Are we nuts?

I saw a squirrel chasing a nut across the street yesterday, and somehow it struck me as quite ironic.  I've  admitted before that I hate squirrels (and yes, hate is a strong word), but I was too amused with the scene to think about putting the pedal to the metal and making roadkill out of him.  No, I would never really do that, and I found myself slowing down to let him cross, as I watched, amused.

Who am I to put the brakes on his goals?  It was quite funny because this nut was rolling down the hilly street, and this poor squirrel kept catching up, before it would get away from him again.

What struck me as ironic is the fact that we are all - squirrels and humans alike - chasing something.  It might be a dream, it might be a goal, it might be the basic pursuit of happiness. 

But at what point are we content with what we have?
  Here it is, springtime, and this squirrel surely would have had enough nuts stored away by now over the long cold winter.  Yet, here was one more that he just needed to have, risking life and limb and bushy tail as he crossed the street in front of my silver four wheeled nutcracker.   

What goals are too risky? 

At what point do we stop chasing dreams? 

When are we satisfied with what we have?

 

It reminded me of buyers and their continued search for that one perfect house - chasing after each new listing and never making a decision.   The perfect house is out there, yet the search continues until they've exhausted themselves and their agent.  When do they stop?

It reminded me of agents and their continued search for the perfect buyer.  The perfect listing.  The perfect comission split and the perfect broker.  When do we stop?

And sellers aren't left out of the picture either.  A seller who has stored all of his nuts into the equity of his home, only to find out that his cache is not worth as much as he thought.  Where'd all that equity go? 

I guess all of these thoughts would not have normally crossed my mind at the sight of a squirrel chasing a nut, but it just happened to be right after our weekly team meeting.  All that talk of goals, business plans, marketing and budgeting, along with way too much caffeine for the morning, sparked this vision of us all chasing nuts. 

....And thus, you might think I am one (a nut)...... but I'm not. 

I'm just chasing one.  Just like you are.  

After watching this squirrel and his amusing chase, I have to admit ~ I have a newfound respect for that busy little rodent.

 
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50 Comments on Are we nuts?

Jeannie, I've always liked watching squirrels (even though my broker maintains that squirrels are just rats with a good P.R. agent...)  :o)

04/17/2008 08:45 AM by Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Professional (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals)


Or you could go to the bottom of the hill, positioning yourself properly and let the "nut" come to you!  Ok, that probably doesn't work all that often!

04/17/2008 08:45 AM by Ron Tarvin's Katy Agent Team-- Katy Texas Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty Katy@Cinco Ranch)


I will never see squirrels the same again :-)

04/17/2008 08:47 AM by Larry Frawley (RE/MAX Crossroads)


Yes I agree little rats. Every one wants to catch a nut for sure.

04/17/2008 08:49 AM by Laura Jefferson (Asset Realty)


Goals make the world go round!  Its the "having something more to accomplish" that makes the "getting up everyday to do it again" easier!  Hurray for nuts!

04/17/2008 08:57 AM by Jim Valentine (RE/MAX Realty Affiliates)


Jeannie, contentment to me is living in a house that you love. Having the money to support yourself and help familiy and friends around you. To be able to help with your community and to always have goals. Long term and short term. Oh, and always perfect health. Thanks for your post, Royal..

04/17/2008 09:04 AM by Royal Goodman @ GI Group, LLC (GI Group, LLC.)


Excellent post - makes you think.  Sometimes it is good to be content and stop running the rat race (no pun intended)!

04/17/2008 09:09 AM by Jennifer Kladny Loan Officer ~ Armstrong Co, PA (1st Metropolitan Mortgage)


Great post...definitely something to think about... Thanks for sharing this!  It's something to consider for sure.

JS 

04/17/2008 09:19 AM by Jonelle Simons (Windermere Real Estate)


What an excellent post.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I'll hope for some level ground for your endeavor! 

04/17/2008 09:20 AM by Lynn Franklin (Coldwell Banker Ponderosa)


Hi Jeannie!-

What a wonderful post! Humerous, and completely true! :)

I just started a new group for woman in business. I would be honored if you would consider joining the group and re-posting this blog to the new group as well as your others again. Please check it out at http://activerain.com/groups/heartheroar

Thanks again for the chuckle!

