Once, after a long summer day at Coney Island, I walked past the Cyclone just as the crowds were thinning out. I paused, debating whether to hop on for one last ride, when a minivan screeched to a stop in front of the entrance. A woman jumped out—mid-forties, ponytail flying—and sprinted to the ticket booth. Her entire family stayed in the car while she climbed aboard the empty rollercoaster, grinning like a teenager.
I couldn’t stop laughing. A true rollercoaster junkie. Was this her ritual? A personal thrill? A release valve?
It reminded me of something I see in real estate all the time. This business has its own version of the Cyclone. Steep climbs, sudden drops, unexpected turns. And every agent rides it a little differently. In my experience, they tend to fall into three types:
1. The Deal Junkie
These agents live for the adrenaline. High-stakes negotiations are their playground. A dozen offers, impossible timelines, impossible clients—it’s all fuel. The more complex the deal, the more alive they feel. They’re not just working, they’re chasing the high.
2. The Marathoner
Marathoners play the long game. Each transaction is a mile marker. Some propel them forward. Others leave blisters. Either way, they keep moving. They don’t crave speed or drama. They value endurance. For them, the goal is to finish—and to finish well.
3. The Amnesia Rider
These agents have a curious gift: selective memory. When a deal falls apart or the stress peaks, they forget just enough of the emotional weight to get back in line for the next ride. It’s not conscious. It’s a coping mechanism—like how many women don’t fully remember the pain of childbirth. Their ability to forget the intensity is what allows them to keep going. It works… until it doesn’t.
So—what kind of rider are you?
There’s no right answer. What matters is that you know.
Self-awareness is where power begins. It helps you manage stress, make smarter decisions, and stay aligned with your purpose instead of getting pulled into patterns that drain you. When you understand your instincts, your limits, and your motivators, you stop reacting blindly. You start leading with intention.
And maybe most importantly, self-awareness gives you just enough distance from the chaos to breathe. It creates space. Suddenly, you’re not stuck in the ride—you’re watching yourself ride it. That little bit of perspective can turn overwhelm into clarity. It can shift your mindset from “this is happening to me” to “this is happening for me.”
You can’t always control the market. You can’t always predict the turns. But when you know yourself, you ride differently. You find your rhythm. And sometimes, you even enjoy it.
The highs and lows are inevitable. Who you become on the ride? That’s the part you get to shape.
Hit reply and tell me—what’s your style? I read every message.
– Molly B.
Founder & CEO, Molly B. Townsend Coaching & Consulting
[email protected]
