Houston relocation never sleeps…literally! Or, at least that’s the case for this member of the Houston relocation community. Of course, it helps to have insomnia, but the truth is, I really love what I do. So, it’s not uncommon for me to be on my computer during the wee hours of the night banging out a blog. In fact, it has earned me the reputation and nickname of “The Midnight Blogger.”
But, it goes far beyond late night blogging. Take tonight, for example. It is after 10:00 pm and I am waiting to review a BMA (Broker’s Market Analysis) with one of our agents. This is not unusual for me, as I often work and communicate with our agents after I leave the office for the day. I understand that their schedules, like mine, often force them to keep weird hours. They are often out with clients or conducting other real estate business during the day, leaving night time as the best time for BMAs and catching up on status reports and marketing updates.
The same is true of our clients. It is not unusual at all for me to receive emails and voice mails from clients after hours. They are working after hours the same as we are. And, if I get an email at 11:00 pm, there is a darn good chance that the person who sent it to me will receive a reply from me by 11:05 pm. More and more, this has become expected.
So, back to this insomnia thing…I don’t think I have ever slept well. But now when I can’t sleep, I find that I reach for my Blackberry, and see what is going on in the world. I check and answer emails first, then it gets a bit more interesting. I find myself wandering onto Facebook, reading some status updates and usually posting one of my own. It always makes me smile when I post something at ridiculously stupid o’clock, and someone posts a comment in the seconds that follow.
At the risk of stating the very obvious, gone are the 8:30 to 5:30 work days. As such, after hours and on the weekends is often when I can get the bulk of my work done. Understand though, that this is through choice and my own dedication to my role at John Daugherty Realtors.
It is all about communication these days. And for those of us who get it, I mean really get it, we are certain to stay on top of our game. You will never catch me asleep on the job, but don’t be surprised if I am doing my job in my sleep…or at least during the hours when I probably should be sleeping.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Welcome to real estate! I have been in real estate for over 20 years and it has always been an almost 24/7 job. I am sure thee are many jobs out there that work the same way especially during the last year where ther are fewer employees doing more work.
I have been doing business this way for the past 10 years, so it has been standard operating procedure for me for a long time. Now the rest of the world is catching up!