motivation
Multifamily Monday: Relationships Take Time
Relationships Take Time
It takes time to foster the relationships necessary to lay plans for a new apartment community development. It takes time (sometimes a lot of extra time) to develop the relationships necessary to clear the land for building. It takes time to build the relationships necessary to lay the infrastructure. It takes time to build the relationships necessary to lay the foundation(s). It takes time to build the necessary relationships to frame it out. It takes time to build the relationships necessary to do the finish work. It takes time to develop relations with everyone involved in the project along the way. And, it takes time to develop the relationships with the people who will give the place to life and make it interesting for people to live there. And, it takes time to turn that life and interest into relationships whereby people choose to fill the apartment community up.
Time
Time is something that further escapes us everyday. The only way to find more of it – is to take it. Take it from those things that rob it most. Be it procrastination or the inability to say no. Figure it out. And, exercise it everyday. Once you take it – then make it count. Give it to the art of creating relationships. Be it more time with your children, spouse or life partner. Give it to them. Give it to them with no strings attached.
It is the best gift you can give yourself –
Your waking up looking forward to tackling the opportunities that every Monday brings multifamily maniac,
M
Commitment
Spell them out. And, work is painful.
Creed
To live and act in a way that are in concert with the things that I value: family, health, abundance, wealth, character, courage, action, knowledge, truth, joy for life, love, relationship and a purpose larger than me.
Know your Ideals
Roughly twelve years ago I sat down and worked through a series of questions that helped me discern the things that I valued most. The creed above is in part what I accomplished through that exercise. I have read that sentence along with several others nearly every morning since as a part of getting my day rolling.
Commitment
Awesome – right? Big hairy audacious goals/aspirations. But, if I were called to task today and asked to report out on my progress with any one of the points above, I would be compelled to tell you that I have fallen short on every single point. In some cases, I really mucked it up.
Why? Commitment.
Someone once told me that all the good intentions in the world are worth nothing unless followed through with. And, I promptly followed the beat of my own drum. And, you know what I learned? That commitment is hard work. But, it is work worth doing. It took me a long bit of time to get it but I get it and so can you.
Do the Work
Commitment is hard damn work no matter how you slice it. And, to the extent that you put it off – it only becomes harder. And, at some point you give up or you give in.
Not today my good fellows – today is a great day to lay it down. Hear the noise and ignore it. Focus. Feel the pain and do it anyway. Rob procrastination and negative emotions of their power. Get a creed – read it everyday and most important – Act.
Pick one thing and do it today then come back and tell us about it.
Your lovin’ commitment multifamily manic,
M
Multifamily Monday: Enthusiasm Energy Authenticity
As temperatures start to rise around the country and the leasing activity in all of your offices takes off – it is paramount that your teams are pumped and ready to capitalize. Unless you are in the student housing business you no doubt understand the multifamily seasonal demand curve. For most of us in the Midwest leasing dies down around late October or early November and does not pick back up until late Feb early March. Knowing that, it is key to capture as many new leases as you can during this time. Equally, if not more important it is key to keep as many in-place leases as you can. Enthusiasm, Energy and Authenticity can help you with that.
Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is hard work. Enthusiasm doesn’t scream out once your alarm clock goes off in the morning. It doesn’t just happen the second you put your feet on the floor. It doesn’t happen with the first cup of coffee or the first splash of water from the warm shower you hop into.
Not unlike most things, you have to get yourself pumped each day. How do you do that? Some read the bible or other inspirational literature, some listen to music and some meditate. I like to read Tom Peter’s or James Allen to get my day going. Whatever the case – find what it is that gets you pumped in the morning. And, promise me this – you are not getting amp’d because you can’t wait to get to work in the morning but rather because you want to be the best possible you in light of serving others. As nothing gives charge to enthusiasm as much as helping the next guy/gal get charged up.
Energy
Energy is born out of activity. I think we get this one backwards sometimes. I see energy as being manufactured out of activities such as exercise. It comes from motion. It takes energy to get out of bed in the morning. It takes energy to walk down stairs to make the coffee. It takes energy to get the dog fed. It takes energy to get your running shoes on. And, it takes energy to pound out a couple of miles before breakfast. But you know what happens when you are disciplined enough to do this daily – you are gifted more energy. You have to spend it to make it.
Authenticity
I really think that authenticity is born out of enthusiasm and energy. When you exude enthusiasm in what you do – no matter the art – you are perceived as being passionate, full of life and authentic. Now you could debate the merits of real enthusiasm and faked or forced enthusiasm but for the purpose of this discussion, let us assume we are talking about the real stuff. And, once you have enthusiasm, energy has no choice but to tag along. You getting pumped about your art and the energy to get it done will follow. And, with these two things working in tandem – your authenticity can’t be contained.
What do you do to get yourself fired up on a Monday morning after a crazy fun off the charts weekend?
Your – going for enthusiasm, energy and authenticity – multifamily maniac,
M
