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Tuesday Truths.....Spreading yourself too thin :)

By Kathy McGraw

Real Estate Broker/Owner with CELLing Realty CalBRE #01445865

March 18, 2008 04:17 PM

How many times have you gotten a call, wrote something down, and lost the paper? Never? Well I know I have. I know my limitations, and my strengths and weaknesses including how many people I can help at one time (clients). But what happens when we go over our limitations?

Do the best you can at whatever you do

Garage Sales ~ similar to "Homes for Sale "

I had a big Garage Sale a few weeks ago. Normally I don't like all the work that goes into one, but this time I had a goal in mind, and that was all I thought about. So, I set everything up, figured out my pricing, and was ready to go. I opened the Garage Sale to a couple that pulled up, got out of their car, and walked over with the newspaper clipping of the sale. They knew what they wanted, and the ad brought them there.

As the sale progressed, people drifted to other areas, and riffled through things that weren't for sale. They left one area a big mess, but I was distracted......too many people, in too many areas.

One lady came up to me asking the "prices" of various items. I asked her what she had, and she told me certain things, and quantities. I saw a different amount, and also saw she was "hiding" a few things. Now I was in a situation I didn't want to be in......all because I didn't stay within my own pre-set boundaries.......I forgot my limitations.

Tuesday Truths: There will always be people that try to take advantage, and it is our choice how we want to handle it. We can't be all things, to all people , at all times...... we can only do our best ~ and if some things go wrong, learn from them. I learned not to spread myself too thin :)

By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty

DISCLAIMER: Neither myself nor CELLing Realty are responsible for the accuracy or content from anyone other than myself.The opinions expressed in my Blog by The Activerain Network and it's members and anyone providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Kathy McGraw and/or CELLing Realty.

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Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Ah...the assertive agent (person) who is able to communicate with the "I will not tell you what you want to hear...but tell you facts"....and the fact is ....If I don't know...I'll ask.

Mar 19, 2008 04:34 AM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Sally- Yep...that's the one ....:) If we were to take a group poll here of the one person that consistently writes and practices healthy boundaries, and knowing their own limitations....I think you'd win Hands Down :) :)

Mar 19, 2008 06:03 AM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Okay -- Goodness knows it would not hurt for me go get thinner! (lol) -- but what you are referring to is the wrong kind of thin! I have specialized in working with buyers only. I have not had to experience the paradigm shift to the consumer -- because I always was consumer oriented -- I can "sell" my expertise to my prospects -- working 24/7 -- now that is where I can get thinner!

Mar 19, 2008 07:25 AM

Joeann Fossland

Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ

Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents

Life is too short to perfect your weakness.... I always say!

Mar 19, 2008 07:37 AM

Obeoman Glade Jones

www.obeo.com - Salt Lake City, UT

Kathy!

...very well said-I have found the only thing in life that is good spread thin is peanut butter!

Steve

Mar 19, 2008 07:52 AM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Joan- Funny....I need the other thin right now, but yes that isn't the one I'm talking about LOL :) I was primarily a listing agent, for land. So, I got hit twice as hard......people weren't buying land, and sellers didn't want to come back down on price. I started going back to houses, and go figure....now the land has picked up :) :) spreading myself too thin with a lot of things.

Joeann- That's a philosophy for a long life :)

Steven- Cute.....I like that :)

Mar 19, 2008 08:11 AM

Jason Sardi

Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC

Your Agent for Life

Kathy - Good advice for all sides of the Industry. As far as writing things down on a piece of paper and losing that piece of paper, heck, I could sure use a secretary:-)

Mar 19, 2008 08:37 AM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Well, that was a very nice compliment Kathy. Thanks.... <scuffed a foot here> :)

Mar 19, 2008 08:40 AM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Kathy,
It is easy to do-- over extend ourselves, our time and energy. I tend to think I can do it all and do a lot of the time but there is a downside to this as you pointed out. As for your garage sale, I don't think one person can ever handle a garage sale. Every one I have ever had, seems everybody arrives at once!

