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Time to Stop Clowning Around?

By
Real Estate Agent with Retired

It has been a long, slow year with another one coming up soon. Puzzle Clown by Mike SaundersSerious buyers and sellers have been a bit hard to come by. But I have my business plan completed for next year, my goals set and some clients lined up. So now what?

Here we are in the holiday season, Thanksgiving was just two weeks ago and Christmas, or Chanukah, or Kwanza, or just the winter holiday, as well as New Year's are only a couple of weeks away. As fine an excuse as any for taking some time out, getting some shopping done and maybe just enjoying the season.

I could spend the time relaxing, after all, I have an agressive plan that all I have to do is follow. It's going to be in the 70's this week, I could get a few rounds of golf in.

Or maybe, I could just get a head start on my plan, maybe get some additional blogging in. Perhaps I could start this week building up my SOI database so that I can maybe even exceed my goals.

Maybe I should be doing that rebuilding of my website that I have slated for January and hit the ground with that already in place.

Maybe I could order those new magnetic signs and have them ready for January 1.

Or maybe I can get all of my cards written out to my SOI, that's something for this year.

It appears that there are a lot of things that I can be doing to improve my chances for growing the business next year. Maybe I had just better quit clowning around and get to it.

But, it is the holidays........

Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Hi Mike

There are serious buyers and sellers in the market today they need to meet serious real estate professionals to service their needs.

Success and good luck

Lou Ludwig

Dec 15, 2008 06:50 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Work hard each day implenting what you learn in this site.  Leave the office at 5pm...don't come in too early and stay too late on top of the holidays.  I don't know how you can relax and have fun unless you did something productive in your job during the day.  If you are passionate about your job, can't wait to update this media site, write better ads, take better video and stills...work can be like a vacation or a challenge.  The best brokers make money every year and adjust to what the market is doing..as it is doing. Can't change the wind, can adjust your sails kinda thing.  You may do some business while golfing too so win win. Control the impulse spending, look for slack in your business plan and time management. Happy Holidays!

Dec 15, 2008 07:00 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Valerie - that's what I intend to be doing

Svetlana - thanks for the comment, gotta keep moving to get anywhere

Lou - absolutely, just need to make sure that I am out there where they can find me and I can find them

Andrew - I like that, can't change the wind, so you have to adjust your sails, but, since I am a stinkboater, didn't think of that analogy.

 

Dec 15, 2008 07:33 AM
Morgan Evans
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

The holidays will be a very productive time for me to work on those projects that are hard to start of finish because work gets in the way.  Im looking forward to being away from the office for a few weeks to relax and focus on a lot of big picture items.

Dec 15, 2008 08:45 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Morgan - good for you, I will also be using it to finish some stuff or a non RE nature, such as a couple of bookcases.

Dec 15, 2008 10:45 AM
LaShawn Norden
Keller Williams Heritage Realty - Longwood, FL
REALTOR, (321) 377-0157, Your Real Estate Advocate in Central FL

Mike~I've chosen not to participate in this "crappy" market and instead...have worked harder than ever this year and this holiday season. I even met with a new buyer tonight and have a fellow AR agent coming into town next Tuesday who wants to look at property. As tempting as it is to enjoy some down time, mama's gotta bring home the bacon! :-) Yeh, I know...I'm a workaholic. Drink some eggnog for me!

 

Dec 15, 2008 12:52 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

LaShawn - the eggnog will not tempt me away from business (or anything else). Now, if it was a Tom & Jerry....Good for you to have some business this week.

Dec 15, 2008 02:04 PM
Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Mike, do something already....j/k, sort of. I don't have to tell you though. Go through each of thiose items you just lsted and do them all, a little bit at a time. It is the holidays after all. All the planning in the world and acheivement is meaningless if you do not take the time to enjoy the pleasures that life brings you. Have a good holiday

 Bo

Dec 15, 2008 02:47 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Bo - I am going to do a bit of all of it and be ready to hit the ground running in January, well, maybe just jogging.

Dec 16, 2008 01:32 AM
x Bye Bye
x - Bay Minette, AL
Delete Account

Mike - As a Home Inspector the rule is 'When you are not inspecting; you are marketing'.  But do take some time for family, friends and a little for yourself.  If you are looking for things to do there is always the Dawgwood's Antebellum Afternoon Drive or go pet Uga (my young niece's idea).

 

Dec 16, 2008 04:43 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Brian - don't think they will let me near the real UGA, will have to content myself with the many UGA sculptures in the area.

Dec 16, 2008 04:52 AM
Laraine Shape
Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Glendale, OH
Selling Cincinnati...one kitchen at a time

Mike - Wouldn't it be fun if we could get paid for all of our clowning around efforts? 

Dec 16, 2008 09:17 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Ralph - some people to, how about Ronald McDonald?

Dec 16, 2008 09:37 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Mike,  I'm recommending that people go back to the business plans participants came up with for the Makeover2Takeover contest.  I got kicked off the island that week, but my "loser" plan doubled my income in 2008.  And have a great holiday - don't work too hard!

Dec 17, 2008 10:36 AM
Tami Vroma
West Michigan Real Estate Specialist-Five Star Real Estate - Grand Haven, MI
Realtor, Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Mike - If I want to be a realtor this time next year, I keep working!  I keep blogging and praying that this will pay off!

Dec 17, 2008 11:33 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Patricia - good move on your part, same to you on the Holidays

Tami - good attitude, keep it up

Dec 17, 2008 11:19 PM
Laura Kombrink
RE/MAX Alliance - Collinsville, IL

It is always tempting to chill out once in a while.  I try to remember that what I do today affects what I earn 1-2 months from today.  So, if I do nothing, then a month from today nothing is what I get in return.  Balance is important, so just take a bite out of the pie....implement one thing from your plan and reward yourself with a round of golf.

Then implement something else and reward yourself with shopping and so on...and so on...and so on.

You'll be glad you did!

Dec 17, 2008 11:35 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Laura - thanks, I actually did that yesterday, crossed off a couple of the items on my to do (I actually did them, not just cross them off) and got a round of golf in.

BTW - I am not the kind of person that considers shopping a reward;^)

Dec 18, 2008 06:35 AM
Laura Kombrink
RE/MAX Alliance - Collinsville, IL

:) gotcha.....no shopping for you!  LOL :)

Dec 18, 2008 11:37 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Laura - only when I have to, like today.

Dec 18, 2008 11:38 PM