How a Basketball Player Reminded Me Why I Love My Job

I love a good sports movie.  I like to see the underdog rise to the top and as the music begins to crescendo, we see the team shoot the winning basket, score the final touchdown, kick the goal to take the championship as fans rise in sheer joy at the remarkable story they have witnessed.  The best stories include struggle and determination.  A Mother, Coach or Father sacrificing to see the person they love and believe in make it to the top.  When Kevin Durant, star player with the Oklahoma City Thunder, delivered his acceptance speech when receiving the honor of NBA MVP, he described the challenges of his life and all that lead him to this day. The speech could be a script for a movie that I would pay money to see.

By the time he got to the 22nd minute of his speech, I was on my third tissue! The best message was yet to come...Kevin thanked his Mother and described one of his best memories as a child.  His Mother was a young single women raising two young boys.  She gave up her meals to make certain her children were fed. She worked to keep them off the street and instill a strong sense of family.  And, when they sat in the living room of their first apartment, empty because they had no furniture, that apartment made this young family feel as though they "made it".

I clipped this portion of the speech to share with you:

I want to thank Kevin Durant for reminding me what I love best about my work.  I love connecting people with home.  I was reminded power of this experience.  It is a old, tired saying and yet it means so much, Home is Where The Heart Is.  And on a day when I questioned the value of all that I have done and built in my career, Mr. Durant reminded me of my purpose.

Initially, I posted this on my Facebook wall thinking that others in our business may be having a difficult day like me, and would find their purpose renewed by reading his quote.  I was touched to see, in a matter of a few hours, 200 people clicking "like" as a personal affirmation that even an empty apartment can change someone's life and that we are honored to create exceptional communities for a living.  As the post was shared, 29 times and counting, it seems that everyone needed the sweet reminder that our work matters more than we will ever know.

Getting Instagram photos off your phone and into your office!

With the rise in popularity of Instagram, some innovative companies have developed very creative ways to get pictures off of Instagram and into your (and your potential residents’) hands…  From photo books (great to highlight community activities, showing off the fun environment you create) to individual prints and posters (to help show off local sights and what’s happening in the neighborhood) – plus some other creative formats – there are plenty of ways to display your community’s Instagram photos. 

  

Photobook from Keepsy

Printstagr.am appears to be the most comprehensive website as far as the products they offer.  Photo books and prints are their mainstay, but they also offer a 365-day tear-away calendar (each day is one of your photos!), greeting card sets, stickers, buttons, and t-shirts. 

PostalPix  is an app-based way to print four-inch squares from your Instagram library for only 30 cents each. Other sizes are also available, including two-, five-, and eight-inch-square prints. Available for both iPhone and Android, this app is a great place to start for basic Instagram prints.

Print your own at home or at your local print shop with Prinkl, which allows you to create a .pdf collage of your photos that is printable from anywhere.

Keepsy and Blurb both also offer photo books, while Keepsy also will print a traditional 12- or 18-month calendar with your photos.

Boo Boxes by Hatchcraft

For a high-end, custom look in displaying your photos, try a gallery-style canvas or a handcrafted bamboo frame. CanvasPop creates a high-resolution 12- or 20-inch-square stretched canvas print for $40 and $114, respectively. Multiple canvases would make an impressive art vignette. Boo Box byHatchcraft places four-inch Instagram photos in bamboo shadowbox frames beginning at $20, making a gorgeous option to display in your leasing office.

Tile from ImageSnap

Other fun options to print Instagram photos include:

•  Instagoodies prints favorite Instagram photos into books of one-inch stickers.

• Sticky9  (formerly Stickygram) offers magnets, phone cases, and iPad covers.

• ImageSnap crafts ceramic tiles ranging from two-inch ($4) to 12-inch ($35) squares. Tiles can be installed with mortar and grout just like normal tiles, though the tiny sizes make for perfect refrigerator magnets.

•  Artflakes takes your Instagram pics and whips them into vinyl four-inch stickers in packs of 10 or more.

• Casetagram creates a custom case for your device - iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5/5s/5c, iPod touch 4, iPod touch 5, iPad, Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note I, Note II and more.

•  Instalab offers many of the same options as other companies with prints, booklets, magnets, stickers, and calendars, but also offers an inexpensive wood panel print that we haven’t seen elsewhere.

Please remember that at any resident event, you should always have a sign that tells people photographs and videos may be taken which can be used in the public domain.

What Ashton Kutcher and I Have in Common

This is a pretty bold title for a blog! Let's start by saying I love this guy. In my life I have had a few celeb crushes starting with Rob Lowe starring in St. Elmo's Fire and About Last Night.  The day after I saw Legends of the Fall I had to leave work at 10:30 am because I could not concentrate on writing a marketing plan and had Brad Pitt on the brain. Then came my encounter with John Stamos.....well that is another blog on my personal page.  And finally Ashton. I saw him in Just Married and loved his expressions.  I was hooked.  

Of all my celeb crushes, I have never felt like I was on their level until I heard Ashton accept his Teen Choice Award.  He proudly took this opportunity to reach out to the young audience with a message about life.  I was personally touched when he shared the same thoughts that I frequently talk about in my programs.  Not only did he connect with screaming 16 year old's, he connected with me too.

