I’m big believer in the concept of original thought. While I admire people who can run a business, play an instrument, or perfect a process, I have always been more interested in people who write the music, invent new technology, or essentially have the ability to create something that is totally original. Some of us have been taught that whatever it is we want to accomplish, there is somebody who has already done it, and rather than “reinventing the wheel”, we should just model ourselves after someone who has already accomplished it. Some people believe there is no such thing as original thought and that all ideas are derivative of something that has already been done. I don’t totally disagree, but there is definitely such a thing as originality and it’s unfortunate that we don’t do more to encourage creativity. The greatest contributors to our society are the ones who bring original expression, new business models, and fresh solutions to our lives. They are also among the most successful. Two books that I like on the subject of business creativity are The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry, and Zero to One by Peter Thiel. Making money is important, but I firmly believe if we dedicate our careers to solving problems and making other people’s lives better, not only will we be more successful, we will be happier in the process…
Discover why happiness comes from solving problems.
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.