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Want to Grow Your Business? Take a Break.

By
Real Estate Agent with The Boulevard Company SC 66445

I'll be on vacation next week. Yes, you guessed it; I'm writing this post to avoid packing. For the last three days I've been making lists at my desk and in my mind, racking my brain and running every scenario I can fathom to be sure all my t's are crossed and i's are dotted for my clients while I'm gone. I'm exhausted. I'll probably never feel ready to let go, but I will.

Another agent will be covering my business for me while I'm gone. I'm lucky to have a peer I trust to share all my client names and contact information with and disappear for 8 days. He'll be able to contact me by text message only. My clients are thrilled. The last time I left town one of my listings went under contract.

I'm writing this to encourage you. You can do this too! Let me rephrase that: You NEED to do this too! I haven't left yet and I'm already feeling the benefits of getting away from my business. I'll come back on June 13 ready to hit the ground running. In fact, I've already scheduled two appointments! The burnout will be cured, my mind will be fresh, my clients will be BETTER SERVED, my business will GROW!!

 

Posted by

Stephanie Davis REALTOR® ABR, GRI, SFR
© Carolina One Real Estate

843-870-0890

Serving Goose Creek and the Greater Charleston, SC area
www.agentinthecreek.com

Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change

How timely!  I just got back from a week away, and I had no choice but to let go. Colleagues covered my clients, but my phone died completely, leaving me without any contact numbers, emails, text - Yikes!  A full 6 days I had no phone (in Kauai where they couldn't send a replacement phone to arrive before I left to come back home.  That's a blog post in itself for another day ;)

 

Jun 02, 2011 04:21 PM
Chandler Real Estate Liz Harris, MBA
Liz Harris Realty - Chandler, AZ
#ChandlerRealEstateAgent

For some odd reason, when I get back from my vacation, I feel like I need a vacation...

Jun 02, 2011 04:26 PM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Stephanie - You take your break and enjoy it!  We have to recharge our batteries.

Jun 02, 2011 04:26 PM
Judith Abbott
Coldwell Banker Residential - Dallas, TX

Taking time off for us is critical....and completely crazy making.  I have been self-employed since 1976.  I can leave work for a long weekend...but, go beyond that it literally makes me nutzoid.  Leaving work is necessary to do....but, really, really difficult to accomplish.

Jun 02, 2011 05:35 PM
Stephanie Davis
The Boulevard Company - Charleston, SC
Broker Associate and REALTOR®

Karen - That sounds like an adventure!

Liz - Maybe your vacations are like Karen's?

Pam - Thanks I'm going to try!

Judith - It has taken a lot of practice for me to be able to get away. This is the longest trip I've ever taken and the most remote I've ever been. Wish me luck!

Jun 03, 2011 03:21 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I never like to go away from home - but my Mom used to remind me that the ONLY way to detach from duties and obligations and actually relax is to physically remove yourself. The trouble is, unless there's plenty to DO on vacation, I get bored quickly. Relaxing makes me crazy.

Jun 03, 2011 06:08 PM
Barbara "Barb" Bodnar, Licensed Associate RE Broker
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Yorktown, NY
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Stephanie...it is so important to take care of ourselves.  If we don't we won't be there to take care of our clients or build our businesses. Have a great trip and break....

Jun 06, 2011 01:55 AM
Stephanie Davis
The Boulevard Company - Charleston, SC
Broker Associate and REALTOR®

Marte - It's hard NOT to detach when you can't make a phone call or send an e-mail! Forced relaxation and disconnection is sometimes what it takes to completely recharge.

Barbara - Thank you - the trip was fantastic, just what I needed to get refocused on my business and my clients. While I was gone a couple buyers went under contract with new construction and several listings showed... some new leads came in from my Web site... my business grew, nobody died, and life went on while I was away!

Now for the big question: Where to next? :)

Jun 11, 2011 11:01 AM
Susan& Charlie Ahern
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Coronado, CA
Owner & Broker, Coronado Real Estate 4 Sale 619-92

Stephanie,

You are wise and brave.

Congratulations on your vision and success.

I too need to learn to let go for a little while, instead of being tense all the time. 

I also feel for Judith. Ditto here with me.

 

Aug 08, 2011 04:24 PM
Stephanie Davis
The Boulevard Company - Charleston, SC
Broker Associate and REALTOR®

Thanks Susan & Charlie - I went three years in this crazy business with no breaks and then could barely see straight. Last year we went to Disney World for a week and it really helped me with my focus when I got back to work. This year I was forced to completely unplug on the cruise and it was probably the best time of my life! I've already planned three more vacations since I've been back and my work is more productive than ever.

Aug 09, 2011 02:09 AM