The Vault View: From Hamster Wheel to Homefront Wins
It’s been a Bear of a week! Some days feel like we’re running on a hamster wheel — lots of motion, not a lot of traction. That’s been our world lately, with so many directions pulling at once.
Sales have been busier than ever — four deals headed toward closing, two active listings, and constant calls and property inquiries. I really appreciate watching those Realtors around me, especially my Broker, and gaining ideas from them through our continual conversations about everything. Rentals are cruising smoothly with minimal attention needed to keep them spinning. But lately, we’ve been feeling the pull to shift our focus as the battles in our head for priorities are fierce.
Home projects — dishes, laundry, mowing, deer feeding, pond maintenance, deck building — have been waiting patiently for their turn in the spotlight. With our short Upper Peninsula summers, it’s time to lean into the things that make home life better now, while the sun is shining.
We’ve been looking at our year in 3-month chunks, much like the 12 Week Year method but tailored to our business cycles:
- Jan–Mar & Jul–Sep: Peak rental months — time to live, enjoy, and keep the wheels turning.
- Apr–Jun & Oct–Dec: Quieter rental seasons — time to dig in, renovate, and knock out big projects.
That shift makes it clear — mornings (8–10 AM) will now be reserved for home projects, with rentals and sales following. It’s a simple change we expect will make a huge difference in productivity and balance.
Of course, nature still provides plenty of reminders to slow down and enjoy the moment. Our trail cams have been buzzing — fawns strolling through, curious raccoons (including one “fight” that perfectly represents the battle in our heads), and other critters enjoying the summer. We’ll be sharing more of these clips and photos over time, starting with today’s video debut on the blog.
Life is busy, sometimes chaotic, but it’s also full of moments worth stopping for — even if just to watch a fawn walk by or a pair of raccoons bicker over who gets the best snack. The key is knowing when to run and when to step off the wheel.