For all of you that are parents and in the Real Estate business(mortgage or sales) you should understand what I am about to say. I will also ask for feedback on techniques that you use to keep the two very separate. A Real Estate career can be very demanding and it should be. However, without the appropriate barriers it can easily seep into another part of life called parenting. The facts are that we are commissioned sales professionals and we have to be accomodating to our clients. Most of the time our clients jobs are in the normal hours of a business day (8-5) and that requires us as Real Estate professionals to meet our clients off work hours. These times Monday through Friday 6-9pm and Saturdays and Sundays can be very hard on our own families. The solution is to have very strict barriers.

First, I will admit that early in my career I was terrible at this and I do not think that I am the only one. I worked as a Mortgage Professional from 7:30 am on the phone until 9-930pm. Yes, the money was good but I did not get to know my Two children at the time intimately. They knew that I was there Daddy and that Daddy had to make the money. I can honestly say that I did not see their first step and all the other firsts. Weekends were for my family right? Wrong again. I constantly was on the phone pre-qualifying my clients to buy or sending out the new Pre-approval letter, holding an Open House or striking up conversation at the park to gain a new prospect. The off switch was stuck.

As the market changed and business slowed a little I began to have more time on the off hours. The money was still good and we began to get to know each other. Partially because we moved and all we had was each other and my wife needed help. The other reason is that I was not slammed like a newly opened In and Out Burger. This is when I realized that to have barriers was not only good for my family but my business. I never said no before and my clients began to call out absurd hours. Establishing barriers also said in a nice way that I value your business greatly and will provide you all my expertise but I also have a family and they mean the world to me. With that I went from smooth talking salesman to a business professional. Respect my time away and I will give you the best when I am on the job. No distractions because I have separated the two.

Business then made another change and for a moment I worked all day and night again because I thought I had too. Boy was I wrong. I always have known that relationships are the key to this business. What I did not know was that before I can establish lasting relationships in the industry I had to be able to establish lasting loving relationships in my home. Now I have three kids and the third child Daddy was her first word. I saw the first step and stayed awake with her all night while the first tooth broke through.

Real Estate allows us the flexibility to be at the play middle of the day or participate when your daughters school goes to the Pumpkin patch. In my opinion, with strong barriers between work and family known to all strong realtionships are built throughout. Lasting Relationships that will help us all last through this cycle.

In conclusion, remember that being a parent is just a season. It goes by so fast and we do not get that time back. This downturn is just a season also and we dont get this time back either. Embrace both with strong barriers and both will flourish. Thank you for listening.  (sorry so long but very important, so I am going to get off the computer now because my son wants to help me mow the lawn:))