How to Keep Your Career Afloat When Your World Turns Upside Down

As the saying goes, time waits for no man (or woman). Meaning that the business world doesn’t pause for personal turmoil.

In business, particularly for realtors and entrepreneurs, this can have serious consequences for us in our business and personal life.

Look, we all face hard times at one point or another. Personal crises and tragedies can strike at any moment, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a divorce, natural disasters, personal struggles, or emotional ups and downs. During these times, we often become unsure of life and what direction we should take moving forward.

Yet, as mentioned above, the world keeps turning, and business keeps moving forward, with or without us.

And FYI, I’m writing this because a client of mine just had her life turned upside down due to an impending divorce. She’s in that uncertain space, unsure if they’ll mend fences or proceed with the separation. Her situation reminded me of similar personal turmoil I’ve faced in my own life.

It got me thinking: how can we best navigate our professional lives during such challenging personal times? So, I decided to share my thoughts and offer the best advice I can to help others facing similar situations.

Through all this, our families suffer, our finances suffer, and our business suffers. While I can’t give comprehensive advice about what to do for your family during these times — other than to say be as understanding as humanly possible and just be there for them — I can talk a bit about managing your finances and business during personal crises.

This is probably the hardest part. During difficult life upheavals, it’s natural to turn to your family, to hug your kids, etc, but it doesn’t feel natural to keep working. In fact, most of the time, work takes a back seat. If one can afford it, one stops working for whatever period that person sees fit — usually longer than one should.

So, what do you do during these times? Well, the first thing to do is to ask yourself if you actually want your business to continue. Not everybody has the finances to sustain a long period without working, so for many, income needs to keep coming in. However, this could also be a turning point in your life. You might course correct and get into a different field.

I know this is not easy, but you have to compartmentalize your life. Put your hard situation aside and focus on what you can do in the moment. How can you keep your real estate business moving forward, if that’s what you decided to do, while dealing with the divorce or hardship you’re going through?

Many experts suggest that maintaining a normal routine, including work, can actually be beneficial during difficult times. Work can provide structure, a sense of purpose, social support from colleagues, and a much-needed distraction from personal issues. It also ensures continued financial stability, which is often crucial during major life changes.

Should you continue your marketing efforts and keep your advertising live? The short answer is yes, you should. Even if you’re not sure what direction you want to go. By advertising you’ve built up momentum in the community. They’re used to seeing your face and name, and people will wonder why you stopped.

If you stop and then decide later to continue, you’ll have to rebuild all that name and face recognition again. You’ll essentially have to start over.

If you’re unsure, then scale back. If you’ve been spending $1,000 a month on advertising, then spend $500 if you need to. If you’ve been spending $500, then cut it back to $250, and so on.

Don’t stop your advertising unless you’ve totally decided to get completely out of the real estate game. Cut back on everything if you need to — your work hours, your marketing and advertising — until you’ve decided what you’re going to do.

If you keep your advertising up and someone calls, just refer them to someone else if you don’t have the mental energy to deal with a new client. Even if you decide to take some time off temporarily, still keep your ads live. Because you will probably come back to work after the crisis is over or dealt with.

That said, it’s important to recognize when you need a break. Short-term leave might be necessary and beneficial, especially immediately after a traumatic event. Many employers offer bereavement leave or personal time for such situations. If you’re self-employed, give yourself permission to take a short break if you need it.

Consider discussing flexible working arrangements with your team or clients. This could involve adjusting your working hours or partially working from home, which can help balance work responsibilities with personal needs.

It’s also generally advisable to communicate about your situation, at least in broad terms, with your business partners, team members, or key clients. This can help them understand any temporary changes in your performance or needs for accommodation.

During this time, prioritize self-care. This includes getting adequate rest, maintaining proper nutrition, exercising, and seeking support when needed.

Many experts recommend seeking professional help, such as counseling or therapy, to navigate difficult personal situations. If you need to during this time, get counseling or talk to somebody to help get you back in the mental saddle and to deal with the situation.

You will need to get back to work eventually, and you will still need to take care of your kids and other responsibilities.

Remember, the best approach often involves balancing the potential benefits of working (routine, distraction, financial stability) with the need for personal time and healing.

It’s a highly individual decision that depends on factors like the nature and severity of your personal situation, your emotional state and coping abilities, your financial needs, the demands of your job, and the support available at work and in your personal life.

So to wrap up, while personal crises can significantly impact your business, it’s possible to navigate these difficult times with careful planning and self-care.

By maintaining some level of professional engagement, even if scaled back, you can help ensure that your business weathers the storm alongside you, ready to thrive again when you’re back on your feet.

For help with your marketing and advertising and to keep your business growing during the good and bad times, contact CrossCopywriting.com/contact.

Read on Medium.com HERE