• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Sara Alvarado: Keynote Speaker | Teacher | Writer
Sara Alvarado
  • Home
  • Memoir
  • Speaking
  • Free Resources
  • Real Estate
  • About
    • Blog
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog

I Quit

July 26, 2013/in Authentic Leadership/by Sara Alvarado

I love to quit. I get the whole thing about successful people fail more and you can’t succeed until you fail. But my new thing is quitting. I believe that successful people know how to quit.

A couple of years ago we got into short sales. The real estate market was bad and so we changed with the market and learned all there was to learn about selling homes that were underwater (when the mortgage is more than the home can sell for). Short Sales. And it was helpful in getting us through those times. Short sales are tough transactions and the odds aren’t in our favor that they’ll close. Since we don’t get paid unless we get to the closing table it wasn’t too hard for me to say I quit.

Okay, it was hard. It was really hard. Someone would call and they would need help and I would take one more short sale. Learning to quit isn’t easy but I’m in the process so hang in there with me. I’ve also learned to quit in our marketing department. If it isn’t working, I quit. Online referral programs, mailing campaigns, advertising packages. I’ll test it, put our best foot forward and if it isn’t producing results I drop it.

I thought I’d like growing our real estate company. I grew it and then through trial and error I decided that I didn’t want to have more than 10 people in our company. We tweaked some things and learned what we liked, what works and what doesn’t work for us. The thing is there are a zillion models out there and everyone says that they have the best model, they have the right answer and the key to success. But the reality is they figured out what works for them and that is great but I’m not drinking that kool aid because I know that what works for someone else might not work for me. I’ll read the books, I’ll fall in love with a system and then I’ll try it. But I’m not going to force it. If it is right I’ll know, and if it isn’t, I’ll be true to myself and I’ll quit.

Do I teach my kids this? Well kind of. If I were a single mom it would be one of my favorite lessons but I’m not. I have a husband that I love and respect and he believes that when you start something you finish it. I respect that. It just isn’t how I like to roll. We made Alex play violin for 5th grade strings. He didn’t want to. It was an optional class. But he did it and mid way through the class he HATED it. It wasn’t a dislike, it was a horrible experience for him (I’m being way too dramatic here, it wasn’t that bad). Alex begged us to quit. I told Carlos he should quit. But Carlos believed he should stick through the class to the end of the semester. Here is the deal, I would agree with that if his class depended on him to play his part for the concert or something. If there aren’t enough kids on the soccer team and it is going to put out the other kids and the coach to quit, then of course, don’t quit until the season is over. I’m not saying be irresponsible. In this case, I would have supported Alex quitting violin mid way through the class. I pick my battles. I like team parenting so I let that one go and poor Alex had to play violin through the end of the year.

I like following my heart, listening to my intuition and doing what gives me joy. I know that it isn’t always glitter and sunshine, but if  a couple of days go by and I’m not laughing and skipping randomly then it is time to do a check in. And perhaps find something that I can quit.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://saraalvarado.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sun-no-words-scaled.jpg 1676 2560 Sara Alvarado /wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SaraAlvaradoLogo.jpg Sara Alvarado2013-07-26 09:43:402015-03-20 12:56:55I Quit
1 reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Teach me the rules so I can change them says:
    March 10, 2014 at 2:26 pm

    […] just do it. If I don’t like it, I quit. I can’t know until I […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to my newsletter!

Categories

  • Authentic Leadership (10)
  • Favorites (6)
  • Race, Roles & Rawness (45)
  • Uncategorized (7)
  • Vulnerable & Vibrant (56)

Archives

Connect

     

Contact

sara@saraalvarado.com

608.438.5005

© 2020 Sara Alvarado | All rights reserved. | Website Design by Bizzy Bizzy
Get Curious, Get ConnectedMy Anti Routine Kick Ass Exercise Revelation
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more×

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Accept settingsHide notification only
Join my email list

 

Sign up for new blog posts and love sparkles!

When you sign up, you’ll receive a free gift,
a Guide for Change Agents, delivered to your inbox.

Sign up for the Conversation Challenge

Join the Conversation Challege

Subscribe here

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Powered By ConvertKit

    Powered By ConvertKit