Coaching Corner: Finding your balance
By Marilou Butcher Roth
How might that translate into our everyday lives? Well, on a physical level you can practice balancing at home — for example, standing, cross one foot in front of the other with your arms crossed in front of you. From this position lift off of your heels and then slowly bring yourself from standing to sitting by bringing your knees out to the side. It takes practice...almost everything we want to become good at requires practice! And, if you practice this you will notice a marked improvement in your balance.
Now what about balance on an emotional level? What do you need to do to create a more balanced state of being? What does that look like for you? I personally believe that we all need to find balance between our professional and personal lives. Real estate is one of the industries in which you could work long hours everyday and still might find there is more to do.
Early in my real estate career I remember being in the office at 11 p.m. working on a contract, and one of the really successful agents was there as well. Now at that time, I thought I was pretty cool working on a contract as a new agent — I was not bothered in the slightest bit by the late hour. My excitement was quickly dashed, however, when she told me this was normal for her. She proceeded to tell me she typically did not start her paperwork until after midnight. Eek! Is that what I would need to do to be “successful?†I had four small children at home and if that is what it took, I needed to find a new profession — now! Needless to say, 26 years later I am still here!
Looking back at this moment, I feel gratitude for this experience because it gave me such a strong desire to find ways to keep my personal life in tact while building my real estate business.
So now let's use the Pilates example to help us learn balance in our lives. I would like you to do a little exercise...
Go inside to that place within you where you feel calm, take a deep breath and get yourself centered. Take another breath and feel your inner strength. From this place you can access your “inner balance.†Continue to breathe deeply and fully. When you breathe in this centered feeling, you will find your inner strength and your best answers. And...when you practice this, you will find new ways to bring more and more balance to all of your experiences. Remember, almost everything we want to become good at requires practice. With practice you will undoubtedly notice a marked improvement in your balance!
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
