Focus on What is Important

Many people are drawn into the prospect of realty and real estate due to possible returns and income. Commission checks, working for yourself, passive income, and more have us motivated to get up in the morning and do what is needed to generate leads and get sales. But really, what is it in our daily life that is really important? Is it getting the most sales? Is it making the most money? Owning the best cars? Best vacation homes?

What is really important?

Simply put, what is most important are our relationships. Whether it be our personal relationships, such as those of our significant others, our family, or our friends. Or our business relationships, like fellow employees, fellow investors, contractors, banks and lenders, or others that are a part of our regular business. Or even outside influences that have become a part of our personal or professional lives.

These relationships matter so that we have best connections, best understandings of the world around us and our professions, and even allow us to learn on an ongoing basis. The relationships, especially the personal relationships, are important so that we remain grounded and level headed. That we understand love, compassion, and empathy. It is with such understanding that we look forward and move forward towards our goals, not compromising our integrity or our principles.

Professional Relationships: Focus on Value

Relationship building is stressed as an important aspect of our business. It is spoken of in seminars, podcasts, and webinars. We hear it often, but are we actually listening? From these “lessons” on building relationships, what is often missed is that we need to nurture these relationships. It is easy to go out and find a new connection, make their acquaintance, and then move on to the next luncheon where we gladly pass out business cards and hope to get a call for another luncheon invite. Many people have excelled as earning new business, but yet a year down the road, they have done nothing with the relationship. They haven’t worked together. They haven’t sent an email or made a quick phone call. For all intents and purposes, the relationship is dead.

And the danger lies in not having that relationship any longer, the real danger lies in the possibility that not working that relationship well, it will actually poison other relationships. Being a one and done type professional could land you in hot water. As the rest of your network hears of you not being a solid connection, they too will lose interest in you. But worse, they will tell others you have yet to meet that it might not be worth the time to meet you, let alone work with you.

This is why it is of utmost importance that you stay connected. Have a regular “touch” of every relationship you have on a routine and regular basis. It should include not only an email blasted newsletter, but a personal phone call, a personal hand written letter or card, and always seek to add value to the relationship. Maybe you don’t need the help of an accountant at this time beyond your regular bookkeeping or taxes. But if you value the relationship, look to provide some referrals to the accountant. Christmas cards, birthday cards, and other special event notes will go a long way of keeping you in mind. It helps continue the relationship for a long period of time.

Personal Relationships

As for personal relationships, it has to be stressed that without proper care of personal relationships, nothing else matters. Our closest friends and of course our family should be on our mind. How are our actions in our business perceived by our loved ones? Are our spouses in line with our goals and ambitions with our professional life? Do they understand that we have late nights and many days in a row of very busy schedules? Are they ok with that? And why are they ok with that?

You can’t sacrifice happiness at home and with family chasing the dollar. If you do, what is that dollar really worth? Mere possessions and materialistic things? Is that worth more than personal relationships? I say no, they are not. One can have all the things in the world, but yet have nothing at all if they don’t maintain and care for their personal relationships. And I have been down that road. It is not easy to fix, and it can be heart breaking to see unfold before your eyes.

But if you find yourself in a spot where it seems personal relationships may be failing or have issue, it is never too late to care for and fix those relationships. Just like in the discussion of professional relationships, you need to continually care for your personal relationships. Be there for your friends, family, and significant others. Make time to be there with them. Have scheduled date nights, family game nights, or a dinner out with friends. Have time on your calendar to block out for zero interruptions. Turn off the cell phones, put down the tablets, and close the laptops (as I know that many reading this are likely doing so with their cell phone right next to them, their computer on, and a tablet not far from them).

So when we think of what is really important in our lives, and we think about relationships, we need to look beyond just having the largest database, or the most likes on Facebooks, most connections on LinkedIn, or most followers on Twitter. We shouldn’t think that we have family or friends. We shouldn’t brag about have the most friends in our contacts in Outlook. We should reflect upon what those relationships mean to us, and how we care for those relationships on a daily basis.

Thanks as always for the read!