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

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.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

Posted by Todd Clark (Broker) (503)524-9494 (Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate Expert) on 11/16/2008 12:31 AM

Comments (23)

Day Off in the Training Channel

my day off, spending time with the family, no guilt, coaching, mentoring

Originally posted at: Living Beaverton - Your guide to everything Beaverton: OK – I did it and the world didn’t end

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

NOV

2008

I have done that, and it was the best day I could remember. I am glad you got your camera out and documented the moment! Your kids will need the evidence...-Dinah Lee

Bravo! You have a beautiful young family, and even if you don't think you deserve a day off. They deserve you to have a day off. I am a father of two beautiful girls , ages 26 yrs. and 29 yrs.. When They were as young as yours I missed a a large portion of their young lives, because I felt guilty when I took time off work. Therefore, I worked too any long days and weeks. I now realize albeit too late that you cant get those young years back.

Please remember you are taking the time off for the most precious thing in your life your family, feel guilty for not taking time with them.

All the best,

Bill

Todd -

Glad you realized what is REALLY important!

The calls and the emails can wait - just make sure your voice mail and email auto responder said you're taking the day off, and who to call if it's an emergency.

I'm sure you did that - and glad you got to spend the day with the family!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

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.

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.

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

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" :)

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

TC,

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

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

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

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

Amber

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!

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

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

2008

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

2008

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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