The first point of his speech is that his name is really Chris and he lived an important life before he took his middle name to become and actor.  Surprisingly, he learned about opportunity before he got his role on That 70's Show.  Ashton feels that opportunity looks a lot like work.  He had jobs where he mopped floors and washed dishes and he never felt that he had a job he was better than.  Ashton respected the opportunity and saw it as a stepping stone.  I found his next point to be very important for today's 20 something generation; never quit a job until you have your next one.  When you quit without your next job lined up, you just proved to the world that you thought you were better than the job you wanted to leave and did not respect the opportunity to work.  As an employer, I steer clear of people who make this choice and do not have a really really, and I mean really good reason. Click here:

For those of you who have heard me speak in the last few years, you may have heard me close my program with this words to live by "Be Here Now, Be Somewhere Else Later". This is the key to my success and I have been benefiting from this belief for over 20 years.  I meet ambitious people who want to do what I do and the best advice I can give them is to do what you do now extremely well.  If you are a housekeeper, be the master of clean.  If you are a Leasing Consultant, stop making excuses for why an apartment is not leasing and have the highest closing ratio in your company.

I have a dream board, goal sheets and big plans for my life but none of them will happen if I am not taking my current opportunities and knocking them out of the park. My first job in the apartment industry was to lease apartments.  In my first two weeks with my company, Trammell Crow, I went to a week long training class where I witnessed what corporate trainers do and I knew then, I wanted to be one.  But, to get there, I had to first show people that I could do the work that I would be training other people to do.  It was in that very class that I decided that I would not stop until I was the number one Leasing Consultant in the company.  I hit that goal within a year.  I was the Director of Training 4 years later.

I wondered where Ashton was going when the second point of his speech was about being sexy.  This is a guy who could rest on his looks for his sexy but he knows there is more to being attractive.  Ashton explains that being sexy is accomplished by being smart, thoughtful and generous. In our world we are caught up in what he labels crap; the stuff that people try to sell to you to make you feel less. I have always been attracted to the smart, thoughtful and generous guy.

Over the years, I have received some nice compliments about how I look.  I always brush that off because I think I am just an average person.  It is the comments and compliments about my intelligence that make me say "thank you".  I know my expertise, and how I give to others, have opened many more doors than my looks.

Ashton's last message is about building a life not just living one.  Again, I connected.  I have not taken the path well traveled, I have carved out the life I want.  I continue to build my life based on the belief that most people are no smarter than I am.  If they can do it, why can't I?

Now, go be amazing at work today and get your sexy on!

How Important is Your Pool? Other Amenities Take Over!

When I was 19 years old, and my title was Leasing Consultant, I wondered why the people who built the property I was charged with leasing up did not load it with amenities.  This was "back in the day" when racquetball was still popular and I wanted a court!  About five years later, as my career hit the fast track, I found myself on the Board of Trustees for the National Association of Home Builders.  I had a front row seat to the work of the best research body in our industry.  One of the many facts I learned was that only 17% of our residents actually use the pool. I started to see amenities in a whole new light.

So, why do we even build a pool?  This is when my leasing and marketing hat appears and I know that it is one of the highlights of the leasing tour.  The pool is one of those checklist items that create the feeling of a lifestyle that most people desire: "On my days off, I'm going to lounge on a chair poolside, sipping a cold drink, reading my Kindle, wearing the same bathing suit I wore in college (it's a dream so we can dream that it is still looks hot on us!), meeting fabulous people!". We know this lifestyle offering helps to lease apartments, but is it your best tool for selling renewals?

If you ask people why they stay at an apartment community year after year, you will hear key points such as; I like my apartment, it is a fun place to live, my life is easy here, this is a great location, my dog loves the pet park, I have made friends here.  Rarely do we hear "I can't move away from that pool!". People stay because of the real lifestyle they create for themselves, not their perception of the life they will have when they are looking at your pool on the leasing tour. 

No matter what the age of your community, there are a number of amenities which you have, or can add, that will create that day to day life that your residents will enjoy.  Here are a few of my favorites and some new ones to consider.

1. Valet Trash Removal - Residents report that at first they do not like the fee's associated with trash removal but then they see how nice it is to no longer have to hold your breath when walking to the stinky dumpster and risking goo on your hands from lifting the lid.  One apartment resident tweeted this picture of her dumpster and called it scary and creepy. Valet trash removal is something you miss when you buy a home!

 

2. Pet Parks - We know that 63% of apartment residents have four legged family members in their home. Pet Playland, Parks and Potty areas are some of the most commented on amenities in social media.  Not only are they great for exercising a dog but they have become a social area for neighbors to meet.  One resident reports that she rushes home to get to the pet park at 7:15pm because of a hot guy, and his Jack Russell Terrier, who are always there at this time.  Here are a few things to make your pet park fun, memorable and luxurious.



Keep pets healthy and cool.  Provide outdoor pets with plenty of fresh water and shade. We love this watering hole that bubbles fresh water for pets.

Another option is to create a fun play area. Take a hint from landscapers and create artful dog play courses using plants and hardscaping to create obstacles to weave through, balance beams to walk on or tunnels to roam through. The one shown here is also people size, but you can always create one that’s just dog size. It can be your pet’s hiding spot. Even dogs sometimes need to get away from it all.

