What’s in My Work Bag: The Things I Actually Use to Run My Business

I love a good “what’s in my bag” video, but I think they’re even more interesting when the bag actually tells you something about the person carrying it.

Mine definitely does.

As a REALTOR®, business owner, and someone who seems to always be going from a meeting to an open house to a coffee shop, I need to be able to work from pretty much anywhere.

So no, my work bag isn't perfectly organized, and I’m not carrying 27 beautifully coordinated office supplies just for aesthetics. These are the things I actually use.

My Laptop

This is probably the most obvious one, but also the most important.

Real estate is surprisingly mobile. I might need to pull up a contract, research a property, respond to an email, work on marketing, update my website or handle something for a client when I'm nowhere near my desk.

Having my laptop with me means I can turn a coffee shop, model home or random hour between meetings into an office.

I’ve learned that when you run your own business, sometimes you work wherever you happen to be.

Chargers, Because Something Is Always Dying

Laptop charger. Phone charger. Usually more than one cord.

There are very few things more frustrating than sitting down somewhere to get work done and realizing you're at 12%.

My phone is especially important because it isn't really just a phone anymore. It's my camera, calendar, GPS, communication tool, social media manager, and sometimes my entire office.

Keeping everything charged is less exciting than the rest of this list, but probably more important.

Business Cards

Yes, I still carry business cards.

We live in a very digital world, but there are still situations where handing someone a card is easier than standing there trying to spell your Instagram handle while they search for you.

Real estate also comes up in conversation in unexpected places. I don't want every interaction to turn into a sales pitch, but if someone asks what I do or tells me they're thinking about buying or selling, I like being able to give them something tangible.

A Notebook

I know I can take notes on my phone.

I still prefer writing certain things down.

There is something about putting an idea on paper that makes it stick differently for me. I use my notebook for meeting notes, content ideas, reminders, things I need to research, and the occasional thought that I’m convinced is brilliant and absolutely will not remember 20 minutes later.

Running a business means constantly having ideas, and I need somewhere to put them.

Pens, Plural

Because if I carry one pen, that will be the pen that doesn't work.

I also meet with clients, attend events, and occasionally need someone else to sign or write something down, so having extras is one of those tiny things that makes life easier.

Real Estate Essentials

Depending on what I'm doing that day, my bag might also have things specifically for real estate.

That could mean property information, open house materials, a measuring tape, marketing pieces or anything else I need for appointments.

One of the things people don't necessarily see about being a REALTOR® is how many different roles you play in a single day.

You might be analyzing numbers in the morning, creating marketing content at lunch and walking through a property with a client that afternoon.

My bag has to keep up.

My Wallet and the Usual Personal Stuff

This is still my purse, after all.

Wallet, keys, sunglasses, lip products, gum, and all the other little things that somehow accumulate in a woman's bag.

And probably at least one receipt that I told myself I was going to keep organized.

A Few Things I Didn't Expect to Need as a Business Owner

The longer I've worked for myself, the more I've realized that running a business isn't just about having the right tools.

You also need to be ready to pivot.

Sometimes an appointment gets canceled, and suddenly I have an hour to work. Sometimes I see something that would make great content. Sometimes I meet someone unexpectedly, and we end up talking about real estate, business or an opportunity I hadn't planned for.

That's probably why I carry so much with me.

I like being prepared to use those little pockets of time instead of waiting until I'm sitting at my desk.

My Work Bag Is Basically a Portable Office

It may not be glamorous, but that's really what my bag has become.

A tiny portable office that follows me around Austin.

Everything in it has earned its place because at some point I've been somewhere thinking, “I really wish I had that with me.”

And now I probably do.

If you want to see everything that's actually in my bag, I filmed a full What's in My Bag as a Business Owner video over on my YouTube channel. You can watch it below.