Back at the start of 2020 I decided I would have a manta for the year. Something that I could use to keep me grounded, focused and reflective as I embarked on a new and exciting chapter of my life. That mantra was to “Slow Down”.
It was a conscious and informed choice that I’d made in an attempt to be more present in every area of my life. You see I have a tendency to take on to much, to want to do it all and to overload my schedule.
It had almost become a badge of honour. With me constantly being told “I just don’t know how you do it all” or “You are a powerhouse, I couldn’t even dream of achieving just 1 of the things you cram into your day”
Given that I have spent the last 10 years frantically peddling to build Portugal‘s largest independent real estate agency, as well having and raising two young boys. I have always been determined that as a woman and a mother, I can and will have it all.
Even today, this is still something I passionately believe is achievable. Its just that now, I am taking a different approach on the how to.
Whilst I wouldn’t say I neglected other areas of my life, I most definitely prioritised my success over the simple things, like taking a walk, watching the bird swoop and soar. Those kind of things.
The decision to slow down wasn’t because I had reached the pinnacle of my success. It wasn’t because I wanted to stop doing what I was doing. Or even because I had hit burn out (although on reflection I am sure I would not have been far off, especially considering what was to unfold)
It was because I wanted a far more rounded approach to every area of my life.
What I didn’t know when I made that decision on January 1, 2020 was that in under three short months the whole world would be forced to slow down.
With the outbreak of the coronavirus and the impending pandemic that would sweep the globe. Many businesses had to shut up shop and for a period of time people just paused before assessing how to move forward in such difficult circumstances.
Whilst I embraced the stillness that lockdown created as it sat well with my chosen mantra. I’ve watched countless other women namely mothers in business (in particular real estate) have to also make the difficult decision on slowing down. With children at home needing homeschooling. Family squashed together in an exceptional circumstances. Moms in real estate could no longer keep their foot flat down on the gas, to drive their businesses forward.
Yet for me, I’d already begun to learn before COVID-19 that slowing down didn’t mean I was giving up.
Slowing down doesn’t mean that your limiting your success.
It gives you the opportunity to assess and evaluate. The chance to shift sooner and often quicker. Before you have invested too much time and energy to back peddle.
Because when you are going at breakneck speed, you miss things. You neglect the finer details. It’s those details in which the magic happens. where to sparkle lies. If you are travelling too fast with such urgency to achieve your goals, than you miss the magic and sparkles. Not only are they secret source of your success. They are the moments that give you momentum, keep you motivated. Make you realise that everything you have done is worth it.
In fact, slowing down doesn’t stop you from seeing even greater levels of success. It fuels it.
What slowing down gave me was space. It gave me time to breathe. To actualise ideas. To cement and concrete foundations to build on with my future success.
Whilst it might seem like achieving that success is a slower growing flame. It has the potential to lead to a much longer term success without the risk of burnout.
For many on the outside watching women in real estate who have had to slow down. Take care of their families over the last six months. They have been subjected to comments such as, “have you giving up”. “You seem to have lost your motivation”. “Where’s the ambition you once had to be successful in real estate.” “You missing out on all the success”
Even if no one has come out and directly said it to them, I know from the conversations I have had with fellow agents, that they suspect it’s what many would like to ask.
But the truth is something very different indeed
Because by talking to any mother in real estate you’ll come to understand that just like me. Their business is just as important to them now as it ever was. Yet so is their family.
The lesson here: That the balance of work and family is essential to your overall well-being and your long-term success.
With a market that is on fire right now and huge amounts of opportunity to be had by all. Moms in real estate can definitely see the opportunities as they arise. However with a forced period of pause and reflection, what they have now is a roadmap on how to continue to be successful regardless of the challenges they face.
So when the current market boom dies away. Those who have made and succeeded in the short term, may find themselves hit by sudden burnout or uncertainty on how to proceed next. Yet I believe it will be the moms in real estate who continue to do well. Seeing success after success even in the most difficult of market times. Why? Because if as a real estate mom, you can run a business, raise a family, homeschool and keep everyone safe and happy. Then when the world returns to more normal times, whatever they may be. We will have the skills to be able to take it to the next level.
