I sat at my laptop this evening with the intention of writing about the how the current economy and housing market influence corporate relocation this 2008.
However, my mind took a detour to the root of our pecuniary difficulties: MAN (and leadership).
This afternoon, I was with a client that relocated to New York via London with his firm. After, we looked at eight buildings during the London-like weather, I needed to stop for a quick pick me up at Starbucks. As I entered Starbucks, I noticed a building that was not on my itinerary – actually, I have never even been in the building before. So, I asked my client if he wanted to pop inside – he did. I must say the building was glorious; but, the unit was above his initial price-point and of course, he LOVED it. Post our viewing we stood in the misty light rain near City Hall to discuss all of the apartments we viewed and he was stuck on the last unit. As I drank the last bit of coffee, I voiced my sincere concern that if he chose the last unit he would not truly enjoy his New York experience because he would be taking funds from his daily “social” budget to enhance his monthly housing budget. This being said, he told me he “should” be ok…we got on the “R” train bound for uptown.
As I got off the train at 14th street, I thought about him; the “glorious” apartment and then had a quick flash to a conversation I had a month ago with a loan officer over a few Coronas.
The loan officer told me I was a bit “green” when it came to my clients and I offer too many favors. He told me that I go out of my way with them and should not worry about certain things like personal affordability, etc. Additionally, he was shocked that I have helped some individuals without a fee. Maybe, he was shocked because I am a single mother raising two children alone while working in the most expensive city in the US and could not comprehend my reasoning…He told me I was never going to be Trump. I responded by saying: “Actually, I am more impressed with the leadership and successes of Elizabeth I, Winston Churchill and Sydney Weinberg .” He was puzzled by why I did not strive to be like Trump and shook his head and said, “naive“…
Regardless of his reactions, I did not like the way he was advising me on how to perform my business or for that matter, how to make money. I explained to this loan officer that I am in this business for long-term relationships -not the quick return. So what, if I help someone and do not make a couple thousand dollars – I do the right thing and people trust me. Most importantly, I go home to my children at night with a smile that symbolizes that I am proud of my day with the comfort of knowing that I made a “small” difference in someone’s life.
As my mind was balancing these two events while briskly walking down 14th, I glanced over at a news stand. Headlines of Lehman’s fall; Hank Paulson wants your money; McCain has no plan to save us; America has poor leadership and so much more washed the front of the stand.
Quite honestly, I am tired and disappointed in it all. So many have self-indulged in their authority of leadership while not making the smallest investment of thought to the forthcoming outcome. I am tired of real estate professionals blaming bankers because their clients cannot get financing. Yet, the real estate agents are the same individuals that put their clients in over-priced homes with “creative” financing—Spinning this viscous circle everyone of us is enclosed by. As a public, we all aided in this state of economic chaos; as individuals we need to stop acting helpless.
Leadership is not just reserved for those that are in high levels within a business organization or in politics. Leadership starts at the bottom. As a real estate broker with no actual authority within an organization, I am at the bottom.
I choose to not make a quick profit for the sacrifice of another, I choose to stay true to my principles, I choose to take responsibility…
In closing, each summer, I work with many recent college graduates that are going into the finance industry. I always walk by Delmonicos with them and mention that it is the setting for the “power lunch” scene in the movie Wall Street. Believe it or not, they all say “great movie!” I love to ask them: “Are you more like Gordon Gekko or Bud Fox?” The few that respond: “Bud Fox” always put a smile on my face…
GREATNESS IS NOT RESERVED FOR THE GREAT. THE GREAT ARE SIMPLY THOSE WHO HAVE RISEN TO MEET THEIR DESTINY…Michael Berg
