Achieving a good work-life balance is a goal most entrepreneurs strive for, day in and day out. It’s easy for the day to slip away, when things pick up and you are tasked with responding to emails, meetings, showings, and other unexpected matters. Between work, home-life, and all else that demands your attention, gaining control of the day and creating a good work-life balance can almost seem far-fetched.
This isn’t the case for Vanessa Beneze, a recent winner of the 2019 Relentless Agent Award. Vanessa has created a work-life balance system that works for her busy schedule. It was how she handled the unexpected with one of her clients that gained her the Relentless Agent recognition and when you get to know Vanessa, it’s very apparent that she’s relentless, in everything she does.
Vanessa starts her day at 5:15am. Before her feet even touch the floor, her coffee machine, which she auto-programs, is already brewing her first cup of coffee. While most of her clients are still asleep, Vanessa is on her computer, looking at market data and new listings that may interest her clients. Before 10:00am, Vanessa has her color-coded time-blocked schedule for the day mapped out, so she knows exactly where she’s going and what she’s doing. This color system is based on her appointments, new listings, information she needs to email to her clients, and creating marketing ads for social media, just to name a few. Vanessa also leaves empty spaces while scheduling her day so if something unexpectedly happens, her time-blocking can allow her the flexibility to add something in.
It was this level of detail and attentiveness that came into play when Vanessa was working sell a home for her clients and they encountered an unexpected delay with the buyers financing.
Watch her story below.
“I realize that I am more than an agent. I am a representative of what it means to be an agent. “
-Vanessa Beneze
Achieving a manageable work-life balance isn’t impossible. Vanessa shared her color-coded secret to maintaining this balance in her everyday life. Here is how you can implement her time-block approach into your busy schedule:
- Use Google, iCal, or download any other customizable calendar app from the app store on your tablet or smart phone that allows for alerts and notifications. This will allow you to have direct access to your interactive calendar, wherever you go, and you will receive alerts for upcoming appointments or reminders.
- When scheduling your day, use color codes for specific entries. For example, client meetings will be red, in color, scheduling posts to social media will be in blue, or things for your personal life, such as dinner with the family, will be in green.
- Schedule time for things that map potentially run over. These events will be white, in color. This will allow for some flexibility when you have to redirect things in your day or allow time for an unexpected event, like driving 6 hours to meet with your buyer contact for financing.
Vanessa says when you set up your day, using the color-coded time-blocked schedule, as soon as the day starts, you’re ready to deliver extraordinary results.
Learn more about Vanessa’s story by visiting the Relentless Agent website.
