I am sitting here on my Destin Florida balcony writing this. It is a gorgeous day on the Emerald Coast- truly. The sun is glowing setting-orange. I can hear the waves crashing in the Gulf of Mexico. The temperature is a moderate 63 degrees, and a gentle breeze is caressing my legs. Wow. I am actually relaxing! Then why am I writing a blog post? If you are a real estate agent like me, you work hard. People will say you work harder, especially in this market, but is that true? Full-time professionals agents always work hard and are busy even in an up market. We might work 10 hour days, some six or seven days a week. Goodness, I don't "work" weekends, except for my website updating and Activerain reading three hours each on Saturday and Sunday. Not to mention fielding phone calls from agents about my listings. "Can I show it?" "Where are you in the short sale process?" "How many offers have you had?" Do I love what I do? Yes. I love my business. I enjoy "business". I enjoy the practice of real estate. I take pride in performing well, being efficient, knowledgeable, helpful and proper. I, like you, want to improve, do it better, expand my business and have success. But when is it "OK" to turn off the phone? To not catch up on your trade reading? To stop trying to use every online trick, every business-growing hint, every sales technique? When is it "OK" to turn off the headlines? When is it "OK" to turn off the cell phone and- horrors- maybe miss a showing?
You know what happened to me on Friday? A dog ran into my car. I was driving home, the sunset over the Gulf was incredible. I had just called my husband telling him I was on my way. Seconds later everything changed. The little black dog was under my car. I slammed on my breaks. I called 911. I saw its contorted body in my rear view mirror. I stopped and looked and walked and enlisted neighbors to help me. We couldn't find the dog. That dog is more important than any business deal, any cell phone call, and any blog post. So is life. So maybe it is "OK" to slow it down a notch. To sit on your balcony. To help a dog. To turn off the cell phone. Real estate won't come to a stop. But life will carry on.
"It's Wendy"
Wendy Rulnick, Broker
Gosh Wendy - that is so hard... Sometimes it takes something like that for us who are truly passionate about our work and business and the people we take care of to remember to take care of ourselves and our loved ones and the things around us that are important in our personal lives to. We go about our business and forget to just take the time to shut the phone off even for an hour and just "be.".... your photo is gorgeous. I have been trying to pencil out "me" time and it is hard - so many years of no "me" time. The world continues to keep going whether we have our phone on or not and sometimes it also lets people know that we are people too and have a personal side...
Wendy, I don't want to bug you on your day off but I'm just checking in to tell you.."I'm with you all the way". Sometimes I get so tired by the end of the week all I want to do is "veg out". The dog story does give us all a little reality check, doesn't it? Have a good Sunday!
Wendy: I know its hard but very important to take time off for family. Kelly
Wendy - While I am sorry to hear about Friday, I'm really glad to read that you were able to take some time and relax. At this time of year, most of us would love to be avle to spend a few hours sitting on a balcony in Destin. (Actually, that would be true most times of the year!) While I always feel like I have something to do, I know that I function better if I put it all aside for a few hours a week and relax.
Wendy, I am so sorry to hear about your unfortunate accident! I can relate to your post because I too work many hours, pushing myself to do the very best I can for my buyers and my sellers...I need to learn how to do the "balance thing" better. To Your Success!
Valerie - Thank you for the beautiful comment.
Kent - Thank you for your support!
Kelly - Right on.
Erik - Thank you. I actually discussed it with my husband Sunday - should I be working more? Was three hours Sat and Sun enough? I don't think I could offer quality if I personally did any more.
Wanda - Thank you for the toast!!