Surviving Our Crazy Business
Our business is a fun one, (most of the time). The biggest problem most of us have is turning it off. Think of Jack Nicholson's character in the Shinning. "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy..." If we do not allow ourselves to have a day off or to have an outlet outside of work we will go crazy and/or burn out.
I am a firm believer that you need a hobby. Most people that know me are aware of my main passion... I race sailboats. I became painfully aware of how important it is to have that outlet... It was the Summer of 1996. I had just opened a new office... and I did not allow myself the time to go sailing. Towards the end of that summer I was beginning to feel the pressure build. Just as the steam was about to blow out of both of my ears I was lucky enough to get a call and someone asked if I could sail a Fall series with them... That night I realized that I forgot about work the minute I stepped on the boat. From that point on I have made it part of my schedule to maintain mental health. Now every Tuesday night during the Summer is scheduled in my calendar. Setting aside these few hours each week has allowed me to maintain my sanity and reduce my stress. Now over 20 years into this business I can still truly say I still love it and cant see myself doing anything else.
What makes you happy? For some it may be Golf, Fishing, or many other hobbies. I personally think your outlet should be something productive, something mentally challenging, something creative, something competitive and/or something physical. I have a handful of hobbies that all fall into these categories in one form or another. Sailing takes over for about 6 or 7 months of the year and I fill in the rest of the months with a hand full of other "outlets" that I enjoy.
Schedule your free time, much the same as you schedule your work day. By no means am I suggesting that you should blow off work. Your schedule should have time blocked for prospecting, time blocked for business planning, time blocked for education etc., all in addition to the true appointments with your clients. Treat everything on your calendar as an appointment. You wouldn't miss a listing appointment or a meeting with a client and you should not miss an appointment with yourself. Having an outlet that you enjoy will make you happier and more productive in the long run. Our clients all prefer to work with a smiling face, find your outlet and put a smile on your face!
Have a GREAT week!
Rob
Robert Rauf Countrywide Home Loans
(732) 740-0175 Cell
Robert_Rauf@countrywide.com
www.RobertRaufHomeLoans.com
Building financial security, one home owner at a time
For anyone that may think of Sailing as laid back and relaxing... Shoot me out an email and I will send you some pictures of some crazy conditions we end up racing in. Racing sailboats fits into the Physical, mental, competitive and even the productive piece...(productive providing our crew works together and wins at least!)
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