One of Jeffrey Gitomer's things is that just like a woman can sense the desperation of a single man, clients can sense the desperation of a non-busy sales person. His advise ... get busy. Volunteer, work your sphere, anything! Just be busy. If you are not sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring, then your clients will know and they'll come looking for the busy agent. 

EVERY time, never fails!  I was on the plane today headed for the RE/MAX team training summit in Vegas-and i get an offer on the house that no one seems to want, and the buyers who have been looking for months finally find the one that they have to have right now.  Gotta love it!  I hope you get a bidding war on the listing!

LOL, I like your solution because I LOVE vacation! But I know what you mean, I do travel a lot and it always seems that I need extra help while I am away because I am busier than usual.

Toby also makes a good point. When you don't really want something, isn't that often when you get it? Due to lack of desperation? Good post.

You are where you need to be right now.  I'm sure your daughter appreciates you being with her right now.  I find that I can carry my cell around in my pocket all day and the minute I leave it alone for 2 minutes that call that I was waiting for all day comes!

That happens to us all the time. LOL...never fails!!! We have our state convention coming up and now that I'm down to the wire...everything is going crazy!

Margaret-

Love it.....I am going on vacation pretty soon, ummmm guess I'll be coming home to some nice Escrows :) :)   Seriously though, I too have had this happen, makes me laugh.

Margaret,
So true!  That's the running joke with us as well...we need to take more vacations.  It never fails, but we love it!  Also, when you are in the office and nothing is going on...get some food.  It never fails with us, as soon as we try to eat...someone comes in or the phone rings!

Katerina Gasset tells me it will help your google rankings to have more incoming links, so let's give it  try

Toby Boyce, MBA - So true, Toby!

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner - See what I mean?  It happens every time!

Wendy Montoya, e-Pro, SRS, Realtor, Waco TX - Another testimonial for vacations!

Nora Adkins -I feel very fortunate, Nora, to be in a position to drop everything and go help her.  Besides, I knew it would generate new business!

Monika McGillicuddy~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer - Of course, and just wait 'til you get there... you'll be on the phone the whole time!

Margaret - Never fails this always happens to me as well. It's murphys law. Not only does it happen just before I am leaving but during the time I am gone too. I have only gone away one or two times in my career when something did not sell while I was gone. Always makes me want to plan more vacations :)

Hi Margaret,

I agree with you 100% on this one! Nice post :)

Margaret: I featured this in the positive group...nothing better than to sit back and not force stuff.....I used to get all bent out of shape when it slowed down....that's why I have my part time job for C21 too....this year has been 100% referrals. ONLY. And I have one more coming in first week of October. This is what works for me. Let go and let it happen. I won't be able to go on vacation until Feb or so. Where should I go Margaret?

Kathy McGraw REALTOR® Broker- Banning~ White Water, CA Real Estate - Yes, there's no better way to shake up your business!.

David and Kristin Small-- Myrtle Beach Real Estate - You're so right bout that.  I should have remembered to include that.  And even if you don't get food, if you poor yourself a nice cold drink and sit down with it, the phone will ring and you'll end up with a watered down drink full of melted ice.  It never fails.

Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate - When my daughter moved to Texas in May, I made the car trip with her and ended up on the phone negotiating a contract for most of the trip.  It never fails!

Suzanne Sands-Somerset, MA Real Estate- Thanks, Suzanne.  Something similar happened with ActiveRain - I had a much anticipated reunion with a long lost relative, and I got more ActiveRain comments than I ever had before or since - including some hot-headed ones that needed moderating.

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman (RA) Mililani Real Estate - Thank you, Sally, I appreciate the feature.  Where to go on vacation... well, since you already live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, how about one of the most interesting places in the world, Washington, D.C.?  We can have a big AR get together and you can see D.C. with Patricia Kennedy, Northern Virginia with Brian Block, Baltimore with Margaret Rome and Annapolis with me.  :)

Margaret - I usually have great success with this tactic, except last month when I left for three weeks. I hope your daughter recovers quickly.

Margaret, it's true, you know it is. It's something we all talk about. Seems the order-in-the-universe genie also knows if it's a real vacation, or a manipulated exploit to get the phone to ring too. Outsmarting this one is tough, we really do have to go on a real vacation. And the further away we get from being able to communicate easily, the more and the quicker the phone will ring.