When building the ultimate Fort Whoof, add some agility pieces for the pooch who has been lounging in the residents bed all day while their Momma or Daddy was hard at work.



 Create fun seating for pet parents to gather and stay a while.

3. Add on to existing amenity areas such as your business center or resident clubhouse.  We find that many people come down to this common area to utilize the Wi-Fi and socialize.  We see people reading and working on their iPads and laptops.  Try creating a reading nook for the little residents too.  This special space is inviting and encourages quiet activity.

4. It's time to revive the sandbox! Remember the hours you spent as a kid hanging in the backyard building a city made out of toys and sand? Apartment kids need these outdoor experiences too.  Create a large sandbox and watch the creativity roll for the hands of a 4 year old.  This is another space where you will want to build in seating for the parents.  My landscapers tell me to have the area sprayed for ants on a regular basis and close off the sandbox for 8 hours following. 

5. Take book sharing to another level. Little Free Library is a nonprofit that seeks to place small, accessible book exchange boxes in neighborhoods around the world. Place one of these fun book exchange boxes next to your mailbox kiosk and create the place for community sharing. Little Free Library locations may purchase a charter for $35 that puts their library in the organization’s database and affords them discounts and information about keeping, maintaining and promoting their libraries.

 

6. In 1991 I moved into Steward's Glen Apartments in Willowbrook, IL and was blown away by the huge sand volleyball society the residents had created.  One person propped speakers from their apartment to blast tunes (of course I dated and later married him!), another rolled in a keg and everyone came down with their sun chairs for a good time. The residents supplied the ball and fun so all the apartment community needed to install was the sand court.  I know for certain there were plenty of resident referrals due to the fact that everyone wanted to live at this property and have a great summer.  Check out this fun volleyball court which will keep the ball from wondering off and does not require inside the court.  It's like a bounce house for volleyball! Could this be the new volleyball court?  Buy one for your region and it can travel from property to property.  Pretty soon, each property will want their own.



7.  Urban vegetable gardens are making a comeback.  We saw a lot of them in the early '90's and then the trend seemed to drop off.  Today, there are lotteries to determine which residents will get the coveted gardening space. 

What new amenities are you offering your residents?  Email me at kate@kategood.com and with your permission I will share them in a blog post (and give you all the credit!).

A Marketing Lesson from 6 Dollar Shirts

My cousin, Andrew, placed an order with 6 Dollar Shirts.  This could have been your run of the mill Internet transaction until he received a game changer in his email box. He found an email that, among the thousands he receives in a week, was cool enough to send to his cousin Kate.  Really people, this had to be an amazing email because I don't get emails from Andrew very often (not that I am upset, Cuz, I know you are a busy guy).

6 Dollar Shirts had already secured the sale, Andrew's credit card was approved and the shipment was on its way.  Most businesses would stop there.  The savvy marketers at this online retailer know there is more business to be earned.  A simple, crafty, creatively worded email created a stir.  Andrew shared with his friends at his office and now more people are aware of this company.  This email tickled my marketing ear and now I am posting it on my Website blog for hundreds of thousands of people to read, okay maybe just a few hundred loyal readers.  But really, this means something because before this email forwarded from my cousin, I had never heard of 6 Dollar Shirts.

Who else has told you that you look good today?  Now go on, I dare you to check out www.6dollarshirts.com and buy the "Death before Decaf" tee shirt!

How Can A Car Help You Lease Apartments?

Very simply put, creating a memorable experience will help you stand out in a crowded marketplace.

"It took 9,000 hours over a period of seven months for eight craftsmen from two families to shape a work of art that comprises roughly 2,227,000 individual parts weighing a combined 200 pounds, with each one glued together one by one. The completed sculpture, on view on the first floor of the new BBVA Compass Plaza on Post Oak Boulevard, speaks volumes of the cultural flavor of Houston and the values cherished by the city's stakeholders — and the principles of the underwriters. Vochol, the title of the piece, is a 1990 Volkswagen Beetle swathed in a mosaic of vibrant glass beads that collectively, from afar, appears to be a painted vehicle of sorts — what one would see sashaying down Houston's iconic Art Car Parade. But this art car's Mexican provenance — Mexico was home to the last manufacturing plant of this popular VW model that was assembled from 1938 through 2003 — pays tribute to an artisanal craft that at its core serves as a spiritual channel." -Culture Map





Give your sales team this type of conversation and it can open 20 doors to building rapport and connecting through a solid visual memory of what makes your property unique. While this car is a huge display, a memory point does not always need to be as bold.  It simply means that you have something notable and you take the time to share that with your prospect.  At the end of the day, when they are reviewing all their choices, what will they remember you for? I doubt it is 4 white walls and beige carpet.  Everyone has that. Try a wall mural with all the sports teams in your area like a community in Jacksonville put in their indoor basketball court.  A community in Tampa has a NYC Taxi in their courtyard. And, one smart community in North Carolina has a "stuffed person" named Gladys sitting on the couch in the model.  All are unique and stand out in the mind of the consumer.

