Roles in the CRE Industry
Commercial real estate is all real estate that is not personal homes including offices, retail centers, industrial/warehouses, apartment buildings, self-storage, biotech laboratories, medical offices, and hotels. It can even include personal homes if they are used to rent to others. Blackstone and other private equity companies have made big acquisitions of pools of single family homes that they rent out.
Real estate is everywhere you look.
Type of Companies
It is important to understand that there are many types of companies in the CRE industry. Here's an overview:
Owners: They are the owners of the real estate. This can be one or more private individuals, a set of funds or a public REIT. An owner typically has a product type focus such as office or industrial. Some develop (build) new buildings. Some buy and manage existing buildings. Examples of REITs: Prologis, Kilroy Realty, Realty Income.
Lenders: They loan money to an owner to buy or refinance a property. Examples: banks like Wells Fargo or debt funds like Mesa West.
Brokers: Typically licensed in each state, they assist owners in the buying, selling, leasing and financing of buildings. Examples: CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Newmark.
Property Management: They handle the day-to-day management of properties. These functions may or may not be done in house by the owner. Examples of external property management companies: CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL.
Construction: They build or rehab buildings for the owner. Bigger companies tend to do the bigger jobs. Smaller companies tend to do the smaller jobs. Examples: too many to list and often local to a region.
Title & Escrow: They assist with the purchase or sale of a property. Examples: First American, Stewart Title.
Inspection: They perform various types of property inspections (physical, environmental, structural). Example: Partner Engineering.
Appraisal: They value a property, typically for a lender. Examples: CBRE, Altus.
Entry Level Roles
There are many paths to take when entering the CRE industry. See below for the most common examples.
Analyst (heads down, analytical): This is a great place to start with an owner, lender or appraisal company. The role is sometimes referred to as Financial Analyst, Research Analyst (Broker) or FP&A Analyst. FP&A stand for financial planning & analysis. BreakIntoCRE.com talks about this role in detail and even has a YouTube channel.
Salesperson or Broker (sales): If you have an extroverted personality, joining a brokerage company is probably your best approach. Most U.S. states require some sort of licensing before you can start. The position tends to be commission based so your upside is unlimited. I suggest joining an established team within a company as opposed to being a "one person show" from day one.
Associate Asset Manager (project management): Many companies use the term associate. It is a junior role that could apply to anything. An asset manager with an owner focuses on executing a business plan for a collection of properties. You might also see this role with a lender with the focus on making sure the loans perform.
Property Administrator or Assistant Property Manager (project management): If you like operations and lots of variety in your day-to-day, this could be a good fit for you. Property Management companies and many owners have these roles. Like any entry level position, it can be fairly administrative early on but over time can be very interesting.
Construction Project Engineer (project management): This role exists at construction and inspection companies. It helps to have an undergraduate degree in construction management. The roles tend to be out of the office at the property as opposed to behind a desk.
Escrow Agent (project management): Get ready for fast paced action! Some owners and lenders have a similar internal position called a Transaction Manager. The focus is on getting the purchase or financing of a property closed in a specific time deadline.
A Note on Types of Roles
After each role able, I have used one of three descriptors below. This is an oversimplification, but it can help you understand what your like and are good at.
Heads Down - your generally prefer working on tasks by yourself.
Project Management - you like leading teams.
Sales, Marketing, & Business Development - you prefer working with others most of the day.
An important note: the higher up in a company you get, the more you will need to lead teams. If a leadership role is important to you, focus on developing your project management skills. If we simplify the role of a CEO, it is really a project manager with the added responsibility of setting direction and making tough decisions.
Be a student of yourself. Understand what makes you tick. Determine your strengths and weaknesses. You will be more successful and happier if you leverage this knowledge to find the right fit.
