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3 Ways to Motivate Real Estate Agents in Downtimes

An image of Dermot Buffini and Alison Levine

As an experienced mountaineer and explorer, Alison Levine knows what it takes to set and reach goals, overcome obstacles and keep going even when things look their bleakest. As the captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, she learned those lessons firsthand when the expedition was forced to retreat just short of reaching the summit. Nearly 11 years later, she set out again and successfully completed the trek up the world’s highest mountain.  

Now a highly-sought-after motivational speaker and leadership consultant, Levine shares useful lessons for personal and professional growth.

  1. Backing Up is not the Same as Backing Down

We often think, Levine said, that progress is only measured by what happens as we go forward. In reality true progress sometimes requires that we step back.

She believes in this philosophy so strongly that she has trademarked the mantra, “Backing up is not the same as backing down.”

“Do not look at backtracking as losing ground,” she said. “You have to look at this as an opportunity to regroup, regain some strength so you’re better out of the gates the next time around.”

  1. Trust and Loyalty Matter

When times are tough, it can be difficult to keep your real estate team motivated, Levine said. “It all goes back to creating trust and loyalty on a team, by making sure that every single member of your team knows you care about them as a person, not caring about them as a job function, but as a person.”

“Your team is your family. If you make sure those people know you care about them as individuals, that’s what gets them to keep going during the toughest of times,” she added.

  1. Step Up (Even If You Don’t Feel You Are Ready) 

Levine noted that when she was first asked to captain the first American Women’s Everest expedition, she said no. Doubt had crept into her mind, she said, leading to a feeling of “not being good enough” for the challenge.

“But I also knew if I didn’t step up to the plate to be the team captain, somebody else was going to do it. Somebody else was going to be living my dream adventure,” she said.

“You don’t have to be the best, fastest, strongest climber out there on the trails every day,” she added. “You just have to be the person who is absolutely relentless about putting one foot in front of the other. That’s who gets to the top of the mountain. It’s the people who won’t quit.”

The Curious CEO

In a recent interview on “The Curious CEO,” hosted by Buffini CEO Dermot Buffini, Levine shared the lessons she has learned not only as an acclaimed mountaineer but also as a top business leader and philanthropist.  

 Watch The Curious CEO with Alison Levine now.

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