Rethink Time Cliches for the Holidays

There is one phrase that is overused in the American lexicon - "I don't have time." We use the lack of time as a catch-all excuse, but the expression has really come to infect our personal lives and business practices. We are shortchanging our families emotionally, giving poor service to our customers and associates, and worst, endangering our reputations -- all in the name of doing too much in too little time.

This is particularly true during the holidays, when shopping, parties, card writing, and family get-togethers tax what little time we have even more.

Realtors especially are vulnerable to the problem of not having enough time. Many don't return phone calls or E-mail messages, can't be bothered with details, and pass responsibility for their failures to use time wisely onto others.

The truth is you can make time for anything that you think is important. Although some things are beyond your control, you can mostly choose how you spend your day.

If you feel overwhelmed and out of time, maybe it is time to stop and think about reestablishing your priorities. You may just simply have allowed your schedule to get out of hand. Sometimes a schedule does seem to take on a life of its own, but you can regain control.

Stop for a few moments and think about how, on whom, and on what you want to spend your time, and manage your schedule to accomplish your objective.

What are your personal and professional goals? To make more money? To have more time for family? To making a positive difference in the world through a charitable endeavor?

Start with your calendar. Won't you enjoy looking at it with a lot less clutter? It will surprise you how much your calendar may be crowded with things that really don't make a difference in your day, week, or your entire life. Strike off what doesn't really matter so that you don't have to look at it. Start fresh with activities that will help you meet your personal or professional goals. If you want to do more, find a way to delegate those tasks to someone else.

Clear your desk. Never handle a piece of paper more than once. Place your work load into stacks A, B, and C, then throw everything in C in the trash. Learn to say no to persons and responsibilities that won't help you meet your goals.

If you are tempted to use one of the following cliches about time - stop and think. It might be time to reprioritize.

1. I don't have time.

If you compare yourself to others and find they get more done, make more money, have happy/well-cared for/content families, a social life, hobbies, and have every hair in place all at the same time, it isn't because they "have more time." These people have just learned how to use time creatively to their advantage.

As frazzled as many people are, it is surprising how uncreative some people can be at getting things done. Recently, I was calling parents in my son's home room class to get them to bring snacks or games to the upcoming Christmas party. One woman told me she didn't have time to bake or bring anything -- she worked. I sweetly told her that today, most mothers work, in fact, the volunteers were mostly working mothers like myself. Clearly exasperated, she exploded, "Why don't you call the men? I have a husband and two kids!" As a single parent, I wisely decided not to pull rank on who works the hardest. Instead, I suggested that she just pick something up on her next trip to the store, and send it along with her child. "Oh," she said, to this simple solution.

2. Time is money.

Many people think money is the only way to measure gains in life. You won't make any money at your daughter's Christmas recital, but don't you think you will fill her bank account with love when you show up and clap thunderously at her performance?

As far as business goes, it has been drummed into us by the media that time is a precious commodity. Everyone has to acclimate to the "speed of business." And if you aren't up to speed, there are whole industries devoted to helping you save time or show you how to make time pay.

If you are going to compete in business, you should take the time to learn whatever you can, especiall if it is getting to the point that others are eaily outpacing you. No one else can carry you or cover for you -- they simply don't have the time.

3. I have a "window" of time.

Business takes itself way too seriously. Aren't we just one person talking to another, or is this phrase about something else -- a subtle attempt to put the other person in a one-down position? It's arrogant to assume that you are busier or more important than whoever is calling you. If you deign to offer a "window" of time, isn't that exactly what the other person is doing for you?

5. If I can find the time,...

The implication here is that a person who uses this phrase has lost control of his/her schedule. The "daytimer" is now running things. If I were a client or an associate, I would be suspicious that this person allows his or her boundaries to be breached often, and may want sympathy. I would distrust that this person can be relied upon to get his or her end of the transaction handled.

6. I didn't have time to check my messages or to return your call.

So my call's not important? Gee, thanks for telling me.

An out-of-town friend called me one day, and wanted me to help her find an agent so that she could downsize to a condominium in Dallas. I called an agent who specializes in condos and left a message on his voice mail that I had a lead for him. He called my friend all right, a week later. In the meanwhile, my friend and her husband had already come to town over the weekend, looked at homes they found in the newspaper, and signed a contract with a listing agent on a pricey townhouse. To his belated credit, the first agent apologized, saying he didn't have time to return my call.

"I guess I blew it," he said.

"I guess you did, " I replied.

Published: December 8, 1998

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.