Don't believe me? Just go to Alaska. 

cheers... 

Now that you mention it....an east coast tour would be grand. I was actually born in Rhode Island and lived in South Carolina......maybe would be nice to go all the way down. Ah....how much time would I need you think?

My husband's gramma is in PA too.....oh, goodness...sounds like I'd need a month.

Margaret, every time I have gone on vacation, I either have a sale or contract right before or right after... Should work some more vacations into the business plan!

Margaret, Hope your daughter has a great recovery.  It never fails... I negotiated contracts last year in line to Space Mountain.  This year I canceled vacation due to the lack of business... go figure.  It should be part of my business plan.  Week one vacation, week two closings, week three vacation... :)

Margaret,

Welcome to the club. It seems to happen here, too. The day before a long-planned trip the phone rings and emails pour in with this and that. The day of, when you are already at the airport, the phone starts ringing again and new customers are interested in refinancing and what not. What's up with that?

I think that we are all going to be on vacation next week!! LOL!! Thanks for the great post.

Nicole Garner-Portland Metro Oregon

Indianapolis Real Estate | Paula Henry - Thanks, Paula, she's doing well - but it's good I could be here because she lives in a 2nd floor apartment and has a dog that needs to go out.

Gary Bolen (CRS, CLHMS) Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information - It does help to ease the conscience when one takes off for vacation, doesn't it?

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman (RA) Mililani Real Estate - Of course, that's not the ideal time of year to visit.  You might run into some snow and ice.  Best time is probably September-October.  Spring is pretty but overrun with tourists.

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate - Well, then, I'm in good company!

Bob Carney, Frederick MD Real Estate - I like that plan!

Margaret, just like everyone else here, I've had the same experience.  We plan a group trip with friends each year and 4 of us that go are agents in the same office.  Business EXPLODES for all of us right before we leave every time!

Margaret, congratulations on the great success.  That is so true though.  When we went to Yellowstone, things started picking up from there.  Now business is booming again.  I hope your daughter is doing well.  Take care and keep up the great success.

Nicole Garner - You've earned the right to some time orr, right?  And it's a proven strategy for generating business.

Lisa Heindel, New Orleans West Bank Real Estate - Oh my goodness, four agents away at the same time!  I'll bet you don't get to do anything as a group because one of you is probably always on the phone or computer.

Julie Neerings, GRI Utah Real Estate - Thanks, yes, Susan is recuperating on schedule.  It's so nice to have the kind of job where I can buy a plane ticket and travel halfway across country without any notice, or requesting leave.  And it's nice to be an empty-nester, for the same reason.

It's like clock work...the leads come in waves and always when you least expect them.

Hi Margaret,
So true.  I went out of town for a wedding not long ago and my phone rang all the way there, while there and on the way home.  I need to plan another get away.  LOL.  

Troy Duncan - So true.  It doesn't matter whether you're off for a vacation or a funeral, THAT is when business will come!

Cynthia Tilghman Onslow County NC Home Specialist -Heck, just try to take an afternoon off to get your hair or nails done, and even THAT will make the phone ring.

MARGARET:  I'd love to leave a long message, but you've inspired me to pack up the family and leave town.  I can see the book now, Margaret Woda's Rainmaking Program.  Step 1 - Leave town.  Step 2 - Hire a good assistant to handle all of the business that comes in as soon as you leave.  OK, maybe it's not a book, but it is a good blog.  Thanks for sharing this.  I hope that everything is OK with your daughter, which is really the most important part of this story.

Adam Waldman - Long Island, NY Real Estate - Have a nice trip, but don't be surprised when the phone starts ringing about an hour out.  You can probably expect about 2 listings and 2 or 3 buyer leads if you're gone for a week.  (Daughter is recuperating on schedule from appendectomy.)

Margaret- It is full proof! It works every time. Whenever we get slow Nestor says, "Let's go on vacation so the phone will ring!" Never fails us! Love it... I am glad your daughter is alright. That is where you need to be right now, with her. Katerina

OK, Margaret, it does not sound like a vacation!  And you're right, when you leave town for whatever reason, they come.  You are lucky to have a trusted colleague.  I have one of those and she is golden.

