Learning to Take a Break

A firefighter shares its importance, no matter your profession.

People seem to think that my real estate career is a walk in the park compared to the fiery physical demands of my job as a firefighter. What they don’t see is the mental exhaustion that can set in when brokering a deal or after my crew has safely made it through yet another trying shift.

I am a firefighter. Many often wonder about the life of a firefighter and the dedication that it requires. Do firefighters take Breaks? Can they afford to? On-duty firefighters can have busy days running calls, discussing the type of training crews will focus on for the day, and—the most important item—what they will eat for lunch and dinner.

Being a good firefighter takes commitment and passion that will help develop a skillset for success. Learning to be a good firefighter must be self-taught. Without this inner drive, the pressure of completing a task on the fireground can become overwhelming and lead to failure. 

There are moments when firefighters who are on scene of a structure fire will feel like they had a 2-hour workout. Firefighting is tense and requires discipline. We have to endure stressful environments, but our self-taught mental and physical conditioning will help with recovery time.

I am also a real estate broker. Realtors have to exercise the same traits, but in a different way. For realtors, those traits do not coincide with the physical demands of firefighting, but rather the mental side. Real estate, too, is a self-taught journey. 

When you complete the 45-hour course and pass the state exam, the journey begins. Potential clients will not show up at your doorstep. Real estate agents need to network. They need to go out and talk to people who may be looking to buy or sell a home. 

If you have little to no experience networking, being in that sort of high pressure scenario can cause you to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. No different than working on a fireground without adequate training, which creates a very serious concern.

Now, some would say that firefighting and being a real estate agent are completely different and just can’t be compared. But what they don’t see is the commitment, passion, and mental tenacity you need to work through the challenges presented in both professions. 

I am a professional. There are times when you need a Break. You are dealing with a lot of stress when a transaction falls apart at the last minute or when a firefighter is exhausted battling a structure fire. Either way, Breaks are needed to establish or reestablish mental focus. 

To remain poised under pressure, mental Breaks are not just advisable, but required. Composure is important whether you’re extinguishing a house fire to preserve someone’s property or ensuring the buyer/seller has everything they may need for a successful deal.

Rest the mind and never allow stress to overwhelm you.