In times of immense distraction and stress, cultivating a laser-like focus on what is possible becomes an invaluable ally. 

We’ve been at this real estate thing a long time, as we are sure many of you have too. In that time, we’ve witnessed countless agents facing obstacles in their careers. Here’s what we know: what separates exceptional agents from the rest is their ability to identify opportunities within these challenges. That’s a REALLY important message to let sink in right now as we are inundated in today’s world with negative influences, glaring headlines, and a tight market.  

Related reading: Win the Day: How Small Steps Pave the Way to Big Real Estate Success  

Since we are big fans of highlighting successes and wins – we wanted to use some success stories that were “born” during difficulty and rose to the top. We hope they’ll inspire you to continue to focus on finding possibilities and opportunities in a world filled with obstacles.   

Let’s look at four remarkable stories of struggling companies that pivoted into success: 

• Airbnb: During the global financial crisis in 2008, two friends, Brian Chesky, and Joe Gebbia, were struggling to pay their rent in San Francisco. They decided to rent out air mattresses in their apartment to attendees of a design conference, providing them with a place to stay. This simple idea led to the creation of Airbnb, a platform that allows people to rent out their homes or spare rooms to travelers for less money than traditional hotels. Despite facing numerous challenges, such as regulatory hurdles and trust concerns, Airbnb persevered and became a global phenomenon. Today, it is valued at billions of dollars and has revolutionized the travel and hospitality industry. What’s the message for you? Embrace critical thinking and innovation, and look for out-of-the-box options to explore a niche that send your business soaring! 
• Slack: Slack, a popular collaboration and messaging platform, was born out of the failure of a gaming company called Tiny Speck. The company had developed an online multiplayer game called Glitch, which failed to attract enough users and had to be shut down. However, the internal communication tool they had built for their team during the development of Glitch turned out to be incredibly useful. Recognizing its potential, the team rebranded and relaunched the tool as Slack in 2013. Despite facing fierce competition, Slack’s user-friendly interface and focus on team communication led to its widespread adoption. In 2020, Slack was acquired by Salesforce for over $27 billion. What’s the message for you? Rather than being discouraged by setbacks, view obstacles as valuable learning experiences. What can you learn from this? Adapt, refine your tools and strategies to capitalize on what’s working, and look for ways to implement new techniques that can take your idea in a new direction. 
• Disney: Walt Disney, the legendary founder of The Walt Disney Company, faced numerous obstacles throughout his career. In the early 1920s, Disney’s first animation studio went bankrupt, and he lost the rights to his popular Oswald the Lucky Rabbit character. Undeterred, Disney rebounded by creating a new character, Mickey Mouse, and founded a new studio, which eventually became the foundation of the massive Disney empire. Despite facing financial struggles and skepticism from industry insiders, and even his own stockholders, Disney’s determination and creativity led to the creation of iconic characters, theme parks, and a media powerhouse that continues to thrive to this day. What’s the message for you? Don’t allow setbacks to define your career; turn your breakdown into a breakthrough. Your failure is actually a stepping stone toward future success when you pursue your goals with relentless determination. 
• Instagram: Instagram, the widely-used photo-sharing app, started as Burbn, a location-based social networking platform. Burbn struggled to gain traction in a highly competitive market dominated by Foursquare and other similar apps. Recognizing the need to pivot, the founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, analyzed user behavior and identified the photo-sharing feature as the most popular aspect of Burbn. They made the strategic decision to refocus the app entirely on photo-sharing, resulting in the birth of Instagram. The app’s simplicity, visual appeal, and filters quickly gained popularity, and Instagram was eventually acquired by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012. What’s the message for you? Keep a close eye on market trends and consumer preferences so that you can do your best to give them what they want! Being adaptable and quick to embrace new tools and mindsets will position you as a cutting-edge agent, attracting more opportunities in the process. 

POWER AGENT® Success Stories 

We love celebrating wins in the POWER PROGRAM®, so we wanted to share a few examples from among our group: 

• Real Estate Success Stories 
• POWER AGENT® Success Story: From Scarcity to Abundance 
• Real Estate Wins of the Week: Coaching Success Stories

Obstacles and adversities are always going to fall in our paths – that’s just the way of the world. How we HANDLE them, navigate them, and even leverage them to create success makes all the difference in life and in business. This week, take the time to re-imagine what you are focusing on so that you, too, can turn adversities into success stories. It’s never too late! 

Related reading: Transform Your Organization into an Innovative Learning Machine 

We’re here to help every step of the way!  

Learn more about the POWER AGENT® PROGRAM 

• Join Darryl’s Inner Circle Facebook Group. We are always posting fresh ideas, training tools, strategies, and templates, along with hosting important, timely discussions with real estate professionals across the globe who are committed to their Next Level® of success and life.  

• Subscribe to our newsletter. Click the button below to fill out a simple form and tap into new resources, free downloads, premium content, and exciting promotions. 

• Reach out and talk to us. Not sure if this coaching program and community are right for you? Click that blue chat button on the bottom right of the screen, or call us at the number in the header. We are here to help!

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