I don't really know what got into us this week-end.

Perhaps the media "Black Friday" reporting combined with the surge of marketing did it . . .

But my family SHOPPED and pretty much knocked out the whole list.

For me, shopping for gifts for other people is fun.

Isn't that really a big part of what we do as REALTORS?

We perpetually shop for "gifts" (houses) for our clients, and this is the part of our business most of us think is most fun, right?

ESPECIALLY when we KNOW we have found the PERFECT one.

All the same principles apply.

We have a budget (Our goal was Less than $15 per person on our list)

and we consider the recipient's wants and needs.

Urgent Needs come first. For the College Student, money and gift cards for gas and food and school supplies is a need. 

We really try to be intentional and thoughtful about every purchase- Practical - Don't want to buy a widget we know the person wants if there are Big, looming NEEDS hanging out in the background. This creates a bittersweet taste . .  . It's difficult to enjoy that new I-Pod when there's no food on the table and the job just disappeared.

If I know the "safety needs" are there (Food, Shelter, Clothes) then I use my generosity to give something I know that person REALLY wants. Smiles and hugs all around . . . and a big, hearty: "You deserve this!"

OK! Thankfully, most of the people on our family's list are not in "urgent need mode" so our constraints are budget and creativity.

Do you do your shopping on-line?

I did one year . . . ALL of my shopping.

It was VERY convenient. I never had to leave my chair, found some great stuff at what I thought were great prices . . . but it was somehow less satisfying for me, I wasn't "investing myself" enough to REALLY know what I was giving . . . and I didn't get the opportunity to add my special touches when wrapping the gifts . . . and had no "control" over the delivery.

IN your real estate business, aren't you much more engaged when you physically preview and show properties rather than relying 100% on the internet (MLS)?

I also spent more than my budget - Imagine that . . . Shipping and handling and gift wrapping fees etc . . . and those internet sites are GOOD when it comes to "up-selling"

This year, we took the whole family to Books-A-Million and spent a whole Saturday morning there. We had a BLAST . . . REALLY thought about what each person we were gifting would like . . . It was like a family mastermind to find the best fit for each person .. . It would have been comical to anyone who witnessed it because we literally dispersed into the store and came together every few minutes to share our discoveries and critique each gift.

At the check out, we bought all of our gifts and spent $11 per gift ($4 below our budget) AND we are SO excited about these gifts.

Our Daughter Jessica had been asking to go to Michaels all week. Deb took here there Saturday afternoon. She spent $10 on materials and sequestered herself in her room for the remainder of Sat and half of Sunday coming out only to eat.

When she announced that she was DONE, we asked what she had been doing?

"I made a present for TEN people" on my list"

I don't know what she made, but I can't wait to get mine :-)

So . . . This is SO cliche . . .

but

Tis the Season for GIVING and not receiving!

If you're strapped for cash, get creative and have fun as Jessica did.

Be intentional about your purchases and even if you have the capability don't over-do this thing. Determine your budget BEFORE you begin shopping and STICK TO IT!

Tis the season Indeed! 

Finally . . . and how is all of the above ANY different than what we do every day in our Real Estate Businesses?

Best,

b

Barry Owen

Career Development Coach

Principal Real Estate Broker

Keller Williams Realty - Nashville, TN - Green hills

www.theowengroup.net

www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com- Barry's other blog

http://www.squidoo.com/realestatetowncenter - Public lens for The Real Estate Town Center community

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!