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Newbie Advice on Stress...The Deal is NOT Your Life...

By
Real Estate Agent with Fox Real Estate

The Real Estate Agent vs. Broker business model is squeued towards the Broker and tainted with RISKS for the agent. It comprises of peaks and valleys for agents, but little or none for the company/owner as they have a constant stream of income from many agents who constantly "FEED" their business. The cost of independence associated with sales can sometimes be too high if you let "things" consume you.

Let us not forget, we can always work but precious fleeting moments in our lives such as growing children and ailing family and friends are gone before you know it and many of us unfortunately don't "get that" until it's too late as we pave our career. As, commissioned people, we should all pace ourselves better because we are naturally more prone to unhealthy lifestyles...

We eat at 10PM because the phone STOPS ringing then and we are finally ALONE! Pop a piece of candy, chocolate, chip or fast food in the mouth when we're on the road, an offer falls apart, is rejected or missing your son's 1st baseball game for a last minute listing appointment opportunity you you thought you nailed but was going to the husband's 3rd cousin all along but thanked you for the expert CMA you prepared for him to use or missed your daughter's ballet recital for out-of state buyers that canceled or never showed.

MEGA Stress occurs when things go WRONG or not as PLANNED regardless of how hard you've worked.

We combat the problem even more because we tend to comfort ourselves with the BAD instead of the GOOD.  Lack of time, exercise and poor eating habits are certainly all factors in the STRESS an agent feels but the #1 Reason for STRESS in Real Estate and other Sales and/or Commission ONLY jobs is WAITING for that COMPENSATION. That's WHY!

A typical, 3 month valley until a closing takes place is a lot of STRESS because ANYTHING can and does happen with only a MOMENT of PEACE when it does and the money usually takes care of past bills and the charge card we lived on to get there.

After being a stay at home Mom for 9 years, I became a Real Estate Agent so I could work around my children's school schedule. My husband was home on the week-ends for appointment/showings, so the guilt of shipping them off to day care wasn't there. During the Summer of my first year in the business, I "naively" remained home to put together an important million dollar offer and missed our annual family reunion/vacation. My kids were 3, 6 and 9 at the time and had literally grown in the mere day tens they were away. As a Mom never away for more than a day or so since birth, I noticed the change to their faces.

The deal? It fell apart 6 months later (2 weeks before closing) due to unrelated Title V issues.

Traditionally, top producers are already financially independent and/or are supported by spouses. They don't "have to work" coming into the business. They are SUCCESSFUL & HEALTHY because they have the LUXURY and SECURITY of a steady stream of income OUTSIDE of Real Estate. Cash Flow/Money buys you more than things! It affords you TIME, SERVICES, ASSISTANTS AND CHOICES necessary in sales to be successful.

Therefore, Real Estate is not for everyone! We all start in same...Good training, organization, due diligence hard work and commitment. However, for those of us that need to support ourselves or others, this foundation is not enough to sustain us for very long and life quickly slips away.

It's a VICIOUS cycle to say the least and in the end, most agents probably don't make more (if that) than a retail clerk or other hourly worker. We miss more family/personal events, lose more hair, grey faster, gain/lose weight, have more medical/health issues and probably don't live as long.

But HEY! We get to say, I'm a Realtor...I'm my own boss, set my own hours, have a home office, get to travel and make thousands of dollars selling houses.

But at what COST?

If EGO is at the helm of your real estate career, the COST of independence can be too high and STARVE your ability to nurture ourselves and others.... So let us all honestly assess the PROPER Real Estate Sales Equation...

TIME vs. INCOME vs. STRESS, because STRESS is a given, continuous FACTOR!

A "Client" is a source of income and someone who is a husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, cousin, grandparent, grandchild or friend. YOU are too! So step back and give yourself some perspective from time to time.

So Newbies Please Remember...

THINGS lost can always be re-gained but TIME spent is gone forever.

Like the ever-changing faces of small children...THIS TOO SHALL PASS...Mine are in college now!!! 

 

Comments (4)

Lori Bowers
La Quinta, CA
The Lori Bowers Group

So well said, so true! If we let it a deal can consume us, better to keep things in perspective  :)

Apr 06, 2010 06:02 AM
Kris Fox
Fox Real Estate - Rockport, MA

Thanks Lori!

Apr 06, 2010 06:06 AM
Keith Landis
Keystone Home Finance - NMLS#834342 - Conventional - FHA - VA -USDA - Jumbo Programs - Direct Phone 412-726-1654 - Pittsburgh, PA
Pennsylvania - "Your Pennsylvania Mortgage Source"

don't let one transaction consume so much time that it takes away from obtaining new business

Apr 06, 2010 06:07 AM
Kris Fox
Fox Real Estate - Rockport, MA

Well said.  Thanks Keith!

Apr 06, 2010 06:14 AM