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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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For more information on Homes for Sale in Lancaster, or questions and/or concerns about buying or selling a home in Lancaster County PA, please contact Jeannie Kontis at (717) 330-5137 or email at Jeannie@JeannieSellsLancaster.com.

Search for Lancaster Homes for Sale at www.JeannieSellsLancaster.com

Jeannie Kontis, RealtorⓇ, is a member of the award-winning Bob Wells Realty Group of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc, and serves buyers and sellers of real estate throughout Lancaster County.

All content Copyright ⓒ 2008 Jeannie Kontis Homes in Lancaster PA - Real Estate in Lancaster County

Posted by Jeannie Kontis, Lancaster PA Real Estate & Lancaster County Homes for Sale on 04/17/2008 12:40 PM

Comments (50)

Reaching Goals! in the Sales Strategies / Tactics Channel

business goals, chasing nuts, lancaster real estate, home equity, buyers, sellers

Originally posted at: Lancaster PA Real Estate Blog: Are we nuts?

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50 Comments on Are we nuts?

APR

2008

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

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!

I will never see squirrels the same again :-)

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

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!

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..

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

Great post, Jeannie, I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks

Rich

Great post, Jeannie, I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks

Rich

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

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!

Great Blog Jeannie!

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.

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 !

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.

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.

Angela - You are 100% right. Thanks for sharing.

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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

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.

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

Cute post and something to think about. Now we will go and chase something :-)

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

Good Post! I think we can all relate!

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

APR

2008

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

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

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....

APR

2008

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!

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!

MAY

2008

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

MAY

2008

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!

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