In addition to getting feedback from people who know you well, personality testing can be hugely helpful. See below for examples:
Myers Briggs - this test has been around for a long time. It has 16 personality profiles and maps you to one. As of my test in 2017, I am an ESTJ. A few excerpts from my report: "ESTJs are natural administrators. ESTJs organize projects and people to get things done and focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. ESTJs are clear and straightforward in their communication." These traits suit me well in a project management role.
Gallup's Clifton Strengths - this helps you better understand your strengths.
Internships
If you are early in career, especially if you are a student, internships are a great option. They are typically a limited duration paid job at a company where both the company and intern know that the role will come to an end. They are very common during the summer break of a school year.
Here's my take on internships from an intern's perspective:
They are a great way to try something out without making a long-term commitment: the industry, the company and the role. You may not know what you like. I have seen young people try three different industries over three different summer breaks between college years.
Think of an internship as an extended job interview. It may turn into a full-time, permanent job later down the road. You may find a lifelong mentor.
They really help on a resume if you are just starting your career and/or finishing college. This also gives you something to talk about during an interview.
Don't worry about how long it is or how many hours a week you work. It is about having an experience. Two weeks can be meaningful. Sometimes it is easier for the company to have a part-time and/or shorter duration.
You should get paid. Maybe minimum wage, but not zero.
Internship job posting for summer internships are normally posted around March or April. Use your network to find companies you want to intern at and reach out to their human resources department or anyone else you can get in touch with (example: find someone on LinkedIn).
Make sure you work at developing relationships at the company and that you keep in touch. Sending an email sharing what you are up to every month or two may be all that is needed to maintain the relationship. Example Email: "Hi Matthew. I am checking in to give you an update on how my school year is progressing. I am taking some interesting classes on XXX. It reminded me of the work we did together last summer (insert specific example). Thanks again for the time we worked together. Looking forward to staying in touch." If you are local, you could go out for a coffee. Figure out simple ways to keep the relationship going and maintain your "warm" connections.
The Job Search
There are many ways to look for a job, but there is a big difference between the levels of "warmth" in your connection to that job.
Example - Warm Connection: you had a favorite teacher or coach in school. You did well in that class or sport. That person started a company and is looking to fill a job. This is a "warm" connection because you already have a relationship with the person, and they have seen you perform.
Example - Cold Connection: you respond to a job posting via a job search website. You don't have a relationship with the person. You don't even know who it went to. You are likely to be one of many applicants without anything to distinguish you.
You want warm connections! Warm connection come from expanding your network and getting mentors.
See below for a list of job search avenues and their rankings on both warmth and chances that a job is available. Pursue multiple channels but understand the reality of each.
Mentors: high warmth | random job availability*
People You Know: medium warmth | random job availability*
Recruiter**: medium warmth | good job availability
Alumni of Your School: OK warmth | random job availability*
School Job Posting: OK warmth | high job availability
Company Website: low warmth | high job availability
Job Site Website (Indeed, etc.): lowest warmth | high job availability
You want to develop warm connections and pursue multiple avenues to find the right job as opposed to just any job.
*Random job availability because this is a "relationship first" as opposed to "job first" connection. They have taken an interest in you but may or may not have a job available.
**A recruiter is someone who specializes in matching companies and job searchers. They are typically paid by the company at a rate of 15-30% of the employees first year salary. This does not affect the employee's salary as it is an extra cost to the company. Recruiters are less likely to work with someone just starting their career.
Networking
Networking...do I have to?!?! Let me try to demystify the fear of networking. But first, why should you network in the first place?
Networking is a great way to find a mentor (see my post on Mentors). You need mentors and you will only find them by putting yourself out there. Networking increases your chances of finding the right job for you. It also gives you an opportunity to learn by being exposed to different people with different perspectives.
Very important: have a goal and a story. As the saying goes: you might as well be yourself because everyone else is taken. Practice articulating your story:
What is your background?
What are you interested in?
What were your favorite subjects in school?
Do you like heads down work or constant interaction with others or somewhere in between?
Are there certain industries or roles that are interesting to you? Why?
