A Healthy Solution For Appraisers
Why Prioritizing Health Can Help You and Your Business
By Ron Maloney
➢ A look at the problem: health challenges faced by Appraisers
If you’re an appraiser you likely have some concerns about your health and your business.
Many I speak with confess that they have health issues and are worried about being able to keep up, especially older appraisers who can’t afford to retire.
Health is important not just for appraisers who work on their own and don’t get paid for sick days, but also if you’re an employee with production targets to hit and bosses to answer to.
The phrase “sitting is the new smoking” itself implies a whole set of health issues for those like us, who spend a lot of time at our desks.
You know that health challenges aren't just going to go away on their own.
So the question is, how can you take control of your health?
➢ The solution: start making health a priority now
Feeling good used to come naturally to me when I was younger. But I’ll admit, now that I’m at the age where I qualify for Medicare, I have to work at it!
I know I’m not alone, according to 2023 data provided by the Appraisal Institute, over 60% of Appraisers are 50 years old or older. With over 20% of those being aged 65+¹.
The reality is, aging requires us to prioritize our health.
Most people think time is our most valuable commodity, but I believe it's energy, because without adequate energy you can't fully capitalize on your time.
Being healthy increases your energy, and the more energy you have the more productive you can be.
When I prioritize my health, it has a definite positive effect on my business as well.
You could look at it another way too; if your health plummets your business would most certainly struggle if not outright fail, or your ability to hold down a job could be in serious jeopardy.
"For a successful business, health is key—just look at LinkedIn’s former top-ranked CEO, Jeff Weiner."
He directly correlates his success as an inspirational and passionate leader to a foundation of 3 simple things: exercise, good nutrition and quality sleep².
What Jeff knows is in order to have the energy, focus and positive mindset to lead his company to success, he first needs to be healthy.
And recent studies³ have shown that even moderate physical activity offers big benefits, including better immunity, healthier body weight, improved sleep and a sharper mind.
It’s even been reported that those who exercise regularly make $25,000 more than those who never go to the gym⁴!
Good nutrition, fitness and sufficient sleep bring a variety of personal rewards ranging from: reduced risk of illness to weight management, to sustained energy and focus, to a better mood and attitude.
As well as the benefits to withstand the physical and mental demands of the job.
Combined, these benefits can help mitigate the challenges we Appraisers face and can add up to both individual and professional success.
Have You Made Health a Priority?
It’s a very personal question that only you can answer.
And the answer is simple: it’s either YES or NO.
If you haven’t, it can be overwhelming, scary and even embarrassing. Researchers found that depression runs as high as 33% in patients after a heart attack due to feeling guilty and ashamed for their health⁵.
The consequences of not prioritizing health can be significant or even deadly, and devastating for your loved ones.
If you’re like most appraisers, your life is centered around your profession and as a consequence, your health has likely suffered.
I have experienced this firsthand, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
When Health Became My #1 Priority
After owning an appraisal company along with my dad and brother for nearly two decades, I was burnt out and badly in need of a change.
At this point I had lost all my enthusiasm for appraising, so we sold our appraisal business and I stayed out of the profession for a few years.
Being stressed out and overweight with high blood pressure were just a few of my problems.
Even though I was a former athlete and health educator, I had allowed my health to take a back-seat.
I was miserable and my relationships, both personal and professional, were suffering.
During this time, I became involved with a number of entrepreneurial pursuits that didn’t work out and ended up losing all the money I made from the sale of our business.
I also went through a breakup with a woman I was engaged to. Then my father and one of my closest friends passed away, each unexpectedly.
I was now in my early 40s, living in a studio apartment, single, lonely, jobless and broke - I had hit rock bottom!
One day I found myself lying on the floor speaking on the phone to my best friend from childhood. I was physically and emotionally drained, trying to make sense of what had happened.
I was worse off now than before we sold our business, and I was trying to figure out what to do next. My friend offered me the support that a great friend can and could relate to the losses I had experienced.
But he couldn’t give me the solution to get out of the mess I was in. That would be up to me to figure out.
When I hung up the phone I could have laid there in despair. I felt like a loser and thought about quitting but I knew I was better than that.
