There are only so many hours in a day, days in a week, and weeks in a month. Time is the one thing that we can’t buy more of. We are the only ones who are in complete control of our time. It can’t be stored up for a rainy day. Everybody has to live within the budget of time that they are given. Unlike being able to go out there and earn more money, you just can’t go out and earn more time. When it’s gone, it’s gone!
With that in mind, how are you utilizing your most precious commodity? Like most agents, there are things in your business that are robbing you of your valuable time. Imagine spending hours working with buyers who are not qualified to buy or wasting time running around filling flyer boxes on a listing you know will never sell because it is overpriced. Or perhaps you volunteer your precious time to a committee that just sits around and complains rather than getting anything done. Is this really the way you want to spend your valuable time? I didn’t think so!
Time is the one thing that all of us have taken for granted at some point in our lives. At some point, hopefully, we realize the critical importance of protecting our time and utilizing that time better. One method that is very effective for re-budgeting your time is editing. Editing is the art of removing what isn’t working in your life. Because you only have a limited number of hours in a day it is critical that you “edit” out of your life the non-essentials. Is wasting your time being on a committee that you are no longer passionate about really a good use of your time or would you rather be home resting, recharging, and spending time with the people you love? This will only give you more energy for doing the things that you are passionate about.
I see so many real estate agents racing around from event to event, committee meeting to PTA meeting, only to find themselves exhausted at the end of the day. And their effectiveness, both at work and at play, is dramatically diminished because of this.
Editing is not just about removing things from your life that you are not passionate about, it is also about removing things from your life that cause you pain and stress. And sometimes that includes having to edit people out of your life. If you know your associate in the office is always complaining and whining to you and it takes up your valuable time (and energy in this case), then edit that person’s interaction with you. Limit the time you will give to that person.
To start this conversation with yourself, ask, “What gives me energy?” Perhaps you get energy from spending time with your family, or exercising, or even cooking. And then ask the tougher question, “What is causing me stress and taking away my energy?” You will be surprised by the list you come up with. Often that list will include people or situations on it, so you will need to do some editing.
When you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and know that something has to give, why not do yourself some good and edit the events and people that are no longer bringing you joy or purpose. You will be very happy you did. Your effectiveness will increase because of it!
Learn to say NO. If you are someone who wants to help, instead learn to say that you will think about what they are asking of you and then you can say no later. STOP giving everyone what they want of you. You must protect your time and your energy. No one will do that for you but you!
I challenge you to take one week out of your life and edit any events, people, or stressful situations out of it. Then email me and tell me how this one week of editing affected you. I think you will be amazed at what happens.
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