Networking and talking with others allow you to practice sharing what you are interested in and what you are good at. As you practice sharing your story you will (a) get more comfortable sharing it with people you don't know and (b) you will learn more about yourself and what you really want as you get feedback from others.
So how do you network? There are multiple ways, and you should be able to find a way that works for you.
Talk with people you know. Start with teachers, friends of you parents, and neighbors. You already know them, and they probably care about you.
Look for people on LinkedIn. Many people will respond to a message from you even if they don't know you. If they don't respond it is more likely that they are too busy at that time as opposed to have something against you. Don't take it personal. Be patient and try again. People are busy. If you don't get a response after a couple tries, move on to the next person.
Go to conferences. Be willing to walk up to someone you don't know and start a conversation. Sample introduction: "Hi. My name is Matthew. I am a student at XYZ. I am interested in your industry/company. Can you tell me about how you got to where you are now?" Give it a try. People are generally kind and willing to share what they know. Ask for a business card and follow up with a thank you. Maybe the relationship will grow over time.
The FedEx Technique. I saw this in action when someone sent a letter via FedEx to a CEO. She wanted a job and used this as a way to (a) get right to the decision maker and (b) distinguish herself. It got her an interview that ultimately led to a job. This could be an effective technique if you want to get a message to a specific person without it getting lost in the 50-100+ emails a typical worker gets in a day.
Important Note: being a student is a golden ticket to meet people as almost everyone is willing to give some time to help a student. Don't waste it!
Remember: Practice your story and keep at it. Once you find the right person, they could be a mentor for life.
Job Openings
Have you ever thought about why is there a job opening in the first place? There are four basic reasons and each of them tell you about the situation at the company at that time. Ideally, you identify the reason early in the process to help fine tune your interview answers to address the company's needs.
There is too much work. The team is expanding! Very exciting that the company is growing well. It also means that the existing team may be overworked and stressed. You can be the solution to this problem.
The company is expanding to a new business line. Try to understand if it is a regional expansion (more of the same in a new market) or a new product line. There could be more risk (and excitement) in the the latter. Ask why they are expanding.
Someone quit. The person decided to leave. Ask why the person left. You want to understand if this is a toxic culture, the company does not pay market salaries, etc. Ideal responses from the company are the person moved out of state or decided to change industries. Anything that makes the resignation unique to that person as opposed to a negative about the company, team or role.
Someone was fired. Ask what a person needs to do to be successful in the role. You want to avoid the same mistakes and make sure the role is a good fit for you.
Knowledge is power. By understanding the company's and team's situation, you will be in a better position to adjust your interview answers to fit the company needs and determine if it is the right fit for you.
Mentors
A mentor is a wonderful thing! A mentor is someone who is further along in their life or career that is willing to share what they know to help you grow and succeed.
An ideal mentor has the following characteristics:
They have already achieved something you want to achieve (career, accomplishments, etc.).
They are not related to you (see side notes below).
They want to help you. Probably because they are a good person and/or are friends with someone you know.
They have a network of relationships that they can connect you to for potential jobs you want.
A mentor can help you by being someone you talk with regularly to share your progress, answer questions and make introductions. You don't need many. One or two good mentors is usually enough.
So how do you find one? Read the section on Networking.
Side notes:
Reading and podcasts are a wonderful way to learn from those you admire. I do this all the time. Just recognize that these are limited because neither can make introductions.
Ideally a mentor is not related to you. You want someone who is able to tell you things that you may be uncomfortable hearing. For example, I thought I wanted to join a venture capital firm very early in my career. I discussed this with my father who introduced me to someone he knew in the industry. That person was kind enough to tell me that I didn't have any of the background to get into the industry and that I really needed to gain a lot more experience. My father had been uncomfortable to give me the cold truth because of your father/son relationship. Mentors will (kindly) tell you what you need to hear in the way a relative may not be able to.
Your Resume
Resumes are critical part of the job search process. A Google search of "how to write a resume" yields tons of resources. Here's my perspective and tips.
