The harsh reality is...

...I can't do it all.

I've picked up two pretty time-intensive hobbies in the last 16 months--running and crocheting. One of those is costing me money (running gear, race fees, etc.); the other is making me a bit of money. I'm enjoying both.

The Engineer and I have also decided that 2011 is the year in which it would be nice for me to focus more on my real estate career again. My kids are still my full-time job, but I'm ready for real estate to be a solid, part-time profession, instead of just an occasional one. I was a full-time agent for three years before Chickie was born. I've continued to keep my license and to sell houses here and there for the last five years. This year I'm putting more energy into marketing myself again, to remind people that I'm still here, ready to give jaw-droppingly good service if they need to buy or sell in this neck of the woods.

Of course, I have this wonderful husband and these two awesome kiddos, and somehow they take up quite a bit of my time. (And I wouldn't have it any other way.)

Then there's this blog I've got here. So where in the world does it fit in?

Back in November, I had my own little LoBloPoMo (Low Blog Posting Month.) And since then, while I've picked up the pace on my posts, I haven't gotten back to my previous frequency (which was usually six days a week.) I've hesitated to post about it; honestly, I didn't want to look like a burned-out, unmotivated blogger. Especially considering that whole "Blogging with discipline" thing.

And it's important to me to keep posting, because writing is something I enjoy, and I love the connections I have with those of you who read my blog. But back to the first sentence of the post: I can't do it all. So in this season of my life, "blogging with discipline" consists of writing a couple of blog posts a week, and keeping up with my other blog. It means my brain won't be in "writer mode" as often, and I'll miss out on some of the inspiration I'd get if I was writing here every day.

But I'm busy doing other things, things that are also important. Designing hats is such a fun artistic outlet for me. Selling homes makes me feel like a thinking adult, and it brings in an income. Running keeps me healthy and (relatively) sane. And all of those things help me be more well-rounded as a wife and mom. (Or at least I hope they do!)

So...you'll still C. Beth Blog. You just won't "C" me as often. But I'm still here...running and stitching and selling and mommying. And a couple of times a week...writing about it!

Not quite Supermom

I'm doing some real estate work right now--some old clients (who are also good friends) contacted me to help them with a transaction. It's been keeping me very busy the last few days.

Yesterday was especially busy. I had a continuing ed course in the morning, and in the afternoon and early evening I was working on various details of my clients' transaction, interspersed with tasks like getting kids down for naps and cleaning Zoodle's poop out of the carpet.

You'd think after a day full of parenting and work I'd feel like I could do anything, like I was Supermom.

Nope. Not Supermom. Just Exhaustedmom.

I love being able to work occasionally. It's fun to use the business side of my brain, and it shakes up my normal schedule a bit. It's interesting and challenging. But when I do work, I realize just how hard it is to handle a family and a job.

So this rambling post is in tribute to the moms out there who work out of the home all the time. Who somehow manage to handle it all...or if not all, at least enough that the whole family stays afloat. I'm not sure how you do it...but I think it's pretty amazing.

Clichés, Full House, and me

This is going to be a post about business. And, you know, I've read enough motivational sales stuff to know how difficult it is to write on this topic without falling into tired old clichés.

But no clichés for me--nope, I'm going to think outside the box. Hopefully I'll succeed, but if not--well, I always reach for the moon, because even if I miss, I'll land among stars. Failure is not in my vocabulary. Double the "c", double the "s", and you'll always have "success."

Okay, that last one wasn't a cliche, it was a line from the old sitcom Full House. And now that I've lost all your respect by actually quoting a line from that cheesiest of TV shows, let's talk about business.

I've had my real estate license for almost seven years. For the first few years, I was a full-time agent. I worked hard, and I loved it. Since Chickie was born, I've kept my license active and have occasionally represented clients. I truly love self employment and the freedom that comes with it.

A couple of years ago, a new idea entered my mind, and I presented it to my broker. I suggested that I'd like to help him recruit agents into the company. Then I'd like to mentor them. He wanted to grow the company; I wanted a way to help new agents without the time-consuming responsibilities of owning my own brokerage. I'd say it was a win-win idea, if that wasn't a cliché. We worked out a plan and a compensation structure.

Yesterday morning I had my first mentoring appointment with someone who is intelligent, driven, and excited to be entering the real estate industry. And he's not the only one who's excited--I'm psyched to be starting my first real estate mentoring relationship.

But wait--two paragraphs back, I started with "a couple of years ago," and I'm just now finding success. Why did it take so long?

