House hunting
requires relaxation
Do you have spring fever? Is it hard to remain focused on a job
or project you know you need to do as the soft spring sunshine
beckons from just outside those hard double-paned hermetically
sealed off ice windows? Sigh. Right now I’m sitting at my home
office desk admiring the first of the walnut tree green, aching to
walk through the apricot orchard, admiring the amazing bounty of
tiny fruit, feeling the clay soil crunch under the weight of my
bright blue gardening clogs, a bounding dog or two tagging
along.
House hunting
requires relaxation
Do you have spring fever? Is it hard to remain focused on a job or project you know you need to do as the soft spring sunshine beckons from just outside those hard double-paned hermetically sealed off ice windows? Sigh. Right now I’m sitting at my home office desk admiring the first of the walnut tree green, aching to walk through the apricot orchard, admiring the amazing bounty of tiny fruit, feeling the clay soil crunch under the weight of my bright blue gardening clogs, a bounding dog or two tagging along.
Of course, it could be worse. I love writing. Before I begin writing this column, I light three candles, plug in my water fountain with the brass chimes, and put on a favorite symphony. Currently Alan Hovhaness’ Mysterious Mountain is my music of choice. I find having a ritual before I write helps me to focus my thoughts and energy to perform at my most effective and efficient.
Why would that be important for a Realtor as well as a writer?
The nature of the Realtor’s job requires ongoing energy and focus. First of all, clients looking to buy homes usually have jobs. (It’s tough to buy a house when you don’t have a job!) That means they probably want to look at homes at night and on the weekends. If they are selling, they want to do the listing paperwork then, too. This is one component of an agent’s job.
Another component is getting the transaction completed. The interface with banks, lenders, title and escrow companies, inspectors, service providers and the like happens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those are the normal business hours, and an agent’s time and attention are required then, too.
If you add in time for holding open houses and prospecting for new clients and ongoing education and seminars you begin to see the dilemma. Whoa, doggies! And yet the urban legend carries on… “I think I’ll get into real estate so I can set my own hours.” Potential agents don’t realize they need to set their hours on 24/7!
Not only do Realtors need to have energy for the long haul, they need to keep focus. Realtors operate like the conductor of the orchestra playing the symphony. The result is only acceptable when each member of the group plays its notes accurately and on time. If someone is late, or off key, it sends the entire production into chaos. The Realtor keeps an eye on all the players at once, making sure no one is straying off course enough to ruin the deal.
So how does one keep focus and concentration in a perpetual-motion job without going nuts? Actually, it’s pretty difficult. Many agents burn out after a few years and decide it isn’t worth the personal cost. And the rest of us are nuts. Just kidding. Actually, I found a good solution which works not only for Realtors, but for everyone. Let me share it with you.
I came across a book called “The Power of Full Engagement” a while ago, and it has been helpful to me in keeping high energy and laser focus. In it, Tony Schwartz recommends creating rituals like the one I use for writing: Candles, music, fountain. It signals your body, mind and spirit that a specific, intentional act is occurring right now. It’s a bit like sprinting….a full out effort for a short period of time.
Every major expenditure of energy is followed by a relaxation or renewal. For example, I am intentional and focused on this communication with you right now. Later, I will reinvigorate my spirit with a walk in the apricot orchard. Ten or fifteen minutes will be long enough.
Then I will be ready to focus again…I have some last minute details of a transaction closing this week, some information requested by a client, a new listing coming with an owner needing assistance to ready her house.
See? I’m fired up, enthusiastic, and ready to make things happen! And it’s largely because of the juxtaposition of intensity and renewal.
There is one final piece remaining for the entire puzzle to come together. For a Realtor to remain focused and dedicated to his or her work, the motivation must be crystal clear. Why else would one wish to undertake a career with such demands on one’s life essences of time and talent?
Whether it’s the fun of negotiating, the creativity of solving a problem holding up the escrow, or seeing the smiles on the faces of clients as they move into a dream home, Realtors use the excitement of the work at hand to energize them. Be it a child’s college fund, the vacation they’ve planned, the remodel work they want done on the home, Realtors use their personal goals to keep them on track.
Realtors work hard for long hours on your behalf. It’s a service industry and its focus is you!
So be kind to your Realtor.