Krista Ingram

04/17/2008 09:29 AM by KRISTA INGRAM (KELLER WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE, LLC)


I like your post a lot.  We are like little squirrels chasing nuts.  We have a saying and I was thinking about the whole while reading your post.  When ask how things are going or what I'm up to I simply reply.  "I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut" LoL

04/17/2008 09:37 AM by Jimmy Graham (Keller Williams Realty)


Jeannie,

Nice post! We are like squirrels chasing the nuts. I took a vacation up your way about 3 years ago. I flew my plane into an airpark just outside Harrisburg and rented a car. Loved the Amish communities! 

04/17/2008 09:45 AM by Mike Frazier, Dyersburg Tn Real Estate (Carousel Realty of Dyer County)


Jeannie- I loved your post!  I do have goals, but I am also happy exactly where my life is at!  I have been married almost 20 years to the man I love, have 2 beautiful, healthy children, I have a roof over my head and food to eat and a career I love.  I count my blessings every day and try to live in the moment.  Thanks for making me stop and think before I start my day.

04/17/2008 10:01 AM by Laura Karambelas-Chicagoland Real Estate (Baird & Warner)


I LOVED this post Jeannie!  Fantastically articulated and very true analogy.  Personally, I'm a nut chasing a nut.....keeping on keeping on:-)

04/17/2008 11:43 AM by Jason Sardi, Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker (First Choice Equity Group Inc.)


Great post, Jeannie, I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks

Rich

04/17/2008 12:56 PM by Richard Lecinski (Long Realty Company)


Great post, Jeannie, I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks

Rich

04/17/2008 12:56 PM by Richard Lecinski (Long Realty Company)


Great post, this business drives us all "NUTS" from time to time.

04/17/2008 01:14 PM by Alan Brown (Coldwell Banker)


This was a very motivating get-you-fired-up post for me! And by the way, I think squirrels are cute, but they are major rabies carriers!

04/17/2008 01:15 PM by Ann Cordes (Century 21 Towne Adams)


Wow, I get a star for this one?!  Thanks!  How nutty is that?!   LOL

Thank you all who commented ~ I'll have to get back to you personally later on as my day settles down a bit. 

04/17/2008 01:20 PM by Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)


Thanks for a thought provoking post.  Not sure the chasing is all bad but sometimes when we catch whatever we are chasing it turns out to be not worth the effort !

04/17/2008 01:39 PM by Bill Gillhespy Fort Myers Beach Realtor (Century 21 Tripower Realty)


Jeannie, I think the secret in life is to quit chasing and attract something to you. Not that you don't have to work for something, but much chasing I have found as futile. There is the idea of quenching too where material things don't satisfy. The best things are free.

04/17/2008 01:46 PM by Gary Woltal - REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty)


You should be grateful that you get the chance to vision one of God's creatures.  I don't have that luxury of viewing any squirrels in my backyard. I don't mind them one bit.

As for the chasing part, I'm exhausted. 

 

04/17/2008 02:25 PM by Angelia Garcia


Hi Jeannie - Great and humorous post. I think we're all "nuts" chasing after more nuts! Your post was just what I needed today. So thank you! My "nut" is to be the tree dropping nuts for little squirrels to find. I think the beauty is in the "chase" but that's kinda nutty too.

04/17/2008 04:58 PM by Mike Sanchez (Altas Realty)


Today was one of those days- that I feel like the squirrel..... :)

 

04/17/2008 05:03 PM by Laurie


LOL Jeannie! Very cute post. BTW, my brokerage's logo is the oak tree (from small beginnings, the sturdy oak grows) but when it comes down to it, we're ALL a little nuts! Have a great & productive week!  

04/17/2008 05:24 PM by Angela Clark Graviss, ABR, GRI Owensboro Kentucky Realtor (Tony Clark Realtors, LLC)


Hi Jeannie- This is a humerus post that has brightened my day. Thank you!

04/17/2008 05:24 PM by Carlie Pardue (Placer Title Company)


Jeannie...

I never really made it past you not making road kill out of him :)

The next time this happens...Let me know I'll shoot him and then show how some folks around here turn squirrel into food :)

TLW...ROAR!

04/17/2008 05:42 PM by "The Lovely Wife"...Broker Bryant's Wife... (Co-Owner Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.)