Kate's Key to Managing Time

Track and Field: How to Stay on Track

I don't really like to run. It hurts and I get a little bored. But add some competition to the effort and I am engaged. This is the reason why I loved being on the track team but still loathed running. Being on a team meant I was competing as an individual and a team. My mission was to run faster and jump higher. To accomplish these goals, you have to have a strong sense of self discipline to stay on track and improve. Being a star at work is no different and now more than ever, we are expected to run faster and jump when duty calls. It's best to stay ahead of yourself so when you fall behind, you can quickly catch up. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track and win with your team:



What motivates you? Most people start off their day easing into their routine. This is the first step to getting off track. For example, you can look busy at your desk by looking at your computer screen but catching up on the overnight Facebook news feed is not going to get you to the finish line for your day. You sit down at the computer, and you swear you'll be productive. Next thing you know, it's three hours later. You've checked your email, updated your Facebook status, browsed the trending topics on Twitter, read your RSS feeds, looked up your favorite band on Wikipedia, vanity googled yourself, cyber-stalked your ex, looked at all your high-school crushes' Facebook photos, watered your plants on Farmville, and lost a week's pay playing online poker.

Tomorrow, I dare you to mix up your routine and start your day with a mind charging activity that will motivate you to dig in. Go directly to your to do list and do not pass through Facebook, Twitter, or junk mail! In fact, many overachievers spend the first hour of their day working on tasks that accomplish their goals THEN they check email. Think about how much you can get done in that first hour of the day if you were not thinking about the ten things that dropped in your lap. There will be time to get those items done but if you jump into them now, it just may consume your entire day and you never got to the work that truly helps you meet your goals.

I have expanded my world of speaking to include building apartment communities. Many of you know, this was always my dream. I had no idea how many meetings are needed to build a great apartment community. There are days when I am rolling from one meeting to the next and it is vitally important to make sure this time is productive and concise. This is why I believe in agendas. Today when someone says you have an agenda they may not be flattering you! But in my world, it means you are organized and prepared. Two essential actions needed to stay on track. I learned years ago, if you have a meeting with certain departments at the Sears headquarters, you would be meeting in a room with no chairs, just pub tables (sadly there is not a dirty martini in sight) to lean on and take notes. The idea was that you will be more productive if you are standing versus sitting. At Chrysler Technology Center meeting rooms have timers for the lights and the maximum time is 30 min. When time is up the lights go dim. This is your reminder to wrap it up. We have to meet or our businesses would fail because nothing changed, make those meetings powerful.

I like outlook because I can set up appointments with myself. When there is something I have been procrastinating about I set up a meeting with myself to get it done. It is a reminder that the work needs to be done but the appointment takes some pressure off of me knowing that I have scheduled time approaching.



There are many of us that have to put diversions in our path because we simply do not have the discipline to stay on track. Look for tools that will set you up for success. StayFocusd is a productivity extension for Google Chrome that helps you stay focused on work by restricting the amount of time you can spend on time-wasting websites. Once your allotted time has been used up, the sites you have blocked will be inaccessible for the rest of the day. We have parental controls for our kids, so it is okay to have professional controls for you!

Now, Run Forrest RUN!

I Bought Another Pair of Shoes

I know you are not surprised by the fact that I bought another pair of shoes. I love my shoes. Today I am on a 4 day trip and I have 5 pairs of shoes with me! Years ago, no one would have imagined buying shoes on the Internet. Of course we would want to try on the shoes before we buy them. Or do we?

Online shoe retailer, Zappos, changed this mindset when they started selling shoes online. In order to gain the trust of the customer, they had to not only have great shoes, but great people helping the customer buy the shoes.

In my first experience with Zappos, I spoke to a customer service agent who wanted to help me get the right size. Because the event I needed the shoes for was just a week away, we only had time for one shipment. Zappos shipped me three sizes to be certain one of them would fit. And, there would be no charge to return the pairs of shoes that did not fit. When the boxes arrived at my home, I found that one of the shoes fit perfect. Did I return the other two pairs? Nope. My assistant bought one of them! So, because they extended themselves with over the top service, they sold two pairs of shoes.

What is your company known for? Do you have a legacy of doing what ever it takes to earn the customers business? Zappos shows us it is not only easy, it is profitable.

It's Time to Stop

I once spent a lot of time with someone who was wildly successful in his career. As a result, many things came to him in the form of opportunities, quality people and cool toys. Sadly, with all the gifts in his life, he was constantly in search of happiness. I watched him read countless books on the subject, talk to his peers, dig into movies about the subject and always think his life was missing something. Happiness was within his grasp yet he was doing everything wrong.

I often wondered how a smart man could be so clueless. And then I realized that he and many people, including myself, make the common mistake of taking action to accomplish something but this action is not getting them to their goal.

When you stop doing the wrong things, you make more room for the things that make you happy.

So, starting today, join me in making a personal commitment to quit and then eliminate counter productive behavior and open our time up for the right behavior. Personally, I have been practicing this concept over the last 24 months and I have never been so happy or fulfilled in my life. You CAN live the life you want and it can start today if you set yourself up for success. Here are some things to quit:

1. Quit procrastinating on your goals.

Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it. Action and change are often resisted when they’re needed most. Get a hold of yourself and have discipline. Putting something off instantly makes it harder and scarier. What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow. And there’s nothing more stressful than the perpetual lingering of an unfinished task.

