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Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets, CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego (Big Block Realty 858.232.8722)

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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Precisely because we are entrpreneurs and have to make sales to stay in business. But I will say, that many in the corporate world today don't work any 40 hours a week, either. I left corporate America in 1989, but rarely had a work week of less than 60 hours for most of the 19 years I was a corporate executive. The only difference was that I didn't have to work often (unless travelling on business) on weekends.

Mar 31, 2016 08:48 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Thomas,

I don't think that real estate agents are the only willing to do that.  We have plenty of friends including family who are self-employed and definitely work as muvh as we do.  

However, most everyone we know and work  with has learned how to work smart, and have a life.  A

Mar 31, 2016 02:12 PM
Ambassador
1,452,769
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Seriously, 80 hours a week?  I'd be lucky if I put in 30 - that's why I'm self employed!  I work smart, not hard

Mar 31, 2016 01:27 PM
Ambassador
2,061,750
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I've worked far longer hours, for less money working for someone else.

Mar 31, 2016 01:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

To be our own bosses.

Mar 31, 2016 12:44 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Thomas. I love what I do and do not apologize for being a workaholic.

Mar 31, 2016 06:17 PM
Rainmaker
2,707,721
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

What's the fun in a 40 hour week...

Mar 31, 2016 02:32 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

To have freedom 

Mar 31, 2016 02:13 PM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

You forgot about invest all our profits in an attempt to make even more money.

Mar 31, 2016 01:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Because the entrepreneurs I know find ways to do 80 hours of productivity in 40 hours.

Mar 31, 2016 12:41 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,153
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Man was never meant to sit idle.... just never meant to work...It is interesting to note that when you are doing something where passion is involved, time takes on a whole new meaning and its brief too. The reality is; time doesn't change. It's your inner/outer parts operating at ideal capacity in a flow mode

Mar 31, 2016 11:40 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Because we make ourselves so busy we do not see what the other dream chasers are doing.

The reality is you grind until your systems are self-sustaining and on autopilot, then off to the beaches and the "I only work 8 hours a week" gloat.

FORMULA: work hard + work hard + work hard + luck = magic

Mar 31, 2016 10:41 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Because we love our job.

Mar 31, 2016 10:21 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

To avoid working for the man.  Anything this much fun is not really work.

Mar 31, 2016 10:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

I have never worked 40 hours a week, LOL, being the workaholic I am, so why not work for myself?  With real estate, we at least can pretend we have flexibility. 

Mar 31, 2016 10:00 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,701
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

what a great line! 

Mar 31, 2016 09:41 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

self employed. One has the passion whether it is 40 or 120 hours matters little.

Mar 31, 2016 03:32 PM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Because deep in our hearts we LOVE to work and we are willing to work the extra hours to have the flexibility to call the shots ... 

Mar 31, 2016 02:24 PM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

checks at closing

Apr 14, 2017 06:06 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,472
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Thinking back when I worked 40 hours per week, and knowing what I make today --- I get paid for the hours I spend working in this business!  

Apr 02, 2016 12:11 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,592
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Because its gratifying, doesn't seem like work and where could I make the money I do doing what I love to do!

Apr 01, 2016 09:07 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Because we like to control our own destiny

Apr 01, 2016 08:18 AM
Rainmaker
823,579
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

I don't count the hours and take vacations when I need to reinvigorate, but I sincerely LOVE what I do for a living.

Apr 01, 2016 04:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

It seems that way, but many others work as hard and long

Apr 01, 2016 02:12 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

Love it!  It is sooo true!!!

Apr 01, 2016 12:58 AM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I dont know Thomas, but I doubt that I could change.

It was a lifestyle of work that was instilled when growing up on a farm, and it stuck.  My kids seem to have developed this habit too.

Apr 01, 2016 12:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor Becuase of our independence and flexibility to work that many hours a week. lol

Mar 31, 2016 11:54 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

To be their own bosses. Besides, 40-hour weeks are at minimum wage (or so). The money jobs require a bit more commitment e.g. law firms or investment banks.

Mar 31, 2016 11:53 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

7am-3pm Monday - Friday - no weekends or holidays!! 

Mar 31, 2016 11:44 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

but do we actually WORK 80 HOURS???  

Mar 31, 2016 11:09 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,407
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I hope you are well compensated for those long hours.

Mar 31, 2016 10:52 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Lots of people(especially today) work lots of hours.  

Mar 31, 2016 10:46 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Love the question ... let me know when you find out lol. 

Why work 40 when you can do it in 60?

Mar 31, 2016 09:49 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,381
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Great question. Somehow I don't think of it as work!

Mar 31, 2016 09:46 PM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Try oprning a Pizza/sub shop or restaurant and tell me how many hours are in a week.

Mar 31, 2016 09:43 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

LOL, there is truth to that statement but we aren't the only ones willing to do it. Many self-employed people work very long hours. 

Mar 31, 2016 06:52 PM
Ambassador
3,164,269
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

we're not.  My brother is a GM in a restaurant and he works long weeks, but still gets to take off the days he wants.  Most managers and business owners in all businesses do this.

Mar 31, 2016 02:47 PM
Rainmaker
582,106
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

It's not a question of trying to "avoid working 40 hours a week".

The average Realtor, I believe, is in their late 50s.  How many corporations hiring full-time employees will hire anyone in their late 50s or older?

Some folks would rather keep more of what they earn, rather than line someone else's pocket.

 

Mar 31, 2016 01:25 PM
Rainmaker
713,282
Sharon Kowitz
CRS-SRES-ABR-GRI-E-Pro-CREN ~ COMPASS RE - Cary, NC
Cary, NC Relocation Specialist ~ Buying or Selling

Great question! I suppose because I can pick those 80 hours vs the 40??

Mar 31, 2016 12:45 PM
Ambassador
1,026,893
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Because the hours are flexible?  Because who wouldn't want to work 80 hours a week for the possibility of not getting a paycheck at the end? And in all seriousness, I agree with Joe Pryor. We can get a lot done in a short week.

Mar 31, 2016 12:39 PM