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Are Your Days Full, Half Full, Half Empty or Are They Being Drained Completely?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC NC# 218097



Good Morning, it’s 6:25am and I’ve already been up for an hour. I don’t mind being up early in the morning in fact I really like the early morning hours. In the winter though it’s the getting up part that is the challenge. Just the first of many today I’m sure.

While my brain is still waking up I started thinking about the full day ahead. That’s not unusual, they are all full days. It wasn’t always this way. When we worked for other offices sometimes the days were half full…or half empty and sometimes we had to work really hard to keep other agents from draining our day completely.

Being on our own at MoonDancer Realty is the best thing that ever happened to us. At first it was a little scary but completely exhilarating and liberating. If you’ve ever heard the expression you’ve got to “pack your own parachute” you’ll understand. As independent contractors, we need to know how to act independently and accept the consequences of doing so…whether we work under someone else’s umbrella or under our own. At the core of that philosophy is honing your ability to concentrate on your work and not be drawn into the vortex of your co-agent’s dramas. You’ll never ever be able to control the drama queens and kings…they’ve packed their own chutes.

We used to watch fellow agents spend hours playing online poker while on “floor duty” and even though we’d never participate just the mere notice of their activities served as distraction and irritant. You would think it wouldn’t matter to us, after all it was their business, right?

So, even though being a completely independent brokerage isn’t for everyone, we work more productively without the safety net of working for someone else. This way we’re responsible for full days, half full or half empty days but we never have to worry about someone else in our office draining our days.

Sylva Vista Champagne copyright Mona Gersky

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MoonDancer Realty Team Photo Collage copyright 2012 Mona Gersky

 

 

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Tree Dude Border 1 copyright 2012 Mona Gersky

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Comments (32)

Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Hi Mona.  It is nice being completely responsible for your production on a daily basis.  Sounds like you have found the perfect niche.

Jan 19, 2012 04:38 AM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Fernando, being on our own forces me to be far more disciplined than is my nature!  Thanks for commenting.

Hi Janis, perhaps if we had been lucky enough to work for agencies who didn't enable the directionless folks we would have been happier although then we'd have to deal with giving up part of the commission without any input into how it's used.  Glad you've found a situation that works to your advantage.

Hi Cindy, home offices are great and I'm glad that I have one that acts as an adjunct to the real office.  I love solitaire as much as the next person but not during productive times.

Andrew, you said a mouthful with an impressively conservative number of words.  Sleeves do need to stay rolled up. Thanks.

Connie, I can't imagine any day without purpose.  I would think you are a great teacher for new agents.  There is no excuse for boredom in this profession...if you are bored, you should do something else.  I always enjoy your comments.

Will, it's true...we aren't always in our office either.  Real estate gets worked in many areas, not just at a desk.

Sheila, how true...those pet bladders and bellies do rule the day.  I'd love to think I'm controlling my destiny but somedays it sure doesn't feel like that!

Belinda, it works for us just like it sounds like the partnership you and Will have.

Jan 19, 2012 12:26 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Mona - Just the other day I was talking to an agent who just opened up his brand new independent brokerage.  I think he will be very successful.

Jan 19, 2012 05:06 PM
Anthony Daniels
Coldwell Banker - San Francisco, CA
SF Bay Area REO Specialist

Time management is critical in our industry.

Good post, thanks for sharing it.

Jan 19, 2012 07:30 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
Then with technology you start working from home and it is full days and long work at night, too, but distraction free.
Jan 19, 2012 10:06 PM
Donna Quinlan
Keller Williams Realty - Newburyport, MA
Keller Williams Realtor & Career Consultant

Mona,

One of the things I really like about this business is being responsible for ourselves. We get out of it what we put into it. Thanks for the post!

Jan 19, 2012 10:15 PM
Anne M. Costello
Weidel Realtors - Yardley, PA

Mona: Being responsible for our own production is really important. If we succeed, it's based on our efforts, same thing if we fail! I am not independent, but I do work in a small office by choice. Even there, I am working more from home because of the distractions.