The secret to getting ahead is simply getting started. My secret to avoiding procrastination is to engage in the habit of clustering. When I have a project with a due date approaching I start to cluster my ideas, thoughts and resources on individual sheets of paper as they pop into my head. I drop them into the project folder. Now when it is time to work on the project I have a file full of first steps to roll with. Suddenly I am motivated because the mountain does not seem so high. This can also be done by typing emails to yourself on your smart phone. Put the name of the project in the subject line. Now when you are able to start the project you can simply do a search for those key words and all your thoughts will be sorted in your inbox.

2. Quit blaming others and making excuses.

Stop blaming others for what you have or don’t have, or for what you feel or don’t feel. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility and perpetuate the problem. Stop giving your power away and start taking responsibility for your life. Blaming is just another sorry excuse, and making excuses is the first step towards failure; you and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions.

Picture two circles, one inside the other. The inside circle is all the things you have control of in your response and action. The outside circle you can influence but not change. Spend time on the inside circle where you can make a difference. Too many people live in the outside circle making excuses and not taking action by controlling their behavior.

3. Quit trying to avoid change.

If nothing ever changed we would still be using flip phones, or worse, the fax machine! Most of us are comfortable where we are even though the whole universe is constantly changing around us. Learning to accept this is vital to our happiness and general success. Because only when we change, do we grow, and begin to see a world we never knew was possible.

And don’t forget, however good or bad a situation is now, it will change. That’s the one thing you can count on. So embrace it, and realize that change happens for a reason. It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it. This is knowledge that was given to me in my high school years and it made all the difference in my attitude. My best friends' Mom said to me that this world I am struggling in will not last forever. She encouraged me to see beyond today and look forward to the changes in life. I later learned how I could control my destiny and this has been the source of my power.

4. Quit trying to control the uncontrollable.

If you try to control everything, and then worry about the things you can’t control, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of frustration and misery.

Some forces are out of your control, but you can control how you react to things. Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether you’re happy or not depends greatly on which aspects you focus on. The best thing you can do is to let go of what you can’t control, and invest your energy in the things you can – like your attitude. If you are still fighting this concept, refer to item #2 and discover what circle you are living in.

5. Quit talking down to yourself.

Nothing will bring you down quicker than berating yourself. The mind is a superb instrument if used right, but when used incorrectly, it becomes very destructive. Be aware of your mental self-talk. We all talk silently to ourselves in our heads, but we aren’t always conscious of what we’re saying or how it’s affecting us.

As Henry Ford once stated, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” One of the major causes of why we fail is due to self-doubt and negative self-talk. The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful. Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones, over time you will change the trajectory of your life.

Many people do not realize how incredibly nervous I feel prior to walking on a stage. The nerves would be debilitating if I did not overcome it with positive self talk. I remind myself that I am good at this and today this audience deserves my best. Sometimes I get a standing ovation when I am completed and that is an amazing feeling. However, 100% of the time, I finish my speech knowing I gave it my very best.

6. Quit criticizing others.

The negativity you bleed out toward others will gradually cripple your own happiness. When you truly feel comfortable with your own imperfections, you won’t feel threatened or offended by the imperfections you see in other people.

So stop worrying about the flaws you see in everyone else, and focus on yourself. Let the constant growth and improvement in your own life keep you so busy that you have no time left to criticize others.

Personally, I am having trouble with this one. I currently have someone I work with in my consulting practice who has some serious problems remaining professional and courteous at all times. I know he can be so much better than what he is. To be successful, I have to stop trying to criticize him by pointing out his failures and shortcomings as he will not change. My dear friend Mark recently quoted Tommy Lee Jones to me when he said "you never ask a horse or an actor do something they cannot do." Wow, this is so true, thanks for the sharing the advice, Mark.

7. Quit running from your problems and fears.

Trust me, if everyone threw their problems in a pile for you to see, you would grab yours back. Tackle your problems and fears swiftly, don’t run away from them. The best solution is to face them head on no matter how powerful they may seem.

Fears, in particularly, stop you from taking chances and making decisions. They keep you confined to just the small space where you feel completely comfortable. But your life’s story is simply the culmination of many small, unique experiences, many of which require you to stretch your comfort zone. Be proud of your life story and remember your failures have everything to do with getting you to your successful self. They are the best learning opportunities you have. I have screwed up and failed many times. I have even been fired. As I look back over my adult years I would not remove that experience from my life story if I could. Letting your fears and worries control you is not ‘living,’ it’s merely existing.

Bottom line: Either you own your problems and fears, or they will ultimately own you and you are simply operating with excuses.

8. Quit living in another time and place.

Some people spend their entire lives trying to live in another time and place. They lament about what has been, what they could have done, or what might become. However, the past is gone, and the future doesn’t exist. No matter how much time we spend thinking and lamenting about either, it doesn’t change anything.

Our brightest future hinges on our ability to pay attention to what we’re doing right now, today.

We need to live more in the moment and be aware of reality. Living in the moment requires active, open, intentional awareness on the present. Don’t fantasize about being on vacation while at work, and don’t worry about the work piling up on your desk when you’re on vacation. Live for now. Notice the beauty unfolding around you. I lost my Father at a young age. I had the opportunity to visit him the week before he died but was worried about a pile of things that impacted my future. I made a decision I now regret because I did not live in the moment and reality that my Father was ill. I allowed my dream of the future to overshadow something incredibly important to me . Trust me, the future will always work itself out. Do what you need to do today.

