I write this on a morning when I've been editing this new real estate website, which requires me to do some of the back end design work. It's a new system. I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm feeling incompetent.
This is a very uncomfortable place to be. It's the same place many people find themselves when they are purchasing a property. Most do not go through this process often in their life. Even if you do buy or sell a property every five years or so, things change, and details are forgotten. It can still be a stressful experience.
When we don't know what we are doing we often have an underlying fear that we're going to make a mistake. In real estate, with very large amounts of money in play, these uncomfortable feelings can keep us awake at night. Will I get the financing? Did the inspector miss anything? Did I miss anything? What if there is a problem with the house? Is this really a good deal?
Recently I had a conversation with somebody about some advice they were giving to some buyers. They were trying to make the buyers feel comfortable about the process, and I suggested the opposite. When you are doing something you aren't familiar with, expect to feel uncomfortable. It's normal. Let them know it's okay to feel anxious, I suggested.
This morning I felt anxious. I was editing this web page and I did not know what I was doing. But I took the steps I needed to take and despite some minor corrections, successfully fixed a problem page. Not only that, but I now know how to do some things I didn't know how to do before. When given the choice between cocky and deluded or careful and anxious, I will choose the latter. With some real experience and success, you can then be knowledgeable and confident.
Feel anxious ... and take the next step.
This is a very uncomfortable place to be. It's the same place many people find themselves when they are purchasing a property. Most do not go through this process often in their life. Even if you do buy or sell a property every five years or so, things change, and details are forgotten. It can still be a stressful experience.
When we don't know what we are doing we often have an underlying fear that we're going to make a mistake. In real estate, with very large amounts of money in play, these uncomfortable feelings can keep us awake at night. Will I get the financing? Did the inspector miss anything? Did I miss anything? What if there is a problem with the house? Is this really a good deal?
Recently I had a conversation with somebody about some advice they were giving to some buyers. They were trying to make the buyers feel comfortable about the process, and I suggested the opposite. When you are doing something you aren't familiar with, expect to feel uncomfortable. It's normal. Let them know it's okay to feel anxious, I suggested.
This morning I felt anxious. I was editing this web page and I did not know what I was doing. But I took the steps I needed to take and despite some minor corrections, successfully fixed a problem page. Not only that, but I now know how to do some things I didn't know how to do before. When given the choice between cocky and deluded or careful and anxious, I will choose the latter. With some real experience and success, you can then be knowledgeable and confident.
Feel anxious ... and take the next step.
