The legendary coach John Wooden became famous for his 10 National Champion UCLA Bruin basketball teams and his philosophies of life and how to achieve success. One of his teachings says, "Why do so many people dread adversity, when it is only through adversity that we grow stronger?" 

This can apply to the Real Estate market in our world today. We continue to try to find buyers that can qualify for loans, sellers who want to price their homes "to" sell and lenders who will work with us. How many extra hours have you put in? What new marketing efforts have you started? How creative have you become? Has the "adversity" of this market made you stretch and come out of your comfort zone to be successful or has it dampened your spirit and made you negative and wishing for the "old days?"

If you have made strides forward with a positive attitude and have accomplished things you currently have never done are stronger and are still successful. Are you one of those that have embraced adversity or have you shrink from it. Now is a great time to evaluate what you have done these past 10 months and determine how strong you will finish the year.

What kind of character has adversity brought out in you? The Wizard of Westwood taught, "One's character may be quite different from one's reputation. Your character is what you really are. Your reputation is only what others think you are."