Dipping My Toes in the Water
I’ve been trying to compose this post for a while now. Ready to scream from the rooftops, but at the same time, not really wanted to give away too much just yet. Not because I don’t want you guys to know, but because I am afraid of failure.
Yes, you heard that right. I am afraid of failure.
We’ve been talking about all of the changes that I have been going through, starting with 10 months ago, to the beginning of the year. Another thing I have been working on is taking chances and making memories.
I just couldn’t sit idle and watch life pass me by.
I need to live life now. The next day is not promised.
As part of that whole concept of taking chances I reunited with an old friend and headed to Cedarville. Then, my bestie and I took our very first girls weekend getaway to Belleview to stay in a cabin that looked like Friday the 13th and should be housed on Crystal Lake.
Then, there was the trip to Indiana. What a mess that was. Even though that did not turn out as planned, there was the beautiful trails, falling rock and seeing the old pavilions were pretty cool. But, that whole experience, which lasted less than an hour, didn’t seem to make up for the time I lost after I returned home because I went through this period where I didn’t want to go peopling. I stayed home for a week and I really had no desire to talk to or be around anyone.
I’m back in the swing of things now. I am still trying to put myself out there. See new things. Meet new people. And try to give my lift some sense of direction and purpose.
I know ‘book boy’ hasn’t been mentioned much lately and he had a bit of a voice there for a while. He’s still around. We hang out all of the time. But, we’re just friends. His sister has become a good friend ( just love that girl to pieces) and his mother, whom you saw in the Cedarville posts, has become one as well.
You know that old saying where people come in to your life for a reason, a season and …I don’t know, some sort of lesson or something like that…. Well, I feel like there are plenty of reasons I crashed in to J and his family has become a part of my life. It’s like he knew exactly what I needed when I needed it.
It’s amazing how you can find a great friend in the least likely of places.
J saw something in me that I never really talked to him about. When it came to light, I felt a little strange about it. I kept wondering “how did he see that?”
When J and I first started hanging out we spent a lot of time at the library working on our book and website. We would need a break, so we would just spend time driving around and talking. One thing we both did was comment a lot on the houses as we would pass by them. J would show me some of his favorite places where he liked many of the homes. For some, this might not seem like a good time, but for me, it was thrilling. It brought back a lot of happy memories I had hanging out with my mother.
I grew up in the real estate world. My mother was a sales agent when I was 7 or so and eventually she became a broker owning her own business. Welcome Home Properties was its name and I remember going with her to see houses and in the summer I would hang around her office. I grew to appreciate houses of all types but my favorite was the ugly and abused because to me that was a blank canvas. I have a lot of housing occupations in my family from construction, to dry wall, to appraisals, brokers and mortgage brokers. I have house flippers and real estate investors.
Then there is my obsession with tiny houses.
So, it should come as no surprise when J said something to me very early on in our friendship that I should become a real estate agent. I laughed it off at first and then I told him my background story.
Not only that, I have an appraisers license. I obtained that shortly after I moved to MI and before I went back to college. There was a time while I was in college where I felt like I should go ahead and get my real estate license but school took up so much time I didn’t finish the real estate class.
J and I talked about it a few more times until finally I just decided to take his advice and sign up for the class. I’m all about making life changes, right?
So here I am. In class. Hopeful that I will be taking my boards soon and passing them. Turning my masters degree into the real estate world.
Y’all I can’t tell you how excited I am for this (but also a bit nervous) because I felt like it was something I was meant to do all along. I interviewed with my top pick agency and sold myself as a brand even with the tattoos and piercings. I got on with my first pick! I am super excited for that.
The other day when I was studying I came across this doozy in the text book. It says “A contract between two people to murder a third person for money is void.” Now you know, there had to be a reason someone felt the need to write that in the book. C’mon.
I keep saying their are a lot of changes going on in my world and here on Nevermore Lane. I have a feeling this space will have a new look very soon! SUPER excited about the changes here as well.
This is no different! I am hoping to finish up my class very soon, then I will spent countless hours studying. October shall bring some stress, but hopefully soon I’ll be telling you guys I passed.
Life is moving full speed ahead and I am loving the ride.
What is something big that has changed in your life recently?
This is such an important post for everyone to read. We’re all afraid of failure on some level. Nobody WANTS to lose. Nobody WANTS to NOT accomplish their goals. The thing is, if we don’t try, we’ve already failed.