Jan 19, 2012 10:33 PM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Mona,

This is a challenge and managing one's time is really one of the basic keys to success.

Brian

Jan 20, 2012 12:06 AM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Hi Marc, if your acquaintance has any control whatsover with his attention span, he should do fine.

Anthony, I sure don't claim to have a handle on the time management thing...it is something I have to work on all the time.  Wish I did, then I'd be wealthy, lol.

Hi Cheryl, I try really hard to stay in balance and not work 24/7 on real estate...but it doesn't always work out that way.

Hello Donna, I think most people want to be responsible for themselves...even if they haven't got the means to do so.

Hi Anne, I think a small office can react to the times and quirkiness in the market sometimes faster than the great big box real estate companies...sometimes.

Absolutely Brian.  We have to work on it all the time.

 

Jan 20, 2012 12:21 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Mona, owning your own company has many benefits, but along with it comes a lot of responsibility. Sounds like you have it under control.

Jan 20, 2012 12:24 AM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Michael, I've never been accused of not talking a good game...lol.  But yes, we've been on this path with our own businesses of other types.  Thanks for the comment.

Jan 20, 2012 12:28 AM
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Congratulations on making your brokerage work for you. I do have a qualifying broker license, however, I chose to ally myself with our community's largest independent brokerage, Santa Fe Properties, which is locally owned and operated. Our tradition is all about experience, stellar staff support and an ambience of working within a family. Playing games on the computer is not our MO. I think your post is a good reminder that agents in real estate are independent contractors. In my experience, our customes and clients chose us for the value we provide and how we make a difference in their real estate experience. So, yes it is both about "you" and the brokerage model you chose to create or make an alliance.

Jan 20, 2012 12:55 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

If my husband locks the cats out of the bedroom so I get up at 8 AM instead of 5 AM, I miss my 3-hour jumpstart on the day. Without it, I'm often behind all day.

Jan 20, 2012 01:36 AM
Margie Kopp Sorrell
Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty and Lake Country - Greensboro, GA
Lake Oconee Real Estate

there is something incredibly wrong about having to get out of bed when it's still dark out... it should be against the law : )

Jan 20, 2012 01:40 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Sometimes you're lucky enough to find a good fit for yourself with an established company.  They think like you.  Have the same work ethic.  They're in sync with you as to how to conduct business and treat clients.  For those lucky enough to find that workplace and company, it's a true gift.  But for others, that isn't always possible.  Or they just want to flex their independence.  It's great that we are involved in an industry where WE can make those choices for ourselves.  Each of us finding our own perfect fit ... or something close to it.  Like Emily above, I'm glad that you have found yours at MoonDancer Realty.  I sense happiness and contentment in your words.  And that's worth alot ...

Gene

Jan 20, 2012 02:06 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Ah, Mona, nothing like working for yourself.  At my former office, my broker was AWOL about 99% of the time, so felt like I was working alone anyway.  You gotta love it!

Jan 20, 2012 03:28 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

I'm a lone wolf and an introvert too. I find each to his or her own.

Jan 20, 2012 04:15 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Mona - It's nice not to have someone else draining your time.  However, that leaves the burden completely on you.

Jan 20, 2012 02:10 PM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Emily, another great thing about this profession is that there are so many business models to choose from.  We all have to go with the one we have the most confidence in.

Elizabeth...just imagine how the cats feel!

Margie, the hardest part of winter is getting up at dark thirty.

Gene, it's worth everything. Thanks.

Mike, if your going to feel like you are the only one there...you might as well be, right?

Loreena, I make no judgement.  We all have to follow our own path.

Richard, thanks for your comment.  This is a favorite photo of mine taken at a friends house in Sylva Vista.  Also, there's no time like the present to ponder.

Erica, I'm often glad there aren't more than 24 hours in a day, lol.

Jan 20, 2012 02:14 PM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Christine, that used to happen to me all the time at other offices.  I'd head in with an agenda to accomplish and by the end of the day nothing had been accomplished. Very frustrating.

Jan 20, 2012 02:20 PM