“Every second you spend thinking about what somebody else has is taking away from time that you could create something for yourself.”
-Gary “Gary Vee” Vaynerchuck, American serial entrepreneur.
Envy is a commonplace emotion in the competitive world of real estate, but it is one of the most toxic to success. When we envy the success of others, we can be driven to devalue our wins, needlessly resent others, and encourage us to take actions inconsistent with our ethics.
Perhaps worst of all? Envy holds us back from building a career we can be proud of.
If you’ve been feeling a little green with envy, here are a few tips to help you bring your focus back to what matters:
1. Recognize the blessings you have in your life and the wins you’ve earned. If you’re looking to others as a measuring stick for your own worth, you may have lost sight of the genuinely good things you have and have accomplished. Keep a list of your blessings and your triumphs and return to them often.
2. Spend your time with people who share your values. Don’t hang out with the bloodthirsty sharks unless you want to see yourself becoming one. You may think you want to climb the capitalist ladder at any cost only to find out this approach to life only makes you (and those around you) more miserable. Try to work with teams who value what you value.
3. Give it away better than you get it. Celebrate the success of those around you. Take the time to genuinely congratulate those who are having their moment in the sun. Not only is this a class move, but it magically diminishes feelings of envy every time.
Don’t waste your waking hours stewing with envy. Build beyond it.