9. Quit trying to be someone you’re not.

One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love you, and you’ll love yourself more too. I am a bit unconventional and don't always deliver what people expect. This used to trouble me until I discovered what I deliver is better!

10. Quit being ungrateful.

Not all the puzzle pieces of life will seem to fit together at first, but in time you’ll realize they do, perfectly. So thank the things that didn’t work out, because they just made room for the things that will. And thank the ones who walked away from you, because they just made room for someone better.

No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

I am rooting for you and feel honored when you share your celebrations of success with me. My relationships with you will be part of my legacy. Go get 'em tiger and know that I am on your team! If you need support and encouragement, email me anytime at kate@kategood.com and remember you rock!

It's Not Just A Parking Sign, It's A Statement

Marketing and retention is more than just flyers and ads. To be effective, you have to address everything you do as it is a reflection of your property's overall mission. Even a parking sign creates an impression. I spotted a apartment community whose tag line is "Our Residents Come First" yet the parking lot parking signage did not communicate this message. It says "Manager Parking Only All Others Will Be Towed"!

Being positive goes a long way. Your signage can actually reserve parking for your best customers and encourage others to participate in promoting your community in social media channels. Thumbs up to Glades Plaza for honoring their Mayor on FourSquare with a reserved parking space. I think this is much more important than reserving a spot for the Manager. Apartment communities also reserve parking for move in day so that the new resdient can have the best space that will put their moving truck close to the entrance door. Why stop there? I think we should have reserved parking for move out day also...and I am not talking about the eviction you are thrilled is finally leaving so you can re-rent the apartment to a paying customer! There are many great customers whose lives have changed and it no longer suits them to live at your community. A positive move out experience will ensure that they will continue to be brand ambassadors and refer friends to the apartment they once loved to live in. Reserve a parking space for these customers too!

There are spaces and places where you don't want your residents to park. Have a little fun with this message too. Funny trumps everything and will communicate a policy while still keeping a smile on your resident's face. Approach all decisions you make for your community with a customer service and marketing eye and not just your policy manual.

First Impression Failure at Quiznos

While searching for a lunch spot in Atlanta today, I stumbled upon a Quiznos. I was disappointed to see that "management" has reserved position A in the parking lot for themselves! While shooting this pic, two cars pulled into the spot and rolled on out with a puzzled look on their faces. This one sign says so much about how this restaurant feels about their customers. Let's call it, management before customers.

Each week I visit apartment communities all over the country. Sure, most of them have "future resident parking" signs in front of their leasing center. The trouble is, the team does not respect these spaces and they choose to park in the VIP spot. Don't you think we should make our residents feel like VIP's?

Before I jump off this point, I want to discuss your beloved golf cart. While I love this little gem as much as the next leasing consultant, it should not be parked in a future resident spot. A better plan is to put it at the end of the amenity cooridor. This placement encourages the leasing team to walk through the amenities at the start and end of the tour. The amenities add value to the apartment the customer is leasing. Set your leasing tour up for success. Nough Said!

Ready, Set, Lead

There are a few certainties in the world: people will disappoint you, others will amaze you and whatever you think about tomorrow is probably not going to happen. The reason? Change. And the rate of change is speeding up - rapidly. Several factors are causing this acceleration such as the expansion of technology, access and exposure to knowledge and our need to be entertained is insatiable.

By 1900, it had taken 150 years to double all human knowledge. Today it takes only two to three years. And some estimate that by the year 2020, knowledge will double every 72 days. The millennial generation (born in the 80's and 90's) are the largest to enter the workforce since the boomers. Nurtured through the era of "google it" instead of "look it up" they have a keen understanding of how to access anything. The question is, who is leading them?

In the past, leadership was an economic entity. The priority was to develop structures, set controls and raise income as effectively as possible. This was accomplished through a ladder system of people managing other people as they do tasks.

Today, the speed of change demands a evolved leader. To be that person, you must rapidly adapt to change and require constant involvement in skill development while leveraging increased knowledge. It is not enough to know how to do a report, but rather to read, react and adjust based on the lesson gleaned from the data.

We have to be experts in human capital, not just financial capital. We must master emotional intelligence not just economic competence. Control is out of style because it is the customer who is calling the shots. We have to align people based on this reality and not structures and spreadsheets.

Today's leader has a grasp of emotional aptitude and understands the new order of customer influence and peoples motivations. It less about technical or financial expertise.

Does this make you nervous? Think about what your computer can do for you. It does the counting, tracking and comparing. You have to be the person who understands what to do with the information. Now we shift from managing deadlines to managing success factors. A key success factor is to develop skills for your team members so they not only produce a report but react to the report. You lead them to direct change. Leadership does not happen while you are standing still.

Your ability to manage change will be your key success factor. And my friend, it is all changing. Winning organizations are building leaders faster.

Metro DC Remains a Top-Tier Apartment Market Performer

by Greg Willett

The greater Washington, DC area was one of the few spots across the country where the apartment market made it through the 2008-2009 time period without taking much of a hit. Revenue loss, taking into account shifts in both occupancy and effective rents, was limited to about 1 percent in the nation's capital, compared to an average decline of nearly 8 percent for the U.S. as a whole. Given that performance during the downturn, it's no surprise that DC is among the metros leading the charge now that momentum has returned for the country's overall apartment sector.

