It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad people but every property management professional has come home professing; “My bosss is killling me!” We have all been on the downside of that kind of environment/culture. And, there is more truth in that statment than you might realize. Their is a literal mountain of research on the subject of negativity and it’s effect on workplace productivity. Chief reasons being: ill health, lack of moral, tardiness/absenteeism, motivation, wherewithal or outright spite. It’s just a fact; working for a bad leader [Read: Bully]  just sucks. Pardon the slang.

There is Hope Out There

I recall many an instance in my journey through the leadership ranks where I preceived my supervisor/boss [I really have a distaste for both of those words as I see leadership/work as a collaborative concept not an up down or up down concept] to be an absolute debbie downer. And, under alternative circumstances I might have caved to the pressure and walked or worse yet undermined his authority in a spiteful way.

Tom Peters Rocks The Apartment World

Enter Tom Peters – I am a raging fan of TP and all of his exclamation point advice. Chief among it the advice that lead this post. Twelve years ago I vowed never to lead people the way I was being lead at that time in my career. That is not to suggest that I have not taken my lumps over the years but rather to say that it has worked in large part.  The premise being creating a postive work environment that people cherish and rave about. Knowing that people want to be a part of something bigger than self and working to align that with their personal motives. Understanding that the chief reason for the existence of business organizations is to support the poeple that support it.

Interrupting our Regularly Scheduled Program

I’ve been through a tough season as of late; just crushed by the weight of budget season, one of our RM’s leaving, the search for a replacement  and trying to run a business. I am coming out of it now brusied, scathed and inspired. Inspired by a greeat boss/supervisor  - [Read: one who gets it].

As such I am reaching back to the roots of my inspirations – books, speeches, inspiring videos, letters, cards and gifts from those who have moved me and those I have moved. And, I am pumped.

All that to say that I am going to do my best to create a Monday Morning Minute that rocks your socks. Or, more realistically put, something that gives you pause for thought and inspiration to give some feedback in the comment seciton below.

Let’s smash 2012 and create some stuff that puts a dent in the multifamily universe.

Thanks for reading and have a compelling week! [That exclamation point is my paying hommage to TP].

Your getting back to inspiring multifamily maniac,

M

Misunderstood?

Day 30 of the #Trust30 challenge

Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

As we roll across the finish line; I feel a sense of discipline having set in. I find myself looking forward to sitting down at the keyboard to punch out a few words before I get my day started or to put a nice end cap on it before I lay to sleep. Either way it’s been a great way to recall some memories, formulate some new business and life strategies and dream a little to top it off.

Multifamily Challenge

Many are misunderstood in this world, even the simpletons. I think the message central to every prompt along this thirty day journey has been to be your best and authentic self in light of the difficult circumstances that crop up from time to time. Context and content are teachers that build character. And character fuels your emotional fortitude so that you might when adversities strike. And, they will strike, to be sure.

In parting – my encouragement to each of you is to partake in your own #trust30 challenge be it this or one of personal prompting. Do something that gives cause for you to write everyday for thirty days straight. Do it on or offline as it’s not the platform that matters but rather the person(s) you further along their given line in this life. And, don’t be afraid to be misunderstood -

Your wishing you the very best along the way contributor,

M

I must be myself. I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think of all the things that are not working in your life. That job you don’t like, that relationship that’s not working, those friends that annoy you. Now turn them all on you. Imagine that everything that’s not working in your life, is your fault. How would you approach it? What would you work on to change your life to the state that you want it to be?

(Author: Carlos Miceli)

Multifamily Reversion

It might be the hardest look you ever take at yourself. It’s that look that gives cause to admit a shortcoming or an outright failure.

My short answer to this question is higher the best people and do it quickly. Many times the shortcomings I experience are a result of my own willingness to take on more than I can handle without evaluating my capacity first.

What about you?

Your always striving contributor,

M

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am going a little off prompt today.

I 100% that peace is an inside job and to the extent you can do away with the compare and contrast of the next guy/gal, car, house, job etc…; the more peace you will have.

Multifamily Social Media Land Grab

I can recall in the not to distant past where I became very very wrapped up in the social media land grab. It sent me into on of the most mentally tiring times I can recall. I threw principles like, discipline, patience and resource right out the window. I spent some very crazy hours posting, tweeting, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot but I sacrificed a lot as well.

It’s in what I lost that I give advice related today’s quote.

Pace yourself and focus your attention on what you are and or what you are becoming as a result of where and with who you spend your time in lieu of dominating the platforms and tools.

I read somewhere that you become like the seven people you hang around most and the books you read. I am certain there are more things that influence you but these two are fairly fundamental. And, I believe the quote to be true. So, choose wisely.

Your doing a lot more to pace these days contributor,

M

I do not wish to expiate, but to live. My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady. I wish it to be sound and sweet, and not to need diet and bleeding. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think about the type of person you’d NEVER want to be 5 years from now. Write out your own personal recipe to prevent this from happening and commit to following it. “Thought is the seed of action.”

