A road trip… the classic American vacation. Hitting the open road, seeing beautiful parts of the country, and catching a glimpse of what makes this country great. It is a wonderful adventure, and hopefully everyone gets to experience it at least once.
However, be ready for the long haul.
Getting to a destination several states away takes a LONG time. Like many of you, I am very busy, and my days are tightly packed with things to accomplish. So spending 80+ hours in a tight space, without much to do, seemed daunting. Little did I know that this time was exactly what I needed, and taught me a lot about meeting my goals in residential real estate.
1. The Journey is the Destination
On the road, I initially wanted to arrive at our next destination as quickly as possible. However, on a road trip, there are always hundreds of miles in front of you. No matter how you slice it, there is a long way to go.
At some point, I realized that the time in the car wasn’t just an interlude to the vacation. The hours on the road WERE the vacation. It was wonderful time to think, relax, and enjoy time with family. By living in the moment, I was able to appreciate the highway, rather than being cranky, cramped, or grumpy.
Finding success in residential real estate in Grand Rapids is similar. Whether you’re looking to buy a house for yourself, invest in properties, or find a great place to live for a couple of years, the path seems long. But we can find happiness in the small things along the way. Looking at a great house or discovering a neat new neighborhood can be an unexpected joy. Meeting a great person within the real estate industry and spending extra time with your significant other can strengthen great relationships.
Whatever the case may be, grab the moments along the way and appreciate them.
2. It’s All About People
I had a huge advantage on this trip: I was with amazing people. Being stuck in a car for 80+ hours could be a brutal experience if everyone in the vehicle is moody and rude. Heck, even one grumpy person can ruin the vibe.
However, we had a ton of fun. We had long talks, played games, and had pointless debates about superheroes. Because I was surrounded by positive people that were happy to be on the journey, it was a great experience.
I’ve seen that the same is true in residential real estate in Grand Rapids. We have conducted transactions with true professionals, who were effective, kind, and honest throughout the process. We have also worked with people that were unreliable, dragged their feet, and stretched the truth constantly. Guess which transactions went more smoothly?
Surrounding yourself with great people can make a potentially rough situation enjoyable. Working with bad people can make even an excellent goal unattainable. Pick your comrades wisely!
3. Keep Learning Along the Way
Residential real estate in Grand Rapids is a HUGE field. There is a lot to know. I don’t believe there’s a person alive who knows everything about it. So constant learning is key. I consistently turn to books, podcasts, blogs, and other professionals to grow my knowledge base.
However, sometimes I get busy. I let all of that slip, and then later, I find myself playing catch up. Reading another book seems like a drag sometimes, and articles on analyzing repair costs can be pretty dry.
On the road trip, I learned by accident. I discovered new perspectives and opinions from my family. We drove by interesting landmarks, and we would stop to learn more. I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on the way, because it felt like a good ‘road book.’
By the end of the trip, I felt a little wiser than when I started. That is a great feeling, and it refreshed me. Learning isn’t always the boring stuff you get from a classroom… knowledge is all around.
4. Take Time to Rest
Driving and navigating a vehicle across the country is weary work. It’s easy to let your focus slip… more than once, I fell into into ‘yellow line hypnosis.’ The lines on the road would start to hold my attention, and for a moment I wouldn’t be as aware of my surroundings as I needed to be.
Reaching your goals in residential real estate can be similar. Whether you’re trying to close on a house or finish a fixer-upper, the road can seem never-ending. It is easy to get tired, ignore details, and lose excitement.
Rest is key. Whether catching a two hour nap in the car or taking a weekend away with friends, we all need time to rejuvenate. It helps us keep a clear mind and heart, and pursue our goals with vigor.
We usually need rest when we feel we can’t spare the time. But trying to ‘push through’ constantly, without ever taking time to recharge, leads to burnout. Make sure you take some time to collect yourself before jumping back into the driver’s seat.
5. Enjoy it, and express gratitude.
Life is short, and we only have so many hours in each day. At the end of a particularly grueling 20-hour stint, I was having trouble appreciating the road trip. Then, out of nowhere, my brother Ben said:
“Thanks for coming, and doing this. You make this a lot more fun.”
Just a couple of simple, short sentences. But they caused me to stop and adjust myself. The road was fun, and I was grateful to be there. I simply needed a little jolt to realize it.
So enjoy the trip, and express gratitude along the way. Not only will you feel better, but you never know who you’ll help at the same time. So jump back on the highway, and get going!