Instead, without thinking I rolled over and started doing push-ups and then I went for a jog.
I had to stop dwelling on my circumstances and take action. Even though I didn’t know what direction to take, I knew I had to start by taking care of myself.
This was the beginning of my comeback.
It took some time, but eventually I restored my physical and mental health, my energy came back and I got a much-needed job!
With a renewed sense of purpose I decided to re-enter the appraisal profession, but this time I would do things differently.
I didn’t want to run an appraisal business or manage people anymore. This time I would focus on doing desktop reviews. And my appraisal career, that I once thought was over, has flourished ever since.
Desktop work allows for much greater flexibility than the traditional business I had before, and now I can work from anywhere I want.
I’ve always enjoyed helping people and I figured there were other appraisers who could use a change. So in 2014, I decided to teach what I do and it’s been going strong ever since.
Quite frankly, many Appraisers who’ve taken my courses or are a part of my monthly membership program have had success that has exceeded even my own expectations!
And all of this would not have happened if I hadn’t made health a priority.
Building back my physical health gave me the confidence and energy to re-enter this profession, more humble and more grateful than ever.
Just Do It
Most of us wait for the perfect opportunity to start working out, start eating healthy or start pursuing our goals.
We want to think about it more, so we can choose the best exercise routine. Or we wait to find the confidence, the time, the drive and the energy before we take action.
But this is paralyzing and stops you from moving forward. The phrase “paralysis by analysis” doesn’t only apply to appraising!
It’s in the act of doing the physical workout, sweating, lifting a weight or simply taking time to go for a walk that you gain the confidence, the energy and the motivation to keep going.
Nobody’s going to do it for you. You may not be fully responsible for where you’re at, but you are responsible for getting yourself to where you want to be.
Unfortunately, many people don’t focus on health until they are forced to due to an injury or illness.
Don’t wait to take control of your health. You can do it just like I did, starting today.
Right now.
At this very moment.
Hope and a Plan
In particularly tough and challenging times I find it helpful to turn to “hope and a plan”. You can’t always get the motivation you need from exercise or a Nike slogan.
With this method, I’ve helped friends and family members deal with breakups, difficulties in relationships, loss of a job and even devastating health issues.
And I’ve helped appraisers who told me they were desperate for success.
Regardless of the situation, what can get someone to move forward on a positive path is having hope and a plan.
It may sound too simplistic for “hope” to be an effective strategy but it works and it’s what’s burning inside anyone who keeps putting one foot in front of the other. Hope stirs within us the optimistic possibilities we’re all seeking.
And having a plan of action ensures you’re not just daydreaming, but actually facing reality and the steps it will take to get you where you want to go.
Remember, you are not the only person who has been in your shoes and faced health issues, self-doubt, loneliness, grief, or unfairness. There is someone out there who has it even worse than you… and yet they still found the courage, desire and discipline to fuel them forward for something positive rather than let it hold them down.
I’ve implemented Hope and a Plan firsthand and I’ve seen how it can work for others- and it can work for you too.
Your 4 Keys To Better Health
Exercising regularly is important. It can boost your immune system, better equip your body to fight bacterial and viral infections, reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer according to the National Institutes of Health⁶.
The NIH guide explains that exercise is believed to aid immunity by flushing out bacteria and carcinogenic cells, speeding the circulation of antibodies and white blood cells, temporarily increasing body temperature and slowing the release of stress hormones like cortisol.
It recommends a moderate exercise program such as daily walks, bicycling a few times a week, light sports or regular gym sessions for immune-boosting benefits.
Don’t underestimate the value of physical exercise. When I say exercise, I mean any form of movement, from walking to weightlifting, to yoga, to following the prompts of an at-home fitness video. All types and intensities of exercise are better than staying sedentary.
The benefits of exercise can’t be taken in the form of a pill, yet it is the best prescription we have to release pent-up anxiety, relieve tension, improve your mood and stop depression. It’s a natural and safe sleep aid to give you more energy and to clear out intrusive thoughts or worries when your mind is in a worried or overwhelmed state.
