What makes you different?

Through the course of each week I speak with a great number of executives in the Affordable Housing Industry. Development, Management, Lenders and Syndicators alike are all stating the same thing – “We are growing”. It’s true, many organizations and the people within them are growing; growing the organization’s geographical footprint, growing strategically by way of opportunistic deals or hires. Many refer to this as “Planned Growth”.

Often, the point that I offer is that everyone can’t grow because the balloon can only hold so much air before it will burst. So what allows some groups to grow as opposed to others? The answer is not always simple, but there is always an answer. Many times, the personal drive that fuels growth is hidden in catchy words like – luck, effort, strong work ethic, determination and even being opportunistic. In reality, it is a combination of each of those things as well as talent. Talent in the form of good people working for a good organization (with others) that possess strong work ethic, great effort, determination, being opportunistic and of course some luck along the way.

As an executive recruiter, focused on both the high-growth affordable housing industry and the people that make it spin on its axis each day, my job is to identify the companies that do this well and find ways to help them do it better. Conversely, when I find companies that are unable, for whatever reason, to not grow or succeed – my job then becomes one of helping the people there who are capable of growing get introduced to other companies that can indeed facilitate their personal growth.

The Fourth Quarter is always a great time for everyone, CEO’s and Board Members to take stock of corporate growth and success and likewise, mid and senior level employees to assess their career growth. Just as organizations take-on careful review and planning, one should also pull out paper and do this for your career.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss further by phone either angle mentioned above (corporate or personal). Further, I will be at the AHF Live Conference in Chicago, November 19-21, 2014 and would be happy to further the conversation in person.

- Butch