Part 3 of 5 on Balance: To Get Balance, Get a PAPER Calendar and TIME BLOCK!

I don't typically answer my cell phone.  I don't.  I'm a Realtor and I'm telling you this.  You must think I'm crazy, right?  Here's the thing...if I answered my phone every time it rang, I would get nothing done but putting out fires all day, every day.  You would agree that's not what life is all about, right?

There are a few other reasons I don't answer my phone most of the time:

1. there may be screaming kids in the background and I'm protecting the caller on the other end of my phone from the horror of the sound of a screaming kid on the other end of the phone line

2. I may be with clients, at church, in a meeting, sleeping (see Part 2 of 5 on Napping), using the restroom, eating, showering, or just simply TAKING A BREAK and I choose not to let the telephone interrupt any of those things.  I'm sure I could name a few more, but how many of you can say you've taken a call during at least one of the activities I mentioned above???  There is nothing I hate worse than when someone is in the middle of a meeting and first their obnoxious ring interrupts the entire meeting THEN they choose to take the call and actually answer it and begin talking before they get out of the room...or worse yet, don't even have the courtesy to get up and LEAVE THE ROOM!  You can tell I get a little worked up over the cell phone, can't you?

NEWS FLASH:
It is not necessary for you to be constantly available to your friends, family, co-workers, boss, or clients!  Stop answering your phone at inappropriate times!

3. If someone is calling me while I'm driving, and I know they are going to ask me for information that I will need to look up, I will not pick up the phone unless I can easily pull over or get into a parking space.

Whew!  I'm off my soapbox now.  If you're wondering how I am a Realtor and I get away with not answering my phone, its really very simple.  My voice mail tells callers that I do call  backs 2 times a day on Monday-Friday, and on my calendar, I have 11:30-12:30 blocked for call backs and 4-5 blocked for call backs.  I call everyone back then and I'm not a slave to my cell phone.

Call backs are not the only thing I have blocked out in my paper calendar.  If there is something I want to get done in a particular day, it is blocked off in my calendar.  If its not written, it doesn't exist.  Quit telling yourself or others, "oh, I need to get this done." or "I need to get that done."  Block out the time on your calendar and GET IT DONE!  It's really that simple.  I've never been more productive than when I time block.  Its to the point now that if I don't time block on a particular day, I feel very unsuccessful at the end of that day.  Don't do that to yourself.  Whether you prefer paper or electronic calendaring, Google Calendar offers a wonderful FREE system that allows you to color code things, share your calendars, and even invite others to specific events.

Get your life back...STOP being a slave to your phone and TIME BLOCK everything that is important to you!  Below is a picture of my calendar.  You probably can't tell, but everything that is important to me, including 3 networking events, 3 hours of calling expired listings, 3 visits to Senior Communities, 3 one on one visits, Bible Study, "Helen Time," "Owen Time," and Trick-or-Treating are all blocked on my calendar this week.  Block what is most important to you this week and see if you feel more organized and efficient.  Its likely you will.  

Part 2 of 5: Balance in a World of Chaos

"I eat really healthy, and if I'm tired, I take a nap."
~Casper Van Dien

Welcome to part 2 of my 5 part series on balance.  My second tip is really simple: Take a nap.

It sounds silly and childish, but the value of a good nap is completely underrated!  Once I embraced nap time, I discovered a new energy that lasts all week.  I come home after a long day and I still have enough energy to hang out with my family, cook dinner if I choose, and prepare for the next day.  Nap time is not just for kids.  

I'll be honest...I can sleep anywhere and if its not in my bed at night, its usually in my car in a parking lot someplace.  You read right...I nap in my car!  All the time!  

I started nap time when I had my son, Owen, who is 7 now.  When he was a baby, it was such a pain when I would head out to run errands and by the time I would get to the parking lot, my Owen would be sound asleep in his car seat.  I didn't have the heart to wake him, so I gently pulled him out of his seat, leaned my seat back all the way, laid baby Owen on my chest and we napped.  Once nap time was over, we would head in to finish our shopping.  It was both energizing and a wonderful time to cuddle with my baby. 

I continued the tradition with my daughter, Helen, and now that they are both getting older, I see no reason to stop now!  Rather than dragging through the day and being exhausted, I would much rather rest and rejuvenate throughout the day.  I feel much more focused and motivated after my nap!  

