Summer is hard

I have been saying this for over 20 years: Why is summer so hard?

Rather, why is summer so hard as a real estate agent? If I asked my wife if summer was hard, she would look at me funny. Her job as a physician is, quite frankly, not impacted by the seasons. In other words, every day feels the same, every month feels the same, there isn’t any seasonality to what she does. Not true in real estate.

Putting aside resort-type markets where the peak is summer (or winter), many traditional, primary-residence markets experience lulls in the summer. The clients are on vacation, and the real estate agents are...well, that’s the question for today!

Because we don’t “punch in,” because we don’t have a boss, and because we don’t have any regularly defined work hours, we really never know if we are working or if we are off. Worse, when we are off, we often still feel like we are on - waiting for that call or message where someone "needs" us!

Every summer I feel the same way: Am I off today? Or am I working? Maybe not every day, but often. Plus, it’s hot, and the heat makes me lazy. The people I am trying to reach are often on vacation, or just leaving/coming back from vacation, or wishing they were on vacation...

So there are many days throughout the summer, especially in July and early August, when I am feeling anxious, antsy, uncertain, frustrated, or sometimes I am feeling sour and hopeless.

The source of it is always...me.

Not me, but the me that is not taking any action. The me that is pretending to work but not. The me that is making excuses and stories about what “summer projects” would be good to do while many people are on vacation. Yet, not only do I rarely get my summer projects done, but I also don't do the most important work: talking to people.

The cognitive dissonance around this area is as thick as wildfire smoke. I tell myself stories to make myself feel better - turning and twisting the facts so that my brain can feel okay not doing the things I know I need to be doing to move my business forward.

Yesterday was one more of those days. Until...I STARTED TAKING ACTION! It really is so simple: pick up the phone and start calling the people I know I need to call. Follow up with the people I know I need to follow up with. Voila! I am now in a different mood, and I also have new momentum!

David Newman, one of my mentors, said something that often rings around in my head: “It is amazing the results you do not produce from the action you do not take.”

My point is that as we sit here right around the mid-point of summer, you can be in a number of places. Some of you are on vacation - so obviously you are not reading this. For you, the person reading this, I invite you to look where you have any frustration, irritation, or hopelessness. If you are not sure, it often shows up in the middle of your day, when you know you should be doing things that you are not doing.

Your brain will try to blame other things - the weather, the economy, the market, your spouse, your kids, your clients, etc. However, almost always, the source of your frustration is you - and/or your lack of action.

If it is not your lack of action, then it is your lack of clarity and commitment about the action to take.

Of course there may be other things going on in your life causing those feelings - but in the context of your business, my assertion is that clarity, commitment, and action are at the source of you feeling empowered, confident, and dare I say, profoundly satisfied. Being profoundly satisfied is a function of doing meaningful work, with people you like and trust, and adhering to a set of high standards and/or values. 

Today I am simply assuming you are clear and committed to Being A Professional Worth Hiring; to working less and earning more; to having real freedom in your business in terms of how you operate and who you work with. What we are addressing today is what is in the way of having that type of business be fulfilled. While the avoidance of action is present all the time, it sure seems harder in summer.

So, if summer is hard for you too, the good news is that you are not alone, and you now have access to doing something about it! When you are feeling any angst or frustration, consider looking at where you are telling yourself a story that keeps you safe and still...instead of in action.