She asked me what my income goals are for 2008. I did not have an answer. For the first time in six years I don’t have a business plan. I usually start my plan by setting an income goal and then project an average commission, and figure out how many transactions I need to make my goals. I then build a plan that consist of the activities and tasks that will need to be completed to reach my goal and a budget to go with it.
Her question made me think. I sent out a couple of tweets on twitter about business plans and goal setting. That is when I realized that I am not like many of my peers. For one thing they seem to work because they love it and money is not important. The only reason I work at all is because I need an income. There are so many rewarding ways I could spend my time if I did not have to work. I could do more volunteer work and I think I would spend the entire summer hiking on the shores of lake Superior, fishing, hiking and taking pictures.
Some of the twits said they do not set economic goals, they instead set goals based around what they want to learn. Learning is a major part of my life but I do not need to sell real estate to learn.
Another Twit said that planning around income would change his thinking. Not sure what he meant by that. I don’t think about money much, I just build my plan and keep score. My focus on a day-to-day basis is on the tasks I must complete to reach my goals.
One twit said she would sell real estate even if she did not need money. I would not. I have so many interests I am sure I could spend my time in meaningful ways without ever selling real estate. A friend of mine is fond of saying that his job is not who he is but what he does. He will not define himself by his occupation. He is not self employed so he is able to limit his participation in the world of work to 40 hours a week. He loves his job and is good at it but it is just one part of his life.
It is possible that real estate is not a higher calling for me. I do truly enjoy what I do but there are other activities that I enjoy even more. I sell real estate to earn an income. Mercenary of me I know. I know Realtors who live real estate 24 X 7. They have no outside interests and can not converse on any topic except real estate. That kind of a life is not for me.
Do you have a business plan for 2008? Is your job who you are or how you earn a living? If you were independently wealthy and did not have to work would you still sell real estate?
Cartoon by Hugh Macleod of Gaping Void
