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OK – I did it and the world didn’t end

By Todd Clark - Retired

Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

November 15, 2008 04:31 PM

It wasn't as easy as I hoped, but once I took the little happy pill I was fine. (No not the little blue one - you people are sick) This was a pack of Tic Tacs that I labeled happy pills and I sucked on to try to get my mind off what was happening.

I was taking the day off and I wasn't sure my phone being left on my desk unattended knew how to handle having more than a single voice mail message waiting for more than 5 minutes. My computer, could it survive being turned off? Heck until today, I didn't know it had an off button.

But, after reading your advice and doing everything I could do to try to overcome the guilt that taking a day off brought me, today I did it. I got up and planned our day out with the kids... no phone, no computer and you know what? After about the first hour, it began to be fun and I didn't think about the computer or the phone.

Now, when I got home and saw 24 messages on my phone and 138 e-mails in my inbox, that was a little harder to swallow, but not one of those was a Earth ending matter and I didn't lose one potential client because of it.

Here are the pictures from my day without the phone or the computer and if you haven't tried it, maybe you should take some happy pills and take the day off.

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Steve Laird

Anderson Real Estate Sales - Chico, CA

Steve Sells Chico Real Estate

Every so often you gotta pay youself back! Spending time with family is a great way to pay yourself back. No reason to feel guilty.

Nov 15, 2008 05:43 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

I refuse to be chained to my phone. I answer it when in my home office, but I'm just not always connected.

The day you spent will be remembered by your children. That makes it all worthwhile.

Nov 15, 2008 09:54 PM

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD

A doctor who makes house calls.

Those faces look worth it to me. Hopefully, you'll be able to get more great days to spend with the family.

Nov 15, 2008 11:44 PM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Todd- Just the pictures of those smiles says it was worth it. and as you saw life went on...most clients and prospective ones understand us wanting time off. It's imperative for mental health, not counting family love to take time away from work. I'm so glad to see you "did it" :)

Nov 16, 2008 03:04 AM

Steve Shatsky

Dallas, TX

Hi Todd... Can you tell me where you got those Happy Pills? I could use a day off but the anxiety is killing me!

Nov 16, 2008 04:31 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

TC,

With beautiful kids like that, you need to turn off your PC more often!!! Thanks, Fran

Nov 16, 2008 05:09 AM

Maria Morton

Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Todd, I bet your children appreciated your "sacrifice"!!

Nov 16, 2008 09:09 AM

Judy Greenberg

Compass - Long Grove, IL

Compass- Long Grove -Buffalo Grove

We aren't as important as we think we are- people will survive without us. Your kids area adorable!

Nov 16, 2008 12:57 PM

Jason & Amber Gardner

Hasson Company, Realtors - Sherwood, OR

We're Committed to Your Success!

Good for you. You need balance to be the best at everything you do!

Amber

Nov 16, 2008 01:12 PM

MARY IACOVELLI

MARY IACOVELLI REALTY, LLC - Simpsonville, SC

That's awesome! I can go a couple of days without the computer but I haven't made it a day yet without the phone. Fortunately my phone does not have internet! I refuse to have that cause I know I would never have piece and quiet! Congrats on a day well spent, looks fun!

Nov 16, 2008 02:00 PM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Good for you, Todd. I'm not sure I could do that!

Nov 16, 2008 03:23 PM

Joddie Roberts

Mountain Real Estate and Property Management - Spokane, WA

Your Spokane Realtor - Spokane, WA

I think we all struggle with being away from the phone and computer, and yet we really need to take a break from it periodically...and our family needs us to do that as well.

Nov 16, 2008 03:30 PM

Shirley Parks

Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX

Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Todd, It looks like your kids really enjoyed their Dad's day off. Good for you! Time with your family is important. You have cute kids.

Nov 17, 2008 01:31 AM

Katerina Gasset

The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT

Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Todd- Your kids are gorgeous! We take weekends off. I never work on Sundays. Since we do so many short sales and luxury homes we work Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nestor will do accompanies of our high end listings on the weekends if other agents need to show. Most agents around here don't work a lot on the weekends. Most offices are closed on Sundays and only open half a day on Saturdays.

Living without my laptop is the hard thing though, now I have a blackberry so I can text and twitter. :) Which I am just learning how to text. Keeps me in touch with my grown kids.

"Reduce your workload by 30% and increase your fun load by 30% and you will increase your revenues by 100%. And you will increase your productivity by 10,000% (If there could be such percentage.). More fun, less struggle--more results on all fronts." Abraham-Hicks

I learned to live by that, it works.

Nov 17, 2008 05:50 PM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

As a mom of four daughters who are out of the house I have to advise -- take more time off -- they are gone too fast, and everyone works better with a balanced home and personal life! Life is about living -- not just work!

Nov 17, 2008 10:52 PM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Dinah - I take my camera everywhere with me now, you never know when an Activerain blog maybe lurking in the shadows. (lol)

Bill - Thanks, I think that is why I did it, I knew I would feel guilty later in life if I didn't do it now.

Dean - I did have the autosponder on and a voicemail saying to call an associate of mine if it was an emergency...She didn't get a single call!

Steve - I always seem to, but in the end it always feels so good to take the time to be with family.

Nov 18, 2008 12:57 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Lenn - That is where I have to change...I am always connected, but sometimes I am very grateful I am, like in the post I wrote the other day about helping out one of my clients when she was giving birth and couldn't get a hold of her husband.

Stacey - I'm really trying to figure out how to do this once a week without going crazy...But, it maybe a slow process.

Kathy - So am I now, but it was very difficult the first hour or so.

Steve - You take some Tic Tacs and have your kids put new labels on them that say happy pills. If you have girls like I do, it may look a lot like a princess bottle, but hey, what ever it takes to be happy, right?

Nov 18, 2008 02:14 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Fran - I try, I really do... The PC is the least of the problems, it is that dang phone!

Maria - I think they do also, ok, maybe not the 10 year old, she shot me in the head with a rubberband tonight.

Judy - I don't know I think I'm pretty important - lol

Amber - It is so difficult, I get balance in one area and I go and screw it up in another. I'm not so good at this circle of balance thing.

Nov 18, 2008 07:21 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Mary - I would almost rather be the other way and have the internet and not the phone, but we will see.

Patricia - You have dinners with VIPs, how could you turn things like that down - LOL

Joddie - It just seems so hard when are clients have come to expect so much from what we do.

Nov 18, 2008 07:27 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

Shirley - Thanks, the cute kids I think are mom's doing. (LOL)

Katerina - I really am trying, but I haven't figured it out yet... I am going on another daddy / daughter dinner this year that my daughters church group is putting on and I've warned all my clients the phone and internet will be off during this time.

Margaret - Someone explain again how the mortgage gets paid along with all the other bills with balance?

Nov 18, 2008 09:49 AM