Harvard Health published an article⁷ on the benefits of exercise for a positive mindset, reminding readers how the body and brain are connected. Rather than needing to “psych yourself up” for something, you can use movement and exercise to create those positive and uplifting emotions.
Motivational Coach and Author, Ed Mylett discussed on his podcast using movement as one of the “10 Habits that will Help you Achieve Happiness and Fulfillment”. He says the simple act of moving puts you in a positive state, whether you’re conscious about it or not.
Even when mountains of work pile up, a quick walk or jog can boost your motivation and refocus your mind, thus making you more productive when you get back to work. Taking time for physical fitness is essential to avoiding burnout at work.
Nutrition is critical to individual work performance. Research by the International Labor Organization found that inadequate nutrition affects worker productivity, physical work capacity and performance⁸.
Poor nutrition has been linked with increased absenteeism and illness, low morale, and even an increase in accidents.
Appraisers who spend a lot of time on the road or those of us who just don’t know how to cook can find it all too convenient to rely on foods that aren’t necessarily nutritionally sound or healthy for you.
Every effort should be made to seek out healthier options due to the direct correlation between quality nutrition, well-being and performance.
But what are those healthier food options? According to Dr. Mark Hyman; a practicing physician with many accomplishments including founder and director of The UltraWellness Center, the Head of Strategy and Innovation at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine, and a 14-time bestselling author of books like: “What the Heck Do I Eat?” and “Eat Fat, Get Thin”, his top two recommendations are removing sugar and adding more fiber⁹.
Sleep is an important, yet often neglected component of health and fitness.
Sleep is needed to support physical fitness, is tied to good eating habits and plays a major role in mental performance and motivation.
Sleep deprivation is associated with a higher body mass index and a greater incidence of obesity¹⁰. It’s also associated with eating more calories and making less healthy food choices, likely due to an increase in hunger hormones as a result of poor sleep.
Feeling tired during the day also makes physical exercise less likely, resulting in fewer calories burned.
Getting quality sleep is critical mentally; for attention, focus, learning, memory, problem-solving and mood. And physically; for reducing the risk of inflammation and chronic disease.
Mental fitness which is more commonly known as “stress management”, is foundational to master.
I prefer the term “mental fitness” because it more accurately frames our control over it.
Unlike the term “stress” which is meant as a negative pressure or strain in life that we have to figure out how to manage or off-set.
When you’re mentally fit, you are more resilient and tough-minded which leads to better outcomes and greater success.
Self-development author, speaker and thought provoker Wayne Dyer said, “your thoughts cause stress, not the world”. He also said, “if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”. At a glance, those quotes sound like they’re from someone who never had a bad day. But in reality, they’re statements from someone who is in control of their life. Or at least accepts the limits of his control and doesn’t stress or worry about things he can’t control.
Social psychologist Dr. Albert Bandura, says we feel stress when we feel like we’re out of control of the situation. He recommends perceiving the experience as a challenge and once you overcome that challenge you’ll have boosted confidence¹¹.
If you learn how to exercise your mental fitness muscle then stress doesn’t need to be something to manage. Instead, a glass-half-full mindset becomes your default, and you learn to address what would otherwise be an overwhelming or anxious situation with calm and confidence. Or you learn to not stress about what’s out of your control and just focus on what you can control, which is very powerful and motivating.
Being stressed-out negatively affects our sleep, immune response, and hormones and can cause serious health problems like anxiety, chest pains, digestive issues, high blood pressure, and heart disease¹².
According to a survey by the Depression and Anxiety Association, 72% of the respondents reported that daily stress interferes with their everyday life and 56% reported that anxiety interferes with their job performance¹³.
But stress doesn’t have to weigh you down. Learn how to exercise your mental fitness muscle, you don’t even need a gym, just a change in perspective.
Exercise, nutrition, sleep and mental fitness are all intertwined and create a foundation for the overall network of health.
