Leadership
Multifamily #Trust30: The Road ‘almost’ not Taken
Day 11 of the #Trust30 Challenge –
Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.
I read this mornings prompt and instantly thought of Robert Frost’s classic: The Road Not Taken .
And, M. Scott Peck’s: The Road Less Traveled, another classic in it’s own right. I still remember the first sentence of the first chapter – Life is difficult.
Sure enough is…
Multifamily The Road Almost Not Taken
My start in the Multifamily business was a humble one. I was fresh out of college and had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. So, I spent the next couple years dabbling in this and playing in that before I landed a job managing a 18-unit community on the wrong side of the tracks in the small town that I grew up in.
It was the type of PM job whereby the manager does it all. I was expected to mow the lawn, paint and maintenance the unit turns, complete all requests for service, clean and make ready the swamp coolers in the summer and just the opposite in prep for winter. I lived for free in exchange for taking care of the place. At that time in my life, it was awesome.
Fast forward two years, I decided to leave it all to go back and finish my college degree. The thought was that I would just get a service job to finish up the thirty or so hours I needed to graduate. Collections, I thought! I used to do that in high school for a furniture company. So, I interviewed and got the job. At the same time I had interviewed for and been extended an offer as a leasing consultant for a very large multifamily community in Lubbock Texas, The Beautiful Willow Bend – if my memory serves me correct.
Weighing my options and after some colorful debate with my girlfriend, at the time, I choose leasing. And, the rest is history.
To the point of The Prompt
Many of the alternatives that I get blessed with from time to time, look and feel dynamic and many of them might be. And, while my mind remains open – something I have learned to embrace over a long bit of time, my heart and mind are still on fire for this great business. My imagination is that I will one day be faced with the divergence of two paths in the road and I will choose the path less taken – just, not for now.
Your happy with the chosen path contributor,
M
Photo props to: Virtual Tourist
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Multifamily #Trust30: Surprise
Mike Brewer · · 1 Comment
Day 10 of the #Trust30 challenge
How will you surprise yourself this week?
(Author: Ashley Ambirge)
How will I surprise myself this week? I have a sleeping problem. Not that I get too much but rather that I get to little. The daily routine, in short looks something like this:
5:30 to 6:00 rise (varies but no later than six)
6:00 to 8:00 read/write/run/get ready
8:00 – 5:00 Meetings/site-visits/working on the multifamily operations business
5:00-9:00 Family time
9:00 to 2:00 or 3:00 – Multifamily & Social Media Work
How will I surprise myself this week? Make it to bed by 1:00 – I think it’s a realistic start.
How about you? What will you do?
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Multifamily #Trust30: Fear
Mike Brewer · · 1 Comment
The #Trust30 prompt today deals with the subject of fear.
My thoughts on fear took me back to the words we used when writing on the subject of fear just a few days ago. That said, I am going to use this prompt in the way providing a tip.
Multifamily customer service
I have a new manager in my portfolio; started just about ten days ago. Last week we were talking through some site specifics, concerns and areas of opportunity. In the course of the conversation we came across the subject of decision making and communication. Any good property management organization makes the allowance for people to make decisions in the moment of truth.
For many new managers, fear is front and center in those moments of truth. “What if I make a bad one?” is a common question they ask themselves. When faced with those moments; they fall on the sword of, “Let me call corporate” [a word I abhor] or “Let me ask my manager.” [An act I abhor]
Now some sales people would contend that these two statements are useful in selling. The old, “I talked to my manager and we are going to do this for you.” Knowing full well they would do it for everyone; it gives the appearance of going to bat for your new found friend. But, to speak to the point of this post, let’s agree that we don’t like that approach to making a decision.
Make a decision and let’s talk about it later
My mantra has always been; make a decision under the premise of serving the customer first. In my head, I have entrusted you with the keys to a multi-million asset and part of the expectation is that you can make good sound decisions. So exercise that muscle; I say. And, in the truly big stake moments of truth if you resort to calling me for guidance and I don’t answer, just make the decision.
I tell every new leader to face the fear of making a bad decision by just making it. The thing you fear most is the thing you do next so in the moment; act. I follow by guiding them to set a premise for their decisions by asking the following question; “If that sign outside read [Insert Your Name Here] Apartments, what decision would you make? Or lead by giving themselves a little self-talk pep-talk; “I have been called to do what is the best interest of this person that is standing in front of me right now and with that in mind, I will act and make a decision.
I end by saying that if I think we should have done something different, we will talk about it and move on. Boom done. It’s that simple.
Your enjoying the #trust30 challenge immensely contributor,
M
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Multifamily #Trust30: Five Years
#Trust30 – Day Five
Great questions coming out of the #Trust30 challenge. Today, the prompt is what would you say to the person you were five years ago? And, what would you say to the person you will be five years from now?
Growing up Multifamily
I’m entering year seventeen in the multifamily business and I think it goes without saying that I have met some amazing people and learned a ton about our business. Five years ago marks a point of significance in my life that really defined some things for me. I had become so consumed by my work that I lost touch with those that mattered most to me.
What would I say to that person? It’s time to grow up.
What would I say to the person I will be five years from now? You have a long way to go; take care of your health and welfare so you can take care of those you care about. Keep family front and center to all decisions you make and trust that honesty and forthrightness are your friends even when they feel like they are not.
What about you – what would you say to these respective persons?
Your thinking these questions are not getting any easier contributor,
M
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Multifamily #Trust30: Be Unrealistic
Day four in the #Trust30 challenge. Today’s prompt is a good one…
Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?
I know some crazy cool people who have ceeded to the calling in their hearts and as such have created compelling lives for themselves. Walking away from that which seems safe [Read: understanding that nothing is truly safe.] prompts a bit of fear. Especially in light of supporting a family and building a portfolio of multifamily investments. So many how, what, where and when questions come to mind. Toss in a dose of fear and I have recepie for stall. With that said, I’m up to putting it out there – if you don’t think it and speak it, it will never happen….
Multifamily Portfolio and Public Speaking
To speak to today’s prompt; “What is one thing that you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue?”
I have two:
1. Moving my multifamily investment portfolio to a place where it supports the dream of running a property managment company
2. Become an accomplished public speaker
What about you? What does today’s prompt stimulate in your heart and mind?
Your truly liking the #Trust30 challenge contributer,
M
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