The Best Revenge

This was one of those rotten weeks.

If you've spent enough time in real estate sales, this will resonate. It was the kind of week that only someone who's been on this rollercoaster long enough can truly understand. The kind where you do everything right, act in your client's best interest, go that extra mile, and still, everything falls apart.

It's humbling. It's exhausting. And if you're not built for it, it can be soul destroying.

Real estate gives you a front row seat to human nature. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Lately, it feels like it's more than the kitchen sink is being thrown at us. The industry has become faster, noisier, and more cutthroat. Politeness has been replaced by posturing. Ethics have become optional. Everyone's looking for the edge, even if it means pushing someone else off the cliff. It's largely due to the leadership we have, starting at the highest court and extending down every rung of the ladder.

To survive in this business, you have to be wired in a certain way. You need resilience, competitiveness, and maybe just a little bit of madness.

I had a manager once tell me that his best agents were either paying alimony or supporting a bad habit.

A big part of the appeal of the industry is that the adrenaline rush of closing a deal is unlike anything else. It's the same dopamine hit as a perfect tee shot that flies down the center of the fairway. It's that one clean swing that makes you want to come back and have another go at it. Rory McIlroy has it in spades.

But the lows? They're equally intense. You lose a deal, a client, an entire month's work. And it hurts.

So, how do I stay sane?

How do I avoid becoming jaded, bitter, or just plain numb?

For me, it comes down to people. The ones who still show up with integrity. Who take the high road. Who smile, even when they have every reason not to. Who play fair, even when it's easier not to. I call them the "bright sparks." They remind me why I'm still in this business.

And then there's philosophy. I've become a quiet student of Stoicism, thanks in part to the writings of Ryan Holiday. One of my favorite quotes one I carry with me on days like these is from Marcus Aurelius:

"The best revenge is not to be like your enemy."

In a world that often pulls you down, the real flex is staying above it and taking the high road. Maintaining grace. Leading with character. Choosing the long game.

The truth is, real estate, like life, isn't always fair. But if you can keep your values intact, even when the deal falls apart, then maybe, just maybe, that's the real win.