An interesting story to share with you. Twenty-one years ago this Labor Day, I was indeed in labor with my lovely daughter, Nichole. Nichole was definitely not in any hurry to enter this world either! After a very uncomfortable record-hot Sacramento summer and a grueling 18-hours of labor, the poor little kid had her chord wrapped around her neck and was blue. In fact, my mother, who was at the birth, said later on that Nichole looked just like a little Smurf. That was one labor of love I have ever, not even during the terrible twos or the independent teen years, come to regret.
The idea of Labor Day, in my mind, goes hand in hand with labors of love. I think of my mail man, Willy, who hits the Carmichael area I live in with gusto; I think of the staff at so many great Sacramento establishments who make doing business with them so much more enjoyable. I guess the bottom line is that when someone likes what they do, it shows.
I’ve never, ever been a pushy salesperson. In fact, I do not consider myself a salesperson at all. A salesperson is someone who attempts to sell someone something. When I work with a new prospect, someone looking for a home in Sacramento, or maybe someone selling a home in Sacramento, my goal is not to sell them anything.
My goal in working with people is all about service. Service and building relationships. How can I work so closely on something so important to someone and then just walk away? I can’t. I’m part of my clients’ lives now and they are part of mine, if only in the occasional call or greeting card I send them. Mine is a relationship-based business.
Whether I am negotiating an addendum or counter offer, making sure there are no “surprises” easily hidden inside contracts, house-hunting with my buyers (my favorite part), or counseling clients on the best move to make (that training in therapy really did pay off!), the point is that all of it is a labor of love. There are good days and there are days when I could get frustrated IF I forgot, that in the end, it’s not what happens to you, it what you do with what happens to you.
With that in mind, I hope we all can think of Labor Day as a day to reflect, with gratitude, about the labors we’ve been blessed with and the service we provide.
As for my lovely daughter, she’s requested a trip to the wine country for her 21st birthday. I guess there’s nothing wrong with developing a fine taste for wine, so off to Amador we go.
Happy Labor Day!
Ta ta for now,
Tamara
PS
Don’t miss my weekly Sacramento Radio show, but wait! Just because I serve Sacramento, don’t think for a minute our weekly featured guests don’t offer national appeal! Everything from social media skills to feng shui to health and nutrition and more! Tune in live at 10 AM on Weds. at 10 AM PST, or catch the podcast later. Check it out, you’ll love my labor of love. www.InLoveWithSacto.com