What really stands out looking at apartment market results in the Washington, DC area as of mid-2010 is the return of considerable pricing power. Measuring change on a same-store basis, effective rents jumped 3.1 percent during 2nd quarter, taking growth during the first half of the year to 3.9 percent. Prices are up meaningfully across every neighborhood in the region, with especially strong lifts registering in both the North and South Arlington County submarkets, plus the city of Alexandria.

Greater DC's apartment occupancy rate as of June stood at 95.3 percent, up 1.2 percentage points so far this year. That climb reflects that the market posted demand for more than 9,000 units during 2010's initial half, compared to completions totaling a little more than 3,500 units.

An important factor to consider when evaluating the outlook for the Washington, DC apartment market is that this is one of the few spots across the country where new development deals still pencil out on a fairly broad basis. Thus, some new starts continue. Ongoing construction at 2010's mid-point totaled about 5,200 units. DC soon should rank as the nation's most active building market, since recent leaders Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston are poised to drop down the list.

That flow of additional product in Washington, DC, while certainly not notably aggressive in the big picture, does point to a somewhat competitive leasing environment at the top of the market. Thus, while occupancy and rent growth should prove quite healthy, greater Washington might not realize the total revenue increases that are on the way in locales like San Jose, Denver, Austin and Raleigh — spots that have been beaten down but now are well positioned for pronounced recoveries.

No Matter Who Signs Your Paycheck, You Are Self Employed

While traveling this week I overheard a conversation where two people were discussing their disappointment that someone got promoted over one of the ladies in the conversation. They were clearly unhappy and found a number of reasons why their company had failed them. I overheard excuses such as the promoted person had an easier property to manage, the president wanted a man in the position and she had not received enough training. And so I started thinking.....

While we are employees and someone signs our paycheck, we are really in charge of our own career. If you want something, ask for it. If you are told you are not ready for the next step in your career, find out why and change it. There are few victims when it comes to business. However, there are a whole lot of lazy people.

On the day that I was promoted into the coveted position as Director of Training, I was told that I was probably too young for the job (ahhhh, to be 24 years old again) but that I had the skills and the talent. The president also expressed to me that the most important quality I had going for me was that I took charge of my career and planned out the steps I needed to get the job I wanted. He called that ambition. I agree. I was the youngest person out of a sea of 27 more tenured people than me that applied for that internal promotion. Ambition pays off!

What can you do today to prepare you for the next step in your career? Email me at kate@KateGood.com if I can ever help you with your career goals.

No Matter Who Signs Your Paycheck, You Are Self Employed

While traveling this week I overheard a conversation where two people were discussing their disappointment that someone got promoted over one of the ladies in the conversation. They were clearly unhappy and found a number of reasons why their company had failed them. I overheard excuses such as the promoted person had an easier property to manage, the president wanted a man in the position and she had not received enough training. And so I started thinking.....

While we are employees and someone signs our paycheck, we are really in charge of our own career. If you want something, ask for it. If you are told you are not ready for the next step in your career, find out why and change it. There are few victims when it comes to business. However, there are a whole lot of lazy people.

On the day that I was promoted into the coveted position as Director of Training, I was told that I was probably too young for the job (ahhhh, to be 24 years old again) but that I had the skills and the talent. The president also expressed to me that the most important quality I had going for me was that I took charge of my career and planned out the steps I needed to get the job I wanted. He called that ambition. I agree. I was the youngest person out of a sea of 27 more tenured people than me that applied for that internal promotion. Ambition pays off!

What can you do today to prepare you for the next step in your career? Email me at kate@KateGood.com if I can ever help you with your career goals.

A Year Without Lease Renewals?

Can you imagine the ability to take lease renewals off your long list of things to do? That is my challenge for the apartment industry. My personal recession recovery plan and if we all jump on board we just might save the world of apartment leasing from total meltdown.

The theory: For the next 12 months, we will be writing leases that will more than likely be loaded up with a rent decrease and in many markets, an up front concession. If we allow that lease to expire in the next 12 - 24 months we might just find ourselves having to do it again. Seems like the perfect reason to avoid expirations for the next two years.

How do we do this? Sell a longer term lease of 15 - 24 months. The plan benefits the owner because we can decrease turn costs or more bleeding economic vacancy loss. And for the renter, they are locked into a rental rate for a longer term. For most of my 21 year career, this has not been a great idea because we will miss the opportunity to grow rent. However, very few years presented enough of a rent increase to make the turnover costs worth it. Owners push rents in increase the value of the asset.

If we face the facts, very few markets will see much rent growth in the next 12 - 20 months. If we can stabilize and stop the burn we have a shot at improving by the end of 2011. All together now, take a breath and say STABILIZE. Lock in residents for longer terms and avoid having to offer your market rent and concessions to renewals. Hopefully with less vacancy you will reduce the concessions, supply will decrease and we will start to see rent increase before the next presidential election.