Some guidelines for adult napping:

• Nap when you feel like it.  
• Once you get into a napping routine, leave enough time after nap time to wake up and refresh before your next appointment
• Turn off your phone and any other distraction during nap time
• Nap early in your day so as not to interfere with night time sleep

Check in tomorrow for more tips on Balance.  I will show you how to stay focused and on task throughout your day.

Happy Napping!         

Balance, Balance, Balance...Does it Exist???

The other day I wrote a lengthy post about how to add at least 30 minutes to your day just by taking a few preparatory steps the night before.  So, I've got out everyone's clothes for tomorrow, ironed what needed ironed, the children are bathed, coffee is set for 5am and now I have 15 minutes to write this post, write two real estate offers for clients, and be in bed by 9pm.  Whew!  I better get going!

I don't think my life has ever been perfectly balanced, but I will say that it hasn't been as balanced as it is now for a long time.  Its hard work, this balance stuff!  When us women decided to burn our bras, did we really mean we wanted to work outside the home, inside the home, and all around the community working ourselves into big, incompetent-feeling stress balls?  I don't think that's what the feminist movement was really all about at all.

Having a career in real estate, two kids, a significant other, friends, family, clients, a real estate team, extended family...that's a lot of roles.  If I don't focus on balance at all times, something will suffer.  I'll be honest, sometimes things do go unattended, but you know what?  My world hasn't caved in, my family loves me unconditionally, I continue to learn, grow, and make new friends...I'm okay if something slips through the cracks b/c that's real life.  Things slip through the cracks.

Which leads me to the first major step in establishing balance...

1. Realize things will slip through the cracks and be okay with it.

That's part one of my Five Part Series on Balance.  Stay tuned for more simple tips to establish balance in your life!

      

 

I'm YOUR Indianapolis Real Estate Professional!

I do a lot of random blog posts...because that's what goes on in my head...a lot of random-ness!  Every now and then, though, I like to remind readers that I am in the real estate industry selling houses in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas. 

I was just discussing with a colleague what a volatile industry real estate is.  It is rough!  I started selling houses as a Realtor in Indianapolis right when the market was tanking big time.  People want to offer me their sympathies, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Everything happens for a reason and I've learned to work hard to get clients, to keep them, and to earn the right to ask for their referrals.

People who jumped in to this industry when the market was hot never learned how to do things like lead generate because they didn't have to.

I love this industry, I love helping my clients and the excited feeling people have at closing time...I love about everything this business of mine has to offer.  As my real estate team continues to grow, I continue to sharpen my leadership abilities, train leaders, and continuously look for talent.  If you or someone you know has thought about jumping into the real estate industry, I urge you to contact me to discuss further.
If you are already in the real estate industry and are looking for more, contact me right away.

Pass this post along to anyone you know who may be looking to get into real estate or make a change in their current real estate career.

Of course, I'm always looking for referrals and I'll never miss an opportunity to ask...

When you come across someone looking to buy, sell, invest, or become a real estate agent, call me right away.  Instead of handing my contact information out, its best to call me and I will contact your referral right away.  I will also give them the best customer service experience!  

Is a Little Tolerance Too Much to Ask?

tol·er·ance

noun /ˈtäl(ə)rəns/ 
tolerances, plural

The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with

- the tolerance of corruption

- an advocate of religious tolerance

I don't know when we became completely inundated with data, opinions, advice, entertainment, rules, regulations, laws, belief systems, religions, ethics, morals, values, sexual orientation, nationalities, languages, school systems, etc. All I know is that there is no such thing as "multi-tasking," consumerism is the devil, more and bigger is not always better, God and family comes first, and all we need is love.

This video is touching.  Our future is in the hands of our youth.  As old and cliche as it may sound, sometimes its best to pull in the reigns a bit and slow down....get back to the basics.  

I can't even believe I'm writing a blog on this topic!  I feel so old!  Its the truth, though.  We have lowered the bar and lowered the bar continuously for so many years that certain standards have vanished.  I'll use the rate of divorce as an example.  And as a side note-I'm divorced.  I note that b/c I'm writing this blog not in judgement or to condemn anyone.  I'm writing on this topic b/c I would like to find a healthy balance between tolerating and standing up for my values-both with love and genuine concern for the future of our children and future generations.

Where is the line between being tolerant and being true to our values?       

Want More Hours in the Day? So Do I!