Well, getting that first new agent was hard. We didn't have immediate success; then I took off a year or so to have Zoodle and focus on him. During that time I wrote an agent handbook, hoping some day I'd use it. Finally we started the recruiting effort again, and we communicated with a lot of people before one of them ended up being a good fit. Hopefully it won't be too long before we find a few more agents for me to mentor when they join our company.

Clichés aside, what have I learned from this? Sometimes when you try something new it doesn't just "click" immediately. It takes time, and failure, and frustration. But if it's a good, doable idea, it's worth it to press on. (Doable isn't always the same as easy.)

I sure am glad that, in the words of a brilliant television theme song, "...a little voice inside you whispers, 'Kid, don't sell your dreams so soon!" I guess I really didn't ever need any sales training--Full House taught me all I needed to know about business, and about life. ("You got it, dude!"*)

*Bonus points if you know what character loved to say "You got it, dude!" Cheating allowed.

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho,

It's off to work I go.

I have had my real estate license for over six years, and for the three years prior to Chickie's birth, I was a busy, active real estate agent.  I loved it, but switched to being a full-time mom when she was born.  I did continue doing occasional work.  Being able to only work occasionally, and to say no when I want to, has been absolutely wonderful.

I haven't done any real estate transactions in over a year, since early in my pregnancy with Zoodle.  Yesterday, though, I listed the home of some friends.  It's fun to be back in the game!

Fun...and tiring.  I always tend to forget just how many hours it takes to get everything in place at the beginning of a listing.  I'm also preparing for Chickie's birthday party Saturday, and Monday the kids and I will be headed to Arizona to visit my parents.  So it's a BUSY week, and my blog posts may not be top priority!

I will, however, be sure to have a post tomorrow.  Today is Chickie's third birthday, and tomorrow is The Engineer's and my ninth anniversary!  More on both of those big events tomorrow.

Be sure to check out last night's post announcing the art giveaway winner!

Kids and the time/space continuum

Any other Heroes fans out there? One of the characters, Hiro Nakamura, can bend time and space. He can freeze time, transport himself across the world, and come back, restarting time so that no one knows he was gone.

I need that power. Instead my kids have their own effect on the time/space continuum. They make everything I do take more time. And if something important is nearby, they somehow bend space to transport that object into their not-so-careful hands. Or maybe they just wait until my back is turned; I'm not sure.

My real estate license is up for renewal at the end of this month, and despite the fact that I haven't been working lately, I do like to keep the license active. But with my kids' adverse affects on time and space, completing my Mandatory Continuing Education was more, well, adventurous than it had been in the past.

First there's the time thing. I signed up to take my course via correspondence. But have you ever sat down and tried to read a boring textbook with kids around? Talk about distractions. I'm thinking about demanding at least double credit for that "15 hour" course.

Then there's the fact that I am blessed with kids who love books. Well, Chickie loves books; Zoodle just loves anything he can get his grabby little hands on. They must have used their space-bending powers to transport my textbook into their hands, because it's not in the best shape. Let me show you.



That, my friends, is a book that has been knocked into the tub by a toddler. For the last half of my reading, I had the pleasure of carefully peeling wet (later merely damp) pages apart.

And then I discovered that Zoodle is already learning to eat his words.



I grabbed the book from him and fished the soggy torn up bits of pages out of his mouth, bemoaning that I couldn't in good conscience take the time to snap a picture of him actually devouring it.

In two more years, I'll be renewing my license again. But I have a plan this time. I'm going to start petitioning the state Real Estate Commission to update me on real estate law changes via a video course featuring characters from Sesame Street, Super Why, and Sid the Science Kid. I'll pop in the DVD, plop the kiddos on my lap, and actually get through it in 15 hours. When they also agree to create a board book version of the textbook, I'll be good to go.

***

On an unrelated note...anyone feeling artsy? I came across a cool idea on Michelle Brunner's blog--she's an art teacher, and I enjoy the art she posts on her site (and sells on Etsy!) Anyway, here's her suggestion:

"If you have time today send someone you care about something arty like a card you made, a quick sketch, anything! Become art pen-pals! Have the other person send you something they drew or painted back...even if they are not an artist! I don't know about you but getting real mail...aka non bills or junk mail is a real treat and does not usually happen!"

Now, I have almost no art training and won't be winning any art contests any time soon, but I do love to draw and think it would be fun to exchange hastily done, totally amateur, little pieces of art with someone who reads this blog. I'll probably be using some of Chickie's paints. Anyone want to do it?