I’ve previously noted that more than 40% of the 350 people who attended my webinar on the coming disruption in the CRE brokerage arena selected “reinventing myself” as their intended response.
Through 40 years in the CRE arena, I have had to reinvent myself several times. Living by the swings of any capitalistic market will be a wild ride. You’ll have to re-evaluate and innovate constantly.
I’ve morphed from a broker to a developer to a syndicator to a coach, with a running side gig as an instructor. Each role has required a sizable step back to then move forward. Perhaps the most valuable thing I’ve learned along the way is how to broaden my perspective—not to estimate the future by judging the past.
Here’s an example of broadening your perspective. I recently read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I was drawn to the book because the subtitle and excerpt mention super athletes, their amazing achievements, and realizing that something we thought we knew was completely wrong. I have a history as a runner (I’ve completed five marathons) and I can relate to both the exercise benefits and the Zen of a long run.
McDougall leads the reader through anecdotes about several freakish ultra-distance runners and the deep science of man’s suitability for running. Both science and athletes converge on this point: We were born to run and born to run barefooted. Even Nike acknowledges this.
Here’s their value proposition for the Nike Free line of running shoes: “Engineered for natural range of motion, Nike Free technology sets your feet free so you can run the way you’re meant to.”
Sounds like a broadened perspective to me. The world’s leading running shoe maker is moving away from a heavily padded shoe toward a thin, flexible sole lightly affixed to your foot. Hmm. Now, I have to rethink what I knew (and practiced for thousands of miles) about running.
I’ll have to reinvent myself. Again.
THE FUTURE IS NOW!