Purpose
The purpose of a resume is to briefly tell the story of you and make the reader want to learn more.
The Reader's Perspective
I remember writing versions of my resume and thinking the reader would read every word in detail. I spent a lot of time dwelling over exact word choice and formatting. This is a good thing. You want to present well. But also recognize that the reader (example: Hiring Manager) is likely to spend less than a minute (yes 60 seconds!) skimming your resume when they first get it. Someone may sit down to interview you and literally start looking at your resume for the first time right then. People are busy. That's how it is. With this in mind, make sure your resume is focused.
Format
You want your resume to be "skim friendly". This may not be true if you are applying for a job in the publishing or other writing industry, but for most everywhere else, you want something that can be absorbed quickly. Good ways to accomplish this are:
One page only. There is no reason it needs to be more than one page, especially early in your career. You have to be selective in what you present. If there are a bunch of deals or projects that you feel you have to include, have then be an attachment (ok, a second page) that can be reference. I did this after I was a broker and wanted to list the deals I had worked on. It turned out to be a helpful thing to talk about during the interview after we had reviewed my resume.
Have a "Summary & Objective" statement. This could be a couple sentences that say (i) what you are looking for and (ii) what skills you offer. Here's what I wrote on my resume years ago: "A highly motivated professional with 5 years experience in strategic analysis, project management, and asset development. Seeking a position with a real estate development or design/build firm that is leveraging the advances in sustainable and ecological design to the benefit of all its stakeholders." If that's all the reader takes the time to read, at least they know the punch line. If you don't add a statement, the reader is trying to figure out your background and goals themselves. Some may say the statement can limit your options. Fair point, but there is no reason not to have a couple versions (or even five) of your resume that you send out in different situations.
Education first. If you are early in your career or completing a masters degree, list your education before your experience.
Use bullet points, bold font, etc. I hate reading a resume with a bunch of run on sentences. Be concise and make it skim friendly.
Make it look good. By this I mean that you want your resume to actually look balanced on the page. Page attention to formatting. Your resume may be the first time someone sees an example of your writing.
No spelling or grammar errors.
Add additional interests. Maybe you are a mountain biker or you love birdwatching or you are passionate about a certain genre of books. List it at the bottom of your resume. This can provide the reader a more casual subject for the two of you to talk about in the beginning of the interview. I often begin an interview with a subject from this section. It helps both parties relax before getting into the details.
Tell a story. Ideally you want your resume to tell the story of how you got to this point. Use revisionist history. Look back at your history and see the themes. This will form your story that you then turn into your resume.
Be You
Remember that it is your resume. Whatever you decide, it should feel like an authentic presentation of you.
The Interview
How does this make you feel? Are you excited? Scared? Whatever it elicits for you, it is important to understand what it is for and what it can do for you. Check out my post on Job Openings: you have to opportunity to be the solution to the company's challenge.
Some people think of an interview as a one-way dialogue, where the employer (interviewer) gets to ask the candidate (interviewee) a series of questions. Many (even most) employers view them this way. This is not the right way to think of an interview. An interview is a way for both parties to see if there is a fit.
Employer’s perspective: Is the candidate technically qualified? Does the candidate have a good attitude? Can they “play well with others”? See my post on Culture.
Candidate’s perspective: Could you see yourself working for this person? This company? Does the work seem interesting and fit with your short- and long-term goals? Does this company seem to have it together?
For both parties: Could they see spending 40 hours a week working together?
Without a two-way dialogue, half of these questions can’t be answered. Hiring is one of, if not the most expensive things a company does because it consumes so much of the existing team’s time. Not only is there the interviewing, but there is also the training. Even after the 3-6+ months of training, the candidate may not work out and then the process needs to start again. All of this occurs in addition to the manager’s and the rest of the team's existing day-to-day responsibilities.
