Vicki Goorchenko ABR, CRS, GRI

Teresa, You are right on track! I have done my business plan in the fall every year for the last 20 years. I came into this Real Estate Business after owning a Software Development firm for 10 years and knew that for a business to succeed, you must have a plan, and you must use it! That starts with getting away from my business if even just for one full day, but no less. I do it in October so I can begin to implement in November. As we know, it takes 2 months for business to close so to impact my year in 2009, I need to be working at it by Nov 1, 2008. This year I will be I will be doing a Business Planning Clinic in Los Angeles with Rick Geha, Keller Williams Realty next Monday and Tues (10/20-21). I can't give enough kudos to Rick as a facilitator and know that at the end of the 2 days I'll have my revised plan ready to go for 2009. If you don't have a 'plan' to do your Business Plan, you've only got a few weeks to get it done if you want to start 2009 with closed sales and meet your goals. Vicki Goorchenko Realtor, Productivity Coach Keller Williams Palos Verdes Realty vicki@LiveAtTheBeach.com

You hit the nail right on the head when you said your number of transactions was the same but it's the effort expended to acheive those results that is doing us in. I get the same question about businsess, and that same expression, and my answer mirrors yours. I just closed 2 transactions last week. My listing took 3 escrows to close (and it wasn't a short sale) with the firt 2 falling out after 17 and 25 days respectively for "a change in lender guidelines". Neither buyer could secure their "pre-approved" loan. Finally a buyer arrived with 20% down...and that is like gold! The sale where I represented the buyer took the same kind of turns. My buyers are a computer consultant and a CPA...you know where I am going here as both are self employed. They started out as 80/10/10, stated income, months ago, and ended up with gift funds to close at 20% down on a house $100,000 less than the first. What a reality check. So in all, to close 2 deals, I was involved in 5 escrows and it stretched over 4 months. The good news is, I closed 2 deals! This is our new world. Guidelines continue to change, banks go out of business and we push on trying to keep our clients from stressing out while we stay up late and get up early to do everything we can to keep our businesses on track and stay alert to the changes in our industry. I treated myself to Sunday off and ended up doing absolutely nothing! My only advice to you is to make sure you make time for yourself (try just an hour away from business) and be always grateful for the business you have and the opportunity we have to serve our clients. I believe in giving you receive and we are planting seeds now for an awesome business when Real Estate rebounds. Hang in there. I love your writing! Vicki Goorchenko Keller Williams Realty Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

I agree with Ralph...it's your passion! It's why you do what you do. And it's what draws people to you and gives you the business you have. But it can also be exhausting! In my So Calif marketplace, we don't really have a sales season like you do. We have activity year round and I sometimes envy places in the nation that have an off season....what would that be like? Our challenge is to create some counter balance in a lifestyle that can be all consuming if you let it. With focus and time blocking, you can regain some personal time, providing you have the courage to do it! For you, your 'balance' may be 'work hard for 3 months and then play!!' ...just a different flavor of balance! I enjoy your column-don't give up writing! Vicki Goorchenko Keller Williams Realty Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif www.LiveAtTheBeach.com