Blog / Time Management
Making it work, Balancing career and lifestyle with Australias top agents
The phrase work/life balance crops up often, but is seldom defined. The reason for this is everybody’s work and lifestyle are different, so the balance is something that must be achieved individually. Some of the country’s top-achieving agents have shared how they create and maintain the balance in their work and family lives.
Rachel Kobiela, First National Real Estate VIC
How do you maintain work/life balance?
My wellbeing is driven by my selfawareness and the foundation of this is my coaches. Having positive like-minded people around helps me find balance.
What challenges affect this balance?
Knowing when to take a break to recharge so I can be at the top of my game. Putting myself first has helped me find balance and peace within.
What are your timesaving tips?
I delegate administration tasks to our personal assistant, who is updating our letters and trails so we can continually improve. We are looking at better ways to send bulk emails and text messages.
Which rules will you never break to maintain balance?
I don’t schedule appointments after 6pm and I go to the gym, which helps me to keep focused. I live in a small town and often see vendors and contacts while walking my puppies, which is great for prospecting!
Peter Shizas, Brock Harcourts SA
How do you maintain work/life balance?
I work outside the typical 9-5 work week so I am always available to go to the kids’ sports days or music concerts. I have a good team of people around me too.
What challenges affect this balance?
Some weeks require massive hours, but the flipside is that other weeks I don’t work as many hours as a typical job.
What are your timesaving tips?
Take the time to train others and set up systems. Complete Data, Dropbox and iCloud are useful and save time. Cloud technology allows us to work in the field and provide up to date information to the office.
Which rules will you never break to maintain balance?
Be flexible in your approach, have your priorities and stick to them and my family will always come first. I expect my team to come to me with solutions for any problems they need me to address.
Natalie Aulich, Raine & Horne TAS
How do you maintain work/life balance?
I am committed to netball and golf, along with spending time with family and friends. We follow an ideal week, which allows us to have Friday afternoons clear and every second weekend free to do the things we love.
What challenges affect this balance?
The EBU runs so effectively that sometimes I get a little complacent and look for a shortcut. Plateaus are a common thing, but recognise early to have a holiday to stay at the top of your game.
What are your timesaving tips?
Have supportive staff around you, focus on your strengths and delegate non-dollar productive jobs. We have a checklist for every business element, a weekly running sheet and KPIs monitored monthly.
Which rules will you never break to maintain balance?
We preserve our healthy routines with sufficient personal time and our relationships will never be compromised by work.
Paula Taylor, One Agency NSW
How do you maintain work/life balance?
My PA and buyer’s agent have helped me gain structure. When my children were younger I included them by saying things like, “Mum’s just listed a new property in such and such. What do you think of this nice home?”
What challenges affect this balance?
Things can happen any day, like a settlement coming forward or a settlement falling over, or a buyer who’s flown in to see your property today.
What are your timesaving tips?
Every morning I work out exactly what I’m doing and then confirm all appointments, making changes when needed.
Which rules will you never break to maintain balance?
When I come home I make sure I’m not on the phone and no phones while we’re eating. If I have a weekday off I do something special for myself and we go camping at Christmas.
Peter Clements, Porteous Properties WA
How do you maintain work/life balance?
Luckily I have a wife who is OK with me getting home late. I work hard, but I always plan good holidays and have Sundays off every week. I also eat really well.
What challenges affect this balance?
The biggest challenge is maintaining the balance because I could work all the time! Also being able to switch off from work and switch on at home.
What are your timesaving tips?
Assembling a good team of assistants and specialists around me and utilising their skills so I can have a lifestyle. You need to delegate to have time off and be successful.
Which rules will you never break to maintain balance?
Having holidays, even if it’s just a short break. I aim for 4-6 good short breaks a year. Also, I always check to make sure my wife is happy.
Rose Kelly, Rose Kelly Real Estate QLD
How do you maintain work/life balance?
One of our family rules is everything is achievable, as long as [my daughters] tell me within at least 24 hours. When we’ve got a really busy week, we print out a calendar on Sunday night and block in all the non-negotiables.
What challenges affect this balance?
You need time to yourself to recharge, time for your children individually and time as a family. There are always challenges like meeting your targets and cash flow management.
What are your timesaving tips?
At the beginning of the school year we book in everything, including sports days and excursions. If I want to go to something it goes into my calendar. I have one integrated calendar for everything.
Which rules will you never break to maintain balance?
I will not work on a Friday night or Sunday. Have frequent small breaks and energise yourself on a day-to-day basis.
The ingredients to having a great balance between work and home life are organisation skills, delegation, systems, good staff, time for yourself and regular time off to recharge.
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