Your mission as someone who is looking for work, as someone who is interviewing, is to be the solution to the company’s problem while making sure that this job, this next step in your career, helps you achieve your goals.
Step 1: Prepare.
With the amount of information online, there is no reason not to be prepared. Start with the company website. Read every word on the website. Yes, every word. The company has put time into the website to present themselves. If you are going to consider spending multiple years of your life at this company, take an hour to read every word. One hour. The length of one or two episodes of the latest show you are watching. Pay special attention to the Press/News section. Read this in reverse order from newest to oldest. This is the one area you can skip some sections once you have read the last year or so of news.
Search for the company in Google News or similar. What is the press saying about this company? This may influence how much you want to be associated with the company.
Find out in advance who you will be interviewing with. Check out their LinkedIn page. What is their background? What are they posting? Do you have anything in common?
Come up with a series of questions you want to ask in the interview. These could be both about the company in general and the specific people you are interviewing. You don’t want to be caught flat footed when asked “Do you have any questions for me?”.
Look up the most common interview questions and have your answers ready. Some examples: Where do you want to be in five years? What are you good at? What gets you excited in the workplace? Describe a situation where things did not go well. What do you look for in a manager?
Step 2: Make a Good First Impression
This starts with showing up on time. More specifically, show up 10 minutes early. This leaves a buffer for surprises getting there. Ideally, you visit the office the day before at around the same time of day to make sure you are prepared. Does the parking take longer than expected? Do you have to go through security? You don’t want to get flustered getting to the starting line.
Dress one level up from the company. If the company attire is suit and tie, wear a suit and tie. If it is business casual without a blazer, wear a blazer. If it is jeans and polos, wear some slacks. [Note to reader: I am not qualified to suggest what women should wear in these situations as there a so many more choices. My advice: look professional.]. If you don’t know what they wear, see how they are dressed on the website. Or even stand outside the office the day before to see people come in and out.
Bring a notebook, pen and extra copies of your resume. I have interviewed many candidates who don’t bring a thing to an interview. This is such a bad impression. Is that how you are going to show up for meetings once we hire you? No one is so good that they remember everything without the need to write it down.
Give a firm handshake. Or fist bump in the days of the pandemic. Look the person in the eye and speak like you belong there.
Step 3: The Interview
Maintain eye contact and be engaging. You may be nervous, but you will just have to fake it until you make it. It will be easier if you are prepared.
Keep in mind that you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. You want to determine if this is somewhere you want to invest the next years of your life. Does this get you closer to achieving your goals? Even if you don’t know what your goal are, you still want to feel like this will give you positive momentum.
As you see the other employees interact, pay attention to how they treat each other. Every company has its own culture. You want to be somewhere that fits you. I would say that the culture and who you work for are just as important, if not more important, than the actual work. It absolutely sucks to be in a place where you are unhappy because of a toxic environment.
Question you should be asking during the interview (or in your email follow up):
How would you describe the company culture?
Would you recommend this as a good place to work to your close friends?
What would the day to day of my role be?
Why is this position open? (See my post on Job Openings)
What characteristics would the ideal candidate possess?
How many other candidates are you interviewing? Who is involved in deciding which candidate to go with?
At the end of the interview, express your thanks. Find out what the next steps are. Make sure you have a way to contact each of the people you interviewed with. Even if they don’t give you a business card, ask for their email address.
With all of this, try to be yourself. You don’t want to put on a mask that is not you. Emphasize the positive traits you possess. Most importantly, have a positive attitude that demonstrates drive, a desire to be part of a team, an eagerness to learn, and humility. Humility is important. I have seen more people lose their job due to a lack of humility than a lack of skill.
Step 4: Thank You Email
This is critical. Within 24 hours you must write a thank you email to each person who interviewed you. Your call if you want to email them as a group or send individual emails. I prefer the latter because it provides an opportunity for an extended email exchange. Each person at the company may forward the emails to each other, so try to personalize each one. Ideally you point out something that the person said that was helpful.
