5 Things I Do Every Day to Survive This Real Estate Slowdown!
#1. Laugh and Spread Humour
Difficulty Level: 5/10 [Bring It On] Survival Points Earned: 25
I have bad days too. I get to hear 'Your Cheque is in the Mail' more often than most of you out there. And like all payments and cheques in the mail, they never come when you need them. I have employees whose salaries are overdue and some who have left and call me religiously for their dues.
Haven't bought the wife anything for ages and there is this small holiday we had planned with my daughters and it looks like the curtains on the trip are being drawn already. But I still work overtime to churn out humour through posts and internet memes like these, whenever I can. Whether it makes you, the reader smile or not, I do not know but I sure have a hearty laugh looking at them once they are done. Spread laughter. It is the only magic drug known to the human race.
#2. Say No to Business if my Gut Feel says so
Difficulty Level: 9/10 [Nightmare] Survival Points Earned: 100
A lot of times, I have said yes to bad real estate consultancy and brokerage deals under pressure. Pressure of cash flows. The small advance that brought short term relief after begging, crying and stooping down almost always resulted in losses and heart burns for me in the long run. And heart burn means you spend more money on antacids.
Remember dost, each one of us have that gut feeling about a contract we are trying to bag. And when the real estate market is this bad, we often take the wrong decisions in the heat of the moment. You may have done this yourself and there is nothing to feel bad about. You live and learn, and someday, with a little conscious effort, you will get over that weak side. Heck, I am still trying. :)
#3. Listen to Music I grew up listening to
Difficulty Level: 2/10 [I Can Win] Survival Points Earned: 50
Music has this amazing ability to hit your internal rewind button. Many songs will remind you of events from the past. Not merely remind you but will help you relive them and draw the happiness out of the unreachable past. When everything around me seems to be mating with concrete walls, I call on MLTR, Lucky Ali, Mark Knopfler, Kishore Kumar, Billy Joel, Strings, Silk Route and Pink Floyd among others to the rescue. Try it. IT WORKS!
#4. I tell myself that I wont Pay the Hospital a bloody buck
Difficulty Level: 8/10 [Nightmare] Survival Points Earned: 100
Yep. Junk food, over eating, skipped meals, regular drinking, smoking, staying up late for nothing, burning a hole in my wallet to live for the moment are all recipes for a health disaster. The saddest part is that slowdowns and recessions make us (men?) do all such things more and more. I have noticed that women are mostly above such self destructive methods and they are generally happier simply because they maintain healthier lifestyles.
Stop doing unhealthy things because just like bad deeds, every time you abuse your body, there is an addition to that future hospital bill of yours. Money that you are scheduling to spend someday. Do some exercise, leave the car or bike home for short distance trips and walk. Live Healthy.
#5. Prepare and Tweak myself constantly for Better Days Ahead
Difficulty Level: 6/10 [Bring It On] Survival Points Earned: 75
The real estate environment we work in today is heavily affected by the global economy when it comes to your customers' spending power and is yet highly local when it comes to tastes, trends and pricing premiums. It is a tricky situation. What you see working today is a cash cow that is already dead. What will work tomorrow for real estate is already being thrown out the doors today (which simply means that someone out there is already doing that, and just that, despite being laughed at!) Staying in this business is difficult and demanding so stay updated, keep thinking and planning for the future, as and when you can.
Remember that nothing lasts forever and that is applicable to bad days too. :)
And now, hold your breath for the Bonus...
#6. Listen to the Mom in Law
Difficulty Level: 10/10 [Wife never checks IREFD]
Cheers!
About the author
Rahul Mishra is a real estate professional who started his life as a salesman, selling homes in the city of Kolkata since 2001. He worked pan India in real estate organisations like MMG Realty, Bengal Shrachi, The Phoenix Mills and The Space Group before helping co found Pillars with a single objective - To make real estate easy!Connect with Rahul Mishra on Linkedin. Add Rahul Mishra to your circles in Google+
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