I don’t do it as often as I should, but I actually started to…read a book recently. Weird I know, but it surprisingly isn’t as painful as I thought it would be. The book is called The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller, just in case anyone is wondering. I can’t tell if I picked it up because I’m genuinely interested in possibly becoming a realtor or just because I’ve been watching a lot of Million Dollar Listing lately. Either way, it’s a great book and it mentioned something that really made me think.

In one of the first parts of the book, Keller talks about the word “can’t” and how often people say they can’t do something. In this case it was an example of someone telling themself that they can’t be a real estate agent for whatever reason when they hadn’t even tried. Keller goes on to explain that you have no idea what you’re capable of if you don’t try in the first place. Basically the message was that it’s impossible to know what you can’t do if you haven’t even attempted to do it. This really resonated with me because there have definitely been times that I’ve talked myself out of doing something because “my personality isn’t fit for it” or “I wouldn’t be good at it.” But the problem with this was that I never thought it was that big of an issue. I think I have a pretty good idea of what my personality is like and what types of careers or hobbies I’m better suited for. I had thought that staying in my comfort zone was my best bet, but I never realized how limiting that was.

For the sake of this article, let’s use real estate as an example. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for a good reality television show, but I got hooked on Million Dollar Listing very quickly with no prior interest in the real estate business at all. Maybe it’s just because I like seeing expensive houses and their fancy interiors– I haven’t figured it out yet. Anyway, there was such an aspirational factor to the show for me but I always had it in my mind that becoming a realtor was so far-fetched because I’m not a typical “sales person.” I’m not pushy or outgoing so I just assumed I wouldn’t be good at it. Having a mindset like that can really deter growth or trying something new. Things don’t always turn out the way you plan, so you may find yourself in a position where trying something new is the only option. Imagine how stuck you might feel if you let your own mind talk you out of putting yourself out there simply because you don’t THINK you’d be a right fit. In reality, I might turn out to be a successful agent if I actually gave myself a fair shot. Maybe my personality could appeal to those who don’t particularly favor the sales people who are pushy and persistent…who knows? I might be able to offer a new approach to selling homes that better aligns with my personality traits.

This change in mindset can be applied to way more than just career choices. I never thought a passage in a book would have me reconsidering the way I handle opportunities or conversations, but here we are. The moral of the story is: don’t let the word “can’t” get in the way. I completely understand the reservations when it comes to considering something outside of your comfort zone, believe me. But quite honestly, it’s true that you don’t know what you’re good at or not good at if you don’t even give yourself a chance to find out.