Multifamily Monday: Collect Moments not Things

Looking forward to another crazy over the top uber-cool week? Me too. This week we are penning on the idea of collecting moments.

Let’s start with a story to set the context for our post. I was recently remarried to my first and only wife – Stephanie. It’s a long story and this is not a post to garnish congrats and atta boys. It’s an amazing story and one I will cherish. Cherish in the sense of what being in relationship really means. It’s work that is worth it and it is work that is hard. I cherish it for all that it has taught me and all that it will teach me. And, my encouragement to you – embrace the ones that are near and dear in your life. Go make some moments.

Collect Moments not Things

Stephanie and I would rather collect moments any day of the week. Faced with the choice of buying our kids toys, gadgets or the latest and greatest widget or taking them on an amazing adventure in a foreign country – #gameon foreign country. Faced with sitting around playing games inside or building a fort in the woods behind our house – #gameon fort (or, fourt as our kids so aptly name it and wrote is with a sharpie no less). Play some Wii or go to a water park – #gameon water park. Sit around on a Saturday or volunteer some time at a dog shelter – #gameon dog shelter. (Okay, for those of you that know me – animals are not my thing. But, Stephanie, J and K love them and they give back time for them). To us – our kids education comes down to activity that sparks emotion, creativity, need to be resourceful, collaborating and giving back in the way of time and energy.  And, creating moments for the such.

Resident Moments not Things

What the heck does this have to do with my Multifamily Monday? Everything! It has everything to do with it.

Stop giving residents things, i.e. money, carpet cleans, accent walls or whole new paint jobs. Ok, give those things if you want to but make a moment out of it. Make a moment of truth. Make a moment of celebration. Make a moment worth sharing.

Here is my short speculation. Get enough crazy good resident moments collected and they will pay back in two ways: 1. if you have a bad moment – the good will offset. 2. When it comes time to renew (another chance to create a moment) – they are locked in and thirsty for some more moments. Your job – feed the thirst by creating the moments.

Your collecting moments not things multifamily maniac,

M