Every leader who is tasked with growing a real estate team, office, or organization experiences an internal sense of resistance.

According to Steven Pressfield, this resistance is not unique to recruiting, it shows up every time you focus on a proactive project that leads to your long-term success.

How do you know it’s happening?

Steven cites 42 symptoms humans display when they’re experiencing internal resistance.

Here are the 10 that most resonated with me:

• Procrastinating

• Ignoring or avoiding the useful metrics

• Being too busy to get to the hard part

• The tension of “this might not work” ends up feeling like stress instead

• Blaming the system for our obstacles

• Being obsessed with new technology and opportunities, waiting for the    

       next big thing

• Focusing on the urgent instead of the important

• Looking for the shortcuts even when we know the long way is the only

       way

• Our actual calendar of time spent doesn’t match the agenda for the work

       to be done

• Insisting on authenticity instead of consistency

The first step to overcoming resistance is to call it out for what it is:

Internal resistance is a predictable byproduct of proactive and meaningful work.

Everyone experiences it, and it’s a sign you’re on the right path.

Second, don’t give into a victim mindset.

Each of these symptoms is an emotional reaction to what you believe about the work.

When high-performers recognize resistance, they call it out, push the emotion aside, and refocus on the long-term value recruiting will bring both to them and those around them.

You’re in a battle, and your first and most formidable enemy is your own mind and will.