My birthday falls on New Year's Eve. Anyone who has a December birthday, especially during the week preceding or immediately after Christmas, can relate as to how one's "special" day can be overlooked. 
Want to have a special dinner at your most favorite restaurant? Forget it if your birthday is December 24, 25, or the 31st. Either everyone closes early for Christmas Eve, are closed Christmas Day, or refuses to take reservations for New Year's Eve.
How did I choose to spend my day this year? Since my birthday falls on the last day of the year, it was a perfectly quiet time to clean out the previous years (2001-2004) client files and my personal tax files. Now before you gasp, I selectively weed through the files and toss only the unnecessary documents, keeping the really important stuff like contracts, HUD-1's, etc.
Sorting through files may seem like a strange way to spend my birthday, but it makes sense for me. It's therapeutic. Not only am I reducing clutter, of which I have plenty, I'm organizing myself and making room for new business in 2009. And THAT makes me feel good.
Written and Published by Pat Starnes
Written and Published by Pat Starnes REALTOR
Pat Starnes, a Realtor since 1988, specializes in Mississippi Residential Real Estate and can assist you with buying or selling in the Jackson MS Metro area.
Areas of service: Brandon, Pearl, Ridgeland, and the Ross Barnett Reservoir area
Search all available homes in the Jackson MS MLS
Pat Starnes, Broker; Pat Starnes Real Estate, 300 Castlewoods Blvd., Brandon, MS 39047; 601-278-4513 - Cell
Hi Pat.
Happy birthday!
Let's both have a great 2009.
Ken
Pat it seems you and I spent New Years Eve in relative quiet. Wouldn't have it any other way now.
Hope you enjoyed your birthday. I tend to spend birthdays as any other day of the year. Low key.
Pat-Happy late birthday! I also go through my files periodically to toss duplicate copies and other non-essentials. The last time I went through my files, I was specifically looking to see how I had obtained that client. I made a chart with the numbers to see what marketing efforts were producing most of my closings. The high number went to referrals from family, friends and past clients.
Thanks, Ken! Hello, Jack.
Suzi, Thanks for visiting! My birthday was quiet, but I enjoyed it.
Pam, Thanks to you, too. When I post my closings, I add a column for "source of client". That way, I can track where my business comes from at a glance. Try it.
Referrals from friends, family, and past clients are usually the BEST!
!Pat