Some people like the handwritten letter instead of the email. I don’t because (a) it takes longer than 24 hours to reach the person, (b) many people don’t check their work mail and/or come into the office every day and (c) it doesn’t provide a forum for two-way dialogue.
Step 5: Be Persistent
It is tough to wait for an answer. You want to be patient and persistent. Companies get busy. What seems like a long waiting period for you may fly by for everyone at the company because they are busy. Continue to follow up ever 3-5 business days for status.
If they don’t choose you, be gracious. You want the team to be impressed by your professionalism. Who knows? Maybe they will be hiring for a similar position next month. You want them to immediately think of you for the new role.
Bottom line
Preparation makes the whole process easier. Even if you don’t get that role, you will have gone through a process that makes you better for your next interview. This is what life is about: learning and growing.
Adding Value as an Employee
Once you have landed a job and are beginning the next phase of your career, how can you be successful? See below for some recommendations.
Understand How the Company Makes Money - This seems simple, but sometimes it is more complicated than it sounds. Unless you are working for a REIT, many CRE companies make the money that pays your salary by earning fees. Fees come from managing properties. The owners of the real estate may be different than the owners of the management company that employs you. Look at your paystub to see who is paying you and try to understand how this company/entity fits into the big picture.
Be Curious - Ask lots of questions. You want to understand as much about the business, each department, the properties, and every other aspect of the business. Make sure you read the company's press releases and social media posts regularly. Maintain a student mentality. A student is always learning. Just because you have landed a job, doesn't mean you should stop learning. Always be learning.
Be Driven & Humble - This is the magic combination.
Take Notes - Never show up to a meeting without a notepad and pen(cil). Never. Writing things down shows you are paying attention and can be relied upon to do what you say you are going to do. Laptops are a OK alternative, but they are full of distractions and can give the impression that you are focused on other things.
Volunteer - When there is the opportunity to volunteer to take on a project, do it. This will allow you to learn and grow. It will also show that you are there to work and add value.
Create Relationships - Try to get to know everyone at the company, or at least in your office. Be brave and introduce yourself. Say hello in the kitchen. Get to understand what that person does and how their department fits into the overall company. You never know when you will be working on a project with someone in the future.
Use Your Time Wisely - Unless you are in customer service, sitting at your desk and responding to emails all day is not work. This is the coordination of work. Actual work is doing something that create value or keeps the machine of the company running. Manage your time. Make sure you fit in the projects that move the company forward. Beware of the pseudo productivity of email.
Take Breaks - Huh? Yes, take breaks. Take 5 minutes to walk outside. Try a walking meeting. Give yourself the ability move your body and reinvigorate your mind.
Leverage Technology - Technology is changing fast, yet its adoption in the workplace can be slow. Pay attention to the software that your company already has. Something that is simple for you to understand may be harder for someone else. Use this to your advantage to become a subject matter expert. Some of my favorite Microsoft tools: Teams, PowerBI, Planner, OneNote, Copilot.
Don't Be a Jerk - This should be obvious, but some people still behave poorly. Everyone is dealing with something challenging outside (or sometimes inside) the office. Be kind. Be helpful. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Culture
Culture...I believe culture is EXTREMELY important to your experience. It can be a wonderful reinforcer to help you develop your career or it can be a huge distraction that doesn't allow you to see clearly.
Culture is the way a company (or any group) interacts. It is the way people treat each other. Example words that can describe a culture: empowering, controlling, passionate, respectful, inclusive, toxic, entrepreneurial. The key is to find a culture that fits you.
There are multiple ways to figure out a company's culture.
Start with the company website in the Careers, About, or ESG section. Often the company publishes what the culture is. Note that this may or may not reflect what it is really like day to day.
Go to Glassdoor. This is where current and former employees rate a company.
If you are interviewing at a company: ask. Simply ask what the culture is like. Ideally you can ask multiple people to identify a theme. If someone starts to squirm when you ask about the company culture, this is probably an indication that they don't like it.
