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Blurred Lines--Work, Personal or Both?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Charlemagne International Properties BRE# 01147470

 

Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes

 

I'll be lunching at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes today with a client, or is she a friend?  Maybe we need a new word to describe the clients who move from business circle to social circle and blur the lines of where work ends and personal time begins.  I think "cliend" might work.  Or perhaps we keep it simple and just call it life.

A reveiw of any given day will reveal the blending of work life with personal life for me.  The unstructured day of a real estate professional will often have gaps between appointments, or even simply needed computer relief.  I use those moments to dash out to complete an errand, email or call a friend, have the car washed and sneak in a manicure.  I'm on my own clock and yes, I write personal emails during business hours.  I prefer to do my grocery  and clothing shopping while the rest of the working world adheres to business hours.  

On the other hand, you may find me writing an offer at 8:00 PM and blogging about Palos Verdes and the South Bay of Los Angeles real estate market at 5:00 AM.  Saturday and Sunday are often the busiest days of the week with open houses, showing property and meeting with clients who work those "normal" hours. 

The real estate life is a perfect fit for me.

 

Comments(106)

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Alexandra - The boundaries may blur between business and personal but I enjoyed the prolonged and enjoyable relationships.

Aug 10, 2014 04:41 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Mike - The lunch last nearly two hours and I never once glanced at my phone--sign of good company, good food and a stunning location.

Aug 10, 2014 04:43 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hey, Norma!  I included this post in today's Last Week's Favorites! 

Aug 10, 2014 05:28 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Thanks, always happy to be on your Sunday list.

Aug 10, 2014 05:32 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

AH! To live the life of Norma! Great blog and all true. We often play while others are working and vice versa. The what might seem like out-of-sync- rhythm of our lives as Realtors®, most lay peole will never understand, nor could they adapt..

 

Aug 10, 2014 09:24 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

HI Norma, this is a great post and what a lovely place to meet a friend for lunch. And I find the same, with friends you really never know if they do become clients!

Aug 10, 2014 02:01 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

I had dinner with a friend/referral partner/vendor this evening. 

If I could only put him in one bucket, I'm not sure which would be most appropriate or correct.  This was Sunday dinner, so let's say tonight he was in the friend bucket.  Next time, it may simply depend on the day.  I think we discussed the next social event is a Washington Nationals game (I'm always looking for the next victim to come to the Park w/me)

Aug 10, 2014 02:41 PM
Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

I'm like you, shop during business hours and do most of my business in the evening or even the middle of the night, but I love it!

Aug 10, 2014 03:20 PM
John Jonas
ReplaceMyself - Virtual Assistants - Highland, UT
John Jonas

If we wanted a clear separation between work and personal life, we would have opted for the 8-5 desk job.

Aug 10, 2014 11:39 PM
Janna Scharf
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

Love the blurred lines analogy, it's perfect!  It very well depicts just what you describes about social/business activities on any given day.  :)

Aug 11, 2014 02:23 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Norman - Our "crazy hours" are something we learn to work with or we leave the business.  

Aug 11, 2014 02:25 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Sharon - I tell my clients I'm going to become their new best friend during the constant communication of the escrow period.  Sometimes it sticks after the close, other times it does not.

Aug 11, 2014 02:29 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Claude - The mix of business, friends and pleasure makes for a tasty little life cocktail in my book.

Aug 11, 2014 02:31 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Pete - It's Monday morning and time for my walk at Trump National Golf Course--much too crowded on the weekends when everyone else is out of their cubicle.  ;)

Aug 11, 2014 02:32 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Janna - The "blended" day works for me.

Aug 11, 2014 02:33 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

John - Exactly!

Aug 11, 2014 02:34 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Norma, Great post. I think we all have many friends that start off in a business relationship and then end as friends (or more). I guess my wife fits that bill also ; )

Aug 11, 2014 11:32 AM
220 Marketing
220 Group LLC - San Diego, CA
Real Estate/Mortgage Marketing

Norma, looks like a great spot! It is funny how some of your clients do become your friends, and then some friends turn into clients!

Aug 14, 2014 06:39 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Donald - True.  Many relationship change and grow and that is to be expected. Others fulfill their purpose and come to a close.  

Aug 14, 2014 06:44 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

220 Marketing - Definitely a hot spot for dining and more on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Aug 14, 2014 06:45 AM