Mindset Monday - Seek Adventure - Embrace Discomfort
“The joy of living is his who has the heart to demand it. Life is a great adventure, and I want to say to you, accept it in such a spirit” – Theodore Roosevelt
We don’t always think about life in that context, but I find it useful to remind myself that this life is an adventure. Every aspect of it. Even the parts we like to file away as the mundane. It’s a matter of perspective and willingness to get out of your comfort zone.
We can choose to make it an adventure, or we can choose comfort. Ultimately that is what it comes down to.
No adventure ends with “and that day ended like any other”, “Or and it all went exactly as planned”.
No adventure has a the main character sail smoothly through the story.
Great adventures are through adversity. They are in the face of overwhelming odds. They are journeys into the unknown. They start without certainty of completion.
The reality is we don’t take deliberate action to change how we think about our day to day. Must of us go through the motions, we repeat the same process every day, the same routine and we dig a nice deep rut with our footsteps day after day. Easy to find, easy to follow and easy to justify because of previous results. Like a train on the tracks. We justify it with “This path got me here”. The problem is those tracks don’t go to new places.
Now I am not saying that you need to fight a lion on the way to the office to call it an adventure, or you need to abandon your daily disciplines that have made you successful. Disciplines and consistency are required to grow. However, hanging on to those routines because it comfortable, and keeps you away from the fear of stepping out of that comfort zone is limiting.
I talk to so many people in our industry that are so incredibly talented and vast resources of knowledge, and also have so many excuses why they DON’T do the thing they know they should. “I know I should, but….”- “I don’t like to do this/that” - “I’ve never been good at that”- “that’s never been my thing” …
The challenge this week is to make each day of your week an adventure professionally and personally. Add just a little uncertainty or discomfort.
Go door knock with an agent partner. Share the fear of waiting for that door to open, face it together and later laugh about the crazy stuff people said to you. Or celebrate a lead you never thought you would get. I’ll bet you are closer after. I’ll bet you now have a “war” story together.
Go to a new networking function. Maybe even one that is a bit outside the norm. Go on meetup.com and find the groups that share a hobby you do, or maybe a topic you are interested in. (Think coding, graphic design, underwater basket weaving, I don’t know just what you are interested in 😉). Show up make conversation and meet new people. I’ll bet you have conversations you didn’t think you would have. I’ll bet you meet people and add them to your network you didn’t think you would add.
Take a new workout class that you have never done. Maybe one that you have felt might be too tough. I’ll bet you finish it, I’ll bet the story of completing that class is more fun to tell than the class you do every week.
Hike a new trail. Maybe one you know is steeper than what you are used to. I’ll bet you get to the top. I’ll bet you talk about that hike more than the one you do all the time.
Pick something that gives you a new perspective and gets you out of that safety bubble, even if it is just a bit. Step outside of that track you have worn in the ground on the way to and from comfort. Cut a new trail for yourself.
Have a great week!
Written by Chris Catania
Chris Catania entered the mortgage industry in 2005. As a seasoned Branch Manager and coach at Fairway, Chris has consistently been at the forefront of providing, creative problem solving, exceptional service and tailored financial solutions. His commitment to excellence and deep understanding of the mortgage landscape have made him a trusted advisor and a leading figure in the field.
Beyond his professional achievements, Chris is a Army veteran, devoted husband and father. He is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Chris also brings his leadership experience and skills to the community as a coach, where he mentors individuals, teaching them the values of teamwork, discipline, accountability and perseverance. Chris Catania's blend of professional acumen, family dedication, and community involvement truly sets him apart as a respected professional and valued community member.