To take that a bit further.... think of all the things that the squirel has to compete against to get that nut, weather, dogs, cars, crows.  We need to be aware of all the things out there that may distract us from our nut.  Focus on the nut....wait is that nut me....focus!

04/17/2008 05:55 PM by Dan Edwards, REALTOR® Your NW Home reSource.™ (Northstone Real Estate, Inc.)


Very amusing post. It does make you contemplate where your focus is. 

04/17/2008 06:24 PM by Robert L. Brown~Grand Rapids Real Estate Flexit Realty, West Michigan (www.mrbrownsellsgr.com)


Jeannie:  Squirrels are very industrious little creatures, storing the food away for the winter and they are quite bright.  Plus did you know that an adult squirrel is immune to  the toxin of a rattlesnake bite.  Yes it's true.  But I suddenly got off point (I quite frankly love squirrels) we humans lose focus quite easily.  Every once in a while we need to take time to refocus on our goals, short term and long term.  We need to evaluate our progress, eliminate the stuff that's not working and refocus on our goals.  Thank you for the the reminder.  Patti - Capital Line Funding Group - CA

04/17/2008 06:46 PM by Patti Geib (Capital Line Funding Group)


This makes me think of the motto of Keller Williams which is to have careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.  I am a strong beliver in balance (as I sit here reading Active Rain at 8:30 at night after showing houses all day, attending an inspection and getting a price reduction) and there are certainly times it gets out of kilter for me...but I usually can self correct.  It may be because I'm older or have a very strong spiritual connection, but I don't ever want to be chasing money, dreams or nuts for that matter.   I hope I'm not one of those people at the end...saying I should have worked less and enjoyed more.

Thanks for the reminder.

04/17/2008 07:24 PM by Cindy Marchant


i like this!  Strange how when life hits you huh?  I hope you catch yours and have enough to last you.

04/17/2008 08:25 PM by Dick Betts (Dick Betts National Speaker)


I think we all have to be a little nuts to be working in real estate!

04/17/2008 08:59 PM by Gene Neal (Keller Williams Realty SES)


Brian - I agree with your broker!  

Ron -- Now *that* is a business plan I'd like to emulate!  

Larry - I can't tell, Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  

Laura -- I hope you catch your nut!  

Jim - I hope you find a reason to get up every day for a long, long time!  

Royal - Sometimes you need to catch that nut in order to have most (not all) of those things.  

Jennifer -- "the rat race" just about sums it up!  

Jonelle - glad you enjoyed it!  

Lynn -- and I hope some level ground for you, too! 

Thanks for commenting, everyone!  Glad you enjoyed my nutty post.

04/17/2008 09:16 PM by Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)


Krista - thanks for your comment, and yes, I joined!  

Jimmy - I hope you catch your nut!  

Mike - I'm glad you enjoyed our communities!  You fly your own plane?  Cool!  

Laura - Counting your blessings and living in the moment are truly a great way to live your life.  Thank you for sharing!  

Jason - I agree, you are a nut!  And of course, I mean that in a positive way!  

Rich - glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for commenting!  

Alan - I agree, and I think we've got to be nuts to love this business like we do!  

Ann - I'm glad you liked the post, but not so sure about your affection for squirrels!  You can come over here and take away the ones that live in my yard (and most likely, attic).  

Mike - glad you enjoyed it!

04/17/2008 09:25 PM by Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)


Bill -- you got that right!  We need to be careful that the nut we're chasing is worth it.  Just think of all the nuts that get away while we're concentrating on the wrong one!  

Gary - awesome points, the power of attraction.  Sometimes, I happen to attract the wrong kinds of nuts, though.  But, I get your drift.  Thanks for sharing.  

Mike - I'm glad you enjoyed the post!  I loved your rainmaker "nut" analogy.  Would that make you King Nut?  Nut Rainer?  Not quite sure what it would make you, but I get it completely!   Good luck with that nut!

Laurie -- sorry, hope you find a stash of nuts tomorrow!  

Angela - we've got to be a little nuts to love this business.  I love that your broker's logo is an oak tree, although personally I don't like my own pin oak tree (that's a previous post -- hence the squirrels in my yard -- hence, my dislike of squirrels).   

