Business has really taken off in the last 6 weeks or so, and I find myself working 10 and 12 hour days for at least the last 3 of those weeks. Those who sell real estate for a living know that this can happen easily. When you close a deal on paper, and get through inspections, appraisal, and loan approval, you move into what I call a holding pattern where you are waiting for title work to be completed so that buyers and sellers can be called in to sign. So you might sneak in a little time off. But if you are closing something every week, or sometimes 2 or 3 in one week, then that down time never comes and that's how you start working 12 hour days!
My husband has been on vacation since Monday and of course I have barely seen him. So I decided a day off was mandatory for me. Thanks to our wonderful owner, Judy Darwal, I was able to just that. I had one client to whom Judy showed one home because she really needs to find a place. After that I set my e-mail to auto response and changed my voice mail message to say I would be unavailable til this morning.
I guess it was actually 3/4 of a day off. About 1:00p.m. My best friend and her husband along with me and my husband Lou took off to tour some wineries and we had a wonderful time. It felt more like a fall day in the morning but by afternoon it was sunny and bright. We tasted some great wines, laughed, tasted some more, laughed some more and came home with quite the collection.
After the last winery we stopped for dinner at Quaker Steak and Lube which overlooks the marina in Vermillion Ohio. We ended the evening at my friend's home watching a movie. 
And here's what happened to my business: NOTHING
*no one called screaming and yelling that they could not find me
*I didn't lose any business
And here's what happened to me:
*smiles all day
*time with my best friend, Lou and my best girlfriend Laura and her husband Bill
*lots of great wine tasting
*a renewed appreciation for what really counts in this life
*a wonderfully relaxed feeling all day
So, take the day off or at least 1/2 a day off every once in a while. It's good for the soul! And it's not just for realtors!
Comments(11)