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Do you suffer from tunnel vision?

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

Do you suffer from tunnel vision?

daylight at the end of the tunnelSometimes tunnel vision is a good thing, like when you really need to focus on the task at hand and not get distracted.

However, tunnel vision can also keep us from unexpected pleasures, opportunities and successes. Narrowing our vision can close us off to possibilities we hadn't seen before.

Here's an example. Today is the first of my 2-day away business planning sessions. I decided to leave home at 6:30 AM, stopping at Cavallo Point for an early morning drop-in yoga class. I'd be at my B&B, settled in to work by 11:00. I'd stop work around 2:30, drive to nearby Point Reyes for a hike or jog, then return to the B&B to work all evening. Or so was the plan.


But the day didn't go as planned.
Although I had checked, yoga was canceled this morning. It would be too early to check in at the B&B if I went directly there. Fortunately, tunnel vision hadn't set it, so I could see the possibilities.

I went directly to the ferns along the Bear Valley Trail, Pt. Reyes, CABear Valley Trail head at Pt. Reyes for a fast-paced (it was cold!) hike for about 90 minutes. I had the pleasure of having the entire trail and Divide Meadow to myself, so enjoyed a bit of yoga before returning to my car. I could enjoy the solitude, the burble of water in the creek, and beauty of the ferns.

I checked in at the B&B at the intended time, and after warming up the room and eating a hot lunch, I was ready to buckle down to work, well exercised and ready for the tunnel vision that will helped me stay focused all afternoon and evening on the task at hand - business review and planning 2017.

The unexpected bonus: by early afternoonthe rain began (hooray!!) so I wouldn't have had much of a hike any way!

Tunnel vision; make it work for you at the right times, but don't let it close off opportunities and new possibilities.

Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Tunnel vision certainly helped me stay focused on my business planning all afternoon and evening, Grant Schneider . I'm taking a 30-minute break now, then back at it for another hour.

Patricia Kennedy - I love these overnight get-aways for business planning and do them quarterly. This at the end of the year needs two day! Tunnel vision keeps me on track when I'm here.

Dec 07, 2016 08:33 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Bo Kociuba & Buster Elliott - being stuck like in quicksand is the worst! By being open this morning to changing schedules helped me stay focused this afternoon and evening. 

Dec 07, 2016 08:35 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Jeff Dowler - agreed; a curse or a blessing depending on how its used. Seeing the big picture this morning enabled me to call upon the narrow focus the rest of the day and evening.

The tunnel pictured is one just north of the GG bridge on a side road that leads to Rodeo Beach in the headlands.  

Dec 07, 2016 08:39 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Good Evening, Lottie Kendall - I feel as if I just finished reading a good book! You had a terrific day. Even though it didn't go as planned, it turned out even better! You are living a good life and making excellent choices! 

I'm proud to call you an AR friend. 

Dec 07, 2016 08:59 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Lottie Kendall it sounds like rather than procrastinate and WAIT for the scheduled time, you jumped right on it and took your hike.... had you waited, it would not have happened.... keep moving... follow your list of tasks to be done....but forget about the time dedicated....

Dec 08, 2016 04:18 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I agree that sometimes we get too narrowly focused and we miss what is around us.

Dec 08, 2016 08:04 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Lottie. Sometimes things just work better than we plan for.

Dec 08, 2016 08:07 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

You and your hiking. I need to exercise more. Maybe it will get my gray matter working. Good for you for circumventing the obstacles and getting things done. 

Dec 08, 2016 12:51 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

for a couple of minutes I was flummoxed - didn't quite know what to do. But, when I looked for possibilities, they were there. Getting enough exercise really helps me settle down later and focus on what I need to be doing. It works for me, Jane Peters 

Agreed, Sheila Anderson - everything worked out very nicely yesterday. I have now wrapped up my business review and planning, and have time to spend here and do a bit of business reading before 6:00 PM when my husband joins me.

 

Dec 08, 2016 01:49 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

I'm glad I didn't fall into that narrow-view trap yesterday morning, Joe Pryor. In the afternoon and evening I put tunnel vision to good use.

When things beyond our control happen (yoga cancelled yesterday morning) it's how we deal with it that makes a difference, Barbara Todaro 

Hi Patricia Feager - it's important to look for opportunities when the day changes, or when one door closes. Yesterday was a great day, I hope it was for you, too.

Dec 08, 2016 01:55 PM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change

You are so dedicated to your fitness Lottie. I could learn from you!

 

Dec 08, 2016 06:10 PM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Take advantage of "every" opportunity ... and take those distractions or dropped appointments to hone in on the open windows! Sounds like you made it a great day!

Dec 08, 2016 06:28 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Karen Crowson - I simply write my exercise plans on my calendar like I do any other appointment. That increases the chance it gets done!

Diana Dahlberg - being open to new ideas, new opportunities, new things is a great way to keep excitement in our lives.

Dec 08, 2016 07:09 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

That sounds wonderful - both the overnigher and your ability to adjust to the circumstances. Happy planning!

Dec 08, 2016 08:09 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Lottie,

Sounds like you had a lovely day. Isn't it nice, when things work out, despite the hiccups?

Dec 08, 2016 08:51 PM
Lottie Kendall

Hi Dorte - the day turned out delightfully well. Being open to new possibilities is the best

Dec 09, 2016 09:38 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Lottie, I like that you point out tunnel vision is right at times and not at others. Very accurate assessment. We have to be willing to adjust on some things and stick to our guns on others. Great post!

Dec 09, 2016 09:06 AM
Greg Mona
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Professional Real Estate Representation for YOU!

Wonderful story and good food for thought Lottie Kendall!  Thanks for sharing and for the tip! 

Dec 09, 2016 09:09 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Having tunnel vision can be a good thing ... and a bad thing, Lottie Kendall.  Being able to concentrate and shut out the "noises" around us can be a positive.  Obviously it can be a fatal flaw too causing us to miss out on opportunity and positives happening around us.  The trick is finding the right balance ...

Gene 

Dec 09, 2016 09:35 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Thanks Marte Cliff - adjusting to circumstances outside of our control is an important ability to have.

Hello Amanda S. Davidson - you definitely "get it" about tunnel vision - knowing how to use it to one's advantage is huge!

Hi Greg Mona - tunnel vision can be vey helpful, but sometimes one has to open up to a broader view, otherwise no growth would be possible.

 

Dec 09, 2016 09:42 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi  - you state it beautifully. Tunnel vision was very helpful these last 2 days as I focused on business planning, but seeing the the broader view is what helps us grow. Wishing you a great day!

 

 

Dec 09, 2016 09:44 AM