Carlie - I'm glad you found it helpful!  Have a fabulous week and catch a nut or two!  

TLW - thanks for the offer!  I was never one for roadkill stew, though.  But, I'd go for a good banana NUT bread!  

Dan -- LOL.  Good point!  We need to focus on the nut and avoid distractions.   

Robert -- I think sometimes we all get spread so thin, it makes it hard to focus on what the one true nut is.    Patti - I never knew that squirrels are immune to rattlesnake bites, although I did see Rikki Tikki Tavi and learned that weasels are immune to cobra bites.  I guess a familial similarity?  You can come and have my backyard squirrels any day!   

Cindy -- if work is what gives you enjoyment, then I see nothing wrong with it.  But, when work gets in the way of enjoying life, that could be something that needs evaluating.  It all depends on which nut, and why, we're chasing.  Thanks for sharing.  I hope you're getting some rest tonight!  

Dick - thank you, and I hope you catch yours too.  Yes, it's very strange how when it hits you, it hits you.  Luckily for this squirrel, it wasn't him that got hit!  

Bob and Caroline - glad you enjoyed it.  Hope you catch whatever you chase!  

Gene - I agree completely!  I've never met an industry colleague that wasn't a *little* nutty.

Thanks for your comments, everyone!  Glad you enjoyed the post!

04/17/2008 09:44 PM by Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)


We've been trained to think that we need to get more... more... more...  People have forgotten how to be happy with what they have. 

04/17/2008 10:16 PM by Debbie Summers, Seminole County Real Estate (RE/MAX Central Realty Lake Mary, FL)


Jeannie: some days I feel like a nut... I think I'd rather be chasing $100 Bills  :)

04/17/2008 10:23 PM by Roland Woodworth "Ft. Campbell Area Realtor" (Exit Realty Clarksville)


Cute analogy Jeannie. When I do get my nuts and bury them, I think the crows and blue jays are stealing mine!

04/17/2008 11:41 PM by Portland Oregon Real Estate >> Wayne B. Pruner, GRI (Oregon First)


I bet you wouldn't feel so bad if you saw one of these squirrels!  They certainly catch your attention -- anyway they did mine!!  I imagine they do the same things the grey squirrels do in our area, but, being white in color and not albino (no pink eyes) certainly make them stand out.

Sue

04/18/2008 01:29 AM by Robin and Sue REALTORs® Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate (Prudential Beacon Realty in Hendersonville, NC)


I wonder if it would be easier to have just one major focus, like a squirrel looking for food.  Hmm....

04/18/2008 02:45 AM by Tony Fantis, Realtor , ABR, Associate Broker - Salt Lake City (RE/MAX Associates - Fantis Group)


This was a great post. Animals are great this way. They are often amusing and sometimes you can learn from them! My name is Christy. I'm a nut and I'm proud! hehe....

04/18/2008 11:27 PM by Christy Powers - Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent (Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners)


Jeannie, yes we are all real estate nuts.  You have to be crazy about this job, or you would never last!  You gotta love it!

04/19/2008 10:23 AM by Owensboro KY Real Estate Specialist Vickie McCartney Broker,ASP,ABR (Home Realty GMAC Real Estate Owensboro Kentucky)


Jeannie, Great post! In my world, no dream is too big, and I say "never give up on dreaming!". I truly believe if I can see it, it shall be mine, lol...really, I do believe that! Great story. Makes me think differently about the little rodents now!

04/19/2008 04:13 PM by Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate Agent Elizabeth Ramsey Cooper-Golden (Remax Huntsville/Madison)


Jeannie, I just followed this link from another post, and I love this!  What a great metaphore!

05/25/2008 10:05 PM by Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company)


Patricia - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

To all - thank you for the continued comments, I'm glad you have enjoyed the post!  Those busy little squirrels are still messing around with my yard, but I'll keep them around, I guess.  I have to now because I have you all as witnesses!

05/26/2008 01:00 AM by Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)


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Real Estate Agent: Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate,  Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)
Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale
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Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA

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PROVIDING DIRECTION -- Homes in Lancaster County and Lancaster Real Estate news, real estate market information, local happenings, and learning a bit about me -- your Lancaster County Real Estate professional, Jeannie Kontis. I Provide the Direction YOU need.

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