The Top 15 Ways Good Health Impacts Your Business
1. Better mental clarity
2. Improved mood and attitude
3. Greater patience
4. Longer concentration
5. More energy
6. Able to more easily overcome potential stressors
7. Greater confidence and willingness to take on challenges
8. Strength to persist when things get tough
9. Positively impacts professional and personal relationships
10. Enables you to think strategically, “outside the box”
11. Improved efficiency and productivity
12. Fewer doctor visits and days out sick
13. Improved emotional resilience
14. More opportunistic
15. Ability to work longer in your career
An Appraiser Advocate and Health Advocate
I did my first appraisal when I was 25 years old. Over 40 years later I still enjoy this profession; as well as teaching and coaching other appraisers on many aspects of residential appraising.
However, my first passion is as a health advocate.
I played football in college and graduated with a degree in Health and Physical Education.
The lessons I learned on the playing field and the knowledge gained in the classroom have helped me greatly throughout my appraisal career.
Although I only taught for a few years, I’ve continued to have an avid interest in health and its impact on business and personal success.
My coaching program is centered around helping appraisers gain appraisal and business skills. And in some of these sessions, my wife and I enthusiastically discuss various health and fitness topics.
These are some of my students’ most welcomed segments. Partly because it’s unique to combine the business of appraising and health. But mostly, they find the information about health to be beneficial to their everyday lives and businesses.
The value of health is not emphasized in our profession, and you won’t find a CE class on it. But it’s definitely a big component of long-term business success.
Today I’m healthy and in good shape, weigh about the same as when I was a senior in high school and have a lot of energy.
I rarely get sick and some find it surprising that I haven’t had any surgeries or that I’m not on any medications.
But of course, I have some aches and pains like many of my friends and colleagues.
For full disclosure my wife is a Health Coach who graduated from a world-class integrative nutrition program and has been the single biggest influence on my health.
She has the same enthusiasm about health and helping people as I do and offers some very valuable insight and information to our students.
My Top 10 Tips for Better Health
1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day
This used to be a chore for me, but now I look at getting up to refill my glass (and to use the restroom) as a benefit to stretch my legs and get out from behind the desk. I drink 5-6, 12oz glasses of water a day. It’s now such a habit I don’t even need my wife to remind me anymore! Sometimes I add powdered beets or electrolytes to give it flavor and provide health benefits too.
2. Fit Fitness in Every Day
My exercise routine has evolved over the years. I’m no longer spending hours in the gym every day, expending all of my energy to try and outperform my friends like I was in my 20s!
Back in those days I wanted to work out, now in my 60s I have to work out, and I do so with a much different purpose and mindset.
These days I use exercise to boost my energy. I still do strength exercises, but now I also make sure to avoid injury as well. I also do low-impact movements like walking; either on the treadmill or outside with my wife and dogs.
And I stretch to undo what sitting at my desk does to my body.
I used to think that my back, hip and neck pain were a result of wear and tear from my athletic days catching up with me. There may be some truth to that, but what I've discovered (thanks to my wife's help) is that I really just need to stretch.
This is a common problem with us Appraisers, so check out this guide to Stretching for Desk Workers here, you don't even need to leave your chair!
Every day, I try to get in some form of stretching, walking, weights, multiple trips upstairs for water refills as well as the nitric flush exercises I share below.
3. Do nitric flush exercises 2-3 times a day
These “exercises” are really more like movements that help release beneficial nitric oxide from your cells which have significant cardiovascular benefits. You may be familiar with the benefits of beetroot for increasing nitric oxide or taking niacinamide (the B3 vitamin that causes a “flush” throughout the body). These simple exercises are a way to achieve a niacin flush without supplements. Nitric oxide helps keep your arteries dilated and reduces blood’s viscosity for healthy circulation¹⁴. And it’s another way to get myself out from behind the desk. You can learn this simple 4-minute exercise from Dr. Zack Bush here.
4. Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates
The only sugar in our house comes in small amounts from some extra dark chocolate we enjoy after dinner. That makes it much easier to forget about sugar when it’s not even an option. We have been eating this way for so long, thinking about adding sugar to my coffee or eating flavored yogurt like I once did no longer sounds appealing.
Refined carbohydrates act similarly to sugar when digested so for the most part, those are out of the house too!
We do enjoy a dessert for a celebration or occasionally when we dine out. We’ve also added in some natural alternative sweeteners that don’t affect glucose and insulin, like stevia and monk fruit, but we keep them very limited.
