was successful, it was a life-altering experience, one that forced me to reframe how I viewed adversity. Instead of seeing it as a setback, I began to see it as feedback. I asked myself, “Why did this happen? What can I learn from it?” That shift in mindset became the foundation for change. I began making significant lifestyle adjustments and, in doing so, gained a new perspective on life itself. Through that process, I achieved something far more meaningful than recovery. I renewed my relationship with myself, lost more than 50 pounds, regained my health, and, perhaps most importantly, learned how to truly listen to my body.
That’s life, and that’s real estate. Challenges appear out of the blue. Circumstances change without warning. A deal can fall apart at the eleventh hour, a buyer can lose financing, or a listing you poured your heart into can unexpectedly be withdrawn. None of it feels good, but every one of those moments can teach you something valuable if you’re willing to look for the lesson… the feedback. Looking at these challenges as feedback can allow you an opportunity to bounce back. That is the resilience inside you.
Resilience is the ability to adapt and adjust your goals while staying true to your overall vision. I like to call it “goal agility.” It’s not about giving up when things get tough. It’s about being flexible, recalibrating your plan, and continuing to move forward even when the road twists and turns in ways you didn’t expect.
In our business, perseverance and resilience go hand in hand. Resilience helps you recover. Perseverance keeps you going. When times get difficult, remind yourself why you do what you do. Think about your purpose and the lives you impact. That sense of purpose is what fuels your determination.
Equally important, be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. Growth is rarely a straight line. Learn from your experience, reset, and move forward.
In real estate, as in life, setbacks are not the end of the road. They are signs pointing toward evolution and growth. Every challenge sharpens your skills, strengthens your mindset, and prepares you for what comes next.
So, the next time something doesn’t go as planned, don’t view it as failure. View it as feedback. You might just find that the detour takes you somewhere even better than where you originally intended to go.
TERRY Talks 