Very well saud Stacie. It’s true that if we don’t try, we have fauled already.
Goodluck on finishing your studies.
Thank you so much!
You are so right, we only fail ourselves if we dont even try.
Thank you so much!
I love this because you are exactly right. I know I am trying and having stepped out of my comfort zone is such a big thing for me. I am just going to keep on walking this path.
Great post. Fear of failure, not failure itself, is the single biggest enemy of our success. We often let our fear of failure stop us from even trying.
Thank you for sharing! I needed this! I am at a refocus in my life right now too! I felt just like you were talking to me! Can’t wait to hear that you passed! PS. sorry for all the exclamation points but I really mean them. 🙂
hahaha that is okay, life is full of exclamation, right? Good luck with finding your focus!
This is such a great post. The fear of failing can be pretty stressful but you can’t let it stop you from trying!
Kudos to you for pushing past your fear and going for it. The only recent change for me is a job change at work. After 14 years in the same department I decided I wanted to do something different, So far it is working out great!
That is awesome Catherine. Way to slay it!!!!
I’m glad that you found something that could work for you.
Congrats on getting back into something you enjoy. I love that you are trying to find out what you really want to focus on in life.
Thank you so much Pam!
Good for you!! You are doing amazing. For me I think the biggest change would be today. I decided to stop being angry and start forgiving
Good for you for taking ahold of your life, putting yourself out there and making changes. The journey is too short to allow fear to stand in your way!
Thank you for those encouraging words!
Oh my gosh, wow! Good luck with all of the learning and studying! You sound motivated so you’ll probably do very well!
I have always wanted to go into Real Estate. Last year the company I was with for years decided to phase out my position,. I am now going for my dream carer.
Are you going for your Real Estate license too Ann ????
Love this post! You have a very inspiring story and a motivating perspective in life! Best of luck to passing your board exams!
Thank you Toni!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you can top it! Good thing you have already seen what’s in for you, keep it up!
This is such an important read, as I think we are all afraid of something. I find the things i am afraid of I avoid them. But at least you are tackling them! Good for you!
I’ve been holding back on moving forward with something too. It’s a big project that could help infuse some cash into my business, but I’m so afraid to do it wrong or incomplete.
I too am about to embark on a new venture into the corporate world too. We are also listing our house for sale, it has been super crazy the last few weeks but it is slowly coming together.
Blogging really changes my life big! I am so glad you find your way in real estate!
I have been blogging for about 20 years now. Giving my age away 😉 I can’t imagine my life without it. I have no plans to stop. Nevermore Lane will continue to grow as I go on all of my new adventures in life.
Fear of failure can definitely hinder you. I remind myself that Thomas Edison failed hundreds of times before he got the light bulb to work. That keeps me motivated to take risks and get past my fear.
Fear of failure is one of my biggest hindrances. There are so many situations where the “etiquette” is learned and understood and those are the ones that intimidate me the most. As I venture out, I find that life is very forgiving when it comes stepping out of our comfort zones. I am excited to see where your adventure takes you.
Thank you so much! I have been on quite the journey this year and I am excited for my future.
It’s very inspiring to read that you are diving in to something that you love. Hard work always pays off!
Thank you so much for your kinds words about being inspiring. That means so much to me.
I truly believe it does!
Congrats on selling yourself and getting your top pick. I think sometimes we are harder on ourselves than other people are.
The fear of failing is so true. If you never try and are afraid you will never know if you will succeed. Keep up your great work and keep staying strong.
I am going to just keep on trying and give it my best.
What a great post. Thank you for being vulnerable. I know deep down we can all relate to this.
You are so right, Tracey!
I always wanted to get into real estate. I always thought it would be so much fun!
Having grown up in the field, I can tell you it really is a lot of fun!
What an inspiring story! I sometimes have a fear of failing too but I try to stay positive and not let negativity get the best of me. Stay grinding!
Still grinding away!
No one wants to fail, but here’s to taking chances ANYWAY – that is what counts! 🙂
I have a friend in Canada who does Real Estate, I always thought it was a interesting career, and I love staging stuff! 🙂
Staging is the best! I learned some interior design when I worked for a firm some years ago. It was always a lot of fun. I learned at a very young age how to look at a house that maybe wasn’t up to par for some and create this new space in my head. I love house flipping and my mom was an RE broker with her own business growing up. I think that is what set the stage for me 😉
Such a motivating post. Everyone should read this. the fear of failure get too many people down!