7 Quotes to Endure Adversity

when gratitude is difficult



7 Quotes to overcome adversity

We face a slew of challenges. Perhaps it’s a lack of leads, difficult people, or a weakening housing market. How long are we supposed to hold the line when everything inside of us screams quit?

The trick is not to think about how long you have to put up with these struggles but to endure them for that day- in that given moment.

With that in mind, here are some quotes on how we can better endure and even grow amid adversity. You may want to mark this episode to come back to when you need to boost your spirit.

Constant misfortune brings this one blessing: to whom it always assails, it eventually fortifies. -Seneca

Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory. -George Patton

Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal. -Marcus Aurelius

It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness, we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.-Greek proverb.

Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.-Epictetus

People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.-Epictetus

To bear trials with a calm mind robs misfortune of its strength and burden. -Seneca

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4 Ways to Build on Your Strengths



How to create your own ‘culture’ anywhere

Last season the Denver Broncos’ new highly-touted quarterback Russell Wilson was sacked 55 times! Not surprisingly their record was a dismal 5 and 12. The Bronco’s new coach, Sean Payton was asked about the players’ performance last year and what his plans were. “No 1 job for us coaches in evaluating players is what are the things they do well and let’s try to put them in those positions…Highlight their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.” The same can be said about us as reverse mortgage professionals. Perhaps we feel like we’ve been sacked as reverse mortgage pros this last season.

Basically, we have two skill sets- soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are those intangible qualities and talents you have that make you effective when interacting with others.

Hard skills are those skills and abilities that can be taught and practiced.

For example, being a great people person is a soft skill. However, you can learn some hard skills to improve your personal interaction skills. Resiliency is another soft skill.

Then there are hard skills such as organization, time management, basic sales techniques, and an understanding of human psychology.

So where do we begin?

The first step is to identify what our core strengths and capabilities are. Where do you shine the most? What seems to come naturally? What activities bring you compliments from your professional peers and even borrowers? This will require a certain level of self-awareness. Your strengths not only make you feel strong but they produce positive results.

The second step is to examine where you could use your strengths more consistently in your business. For example, if you’re a great public speaker perhaps you should add more speaking engagements in front of homeowners and area professionals. If you’re a great face-to-face salesperson then getting to the kitchen table or on a Zoom meeting should be your top priority.

The third is to know your patterns. What kind of tendencies do you have when the phone and email are quiet? Do you wait or take action somewhere else to produce future sales? Do you love starting projects but find it difficult to complete them? The Swiss-born British philosopher Alain de Botton said, “the best cure for one’s bad tendencies is to see them fully developed in someone else.” How true.!

And the fourth step to playing to your strengths is to get honest feedback. Ask your spouse, a trusted friend, or a colleague for their unvarnished feedback. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The ego is our enemy in this process- so put it aside to learn how to improve.

When we focus on our strengths we don’t fixate on our weaknesses and become increasingly effective, confident, and optimistic. Let’s take some time this week and assess where we can flex our best strengths more consistently in our business.

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The Culture You Create



How to create your own ‘culture’ anywhere

Wittingly or unwittingly you are creating a culture everywhere you go. At the office, at home, in a business meeting, or at a conference. The culture created by a company or an individual influences one’s beliefs, attitudes, and well-being. Today we will delve into how you can create your own culture or help improve the one within the organization in which you work.

Workers often rate a company’s culture as one of the most important attributes. This is not surprising since a positive company culture helps workers feel good about going to the office and interacting with their fellow colleagues.

What kind of culture do you want to create? That’s a good place to begin as you are certainly part of the equation, whether personally or professionally.

Here are a few tips to help become a culture creator!

  1. The ‘we’ factor. A ‘we’re in this together’ attitude fosters collaboration, open communication, and harmony among coworkers and family members.
  2. Clarity of communication. Who’s supposed to do what? Are the expectations not only clear but understood? Do all parties feel safe in giving honest feedback?
  3. Learning how to work through conflict. In a speech before our local Chamber of Commerce the founder of Center and certified coach Dr. Stephen Campbell said when facing conflict we should begin by assuming the good intention of the other party. Once we’ve done that we can move on to owning our own part and working collectively toward a solution.
  4. Define your values. What are the principles you hold dear? How do you reflect these in your personal and professional interactions? Your values are the cardinal points on your compass that will help guide your decisions.
  5. Self-care. If you don’t take care of your own body, mind, and soul it’s nearly impossible to be a positive force in any organization’s culture. Set boundaries, take breaks, and make time to unwind with an activity that rejuvenates you.

Creating your own culture, whether in the workplace or personal life, empowers you to shape your experiences, values, and relationships. What culture will you create?

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