I hope your daughter is all right.  Big hug! 

Thats what they say if you ever want your phone to ring just plan a vacation :)

There is an agent in our office that has 20+ years experience. When she goes away we watch her business and visa versa and our on going joke is.....If you have nothing going on, book a trip. The week you are trying to get things in order for the person taking over, things just start happening!!! We should have taken several vacations this year!!! (LOL!!) So NO, it doesn't just happen to you!!! Glad things are happening for you though!!!

Nestor and Katerina Gasset Wellington Florida Luxury Homes It seems pretty unanimous... 'happens to everyone.

Patricia Kennedy No, not a vacation, but a rare opportunity to hang out with my daughter as she recuperates.

Dan Nappi It doesn't even have to be a vacation... you can go out of town for a funeral, and it happens.

Rick and Lynn Orze It's so true.  There's always next year.

Margaret - Here's one that also never seems to fail:

Go to the restroom while you are waiting for your food to arrive, and when you return your food will be there getting cold.  I don't know why this works so well, but it does (at least for me).

Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate - So ture, Jason, so true.  LOVE Austin... my daughter went to grad school there, and I have a sister-in-law there...

Margaret - If you are ever in the area visiting, let me know and I will take you to lunch.  Have a terrific day!

Margaret,
I've always thought it was strange how that worked too. I was getting ready to go on a boating holiday with friends one year and the day before we left I suddenly had 7 offers to deal with...some were from buyers who had been sitting on the fence, many were on my listings. I worked on them til 4 am and then handed everything over to the agent was taking care of my business the next day.  Up until then, it had been rather quiet.

I've seen it happen time and time again.....hmmm.  

thanks for an enjoyable post,

Jo 

Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate - I'm closer than usual (DFW area) 'til next Wednesday, but still a little far.  Maybe another time.

Jo-Anne Smith,B.Sc., Belleville/Quinte REALTOR® - Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for commenting.

I agree! I just went to Texas for a long weekend, and put together a deal in the airport before I got on the plane. I always seem to do more business when I'm traveling, so now I travel more!

Just Too Funny and personally very timely because my friend and fellow associate is away this week and we have an accepted offer today for her buyers', for which I did all the local ground work for, including the showings. Took all week to get it negotiated, but we got it done! This is the second time I've helped close a deal for her while she's been out of town! I told her husband to take her on MORE Vacations because it's been good for ME! Thanks for a great post!

Carol Zingone - How ironic, Carol, that's where I am this weekend!  Two new listings, lots of activity!

Nancy Webber - That's what scares me about covering for someone else.  I rarely do it any more unless we have a reciprocal agreement and I can count on them to cover for me.

Margaret, Hope your daughter recovers quickly and completely!

Margaret Rome- Baltimore, Md.-HomeRome.com - It was a little hectic when I left so suddenly, but my daughter is recuperating on schedule and we've spent some quality time together this past week.  I kinda hate to get back to the rat race!  And, as always happens, new business has come my way!

That's exactly what our team says - go away so we can get more business. When Tami and I were away for 5 days in January, Rob did 5 contracts. So - this week we leave for Seattle and Vancouver.

thats the way it always seems to happen.

LOL this reminded me in May, I was going to go on vacation with my sister to Thailand. (so hard to turn it down!) Then my dad was really firm about it and said I should stay because I should grow my business in case clients call. And what do you know, I was slammed for 3 weeks, basically accomplished 2/3 of my year's goal. LOL but I don't think it's going to happen in January when I am taking the whole month off!! 

For me it always gets crazier when i am busy, it seems that all the clients are coming out under a rock and wants to do business. I just take it is a test to my character ;)

Cheers,

Cindy 

If I want my listings to sell, I go on vacation.

Teresa Johnson

Sharon - Have a ball in Seattle - LONG way from St. Pete - and no doubt you'll have a lot of business. 

Vicki - Thanks for stopping by to read my post.  I don't remember meeting before.

Cindy - It could happen in January - especially if you go away.

Teresa - It never fails!  You can see from all the comments, that it works for a lot of agents!

How true! It never fails to work. It also works for a contract when the seller is out of town and out of cell range.