YOUR Declaration of Independence
I really went back and forth on what I wanted to write for the 4th of July… it’s probably my favorite holiday (my wedding was even on the 4th weekend with a red, white & blue theme) but this year I just haven’t been feeling it and I can’t put my finger on why… the threats of riots in my city… the changes in my business and essentially “starting over”… the frustration with some (all) of my short sale files… OOPS! Sorry for dumping on you, back to the 4th!
I decided to write about YOUR Declaration of Independence
It’s ½ way through the year and this is a perfect time to look at where you are in your business, maybe cut some ties to things that don’t serve you anymore and refocus on getting what YOU want out of life!
Preamble This is your “why,” your driving force, your reason for getting out of bed each day. It’s been said that “your why should make you cry.”
Financial Independence Is your income where you NEED it to be? Where you WANT it to be? Where you DREAM it to be? If not, what needs to change?
Part 2 of this would be how is your RESIDUAL income? Most of us are paid on commission which means no work=no pay! We don’t get sick time or paid time off… when I had my knee surgery last year I couldn’t work for several weeks, but I still had some income from my other businesses and rental property. It made me really focus on building this part up stronger – that’s TRUE independence!
Time Independence NAR just released a report that says the average Realtor works 40 hours a week and I’m not so sure I agree with that number. I couldn’t even begin to calculate the hours I spend between my daytime “working” plus education, social media, emails, texts… there’s 168 hours in a week – how many are YOU working? It’s time to take that back under control. Turn off the phone, enjoy your personal time, and work smarter not more. Do you have a business or do you have a JOB? (I’ll admit I’m sometimes jealous of my friends with jobs that get to “turn off” at 5pm)
Health Independence Everything you work for means nothing if you aren’t able to enjoy it. Take a personal health assessment – when’s the last itme you had a checkup? Is ther a concern you have been meaning to see a doctor about? Do you have a few extra pounds to lose? Are you exercising regularly? Are you eating well? (this is the area that Tim & I have really focused on recently in our lives – we’ve shed over 120 pounds combined and work out 3-5 times a week and eat 80% better, and yes we get up really early and we’re still at work before most others are even at the office)
So what sacrifice did those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence make for us? They were seen as traitors to Britain; many died in the Revolution; most lost their houses, businesses and families and died penniless. I’m not asking you for that much sacrifice, just taking back a little control in your life and creating YOUR future.
Now go throw another burger on the grill and relax! 😎 Andy