Mar 19, 2008 08:59 AM

Marchel Peterson

Results Realty - Spring, TX

Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Kathy, one of my favorite sayings is "you snooze you lose". I have been caught snoozing but when it happens I try to learn by my mistake and pick up the pieces and go on. You are right we can't do everything or be everything. What we can do is the best job we know how.

Mar 19, 2008 09:26 AM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

My computer must be possessed...I know I came on here and commented on Jason, Sally, Cynthia, and Marchel......I know I did.....those crazy Monday Leprechauns must be messing with my computer........ok, so now I don't know what I said....except:

Jason-I remember commenting that my secretary used to hide all my tablets of paper.....we thought the tablet pc would solve these problems,,,,but it didn't :)

Sally-I commented about your comment reminding me about the movie Bambie....where Flower was standing looking embarrassed, and with that cute little smile :)

Cynthia- Sometimes I go way past my comfort zone, or just plain try to do too much....my Timex (as Bobby Carrol says) had about 30 hours on it instead of 24 :)

Marchel- Absolutely....all any of us can do is our best. On the other hand we have to know that our best might not be good enough for some things, and that's OK.

Mar 19, 2008 02:49 PM

Laurie Logan

Keller Williams Realty, Inc., Broker Associate - Madison, WI

South Central WI Real Estate

Setting effective boundaries and being organized go hand and hand. When I am realistically planning my days, I am better at accepting appropriate new tasks and declining the lesser ones.

That 'writing on a slip of paper' thing, is a trap I still fall into!

Mar 19, 2008 07:04 PM

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor

Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ

AzLadyInRed

Kathy, some people are so greedy and so dishonest. My gosh!!! On the other hand, it sounds like you would handle that situation a bit differently next go around, huh? ;-)

Mar 20, 2008 09:48 AM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Kathy: Learning not to spread myself too thin is a talent and a gift I really need to find for myself. I am glad for you that you learned how to cope with it. Thanks so much for sharing.

Mar 20, 2008 05:37 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Steven... it sounds to me you need to buy a better grade of peanut butter... LOL. Lots of peanut butter, and lots of yummy grape jelly. A meal fit for a Queen, or a King, if you prefer.

Mar 20, 2008 05:44 PM

Toni Hogan

ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX

I've never had a garage sale but I know too well about spreading oneself too thin. I am learning though. I actually told my husband "NO" in two different languages (English and Spanish) that I would NOT even consider being president, or whatever he nominated me for, of the Homeowners Association. I am so proud that I realized I am at capacity because he really poured it on thick. I don't think he's ever given me so many compliments at once. hehehe!

Mar 21, 2008 04:26 PM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Karen-Peanut Butter and Jelly....umm umm good....I like to toast the bread first. Now as to spreading too thin our efforts.......yes, it takes some work, but we can do it :) :)

Laurie- I remember when I was in my early 20's my mother would get so irritated because I would write on anything and everything.....then of course lose it :)

Teri- Absolutely :)

Toni-Hi there....OK, I'm waiting for April 1st :) I am so glad to hear you said no, the posts I've read sound quite hectic already.......I loved your comment on your husbands compliments.....:)

Mar 25, 2008 04:27 PM

Toni Hogan

ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX

Hey again MB. Looks like it won't be April 1st but April 4th now. Couldn't say no, dang it! I'm learning though. My mind was yelling "NOOO" but my head kept nodding "yes."

Mar 25, 2008 04:44 PM

Karen Anne Stone

New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Real Estate

Kathy: I think in a slow market when you are trying very hard to make something happen, I think it can be very easy to be trying so many directions at once, that nothing works. Kind of like spreading yourself too thin on so many, and not spending enough good quality time on the few areas that are most likely to produce results.

Mar 25, 2008 05:13 PM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Karen- I couldn't agree with you more. As far as spending quality time on the areas that will produce results, part of the problem is knowing which areas these are.....:) :)

Mar 25, 2008 06:37 PM