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David Cole Dobson, Realtor (RE/MAX First)

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Rainer
19,838
Cindy Dudley
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

I don't work on Sundays; reserving it for Church and family.   That is my "policy"; however, if a friend or close client wants to see a home on a Sunday, I will generally agree-but those are exceptions.  My kids are still young (9,12), and they still need me to tote them around to their various activities.  At this point, they are still my priorities, otherwise known as previous set appointments.  I will work around their schedules and have a great husband who is wonderful to change his schedule to help as needed.  My former team leader didn't share my same values and I got a lot of resistance for the way I wanted to run my business.  I now work with a broker who is willing to support me and the goals that I set for myself and not what is in it for him.  I know the time will come when my kids won't need or want my "help"; but until then, the business will not be my top priority.

Mar 24, 2015 05:00 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

David Dobson this is a topic deserving much more than a 145 character response. Later in life you become aware of what is really important. Now you are challenged with fitting your current living distortion into a life of greater purpose. When one sets their feet upon a life of greater purpose, the roaring lion will appear to threaten to devour you. (Spiteful agent). What you must do is keep your mind and spirit trained upon your greater purpose. For just such a time as this has your life prepared you. 

Every time you are able to dismiss the roaring lion and affirm your purpose you pull a tooth from the LION. Soon the lion will be rendered to nothing but noise and soon there after, you will no longer hear the noise.

Stay your course.

We each have a responsibility to make sure there are five things in the lives of those important to us. Those things are: exercise, social engagement, learning, new experience, spiritual growth. Those important to you should seek to ensure exactly the same things are present in your life. We are too close to see they may be missing in our own lives.

These are the things from which the embryo of revelation emerge. Keep pressing towards the truth. The truth and its resulting revelation will change your life.

Ignore the lion...it is just noise.

Mar 24, 2015 02:13 AM
Rainmaker
764,982
John Marshall - FORE!
LoKation Real Estate - Cherry Hills Village, CO
Specializing in Golf Course Properties

I have done this whole thing backwards I guess, I remember my first mentor telling me to schedule time with my family first, I did, I made sure that anything related to my family was always first on the calendar, they were my most important appointments. If you were to ask my boys what I did for a living ten years ago they would have said they don't know, he is always around. Yes I could have made more money and had more business but that was not what was important to me. I made a nice living and saw my boys every single day of their lives, never missed coaching them, never missed a school function, and never regretted a second of it.

Now my kids are all grown and I have nothing but time to devote to my work, although I will spend a couple days a week on the golf course and have plenty of time on the weekends to be with family and friends, I see no reason to change what makes me happy, at the end of the day that is what matters.

Schedule your priorities, be they family, spiritual or whatever, then fill in the rest with work. I do not give hours per se, I look at my calendar and let them know when I am available.

Mar 24, 2015 09:40 AM
Rainer
162,959
Kathy Goldman
REVA Online | SEO Boost For Real Estate, Social Media Marketing for Real Estate and Real Estate Blogging Expert - Waukesha, WI
Social Media & Marketing for Real Estate

I don't think we should call it a policy, I call it life. When my boys were younger, we had soooo many family activities that took me away from prime office time. Then there is church and my faith which takes me away from my office as well, but some of that time is donated back to the church in terms of God's service. So, if i were to look at my life overall, I would say that I still work much longer hours than the average 8-5 job and yet, still fit family, friends and faith into my life! 

I am blessed and God makes me work for it! 

Mar 24, 2015 09:12 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have always made time for family and spiritual time. I remember attedning a seminar when I fist got into real estate and the speaker said that we should make time for family because in our final days we will not regret the listing appointment we did not go on or the buyer who wanted to look at homes but may regret that we did not spend enough time with family espceially on important occasions . 

Mar 24, 2015 04:35 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I don't relate well to the term 'policy.' When I went into real estate, I understood that this was not a 9-5 job. There are times I've had to extend myself and work at 9 PM to finalize a contract, and other times when it's quiet I take my personal time. I find it important to be available to my clients when they are off-work and I take my personal time when they are at work.

Mar 24, 2015 03:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,139,819
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

I go with the flow.  I plan vacations and events with family and friends.  Work is planned around that .  You need a life and to enjoy life.

Mar 24, 2015 10:50 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,565
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have been in real estate full time for 19 years, and the last couple of years have been very good years, and find myself working almost all the time.  It is a struggle to get even a half day off.  

Mar 24, 2015 09:04 AM
Ambassador
1,076,551
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

I would not feel guilty at all, you work plenty.  I'd set expectations with people up front, and if they have a problem with it after that, it's their problem and not yours.  I spend a lot of time in the mountains on weekends, many times out of cell phone coverage - I respond to people usually same day.  I think it's foolish to not enjoy life because of business, you can truly balance both with no guilt.  I do.

