Those who know me at all know that I positively NEED to take vacations and they know that I have absolutely fallen in love with Mexico. Last year I managed to find the time and finances to enjoy two trips to Mexico - one with the kids, one just for us lucky adults! Two whole weeks away . . . can I do it again? Pretty please?
Being a small business owner has its challenges and finding the time and the confidence to leave the office and leave for a vacation is one of the hardest things I've tackled. I love my work and I have found great satisfaction in being a successful and professional REALTOR. Part of my success and my continued passion stems from the fact that my work is NOT my life. It's a big part of who I am and what makes me tick, but it's not what makes me "me."
I am convinced that taking time off makes me a better professional. It gives me perspective and it allows me to focus on challenges when I need to because I've had opportunities to rest, relax, enjoy and recharge my batteries. The years that I've been too busy, too poor or too stubborn to get away have been long and miserable. Life is too short to be such a grind.
All this talk of vacations comes because I'm planning to take off again at the end of April for a week of sun, sand and fun and I'm deep in the midst of making plans and arrangements so that I can leave the office knowing that I'm still accessible and still available to keep the business up and running in my absence. I may be out of the country but that doesn't mean that I can't still be "there" for my clients and customers. I always bring a laptop, I have a cellphone (rented from Mexitel- awesome solution) and, thus using technology, I'm able to stay available. All this takes time to organize and now that I've done this a half-dozen or so times, it's becoming routine. It's worth the time to get all set so that I can actually kick back and enjoy myself rather than obsess about what I'm missing back in the office.
As a sole proprietor and practitioner I'm never able to completely get away from it all. I do my best, though, and knowing that I can leave and still be available and accessible makes it work for me. All I need to remember is that a good seller-client will understand my need for personal time and time off, and a loyal and committed buyer will wait for me to return. I'll do my best to work with them and for them while I'm gone . . . but . . . if either a buyer or a seller doesn't understand my need to recharge the proverbial batteries, then I'm not sure I want to work with them!
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