My Anti-Social Experiment!

It's true we have become quite dependent of our sidearms strapped to our belts.  I have to resist the temptation to see what's up when driving down the road.  Then there's the wife who gets on me for pulling it out and checking an email while she's talking....(duh. idiot thing for me to do, but I somehow still do it...)

So good luck on your experiement.  Not sure I can handle that...  :)

-  Tristan
www.rapidhomesonline.com

Cheers Karin!  I leave my phone in my truck when I meet with clients.  Alternately, I turn it off when I am with them.

I explain that I do not screen calls, but I also do not take calls when I am with a client, so I need them to understand if they get voicemail when they call me.  The also understand I will call them back!

Wait until you see the look of appreciation in your clients eyes!  You don't need to dump your Crackberry, just turn it off or leave it in the car when you are with clients.  What you are really doing is "Being Present" for them.  That's easy when you leave the phone behind!

Keep me updated!  I wish you well. 

http://activerain.com/groups/outsidethebox

Vic Steele, Broker, CA DRE License No. 01349863

Valet Real Estate Services

571 N. Poplar, Suite H, Orange, CA  92868

Good Luck I hope the experiment works well. I to find myself not paying enough attention to my wife, my friends and clients because of always checking the email as it vibrates in.

And the last one was an offer for 28 mil if i just send them my banking info so they can send me the money from thier long loved but dead uncle who had hidden it in a bank account in Sierra Leon or some such place.

Oregon just passed a 'no texting / no cell phones' while driving law.  That helps!  Nothing like a ticket (I think it's $160) to do a little intervention!!

Just carry it but don't watch it constantly -- you might still need it for some emergency item -- balance , balance.

I tell my clients when they are with me they get my full attention.  I will not answer my phone or check e-mail.  Then I tell them I do that with all my clients and if I don't return a call for a couple of hours it is because I am with a client.  They all end up telling me how responsive I am to their needs.

Good luck Karin, but you won't need it. Social was around way before there was media attached to the end of it!

Hi Karin - By stepping out and meeting people in real life, you just might differentiate yourself from all of the other agents. And as connected as blogging, Facebook and Twitter make us feel, you still can't buy or sell a house with a status update or tweet!

Karin,

I find it beneficial when meeting with a client to leave my phone either in my car or turned off, if meeting in my office. I used to be a manic phone checker until a friend told me"Ya know Walt its ok to leave your phone in the car."

I hope your experimant pays off positive dividends for you.

Good luck with the withdrawal period.  I can imagine it will be tough.  I love my phone too but I am good at not using it when I am with clients.  Keep us posted on whether you are surviving.

I have never texted nor owned a crackberry, so I can't imagine the dependence. 

Karin you have left the dark side and come into the light of persoanl contact and communications. Good for you my friend. Can you get a rotary dial cell phone I wonder