Seminar Wrap Up by Chrissy Wills at CAA

Kate Good Presented "Beating the Benchmark" at the CAA
Written by Chrissy Wills
Wednesday, 23 September 2009 15:30

The Columbus Apartment Association (CAA) hosted Kate Good, national speaker, who presented "Beating the Benchmark" on September 23rd at the Fawcett Center. Forty CAA members were in attendance to hear Kate explain how to market during this economy.
Kate recently presented at the National Apartment Association annual convention in June at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. She is a nationally recognized apartment marketing expert known for her amazing creativity, energy and motivational ability. Kate has been working in apartments her entire life, and has brought invaluable insight to developers, marketing directors and associations across the country.

To start the Beating the Benchmark session, Kate gave some interesting facts about today's apartment industry. Approximately 70% of communities nationwide are offering concessions, everything from one month to four months free. According to her research, current consumer buying habits include: an average of two visits to make a decision, apartment residents are looking for extra spaces, in traditional relationships the female is the primary decision maker in choosing a home, the first visit to a community is virtual and apartment residents will take 60 - 90 days to make a decision.

The CAA members enjoyed Kate's humor and case studies about McDonald's trying to become Starbucks and Starbucks trying to be like McDonalds. She shared these ideas to get attendees to think about what their unique selling features are and to showcase those in ads and leasing presentations. Also, she recommended stepping up ads with language for today; she likes terms such as comfortable, generous for the money, durable, built to last, and great buy.
To close Kate shared easy marketing ideas and effective closing techniques. Some of Kate's favorite marketing ideas included handwritten notes, placing the bootleg signs inside the community to remind current residents about the community's benefits and creating a special of the day. CAA members really liked the seminar and could easily take away fresh ideas from it.

Kristi Fickert with Village Green Management traveled from Cincinnati to hear Kate speak and really gained a lot from the presentation, "I think everyone in the room took at least ten new ideas home with them."

The CAA would like to thank our members for attending Beating the Benchmark and look forward to seeing them at the next seminar.

What Madonna Taught Me

My Marketing Mentor: Madonna

In my consulting practice, the economic crisis of 2009 has brought about the need to change, retool and reinvent everything we do in the leasing and marketing of multifamily rental assets. What worked as little as two years ago will simply not cut the mustard today. In fact, it won’t even be close to the results those efforts created 24 months ago. My experience has taught me that this is the time to be at the top of my game so that I can rise to this challenge.

Like everyone else, I need someone I can learn from. This is why I have chosen Madonna as my marketing mentor. For me, Madonna came on to the music scene while I was in my first few years of high school. Even though we wore uniforms, we would try to put a lace band in our hair that would match our lace socks. Every girl running around Fisher Catholic High School wore not less than 6 – 10 black rubber bracelets on her arm and risk detention for a uniform violation infraction. I have to admit, I was influenced by Madonna.

As the years rolled on, Madonna sprinted into a provocative direction and defined herself with her extremely open sexuality. She stared in her movie called “Truth or Dare.” She shifted that X rated image and was nominated for her performance in musical movie Evita. Then in yet another grand process to change her ever evolving image, today, she is writing children’s books. Do you remember the last book she wrote prior to her children’s books? It was sold with a paper cover at the bookstore because of its cover! How does a woman go from pop artist to sexual icon to movie star to author of children’s books? She does it by constantly reinventing herself. She can retool her image to fit her business needs. This is a person who is a marketing genius. She has a unique ability to change her image and position in the spotlight year after year.

If we take a lesson from the marketing manual lived by Madonna. Any apartment community, no matter when it was built, can survived and thrive as Madonna has. I am excited to be working on some projects which are being rehabbed. The “before and after” photos of the apartments are astonishing. To follow suit the marketing needs to be rejuvenated often with a new name, logo and market position. However, you don’t have to redevelop your buildings to conduct a marketing rehab. And, there is no better time than now to reintroduce your apartment community to the market with a fresh look. This is what it takes to get the attention of today’s consumer.

I think Denny’s should receive an award for their effort to get America back to their dining rooms. The Tuesday following Superbowl Sunday, Denny’s offered a free Grand Slam breakfast to everyone who visited. Including the Superbowl ad to launch the campaign, Denny’s spent six million dollars on ads, food and staffing. 200,000 American’s waited in line for up to two hours for a free breakfast valued at $5.99. Not only did Denny’s receive over 100 million dollars in free advertising due to the fact that every media outlet covered the event, they also got old customers and future customers acquainted with the value they offer on a plate.

I drive past apartment communities in every city I visit and many have invested in a rejuvenation effort in years. Their signs have not changed, the landscaping is overgrown, and their exterior colors are out of date. When I open the apartment rental magazines I still see ads with the same old photos and tired words that have not been freshened since the 90’s. If Madonna was your marketing director, she would jump on this need to refresh, renew and reposition. The styles we use for new logo’s has changed. For just $180, the online designers at www.CrowdSpring.com will send you a minimum of 25 entries for new logo options. This small investment is a great start to kicking your image into the current day.

Where do I begin?

I am so excited to start my blog! It seems each day I run accross something that makes me want to shout from the roof tops and share a great idea or a interesting thought that will help us lease apartments or just make our days brighter. I am looking forward to having the forum to share these thoughts with you.

Your comments, ideas and questions are always welcome. I am looking forward to your participation.

Please check back often and I will do my best to always have something interesting for you!