The circus was coming to town and would be in town for only one weekend. Father promised Johnny and David he would take them to the circus. The boys were so excited to go. After all, father worked long hours and missed many of the boys events because his phone would ring for a big business deal.The boys were used to the words, " A client just called boys, we will have to do this another time." The let downs had become a part of life in their household. Mom would have everyone sitting down at the dinner table, as soon as the family prayer was over more times than not father's phone would ring and the boys knew he was leaving the dinner table to talk to a client.
In the excitement of the circus being in town the boys got up extra early this Saturday morning and rushed down to the kitchen table to get their breakfast. Father was ready to go as well. The family sat down to eat breakfast and as usual Father's phone rang. Father answers the phone while Johnny and David watched in fear of the inevitable, another promise made to be broken, another day alone without their father. The boys knew too well the scenario and the excuses made.
The boys hung on every word as their father spoke on the phone. Then they heard their father say, " I am sorry, this is going to have to wait until Monday because I am taking my sons to the circus today. "
When you are at the dinner table which is one of the most sacred times a family has together are you jumping up to answer the phone? What is the example you are leaving for your children when you do that or not? You see, we are the leaders of our families and our children will become us. What are your children internalizing when they see you leave the dinner table to answer the phone and run out the door to show a house to a buyer?
Studies have shown that families who spend dinner together have distinct advantages over those that don't.
- Better grades in school
- Better readers
- Better health and nutrition
- Less drug use
- Save money on food
There needs to be a sacred time in your family daily and weekly where no one and nothing takes prescedence over your family. This time, whatever it is, whenever it is, can be set by you and your children. Many families choose dinner time, many choose Sundays. But set aside that time. This could be a new year's promise for yourselves and your family.
Start by setting boundaries with your clients. Stop asking how high when a client asks you to jump. You can argue all day long about how you can not afford to miss that ONE client, that magic million dollar buyer you have been waiting for. And I will say, you can not afford to miss one more week without time spent with your children. There will always be another buyer, another seller but there will never be another family like yours.
I have found through many years of working with buyers and sellers that not one of them has expected me to place them above my family. I do not work on Sundays and everyone I work with knows that. Do you know what they say to me? They say, "Good For You." We don't lose clients because of our Sundays and I promise you, either will you.
My friend, Missy Caulk raised 5 children and never missed a soccer game, football game, cheer leading performance and she runs a great business. It can be done. And if you happen to lose that one client because you have a life and a family, well, they did not deserve you to begin with. If Missy could do it with 5 kids and I could do it with 6 kids than anyone can do it.
So start the New Year with a promise to your family that from now on you will turn your phone on silent during dinner.
Follow me on Twitter at Twitter.com/CoachKaterina.
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