Can You Really Work In Real Estate AND Live A Soft Life?
Rest. Relaxation. Real Estate. Can they ALL go hand in hand or are we kidding ourselves?
Entering the soft life era as a real estate professional.
I was chatting to a colleague last week about how I recently entered my soft life era. “What is that?!” she exclaimed, with a look of confusion on her face but at the same time, a curiosity that led me to feel like she wanted to know more. — To which I boldly replied …
“I’m done with this whole hustle culture thing. I’ve lived it for years and I’m tired. It’s time for me to step back and enjoy the fruits of what I’ve built these past few decades. I’m not disappearing from real estate altogether, but I’ve made a decision to work smarter and focus on my passion projects — and that means cutting back on the number of deals I do in a year and embracing a less “on the go” lifestyle.
THIS is what soft life is all about.
Prioritising comfort and well-being, slowing down, holding space for oneself, removing the stress that comes with constant striving and switching it with self-care. Oh, and did I mention it’s all laced with a little luxury (which we all know I love). And yes, you can still work a purposeful career. You just do things differently to everyone else and you OWN that choice because you know it’s for your own well-being.
Sounds like heaven to an over-functioning real estate professional whose been hustling her entire life!
… and letting her ego run the show.
The truth is, I’ve been gearing up to this era for some time now.
I purposefully launched full steam into my real estate business so that one day I could step back and enjoy the fruits of my labour, which is what I want for all of us.
I know that in those early days we need to work hard, say Yes to as many clients as possible, and close deals at volume — but what happens when we reach a point where exhaustion sets in?
Do you just keep going? Forever?
Real estate burnout is real but it doesn’t have to be this way.
I know many female agents who are burnt out right now and longing for some reprive, but they’re scared to take their foot off the gas because they’ve been told they’ll lose momentum.
Whether it’s an extended holiday or a man to step in and take the financial reigns for a while. I get it. Sounds wonderful but in truth your ego won’t let you do this (and neither will your boss.)
If you’re not yet at that point where you feel you can step back from the hustle of real estate, think again. Maybe you are, it’s just that everyone around you is operating from a different system and your default setting is to go along with it. Or maybe it’s fear that is stopping you.
Fear of losing momenetum.
Fear of disappointing someone.
Fear of not keeping up with that top performer in your office.
Being an independent agent and business owner, I have the luxury of choosing how I operate my real estate business and this means I can give myself permission to dial it back if I want.
The beauty of our industry is that we as professionals have an ability to earn big bucks from one deal.
I know for me, I think about money and my earnings in terms of “deals”. For example, if I want a new Dior handbag, I know that’s equivalent to about a fifth of a deal for me. My entire expenses for a year? Less than 5 deals. And if you want to learn how to gear yourself up to this kind of thinking and start earning more by doing less in your real estate career, I teach it all in my Masterclass.
And so to answer the question of can we live a soft life and enjoy a successful real estate career at the same time, my answer is Yes… Eventually.
You do need to put in the work in the earlier years and have an intentional plan that focuses on strategically investing your earnings rather than spending it all when you have a great quarter. I share how I manage my money and the real estate feast/famine cycle (along with how you can set yourself up to invest) in The Polished Professional.
The other side to enjoying a soft life AND a successful real estate career is making sure you don’t build a frankenstein business. As a woman operating her own real estate business, I’ve been sooo mindful NOT to do this. It’s easy to fall into the trap if you never take a step back to re-assess.
The below podcast unpacks the signs you could be building a frankenstein business and why it’s important you don’t if you want work/life balance which by the way, DOES exist despite what everyone in real estate tells you.
MEET THE WRITER
Hi, I’m Wendy.
I’m a storytelling writer, champagne lover and Luxury Buyer’s Agent based in Brisbane Australia. I share my journey as an independent real estate professional and self-made career woman. Curious about how I got here and what drives me? READ MY STORY
To access all my Journal Posts, anytime … Become a Member —
Wendy Russell is a Luxury Buyer’s Agent, social introvert and self-made business woman on a mission to help career women step into their power as high-value professionals. It starts here.
Become the high-value agent you were destined to be.
Steal my systems and processes for running your own buyer’s advocacy business.
What the participants are saying …
“The Polished Professional Masterclass has been a transformative and empowering experience for me as a woman in real estate.” — TINA JAMES Brisbane Buyer’s Agent
“A fantastic investment for anyone looking to enhance their career prospects and refine their professional presence.” — LOUISE NASH Base Buyer’s Agency
“Your mentoring has been absolutely outstanding. Together with The Polished Professional Masterclass, I definitely have all the tools, confidence and good practices in place to deliver new services to investors wanting to dive into the Darwin region property market.” — LINA PASELLI-KRUSE / LPK Luxury Home Hosting
