I tend to be a Positive Attitude kinda gal, but not in the sense that all you need is one of those (a positive attitude) in order to succeed. I believe that it's simply one of the requirements to succeed, ‘specially in our business where the vast majority fail. If you don't have a Positive Attitude, you will fail. So, while having a positive attitude is not a guarantee of success, a negative one is most certainly a guarantee of failure. IMO.

Neither am I believer that daily meditations or repetitive mantras will give you this positive attitude. No, I think that you earn your positive attitude by being PREPARED for whatever life throws at you; thus you have the confidence and assurance that you CAN DO IT -- whatever that "IT" may be.

For rookie agent wannabe's ... I suggest that you do not waste your time and your money and your emotions on this career if you are not prepared AHEAD OF TIME. To me, this means:

• You have bought or sold a house before and somewhat understand the process from a consumer's perspective

• You have the full support of your family (financial and emotional)

• You know your way around your town

• You know people in your town (100 or more)

• You have the financial means to attack your career with all your heart (and time)

Am I saying that you can't succeed if you don't meet the above criteria? Of course not, but I won't pussy-foot around the fact that the odds are stacked against you already, so the more pluses you have in the preparation column, the better chance you'll make it to your second year. Today, qualified buyers and motivated sellers are not lined up around the block waiting for you to hang your license on the door.

Heck, there aren't even that many UNqualified buyers or UNqualified sellers! The ones that are out there are tougher to deal with than in years past (when plenty of newbies failed by the truckload, too).

Don't jeopardize your family's future by pursuing a dream you aren't yet prepared to pursue. If you're new to town, spend the next year learning your way around and making lots of friends. If you don't have any money in the bank, take a second job and build up a nest-egg. Prove to your family that you ARE prepared to do this so that they'll have 100% faith in you.

Yes, you CAN DO IT!!! But not just because you want to. Make like a Boy Scout.

Published: October 30, 2008

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Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn was a top producing real estate broker in Denver, Colorado before writing her first book in 2007. Since then, she has written several more books about the business of selling real estate including her flagship book: Sell with Soul: Creating an Extraordinary Career in Real Estate without Losing Your Friends, Your Principles or Your Self-Respect, the sequel, If You're Not Having Fun Selling Real Estate, You're Not Doing it Right and her latest, to be released in Spring 2011, Prospect with Soul for Real Estate Agents. Jennifer believes that the secret of success for real estate agents is not in aggressive marketing techniques or hard-core sales pitches, but rather in being competent in one's craft. Competence begets Confidence. And in today's world of increasingly suspicious and ad-weary consumers, having an air of self-assurance and enthusiasm will be far more effective than a slick sales campaign. Jennifer writes and speaks with this philosophy in mind. She preaches that salespeople should follow the Golden Rule in their day-to-day practice of business - treating clients and prospects respectfully, as the salesperson him or herself would like to be treated. Being competent, reliable and fair, and motivated by a true desire to earn a paycheck, not just show up at closing with hand outstretched. She is a regular contributor to several real estate newsletters and magazines, a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and one of the industry's most popular bloggers. You can learn more about Jennifer's "soulful" philosophies at www.SellWithSoul.com. Subscribe Below to Enroll in the Daily Seduction Newsletter Mini-Clinic - Tips and Strategies to Generate Business and Referrals From Your Sphere of Influence! Your Full Name Your Email Address