Mar 24, 2015 08:10 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I work in enough of all.  Sometimes it may not be the exact time frame I would like, but most people will understand.

Mar 24, 2015 07:54 AM
Rainmaker
38,609
Holleay Parcker - Spinnaker Realty - Serving Clients From Corolla to Hatteras
SPINNAKER REALTY LLC - Kitty Hawk, NC
With 14 Yrs Experience in Outer Banks Real Estate

Hi David;

I have never come across someone who has a 9 - 5 job 5 days a week who felt guilty for having TWO WHOLE DAYS a week, EVERY SINGLE week for themselves and their families...

Let's do some quick math:

You are available from 9 am to 9 pm 6 days a week and  for 5 hours on Sunday.  That's a total of 77 hours a week that you can be reached.  Nearly TWICE that of a 40 hour a week person.

Seriously?  You feel guilty exactly why??

David, you could work 120 hours a week and not 'make everybody else happy'...

I educate my clients early on in the process that I am a VERY early morning person.  I tell them that they can call me at 6 am if they would like.  I've been up for some time, and I'm happy to talk with them at that hour.

Then I say, because I am an early riser, I'm not a night owl.  I fade as the afternoon wears on. And I cut my phone off after 5 pm, because I need some personal time before bedtime.

My clients have never objected to the schedule I set.

Re. other agents, I am johnny on the spot during my business hours.  I take every call, I text back immediately, I am KNOWN for answering my phone. So I feel like when it is time for me to unplug, I can do so guilt-free.

The guilt you are feeling is a signal that you are out of alignment with your own desire to live a more balanced life...

Be mindful of the stories you are telling yourself.  Instead of saying things like, "I want a more balanced life but I don't know how to achieve it", say "I want a more balanced life, and things are beginning to fall into place to make that so. My clients are satisfied with my schedule. It makes my family and me happier when I have more time to spend with them. I like thinking that I can adjust my schedule to suit where I am in this phase of life. I like realizing that everything is coming together. I like attracting clients who are easy, and even other agents, who are easy to work with and who will respect my schedule. I'm feeling better about this already. Things are improving, and will continue to improve. Soon, I'll have things working smooth as silk.  I'm looking forward to that!"

Just a few conversations like that, David.  Tell the story as you want it to be, and it will be.  

 

Mar 24, 2015 05:33 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I keep my schedule filled with all of these types of activities.

Jan 07, 2020 11:33 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I wing it.

Jul 05, 2018 05:05 AM
Rainmaker
630,251
Ajay Pandya
e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH
Realtor Ajay Pandya

Wow! Great responses here.

Mar 16, 2018 09:55 PM
Rainmaker
38,609
Holleay Parcker - Spinnaker Realty - Serving Clients From Corolla to Hatteras
SPINNAKER REALTY LLC - Kitty Hawk, NC
With 14 Yrs Experience in Outer Banks Real Estate

You know, David, perhaps you should pay yourself first in terms of time.  When saving for retirement, financial planners will say to pay yourself first.  Putting 'x' amount of your monthly income into savings before you pay the bills just makes good sense.

Why not try paying yourself first in terms of time as well?  Take your weekly calendar and carve out some time for family and friends (and self!)  Put those dates in the calendar FIRST.  Then fill it in your appointments as they occur during the week.

By carving out your personal/family time first, you can treat it just like another appointment, and your clients will not object when you tell them that from 1 -3 pm on Tuesday afternoon you will be out of pocket, on another appointment. You can also leave this message on your voicemail as well, which should alert agents that you are unable to correspond during these two hours.

You are not required to tell your clients or the other agents what you are doing during those two hours.  Using this method will cause you to treat your family time with the same respect you do your client appointments.

Why not give it a try?

Congrats on the new baby!   

Mar 25, 2015 05:16 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

David Dobson "People expect to be responded to immediately" You will find this is a story sold to us by marketers and agents repeat it.

The TRUTH is people want to know when to EXPECT a reply. If they KNOW you re going to get back to them as you indicated in 1 hour. 11 am or 4 pm, they will wait. But if you created the expectation of a call back at 11 and that does not happen.....consider yourself cooked.

Mar 25, 2015 02:06 AM
Rainer
11,144
David Cole Dobson
RE/MAX First - Oklahoma City, OK
Realtor

Thank you for everyone's responses, I have just got myself worked up a bit. It seems like there is always a list to do and never down time. With texting like it is today it seems harder and harder to escape. People expect to be responded to immediately. I am about to start a growing family with Child by June and I think I have gone into "nesting" mode. Everything has got to be perfect by the time the baby comes....I just need to chill......

Mar 25, 2015 01:45 AM