(Author: Harley Schreiber)

Short and to the Point

I have a four word answer for this charge: Work on Character – Always!

Your WOCA contributor,

M

Pic tip to West End Elementary

The secret of fortune is joy in our hands. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What if today, right now, no jokes at all, you were actually in charge, the boss, the Head Honcho. Write the “call to arms” note you’re sending to everyone (staff, customers, suppliers, Board) charting the path ahead for the next 12 months and the next 5 years. Now take this manifesto, print it out somewhere you can see, preferably in big letters you can read from your chair…

(Author: Sasha Dichter)

I kind of feel like Jerry McGuire right about now.

I can’t help but to call upon the great Tom Peters for this exercise. Back in 2006 I drew from Tom’s: The PSF is Everything! Manifesto to re-imagine the way we did business in Portland. I had just inherited the Regional Manager role where I was responsible for managing fourteen properties consisting of over 5000 units spread over five sub-markets. It was a daunting task and I had no illusions that I could run the deal by myself. I knew it would take the collective efforts of our 100+ people as lead by eleven site managers. It was a bonus that they were the best in business.

If given the charge today to chart the course for the next 12 months and beyond; I would break it down just like we did back in 2006.

• Enhance Work & The Legacy
• Enhance Firm & The Brand
• Enhance Employee Commitments
• Enhance Resident Commitments

I would assign our top talent to each of these four over-riding areas. The task? To Develop the next generation of Mills Properties. It would be on each team [with as little guidance as possible] to come up with amazing over the top and executable strategies to create excellence.

Enhance Work & The Legacy

People want to be a part of something bigger than self. And, it all starts inside with the innate need to move character. It starts with a
company that is convinced that organizations are put in place to serve the people that serve it. It stars with mission, vision, strategy and values. As such we would take action on the following:

• Get a crystal clear point of view
• Create a dramatic difference
• Create a culture where ‘Stretch is Routine’
• Create a culture of ‘Game-Changer’ – WOW Projects
• Work only with ‘Playful Clients’ – Life and Business is Too Short to work with Jerks
• We would get obsessed with LEGACY
• We would part ways with anyone who says ‘apartments are commodities’
• We would never shy away from ‘Radical’

Enhance Firm & The Brand

• We would define what it means to make our business ‘cool’
• We would recruit the absolute best talent
• Integrity would rule the day
• Execution would rule the seconds, minutes and hours
• We would create a ‘Swarm Team’ as a way to support
• R&D would get front and center attention
• We will own the relevant Saint Louis digital frontier
• We will aim to be no less than a ‘LOVEMARK’
• Passion would be the guiding principle

Enhance Employee Commitments

• Our talent would breed talent – FANATICS
• We would hire peculiar
• We would manufacture Early Opportunities for new Talent
• They will rise up or be out
• We will make way for YOUTH
• We will get committed to Renewing our CURRENT base of Talent
• We will get obsessed with MENTORING
• Everyone is a leader
• Bring in the Best in Breed
• INTEGRITY with everyone

Enhance Resident Commitments

• We will invite our residents in as partners
• We will draw in only the best vendors to Serve our residents
• Have residents claim that working with US is THE BEST EVER
• Implement Implement Implement
• Our Chief AIM? Resident’s assist in creating CULTURE
• The measure? Did we make a Dramatic, Game-Changing Difference? Will they tell a friend, family member or co-worker about us?

That’s it! That would be my framework for the next twelve months. After that year we would go on an EXECUTION and IMPLEMENTATION QUEST! It would be a No Holds Barred Journey into Compelling, Over the Top, Amazing and downright Stunning Achievement!

Your always striving contributor,

M

Pics tip to Blogging Pro

We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.

1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.

(Author: Gwen Bell)

Let it be The End

Let it be know first and foremost to my children; play nice, say please and thank you. Laugh out loud – often. Cry when you need to, it’s okay to do so. When you need to yell – go outside and face the wind. Yell loud, curse and let nothing be left inside. Handle the forward with staid character and with simple words. Be kind to animals. Take care of each other and never let hugs and kisses escape – they matter much. Work hard, work smart but above all be true to your word; it’s the one thing that matters most. Share. And, give of your time not expecting in return.

To that one which I loved the most – you are my best friend. You are tough where and when I need it. And, you are tender when I need it. You endure much and love nonetheless. Might life lend more time and have it been more gracious; I would echo the same sentiments to you. Dream always and be sure to act. Keep love in your heart and keep your soul free.

To my family and friends – live out out! Change the world in the way that you would have it. Have good relations. Face the wind and run head on for all that you will become. Remember it’s the journey, not the destination, that sharpens the wit and matures the soul.