You want to be in a place where you feel the right balance of being challenged, mentored and safe. Working at a place where you don't feel safe is awful. Working at a place where you feel mentored, empowered and safe is incredible. Do the research to find the right culture for you. Even if you decide to take a dream job at a company with a challenging culture, go in eyes wide open to the challenges you will face.
For more discussions on culture, check out the following podcasts: Dare to Lead (Brene Brown) | Work Life (Adam Grant)
Habits
Habits are critical to success. The book Atomic Habits by James Clear talks about this in detail, as do many other authors. These are habits that have worked for me.
General
Learn: Be a lifelong learner. Read, read, read. Take it to the next level and create a reading journal or commonplace notebook. I have a notebook where I summarize non-fiction books I have read in a page or two. It has become a fantastic resource.
Pay it Forward: Share what you know with others. Hence this website!
Have a Plan: What do you want to accomplish in life? What is your special talent? What is your joy? Take the time to explore these things. Life is precious.
Mornings
Exercise Outside: Mornings are a special time. The air is crisp. The birds are singing. The light is magical. Choose your favorite exercise and get outside.
Gratitude: Each day is a gift. Marcus Aurelius writes "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive. To breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." Make a point of acknowledging what you are grateful for each day.
Inspiration: Find something that inspires of grounds you. I read a page from The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday each day. It takes less than a minute.
Eat Well: Pay attention to your metabolism and give yourself the fuel you need. For me this includes oatmeal, yogurt, chia, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and fruit.
The Workday
Manage Your Day: Don't be passive and leave your calendar at the discretion of others. Block off time for you to get your work done.
Notifications Off: Find the rhythm when you will check emails, alerts, etc. If you don't you will never have a reasonable block of time to actually do work.
Be Intentional: What do you want to get done today, this week, this month? Schedule the time to do this.
Take a Break: Go for a walk. You will come back refreshed.
Meeting Format: Not all meetings need to be at a table. Try a walking meeting. Movement changes the dynamics of a discussion.
Afternoons & Evenings
Exercise: If you work in an office, you have likely been sitting on your butt all day. Move!
Refresh: Find what re-energizes you. It is probably not a drink or watching TV. Maybe it is connecting with friends and family.
Wind Down: Find a way to wind down before you go to bed. This probably doesn't include a screen. You will sleep better if you have a pre-bed routine.
Get 7-8+ Hours: Sleep is healing. Check out Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker.
Lessons from My Grandfather
These are my grandfather's habits written in 1969 when he was in his late 50's. My father found a handwritten copy which I organized into categories and neutralized the genders.
Time Management & Organization
Use time effectively; get priorities correct so as to spend time on the correct things.
Spend no more time on a job than it is worth; be no more accurate than is necessary or worthwhile.
When you start a job, finish it. Putting aside and starting again wastes a lot of time.
If you have an unpleasant or difficult job to do, do it now.
Self-Management
Know your strengths & weaknesses. Put yourself in a position where your strengths are leveraged, and your weaknesses do not hinder you.
The extent to which you use your ability effectively is far more important than the extent of your ability.
Keep checking your own thinking & opinions by deliberately exposing yourself to contrary opinions.
Management & Leadership
Help a person to exploit their strengths and protect their weaknesses.
It is usually possible to tailor a job to suit a person; it is never possible to tailor a person to suit a job.
If you cannot trust a person and delegate to them, part with them.
If you keep them, delegate to them and give them room to operate.
Other people’s ways will be different from your own and not necessarily any worse.
Working with Others
Keep the number of meetings and the time spent at them to a minimum.
Prepare yourself for meetings properly; make others do the same.
Learn to listen.
Strategy
Strive for continual improvement.
Always be a little impatient; time is running out.
It is results that count. Do not allow methods to be more important than results.
Study theory as far as is appropriate but be practical.
Work & Life
Work is a habit, but more often a bad habit than a good habit.