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Just busy enough to fail

By
Real Estate Appraiser with AmcAppraisalsinc.com

It struck me once again today. 

My workload of appraisal files reaches the end, coming down to the last 2 reports.  I am once again thinking, "Ok - tomorrow, I will start my marketing campaign to {INSERT NICHE HERE} to try to shift my workflow into more stable avenues!"  And then it happens.....

5 new orders arrive into my mailbox!

Now you would think that I would be super happy with more work, right?  Well - I am of course, as this is how I pay the bills.  But I KNOW that I need to shift my work into another niche in order to get better fees, more rewarding assignments and align myself for what I see will be a better long term future.

Yet my pressing need to 'pay the bills' once again screams louder than my small little voice which is telling me "invest the time into marketing to a new client base"

Have you ever been there?  A plateau of mediocrity - that just seems to sustain you - but from which you cannot get to a place of truly flourishing?  That is the meaning behind my title "just busy enough to fail"

Appraisers, we know we want to get more education, get better clients, get better more rewarding work, etc.  But when we have families to feed - we just keep working the grind don't we? 

We all know WHAT to do - marketing, education, and more marketing

If your current workload is keeping you on that plateau.  Stop for a couple of days.  Finish those last few orders and take 2 days off and do nothing but pull the trigger on the marketing campaigns you have been thinking about for months - yet never seem to 'find the time' to pull off!

We have to make a LEAP sometimes, to get off the plateau and find our way to the next step up.  INVEST in yourself and your career - and MAKE the change!

Mike Martin
(909) 476-9600 ~ WeLoveSellingRealEstate.com - Fontana, CA
Realty Masters & Associates

You are absolutely right - we get so caught up in surviving that we don't always take the time to thrive!

Jun 15, 2010 11:17 AM
Richard Glesser
North Country Appraisal Services - Gaylord, MI

After the first 5 years of my 25 appraising years, I knew I needed to get into some other facet of the appraisal industry besides mortgage appraisals.  After a while, you feel like a factory assembly line worker filling out form after form.  I thought 20 years ago that I didn't want to be doing the same thing forever.  But like you, here I am.  I want to focus on commercial and attorney work but never can get far enough away from paying the bills to allow time to pursue the other avenues.  I'd hazard to say most appraisers are in the same boat.  With increased report requirements, my productivity has dropped by over 50% with fees not making up the difference.

Jun 15, 2010 03:07 PM
Richard D. Ferris
AmcAppraisalsinc.com - Clermont, FL
Florida State Certified (FHA) Appraiser

My productivity has also dropped considerably - as I now go over board on providing support and data.  I guess I have done too many reviews on other appraisers in the last year - and I see that Fannie Mae is going after appraisers now - that I want to be sure my reports are truly solid.   That alone adds hours to every job.

I find I like doing reviews the most - as I don't feel like the factory assembly line there!  And that niche is one I know I could market towards and gain more orders in....but alas....I must make the time to get that ball rolling down THAT particular hill!

Somewhere - we have to make a shift to work ON our business and not just IN it!

Jun 16, 2010 02:36 AM