It’s Monday - A Fresh Perspective on the Most Dreaded Day of the Week
I’ve never been a huge fan of Mondays but, in my recent years, I’ve realized that they are not so bad! My perspective is something that I can change - and as with most unpalatable things in life, I’ve taken that approach to Mondays.
When I worked in the operating room and had a weekend off (I had every other off for years), I will admit to dreading Mondays. I was never quite ready to head back to the hospital on the first business work day of the week. Once the scrubs were donned and I met up with co-workers/friends in my OR suite, the day of the week no longer mattered to me. There was no room for dread or depression - it was buckle-down and happily focus on saving lives.
Hitting anything in life head-on takes thorough analysis…or simply downright boots-on-the-ground life experiences. For years in real estate, I would dread Mondays and I’ll be honest, at the end of some Mondays, I am still ever so thankful the day is OVER!
In real estate, Mondays are catch-up days for most lenders, paralegals, attorneys, inspection offices, surveyors - heck, almost everyone we work with has weekends off! So, on Mondays, we field calls and emails from all of them and often have further work to manage as a result of their contact, whatever it is. For instance, a lender may be calling or emailing for a specific document that all parties need to sign. That turns into getting our client to sign and then notifying the other agent that we need their clients’ signatures - and them getting those signatures in a timely manner. Even if I don’t have to remind the other agent again about the document(s), I still need to receive it back from them and get it back to the party that requested it.
That’s ONE call or email pertaining to ONE client! When I am loaded with clients (for which I am ever-so thankful), my Mondays often don’t end until midnight. It’s nice to be busy but, I will admit to a little resentment for those who call me - after my having worked a full weekend and them not even having to answer a work call on the weekend - demanding that I provide something that they suddenly need from me. I work with amazing paralegals, attorneys, lenders and all of my vendors but, we all know these things happen - either on Mondays or the day prior to Closing!
What about that fresh perspective I was referring to?
After many frustrating Mondays, I realized that I was the only one who could change my dread for Mondays. I had to change my OWN perspective and I had to figure out how to make Mondays palatable to me!
Dissecting the problem was easy as pie; the solution, while it also sounds easy, took some time to figure out. I decided to approach Mondays like I run my business - simply staying at least a step ahead.
It takes very little prep but, knowing what stage each of my clients are in and the proximity to Closing in which they are helps me strategize. Also, knowing the vendor as well as the agent on the other side helps tremendously. Then I strategize…
Who needs what? Better yet, who could possibly need what?! I email very early Monday morning or even Sunday evening, asking what is needed. Mondays are my days to reach out to agents on the other side of transactions anyway but, if it is a Closing week, I also touch base on the Friday prior to Closing. I remind them about utility transfers and also confirm with them that if anyone needs anything for Closing, that they will be available on Monday to touch base, etc. Inevitably, I can shoot another agent a text saying we are missing a document and I will be sending it to them to be signed within the hour and they almost always respond immediately! Prior to my ‘routine’ Friday calls, it was definitely hit or miss and I spent a lot of time chasing paperwork. No more!
As I sat in the surgical waiting room (hubby had very minor surgery) this morning, I had all of my client follow-ups handled and was actually able to write some posts! I changed my perspective and it made for what could have been quite a chaotic day - trying to balance a long personal appointment with very important business - into a peaceful, calm Monday.
Perspective matters. If Mondays stress you out, understand that there is nothing you can do to change the fact that it IS Monday. However, you can try heading them off at the pass by setting a plan and changing your perspective - it works! Of course, there will be interruptions in your day and little surprises along the way but, what is life without a few twists & turns?!
It’s Monday - make the most of this beautiful day!
© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | It’s Monday - A Fresh Perspective on the Most Dreaded Day of the Week
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