Last year we were fortunate to have the opportunity to take our family skiing.
For our kids, this was their first time on the slopes.
My wife and I were both introduced to skiing in our twenties so needless to say we were quite awkward on skies and there was a lot of falling in the beginning.
The kids, who range in age from teenager to preschool, were all excited and couldn’t wait to hit the slopes.
Knowing the challenges that lie ahead, we made them promise us one thing, “Do not give up!” We started referring to this as the “family motto” for the trip.
Well, as expected, they ate a lot of snow the first day. We continued to repeat the motto, “Don’t give up!” reassuring them that once they got the hang of it, skiing is an absolute blast.
As any parent knows, each kid is different, and the oldest was reluctant to get back on the horse so to speak. We convinced her (more like forced her due to how much the trip cost) to strap the boots back on and give it another shot.
She had her moments of success, but continued to eat a lot of snow the second day. After watching our preschooler run over a few kids at the bottom of the hill at the end of the first day, we quickly realized she needed another day of ski school.
She however, needed no convincing as she couldn’t wait to get back on the slopes. Our two (2) middle kids were talking a lot of noise to the others about their skiing skills, but appeared to have a grasp of the basics, so we agreed that they could go ahead and ski with us the second day.
They were a little over confident in their abilities and they too also ate a lot of snow that second day. They were all a little frustrated at the end of the second day, but we continued to repeat the motto, “Don’t give up!” The third day we were all skiing together as a family down the slopes.
Today, they all keep asking when we can go skiing again and the answer is, “When Daddy closes more deals.”
Like skiing, there are mountain top experiences, valleys, and slippery slopes in the
commercial real estate business.
When we close a deal, there is that breath of fresh air like being on top of a mountain. When we lose a deal, it’s like being in the valley and the climb back up appears very challenging.
When negotiating deals, arguing over commissions (worst part of this business), or fighting for an assignment, it can feel like being on those slippery slopes and we just aren’t quite sure how things are going to end up.
Like my oldest learning to ski, when things don’t go our way in the commercial real estate business we have to make a choice about whether or not to pick ourselves up and get back on the horse.
Like falling on the slopes, losing a deal hurts, but we have to subscribe to the notion of “not giving up”. We have to “keep showing up” and fight for that next deal.
Jason Miller is Vice President for Bradford Companies in the Stemmons Corridor. Corporate Office, 9400 NCX, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75231, Ph: 972-776-7043
March 17, 2014
