I don't know what it is with some Realtors I talk to. They make it sound like "normal" is being in an "up" state with their "A" game for clients every day, all the time. Sharp and polished. Never stumbling. Can answer every question. Dressed to the nines. Immaculate wardrobe and clean car. Nice to shoot for? Absolutely. Reality every day? I don't think so.
We all have bad days, and I'm here to declare
BAD DAYS ARE COOL.
You want to be in on a little secret? Realtors (and for that matter Stagers and other professionals you may deal with) are HUMAN too.
The source of a bad day may be a health problem, a family crisis, an exhausted state. Why we think we need to frown on someone having a bad day (see photo) compared to the sea of positive silly heads around us is ridiculous. Even something as mild as not getting enough sleep or coming down with a cold can get your whole focus off track for the day.
Then there may be the behind the scene things why someone may be short tempered or low energy or sad. A big fight with the spouse, an illness or impending surgery, a family death or maybe today their dog of 13 years died. Maybe there is a financial struggle or concern if someone will make it out of the ICU. In our little human community a) we need to cut each other some slack and more important b) don't be too hard on yourself if today is the day you've been tagged as "having a bad hair day so to speak." Life ebbs and flows. Today's torrential downpour of rain that made you get to your meeting 30 minutes late through slow traffic is followed by a beautiful sunny spring day with all the blossoms blooming.
Bad days are cool. Just remember they are not the end. There's always more to the story. Be kind to others and yourself.
After the rain~there's always sunshine!
Thanks Gary!
Perfect timing, Gary. I've been taking pain meds for an extracted tooth and will not get behind the wheel of a car while taking them. I've been taking / returning calls and explaining my situation. I'm hoping those callers will wait for me to feel fully functional and not move on to another agent.
I did receive a get well email from a client which brightened my week!!
Gary, I know some of those agents you were talking about, always having a wonderful day. My first thought when I hear their upbeat perky attitudes is - you are so full of ----, I think most people feel that way too. I know I much prefer an honest answer when I ask how things are going than to have an agent give me that ol' upbeat, Fantastic, things are going just wonderful. I know my market and I know that just ain't so. We all have good days and bad days and someone who is perpetually in a state of happiness is just plain not an honest person. That's my take on it anyway.
Sandra: I'm glad you live in reality too, and as was said earlier Ms. Perky can't be perky all the time.
Kathy: I agree.
Elaine: Thanks. When people are struggling we can try to uplift them, but there's not a magic wand to turn a really tough day around instantaneously. A smile never hurts anyone and usually is much appreciated along with a listening ear.
We all have them and burn out isn't fun. Taking time to relax as a habit is a goal of mine.
Missy: Life is full of ups and downs, you are right!
Jan: A blue day is just another day... hang in there.
Keith & Robin: Relaxation is very important. I sometimes think I need 25 hour days.
Norma: We should probably write a blog about what have been some of your bad days lately. Misery loves company you know.
Audrey: See the cycle keeps changing : ) I'm a big believer in not overlooking simple things.
I use "bad days" as a learning experience. Lately, my life has been very educational. lol Certainly makes me appreciate the good ones.
Gary,
We all have to take life's ups and downs. The bad is what makes us stronger. This we way don't take the good for granted.
Gary, great post. Bad days can create positive energy once over come. It's all up to the individual.
Have a Great Day!
Duane
Hi Gary,
I am a firm believer that if you can learn something or experience something new on that bad day, then it is really a good day. Embrace the day and learn from it...
Gary
Great Post! Its true when they say "When it rains, it pours!" But the great thing is, sunshine is up ahead! Im a firm believer in God and i think everything happens for a reason. We may not know why at that moment in time, but in the future we will realize just why we had to experience things that we believe were bad. Everything comes full circle and its a lesson to be learned! God Bless and best wishes!
Christina L. Moad
Gary, You are consistent with your mantra: "Go with the flow" here. Indeed is the wise way to take it. But in the heat of the moment we sometimes forget to look at the broader picture.
The Nature is where we find all the answers to our "bad" days. After rain comes the rainbow. After winter comes the spring. After storm comes the calm and peace, After life come the eternal life... If we only can remember those in our "bad" days.
Always inspiring. Thank you
Julie: Hope you are feeling better. I was just pointing out every day it's ok not to feel 100%. Many I think who have high standards are hardest on themselves.
Liz: That's funny, but you are right. Sometimes that dark cloud looms for weeks or a season over our head. Just hang in there is all I can say.
Gary, Thats what makes Active Rain so special, it allows us to be human. That was one of the first things I learned in business life, that our clients come to us when they have a problem, that they forget that we might be having a bad day too!!...My wife is one of "those Professionals", you would never know that anything was wrong in her life , I constantly get reports from others on how amazing she is and how she helped them, when I know she is having her own challenges...
I have learned from her, and others, to not let people know if I am having a bad day, my clients are not calling me to find out how I am doing, but rather how I can help them thru their problems...I too get comments about how "Up" I always am, and how is it I don't ever seem to have a bad day!! If only that were true...I will share this..I just recently got a large client to come and work with my new company because I always seemed to be solution orientated..Its not that we didn't have problems, but that we always worked to find the solutions without dwelling on the problems.
So, I do feel its very important to keep our professional life professional, and if we cant, then hand the deal off to someone else, or reschedule when you can be on top of your game. I feel we owe this too our clients, thats why they hire us!!!
C ya Gary, and a good post again!!
Morning Gary,
Bad days really are COOL! Without them we wouldn't know a Good Day. Be kind to those having a bad day, don't add to it. Tomorrow may be out turn and we can't always take the day off.
Goodness Gary, How did you get so wise? Your posts which I've had the pleasure to read, really speak from the heart, thanks so much for taking the time to post.
It depends on the situation, sometimes taking the person aside and addressing the situation can really help the other sad, angry or obstinate person. You might even gain a friend. It can be hard to do, but you might gain some insight into someone else's life. Hurt whether it be physical or mental can manifest itself so differently in everyone. Then again they may just be ornery!