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No More Bunny Trails

By Brad Hanks

Managing Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc. WA DOL #73959

January 18, 2009 05:24 PM

Where Am I?

Bunny I'm sitting at my computer, doing research for a course I'm writing. I realize that I need to go out on the web to get some information for the project, and decide to search the topic on the web. I pick up a link from Google, and visit a blog site listed high in the ranking. On this site I find a link to another site for a news article that is relevant, and upon visiting the news site find yet another link that looks promising. Before I know it I'm at a site promoting the Ab Slide, and I have no idea how I got there and have forgotten what I originally set out to do.

Similar to my pre-senior moments when I walk upstairs to get something, and once there, can't remember what I was looking for, the web "bunny trails" I hop down can be frustrating. They're time consuming, attention sucking, and even though they're sometimes very entertaining, they dilute my effectiveness. No wonder it sometimes takes me two hours to do a 30-minute task on the web! But hey, at least I found the Ab Slide (As Seen on TV).

Avoiding The Bunny Trails

I'm determined to stop hopping down these trails too far anymore, so I'm making a point to stay focused and on task. It won't be easy with my ADD, but at least I'm gonna try. I'm not going to give in to distraction anymore. I'll resist the urge to click on the link offering more info on the amazing weight loss beer and pizza diet. No more stumbling upon sites offering instructional videos on Irish Step Dance. The links I do succumb to will be opened in a new window, so as not to cause me to hit the back arrow until my finger goes numb. And yes, I've been there.

For now, I'm done following the bunnies. No more mindless web hopping. I'm going forth with purpose and resolve, staying focused and mindful of the task at hand.

Well, at least until I do find a link to a great site offering a beer and pizza diet.

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Anonymous

Tom Gray

You call them bunny trails, I call them rabbit holes (after Alice down the rabbit hole). It is amazing that as effective technology, the internet and all of these marvelous tools we have today can be in accelerating the work we do it has, in equal and opposite proportion, the ability to divert us from the completion of those tasks that provide us our livelihood (and the ability to invest in Ab Slides, etc.). Thanks for the resolution. I think I'll adopt it as well.

Blogging @ http://www.gemsolv.com/wordpress

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Jan 18, 2009 09:16 PM

Brad Hanks

RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Thanks for the comment Tom. It is amazing how so much at our fingertips becomes so much a distraction. Take care, and good luck staying away from the bunny trails and rabbit holes!

Jan 19, 2009 12:47 AM

Sean Goerss

Brad, appreciated your comments - especially about a 30 minute task taking 2 hours!

As real estate professionals, this might be a good reason to hire others to do a lot of the research for us - for instance, an in-house assistant, a virtual assistant, or a company (like mine!).

i.e. I worked for a virtual assistant company for a while, and the boss would give me a project, saying "Sean, go find out everything you can on FSBO Software - 60 minute budget, and then leave me a message on my dictation service, describing what you think are the most useful pieces of software." So, he leveraged his people AND the internet, with clear rules and guidelines, to get 60 minutes of reserach done for very little money (esp. compared to what he makes!).

The great part of the internet is that you can use it against itself - you can leverage the power of internet to help eliminate the downfalls of the internet!

Sean Goerss
Realtor, St. Paul, MN
http://www.RealEstateTechnologyExperts.com
http://www.TopAgentTechTools.com

Jan 19, 2009 01:13 AM

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Hi Brad

Hopping down the bunny trail and not ending up anywhere is a daily trap, Focusing on our daily desired outcome will help us avoid the trap.

Good luck and success

Jan 19, 2009 03:25 AM

Sabrina Kelley

ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO

Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

You might need to give yourself a little more time for you tasks. Sometimes a small distraction can lead to a major discovery.

Jan 19, 2009 06:13 AM

So true Sabrina. Serendipity has led to many wonderful things.

Jan 19, 2009 02:56 PM

Dena Stevens

Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO

Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004

Focusing on the web can be a difficult thing, I agree. And BTW, great storm picture on your customizer. Did you take the pix? We have great storms down here in Pueblo County too. Wait, what was this post about?

Jan 20, 2009 02:57 AM

Caren Wallace

Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR

Portland Caren Real Estate

Brad, now I understand the bunny trails that you were referring to in your seminar in Akron yesterday! It was such a pleasure to be their and adding to my blogging knowledge! Thank you and check out my newest blog, just maybe you are mentioned!!

Oct 03, 2009 02:51 AM

Kathy Kooyman

Home Realty - Pella, IA

Brad, Beer and Pizza diet sounds good to me. Maybe we could start tomorrow around noon! Really enjoying your seminar.

Nov 04, 2009 12:15 PM

No More Bunny Trails

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