Do you ever wish you could add just one more hour to the day?  Just enough time to finish that last little project or spend a little more time with the family?  I have to admit, I've had many of those days myself.  I'm no expert on time management or focus, and yet, I've learned small ways that have made big impacts on my days.  Here are some of them:

 1. Prepare for the next day.  What will you wear?  What will the kids and/or significant other wear?  Does anything need ironed, washed, or picked up from the dry cleaners?  Who needs a sack lunch and who will order?  What appointments do I need to prepare for?  Did I pre-set the coffee machine, because its always a better morning when the coffee starts automatically!

• Small things add up to a big deal....especially if you get up at 5am like I do.
• Having the "what are you going to wear today" war with your child the night before is SO much easier than when I'm pressed for time in the wee hours of the morning and haven't had coffee yet.
• When I can just throw on my clothes instead of standing for what seems like hours in front of my closet (in the dark b/c not everyone is up yet...ahem...spouse!), and realizing I have nothing to wear that doesn't need ironed...when I can confidently throw on my outfit for the day, it saves at least 10-15 minutes.  Add that to the "what are you going to wear" war I eliminated and there's an extra 30 minutes I've just gained!
• Many studies have shown that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  I want my kids to have a healthy breakfast instead of a Pop Tart in the car.  That 30 minutes I've just saved myself allows me to prepare a healthy meal for my little ones.  It also allows them time to eat it at the table instead of cramming it down in the car on the way to school.

2. Know what you want to accomplish for the day, week, month, and year.  Start big and work your way down.  This is great timing since we're nearing the end of the year and we're thinking about what we've accomplished and what we'd like to accomplish next year.  Pick a goal...any goal.  Just have something to work towards.  I like the saying that you are a better shopper when you have a list (or something like that).  How do you know how to get there if you don't know where you're going?  That's the same concept.  Each week I reflect back on the past week.  I look at what I've accomplished and what I've let slide.  I evaluate the importance of the goals I've set.  The reason I do that is b/c maybe they're not as important as I thought they were when I first set them.  

• We all have goals.  All of us.  I don't care who you are.  Even if that goal is getting a cup of coffee as soon as we wake up...that's a goal, right?  I find that when I identify some specific goals I feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete them.  Maybe you don't need that.  I certainly do and I know lots of people who, once they began goal setting, felt a wonderful sense of achievement after setting and hitting their goals for the day, week, month, or year. 
• Starting big and breaking it down to the month, week, year, or even day is way less overwhelming and allows me to be very intentional as I chip away at each goal or task.   

3. Tell someone...anyone and preferably a whole bunch of people your goal.  When I tell people my goals, a few things happen.  I put those goals into the universe.  Saying things out loud is very powerful.  Words are so much more powerful than we give them credit for.  Another reason I tell people my goals is so that they will hold me accountable.  Maybe not so much that they will check in on me, but in the back of my mind, I don't want to face people I've shared my goals with and know I haven't accomplished them.  Its accountability from within.  There are people I do ask to hold me accountable by checking in occasionally, but that's b/c I'm sick and I LOVE accountability!  No really, though, accountability isn't a bad thing.  Its actually very wonderful and can be liberating. 

• There are some great goal setting ideas (and even templates) here.
• We are at a time when we are busier and more accessible than ever.  Instead of running around and putting out fires, I feel so much more productive and less like I'm living life on auto pilot when I set specific goals for myself and track them.
• Accountability isn't a bad thing.  Embrace it.  Becomes friends with it!  Its such a wonderful feeling accomplishing goals-both personal and professional.

4. Follow the 80/20 Rule.  The video below explains this rule best:

The fact is, we'll never get more hours in the day.  Our time is limited here and making the best of it is important to me.  I feel so much better about myself when I'm living intentionally.  If I don't have purpose, I feel sort of lost and out of control.  If you like my tips here, stay tuned for more, or contact me here.

I Need Your Help!

In my video below, you will hear a little about the market here in Indianapolis.  I just looked at the stats this afternoon and we are going strong!  It is such a great time for BOTH buyers and sellers!  Sellers, I can't keep properties on the market!  Buyers are snatching them up!  I have open spots for listings right now and I'm ready to get some more properties sold before the end of the year.

WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO IS LOOKING TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY???

Call, text or email me right away if you or someone you know is looking to sell their property before year's end b/c I AM YOUR GIRL!

Interest rates are at ASTONISHING LOWS and PROPERTY VALUES ARE UP!  There's never been a BETTER TIME IN REAL ESTATE!

Contact me right away and Happy Friday!