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In our industry, valuable opportunities often come from complexity and uncertainty, requiring risk-taking, unconventional thinking, and a departure from comfort zones – and that’s not a bad thing.

“Rarely are opportunities presented to you in a perfect way. In a nice little box with a yellow bow on top. ‘Here, open it, it’s perfect. You’ll love it.’ Opportunities – the good ones – are messy, confusing, and hard to recognize. They’re risky. They challenge you.” —Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube 

Susan Wojcicki’s insightful words about opportunities resonate deeply within the real estate industry. Rarely does an opportunity arrive in a neatly wrapped package, easily recognizable and devoid of risks. In fact, the most promising prospects often emerge from a landscape of chaos and uncertainty, requiring a keen eye and a bold spirit to discern their potential. 

Opportunities Are Found in Complex Situations 

In an industry where change is constant, and dynamics are fluid, the quest for the ideal venture or expansion often resembles a journey through uncharted territories. Unlike a gift neatly wrapped and presented with a bow, these opportunities manifest in a spectrum of complexities—sometimes obscured by market fluctuations, regulatory shifts, or emerging trends. 

The truly valuable opportunities possess an element of challenge. They demand an astute assessment of risks, an ability to navigate through ambiguity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. As a leader in real estate, recognizing and seizing these opportunities requires a shift in perspective—a departure from the desire for certainty and a willingness to embrace the unconventional and the uncertain. 

Why “Messy” Isn’t a Bad Thing 

The “messiness” and confusion that often accompany these opportunities should not be viewed as deterrents but rather as indicators of potential. They might appear as properties in need of renovation, overlooked neighborhoods with latent potential, or market trends that defy conventional wisdom. It is in these unconventional spaces that innovation thrives and where astute leaders find their footing. 

One must acknowledge that while these opportunities hold promise, they are not without risk. However, it is precisely this risk that often signifies a chance for significant growth and success. Mitigating these risks involves thorough due diligence, a deep understanding of market dynamics, and a calculated approach to decision-making. In short, leaders must balance the allure of potential rewards with a pragmatic evaluation of possible pitfalls. 

Choosing Courage Over Comfort 

Embracing challenging opportunities necessitates a certain level of courage and resilience. It requires a departure from the comfort of the familiar and an embrace of the discomfort that accompanies growth. This journey might involve facing setbacks, making tough decisions, and enduring periods of uncertainty. However, it is within this crucible that leaders sharpen their skills and fortify their vision. 

Related reading: Envisioning Opportunities Over Obstacles 

Rules for Finding Opportunities 

Not only is it important to bravely say yes when opportunity knocks, but knowing how and where to find these opportunities is key.  

• The “perfect” opportunity is a myth: Rather than the opportunity being some universal ideal sought by everyone, it’s actually about what aligns uniquely with one’s goals, values, and aspirations. Gauging opportunities against these personal benchmarks, even those initially distant from perfection, might offer valuable experiences, especially in the early stages of seeking that ideal fit. 
• Know your trade-offs: Every opportunity carries its trade-offs and limitations. Rather than seeing these as strict restrictions, viewing them as parameters to define your available wiggle room can shift your perspective. This goes for elements like location, salary, job type, and hours, and prompting a prioritization process such as identifying non-negotiables and areas open for compromise.  
• Think outside the box for accessing opportunities: Create opportunities that align with various aspects of your goals. Each opportunity, even if not ideal, might pave the way for more fulfilling paths. By pursuing these opportunities (even the goal-adjacent ones), you not only enhance your chances but also prepare yourself to become an exceptional contender for the right opportunity when it does come your way. 
• Know Yourself: Your internal reactions serve as guiding signs toward the suitability of opportunities. These responses encompass bodily sensations, self-talk, and thought processes and offer valuable data beyond surface content. Identifying these personal signals, often termed the “gut check,” is crucial. Paying attention to your feelings before embracing new opportunities allows you to discern differences between the good opportunities and the ones you should let go of.  
• It’s not an either/or situation: Exploring low-commitment opportunities offers valuable insights before making significant commitments. Known as “stretch assignments” in business or conducting “pilot studies” in research, these initiatives resemble “prototyping” in design thinking. This approach involves undertaking short-term, low-risk projects or temporary roles to experiment with various methods to identify the best fit or crucial aspects before fully investing. In real life, this could entail volunteering for time-limited projects to broaden skills without major schedule changes or temporarily transitioning roles to understand different facets of an organization. 

Source: Psychology Today – 5 Rules to Live By When Looking for the Perfect Opportunity. 

Related reading: Pioneering: How Leaders Will Help Navigate the Ever-Changing Real Estate Frontier 

The Takeaway 

The most remarkable opportunities in real estate seldom arrive in perfect, predictable ways. They emerge from the chaos, challenge assumptions, and defy conventional wisdom. To harness these opportunities, real estate leaders must cultivate an adaptive mindset, possess the courage to take calculated risks and be willing to explore the uncharted territories that promise growth and success. 

Susan Wojcicki’s words encapsulate the essence of these opportunities—their inherent messiness, their capacity to challenge, and their potential to transform. As real estate leaders, embracing this perspective will not only unlock hidden potential but also pave the way for innovation, growth, and lasting success in an ever-evolving industry. 

For Your Agents…  

Opportunities are often missed because we are looking for them in the wrong place or hold to a narrow viewpoint and fail to see the potential.  

When it comes to finding new opportunities amidst these ongoing antitrust lawsuits, it’s time to think outside the box and trust our instincts. That’s why we have the following article for you to share with your agents: Unconventional Ways to Embrace Real Estate Opportunities  

Know that agents do NOT have to go it alone in this market. Our goal is to bring the tools, training, and coaching each needs to not only survive the shifts – but build solid, dependable foundations they can count on and help them build clients for life. If that sounds like a goal that can help you reach YOUR goals – then join us for our Free Weekly Real Estate Webinar Training Series! Click below to register for the next one!

Darryl Davis is an award-winning international speaker, real estate and business coach, and best-selling author of three books, all published by McGraw Hill Publishers.   

For more than 35 years, Darryl has spoken to and trained more than 100,000 sales professionals around the globe to more than double their production year after year. His book, How to Become a Power Agent in Real Estate, tops Amazon’s charts for one of the most sold books to real estate agents.   

He was awarded the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation by the National Speaker’s Association which is given to less than 2% of all speakers worldwide.   

Whether from a stage or Zooming into a virtual room, Darryl’s extraordinary humor, relatability, and natural gift for teaching real-world, results-producing skills and mindsets to audiences have made him a client favorite throughout his career.   

Audiences will laugh, learn, and ultimately walk away better prepared for a changing world, with the tools, skills, and training they need to build their businesses with more ease and less stress and to design lives and careers worth smiling about.   

Bring One of Darryl’s W.O.R.K. Topics to Your Organization!  

By providing your agents with the knowledge and insights they need to stay ahead of the game, you can ensure that they are equipped to handle any situation that comes their way! Contact us here to learn more!