Beating a Bully - Take THAT, 2020!
In 2019, I triumphantly limped to the finish line after colon cancer and eight months of chemotherapy, excitedly anticipating 2020. Little did any of us know then what the year “2020” would come to embody.
We began the year excitedly looking forward to a daughter’s wedding in the Virgin Islands in June. All of my daughters, their significant others, children, and loved ones spread far and wide had tickets and reservations to the long-awaited event.
As February brought evidence of gloom, March hauled in the doom. Life as we knew it changed dramatically. I had so much real estate in the works for the coming months, and I scrambled to find ways to salvage what could be saved as we fumbled forward, trying to adhere to guidelines while still providing for the needs of clients.
Finding new (to me) avenues to market properties, somehow I was discovering new and better ways of doing business. Although I was busy with work, there was a peacefulness that came along with quarantine. I kept thinking we had been moving too fast and this was a chance to take a deep breath.
How many classes?
Classes I was going to do some day when I got around to it finally presented me with a ‘round tuit.’ Real Estate photography classes, iPhone photography classes, YouTube classes for real estate, editing classes for my novels – all of these were finally being watched and absorbed.
The absolute best thing that happened to my business during this time was Craig Daniels. Craig had helped me with my ActiveRain signature previously, helped me produce a killer About Me page for my website, and I soaked up his classes like a dry sponge in the falling rain.
For years I wanted someone to help me redesign my website. The first part of the year became a golden opportunity, and Craig’s ideas sparked and sizzled my brain to fire up market reports I’d wanted to do for at least a decade, a useful blog platform, learning keywords, Buyer and Seller Guides, Staging Your Home Guide, Preparing Your Home for Sale Guide - how to do it “right” rather than just doing it.
It’s still a work-in-progress, but my motto for the year became Done is better than perfect. We continue to work on updates (when he’s not doing his full-time-and-a-half job), and I look forward to how much more will be accomplished this year.
YouTube for Agents
Another amazing thing I did for myself was take a YouTube for Agents class by Savannah Realtor, Karin Carr. After an in-depth study, I relearned the platform and started making videos again (after a seven-year hiatus). I’m not quite ready to be in front of the camera yet, but I’m pretty proud of this one that I put out this week. (It’s short. Go on. You’ve got time.)
So I’m having one of my best years ever as far as accomplishments, and I’m excited to see what other possibilities there are to conquer in the near future (as our Governor starts shutting us down again).
Oh, and the St. Thomas wedding? It didn’t happen as planned, but my precious daughter married her Prince Charming on their previously designated wedding day. Only it was on a beach in Oregon with no family, a few close local friends, and a hundred or so family and friends on an “intimate” Zoom call.
2020 – you do what ya gotta do.
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