5. Have a mantra and use it to stay the course
My mantra is “keep on punchin”. I use this simple phrase when I start telling myself I’m too tired or my motivation is waning. It helps me focus and re-align with my goals. I didn’t realize until listening to Jocko Willink’s podcast, a retired Navy SEAL Commander, just how important a mantra like this is. He says his mantra “discipline equals freedom” got him through the SEAL training! A simple, self-talk motivator like this definitely works!
6. Have an attitude of gratitude
I like to sit at my desk early in the morning, before the day has started and take a moment to appreciate all that I have, including my family and friends. I think of the simple things that make me happy, like going for a walk with my wife and our two dogs. As well as how fortunate I am to be in good health and in a career I still find interesting, challenging and profitable.
I also make sure to tell people “thank you” and not just to a waiter at a restaurant, but also to those close to me like my wife who helps me out with the technical aspects of my business and trainings.
This makes me happier, more optimistic and more motivated to stay the course. It’s been shown those who feel gratitude work out more and have less doctor visits than those who don’t¹⁵.
7. Go to bed early and wake up early
We are in bed by 9:30 pm and up at 4:30 am. Even on the weekends! Waking up early lets me start my day without feeling the pressure of deadlines or the inbox. I can make time for the gym and time for myself by having a head start to the day. Plus, keeping a sleep routine helps ensure more consistent deep sleep.
8. Stop work at 5:00 pm and plan for tomorrow
As an appraiser, you know how much reading and analyzing is required in this profession. I’ve learned I must stop work by 5:00 pm or I’ll have a hard time quieting my brain at bedtime. I then organize my desk and write down what I need to do tomorrow which assures that my next day is focused and productive.
Planning my next day beforehand by getting organized and doing a brain dump also helps me sleep better at night.
9. Have mentors, coaches and people you admire
I am always striving to be a better person; having people I look up to and respect is critical to growth. My dad used to refer to a quote in the Bible that says “Take good counsel, and accept correction”. I’ve been fortunate to have great coaches and mentors including my dad and have learned from their experience and counsel.
I find inspiration and respect people like Arnold Schwarzenegger whose story of triumph against all odds is truly inspirational. From leaving Austria to pursue his dream of a bodybuilding career (a seemingly trivial pursuit, even more so at that time), to becoming a top-grossing Hollywood star with a funny accent and a name people couldn’t pronounce or spell, to becoming governor of California! Arnold was determined to reach each of those goals when people told him he couldn’t. Against all odds, he did.
10. Find fulfillment
Finding fulfillment is important for overall optimism and mental health which translates into physical health as well.
Getting fulfillment out of life can happen in many ways.
I view my reports as being vital in assisting clients to make lending decisions based, in part, on the value and marketability of the underlying collateral.
I offer encouragement to friends and family, and mentorship to appraisers in my coaching program, which are among the most gratifying things I do.
This aligns with my overarching purpose in life; to encourage and inspire people, as well as to honor the great mentors I've had by paying it forward which gives me a sense of purpose that helps keep me motivated to be my best self.
The Bottom Line
Prioritizing health and developing healthier habits are keys to having a successful and long-term business. It only makes sense that people who are mentally and physically healthy can withstand the challenges in life and in business much better.
Your health is your wealth. Your business' success is dependent on you being healthy and able to operate consistently at a high level.
Take care of yourself so you can have a successful business that takes care of you.
Ron Maloney
The Appraiser Advocate
P.S. For a limited time I’m opening up seats to my Appraisers Success Group. This is an opportunity to join my live, monthly membership group for a special New Year’s rate. Go here for more information and to reserve your seat.
Sources
https://www.appraisalinstitute.org/getmedia/bf70e869-945f-4fab-851c-44204f971224/2023_ai_fact_sheet
https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/videos/jeff-weiner-supersoul-sunday/10154765735307220/
https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.heart.disease.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-simply-moving-benefits-your-mental-health-201603289350https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_005175/lang–en/index.htm
https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/self-efficacy-and-the-perception-of-control-in-stress-reduction/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/exercise-and-your-arteries
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
