The other day I overheard a conversation about a teen who is on drugs and out of controll. I heard how you would never guess
that by looking at his rather successful mother. The conversation went on about how much the boy's mother worked and it was
the price she paid for her great success. As I listened I discovered that the conversation was about a local Realtor's son.
A Realtor that is at the top of the list for annual sales.
This made me think...Wow, is my child going to suffer if I become an A-lister? Am I going to be there when my daughter
needs me the most? Currently, she is 8 and she plans to follow my foot steps and become a Realtor. She already assists
me from time to time by helping me prepare for open houses, and by sitting at my desk playing computer games while I meet
with clients. Last week, she got all dressed up on open house day and came to hand out fliers to all the people
who came to view the property.
What is going to happen when she gets a little older and decides it's lame being mom's "assistant".
Currently, it is pretty easy for me to make family time since I am NOT an A-lister, but there are times where I get pretty
busy. My family never seems to suffer too badly. Here are a few rules I am going to always try to stick by:
I always make it for dinner with my family. Dinner may not always be at the same time every evening, but we have it together. If I don't cook it, we go out to eat. Sometimes we have to take separate cars, but we get there. And lucky for me, I have a husband that knows how to cook. Studies show that families that have dinner together regularly have less problems in the long run.
There is a certain point when I have to turn my phone off!! You all know there are people that call several times a day and need you more than others. I love being able to be there for my clients, but there is a line that needs to be drawn. You cannot truly focus on your family if your phone is hanging out of your ear so if it is important to be 100% focused on your family, turn it off. Turn it back on in an hour--guess what!! There is such a thing as voice mail. This does not just apply to family but for your own sanity as well. I tease my partner for taking her cell in the gym with her. It's only an hour-leave it in the car, and return any missed calls when you finish. Your client will wait--believe me, they will!! I also turn my phone off at bedtime, and turn it back on when I am awake and ready for the day...If you can't turn it off any other time, at least turn it off at bedtime..you deserve it.
Remember who writes your schedule. I spent 20 years in the grocery business with someone else writing my schedule. It is so nice to be able to attend every school function, or to accompany my husband to something that is important to him. Take advantage of it!! I write down all special events in my day planner and treat it like any other appointment. I have not lost a single potential client by doing so. You are a professional, expect to be treated like a professional. You don't tell your dentist when you are coming in, they tell you when to come in.
Most important(to me) I involve my family. As I mentioned at the beginning, my daughter enjoys being my assistant. She loves to come to the office. She gets jobs like shredding papers, or putting together folders for me. If I need to pick up or place signs, she loves to come and help put them in the ground. Stuffing envelopes is another favorite job. I go and knock on doors quite often..she likes to come with me if it is to just go for the ride, and play video games in the car..If she wants to sit in the car..so be it..I'll take her as long as she wants to. Some day she may be too busy for me.
I haven't quite managed keeping the house work in check..I'm teaching my daughter to do some tasks that I think she would be good at..(it's like pulling teeth) But If she would kick in a little, I'll have even more time for her...
Comments(29)