Finally 100,000 points, and things I learned from a really bad day!
I wanted to write something profound for my 100,000th point post. Something about how many things I have learned from all the folks on Active Rain (A TON!). Something about how much my business has improved, how many more referrals I get from AR (LOTS!) Something about the mortgage business, about the state of the economy, something...
Instead I am going to share my day on Saturday, because in Real Estate and in life, I have found you need to go with the flow, and that things will work out in the end!
I awoke bright and early on Saturday morning, the heat and humidity were close to record highs. I had two appointments scheduled with clients to sign loan docs. My daughter Sydney had her last swim meet at a swim club about 30 minutes away.
My laptop crashed last week (RIP old hard drive-blech!). Using my home PC, I had worked on loan docs the evening before but had a software conflict between my loan program and the version of Adobe installed. It was getting late, and my in-house tech support was already asleep. I decided to take another stab at it in the morning.
After a system re-boot, we thought my conflict was resolved. I suggested that my husband take my daughter to the meet to get her there in time for warm-ups. I would meet them there as soon as I was ready for my appointments. This would also allow me to leave as soon as Syd's last event was finished to get home in time to shower and leave for my appointments. Since I am training for a triathlon, I have missed the first half of many of her meets this year due to my group training schedule. I promised her I would get there in time for her first event.
They left, I continued to have conflicts. There was a rain delay. I kept trying. Rain stopped, meet was on. I grabbed my purse, the directions to the meet, my phone, and water (got to stay hydrated!), and walked out of the house, pulling the door shut behind me. The sun hit me and I realized I didn't have my sunglasses. Turning to go back into the house, I realized.....NO KEYS! Peering through the kitchen window, I saw them on the counter. OOHHHH CRUD!!
A quick call to my husband hoping we had replaced our hidden key....no luck. I called my dear friend Kathleen who lives a few miles away, asked her for a HUGE favor. As dear friends do, she readily agreed to get me to the meet. Within 20 minutes, we were on our way, thank goodness I had that big cup of ice water! I just knew I was going to miss the first event. Thirty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot. I ran into the meet to find my daughter in the on-deck chairs. The boys 6 and under freestyle swimmers were in the water, her group was next. I had made it!!
When I made my way over to Sydney, she lit up! "MAMA! You made it! You said you would, and you did!! You really, really made it!" Boy oh boy, was I glad I did, and even more grateful for my friend Kathleen!
After spending 4 hours at the meet with no shade, and well over 100 degree temperatures, hot, sticky and exhausted, we headed back to the house. I re-scheduled my first client meeting for Sunday morning. He was actually happy about it, since he had other things come up. Whew! I called my 2nd appointment and pushed it back an hour.
Papa Razzi (my tech support) uninstalled and re-installed, re-booted and tested. After a tense time, I was finally ready to print out my final pages of the loan documents. More issues, my loan software locked up, and moments later the internet went down...really? REALLY?! Tech support stepped back in, I hopped in the shower. By the time I was dressed, he had it resolved. I printed the package, enthusiastically kissed my tech support, and scooted to my appointment.
After a great appointment with very understanding clients, I got home, finished the package for Sunday's appointment and went to the pool with my family.
In Real Estate and in life, it is important to go with the flow, but:
...it is also really important to have a great support team in place for when things don't go as planned!
...your word is important. Don't let your job (especially things that can be moved, and most things can) get in the way of family obligations. Your kids, your spouse, will thank you for it.
...try not to "load yourself in the boat". You don't have to do everything in one day!
...most clients are incredibly understanding and can work with you when things go horribly wrong!
...even when your hands are full, it is important to double check to make sure you have everything!
...having an extra set of keys at a neighbors, or hidden will help to ensure that you don't have to wake a friend early on a Saturday morning.
Maybe it was a little profound....Finally 100,000 points! I look forward to the next 100,000!
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