Quote:
Originally Posted by Rot 911
Jake, I wish more of us, including me, had your view on life. I am going to work harder to be more like that.
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Ha, thanks. Keep in mind though, it's pretty easy to come across good when you can think before you type something. And it's pretty easy to just post the good stuff. I don't post when I smash my toes to $#it after kicking the battery charger across the garage in the middle of a hissy fit.
I'm just learning the benefits of being more easy going when $#it gets crazy. It's easier on my brain, and on the people around me, if I stay calm and roll with it.
I used to be a lot more high strung, but to be honest I had a hell of a year
- After working for the same company for 9 year, got laid off in Feb 09. My wife was 7 months pregnant
- Against the advice of most sane people I know, I took the real estate licensing course. Drove 70 miles and back every day for 3 weeks in the middle of winter, with my wife about to pop. She was not convinced this was my greatest idea.
- Got my real estate license on April 3rd, and my daughter on April 4th.
- Worked 70+ hrs a week to actually *make a living* selling homes. Working like that takes its tole on the family. My wife remained unconvinced that this was my greatest idea
- Real Estate company I worked for went bankrupt, right out of nowhere, in August
- I lost 11k in earned, unpaid commission, and had another 2 deals go private sale. Total losses around 15k... not easy to swallow in my first year in RE
- Right about that time, I was offered a 9-5 desk job doing what I used to do, but with a better company. Better benefits, 10k more per year. After much gnashing of teeth, I turned them down and continued in RE. My wife was not convinced this was my greatest idea.
- I worked 80+ hrs a week to make up for the lost time, traction and $$
- The company I turned down came back in November and offered me 16k more than I made at my old job. I turned them down again. My wife was not convinced thiat was my greatest idea.
- I never slowed down through the winter. I did open houses on sat & sun to meet buyers. I cold-called people, called friends and family, followed up on weak leads. I moved people into homes on Dec 22, and again on Jan 5. I made it work, because it had to work
- To spend more time at home, I started working more at night after wife & baby went to sleep. Usually worked from 11pm to 2am. That takes its tole
- In the last year, I sold 11 homes, and bought 17. I didn't get paid for all of them, but even with my losses, I matched my salary from my old 9-5. Probably made $4/hr, but not bad when the average agent in this city sells 5/yr.
- This year I am working a "sane" 60-70 hrs/week. Business is starting to come in by referral. I am at home more, I get to wake up and feed my daughter every morning. I get to put her to bed 2-3 times a week. She's just about to walk, and just about to talk, and I'm around a bit more to see it. My wife is starting to think this might not be such a bad idea
So yeah, a set of wheels? no fkin sweat