I’ve been talking about leadership a lot lately. It’s an interesting topic because the qualities that create a great leader are sometimes difficult to define. The concept of emotional intelligence has become better understood in recent years and there are some good books on the subject. Great leaders have vision, integrity, good communication skills, and tend to be above most things that are petty. But the quality I admire the most in leaders is grit – people who persevere and just find a way to get things done. They don’t wait for instructions or direction; they know what needs to be done and they find a way to get it done. This is the ultimate form of leading by example. It is usually not the smartest or the most skilled people who rise to the top, it’s the people who are the problem solvers. The people who rise to their challenges and who are at their best when their best is needed. People spend a lot of time and money educating themselves and honing their skills, but very few of them focus on the skill that will take them the farthest, which is true leadership. Find a good book on leadership, deploy what you learn, and become conscience of whether you are becoming the type of leader who you would want to follow. Unlike other skills, leadership is not something you can turn on and off. To be a true leader, you have to be on all of the time. It’s a lifestyle choice, but one that will pay dividends in your life.
I believe deeply in taking the high road; it is rarely good to lose your cool, especially in business. It’s part of what we call emotional intelligence…However, it’s not always best to walk away from a fight. There are some things worth fighting for, and for the right reasons…Historically, NAHREP has been friendly with consumer groups. We have not always agreed on everything, but I respect them and have worked hard to have a good relationship with them. But…
I am a big believer in being authentic and original…Last year, I started playing with an idea about how entrepreneurship can close the minority wealth gap in America. I floated an audacious idea that the wealth gap poses an existential threat to America’s leadership in the world economy. That was an attention-getter! To develop my thesis on how to close the wealth gap, I thought about my observations in the housing industry. I realized that…
We all have our own idea of what makes a successful career. For some, it is owning a profitable business, for others it might be the stability and prestige of a high-paying profession. However, for most people, success is some combination of earning a high income while preserving the freedom to enjoy it. Unlike some people, I enjoy the process. I like the early stages of a new venture, even more than after it becomes an actual business. I am not however an adrenaline junkie. I am not willing to risk everything to pursue my next idea. I am my best when my business is doing well enough that I have the time and the means to pursue a passion project and a moonshot.