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13 x 7 = 28

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Casual Uncluttering LLC

I admit defeat. I admit abject, miserable, wretched failure. A failure to practice what I preach. And ghastly consequences.

 

Starting a business is always perilous. In my early Casual Uncluttering LLC days, I constantly juggled coinage, allocating every leaden penny as carefully as possible to those operations for which I couldn’t tread water if I clung to the weight of the money. I still do all my own filing, make all my own appointments. I market myself.

 

For several years I built and maintained my website entirely on my own. When it (1) became apparent that my lack of genuine expertise was hurting my visibility, and (2) my website host changed its operations yet again and the new format left me pixilated, I hired David Innes of RealBasics. Saw my public presence improve overnight. I kept those operations I like – updating facts or appearances as needed, added the blog-posting. In other words, I strengthened my marketing efforts, compensated for my programming deficits, and even improved my passion for the tasks. Penny-wise.

Pound-foolish. I’ve finally hired a bookkeeper. I make no secret of the fact that I LOATHE bookkeeping. Numbers swamp me. All sink, no swim. Knew that decades ago, when I took a basic accounting course for the MBA. But yikes, gulp, gurgle, SPEND MONEY on a BOOKKEEPER???? Guess what. My already-long-suffering bookkeeper has me correcting errors from the day I incorporated.

 

Time is a form of currency. Mistakes are costly. And it’s critical to acknowledge weakness, to compensate with someone else’s strength, and to maximize your capabilities.

 

Please follow this link for an explanation of “13 x 7 = 28.” Some of you may already know the reference.

 

 

Comments (4)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Lauren - I had never seen the video and although I am not an Abbot & Costello fan, I enjoyed the explanation a lot.  Very clever title and your post is a study on how we can make things happen.  Good job.  

Jan 18, 2020 05:27 PM
Lauren Williams, CPO

Michael Jacobs Thank you! I'm delighted you enjoyed my post and the video both.

Jan 18, 2020 07:08 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Lauren Williams, CPO a bit of ingenuity and anything can happen.... I love Abbott and Costello...and congratulations on making good decisions and making it all happen.

Jan 19, 2020 04:52 AM
Lauren Williams, CPO

Barbara Todaro Thank you! Doesn't so much feel like "making it all happen" as "no longer dropping quite so many silver dollars (or bowling balls) on my toes."

Jan 19, 2020 12:16 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Time is a form of currency, an idea not everyone understands. Hope life with the bookkeeping gives you that time and mental freedom.

Jan 19, 2020 08:29 AM
Lauren Williams, CPO

Lottie Kendall Your hope - you and me both!

Jan 19, 2020 12:16 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Lauren,

The DIY mentality is abundant.  What many do not realize is how much faster an expert can help, and one can focus on what do best...I see it day in and day out.  A

Jan 19, 2020 10:51 AM
Lauren Williams, CPO

Ron and Alexandra Seigel DIY, thriftiness, cussed individualism - very American, not always a great idea!

Jan 19, 2020 12:17 PM