Whoa – that :15 went by fast…

Your now thinking deeply contributor,

M

Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

…What are your false comparisons? What are your false expectations? What are your false investments in a story? List them. Each keep you from that internal knowing about which Emerson writes. Each keeps you from making your strong offer to the world. Put down your clever, and pick up your ordinary.

(Author: Patti Digh)

Multifamily Right and Wrong

There was a time not so long ago that I go so wrapped up in social media and the highs it gave me that I lost track of being ordinary. Be it comments on my blog posts or twitter conversations with people on the local or national scene in the property management business or the occasional back and forth with a best selling author, it was all very addicting. Addicting to the ego and contradicting to the ordinary.

It cost me in a big way personally about five years ago. I got so caught up in that I ignored the most important people in my life. Not so good. I read a book back then titled: The Heart of Man by Eric Fromm. In it, he described the ego in the way of every man being a wolf. Innate in all of us is this wonderful gift termed free will. It’s right on when handled right and likewise when handled wrong. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the ecstasies of work, life or otherwise because the wolf is always at play. He’s looking for the moment to strike at the true heart. The wolf loves clever and every other wild endeavor. He abhors ordinary.

My prompt – stay true to who you are. And, by all means necessary [put down the phone, the email, the text, the facebook, the twitter, the iPad] to ensure you are true to the ones you love and the ones that love you. Ordinary is extraordinary when you think about it. Try it on for size sometime.

Pretty good prompt for a Friday -

Your see you down the stretch contributor,

M

When I hear the word coach I am instantly taken back to the years I ran up and down the court playing basketball. I was blessed enough to have some amazing mentors an coaches in my life. And, through their teaching, training, prodding, gentle and sometimes harsh discipline; I was afforded a full ride Division I scholarship to play basketball at Texas Tech University. They gave of their time, their effort and their knowledge of the game in order to expand my capabilities. They served compellingly.

Multifamily Coach

My punch line today: Be a Coach

1. Be selective about who you give of your time and effort. I once was told that I was not the savior of all humanity. Apparently at the time; I thought I was. That aside, it made a ton of sense to me. Not everyone is there to learn and grow. Some are just there to give you 100% from 8 to 5. Other’s much less than that. Point: choose wisely.

2. Use moments of truth as your catalyst for discussion. Just last week I was involved in a formal coaching session with two employees. A supervisor was delivering a written message to a co-worker and the proverbial ‘but’ sandwich came out. You did this ‘but’ you also did that. I took the time to suggest that the words ‘and in the same respect’ were used in lieu of ‘but’. In my head, it allows for the power of the lead statement to endure in ones mind whereas a ‘but’ crushes the lead statement.

3. Become a master questioner. Be incisive. One of the best questioners I have come across in some time is Mr. Mike Whaling of 30lines. It’s an art and if you ever have the chance to talk to Mike, be prepared to have your logic and wherewithal challenged with thoughtful questions.

4. Use the classroom to arm people with tools and strategies. Use the real world as the place to apply, learn and thrive on the application of those tools.

Share your thoughts with me; What would you add or take away from the list above?

Your always looking to be a coach contributor,

M

Men imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only by overt actions, and do not see that virtue or vice emit a breath every moment. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who is one person that you’ve been dying to connect with, but just haven’t had the courage to reach out to? First, reflect on why you want to get in touch with them. Then, reach out and set up a meeting.

(Author: David Spinks)

Multifamily NAA – In the spirit of #NAAeduconf

The year was 1996 and the NAA conference was being hosted in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Hilton just off the strip. I was fresh into the multifamily industry and right out of residential sales. And, I was excited. It was that kind of excitement where you wanted to read everything, try everything, meet everybody and learn all that one could about the industry and what made it tick.

I’ve told this story a couple times outside of this blog and it seems appropriate to memorialize it in light of today’s prompt. Lisa Trosien was an industry hero of mine and I just so happened to run into her in the hotel gift shop. I recall standing in the aisle looking for something I did not need just waiting for the moment to say – “hey, I think you are great.” At that time, I was star struck as I had a great deal of admiration for what she was doing for the industry. And, I felt like a clumsy child trying to navigate a new found task.

It took awhile but I worked up the courage to talk to her. My icebreaker? Michael Jordan [Also, a person I would love to meet]. Lisa was picking off every magazine that had Michael Jordan on the cover. I started by asking if she was a Michael fan, she replied that her husband was a huge fan. I shot back with some remarks about how great I thought her afternoon session was and she took the time to prod me on what I was going to take back and apply. And, that was that. I had conquered the courage dragon and she made it worth the work up.

People are people and they want to connect

Fast forward a to the year of social media – I recall asking Lisa a question on her blog and three minutes later my phone rang. And, it was Lisa. Ha! I was speechless.

The fact is that everyone in the world wants to connect. And, more times that not with just a bit of wherewithal and mild assertiveness; you can talk to anyone. And, they will talk back.

Your encouraging you to reach out to your hero contributor,

M