When your Teenagers wont sit and talk - Write them a book!

'Shit Your Dad Thinks' - Click to View PDF

We have incredible adult children today who are now aspiring young professionals.  However, there was a time when we would start to have a conversation and I'd be shut down.  I'm sure I came off as lecturing no mater my intent.  Today we sit and discuss everything, so it does get better.  To the extent you think I'm nuts...hold your opinions.  If you laugh or this helps you in any way, I'd love to hear from you.

The Pursuit of a Life in Balance

To my Family, Friends, Clients, Team and of course our Competitors should they find this post.

We’ve all read a lot about living a balanced life.  Some do it better than others.  Though, as I set out on an epic 150 mile Mt. bike (Bikerpelli.com) ride with my cousin in the CO/UT desert I thought I’d share.  This post shares a bit about my efforts and observations about my evolving journey to maintain balance with my family, customers, team and friends.  Never perfect, I simply want to give more than I take, live more intentionally and get better every day.  I promise I will be better for you upon my return and I’m thankful for you my family, clients and team for the opportunity to take these few days.  Checkout the book Younger Next Year…I wish I had read it when I was 30.  This trip is my "kedge" for 2016.

To my Family: I love you and will be back with epic stories to share.  Thank you.

To our Customers:  Thank you.  I’m passionate about this business, supporting you and I respect the opportunity to partner with you every day.  Nothing is ever taken for granted.  For my entire career I've been in your corner and I always will be whether you are kicking butt or having a tough go of it.  I’m always there.  As you see my teammates on projects along side me, know that they are best team anywhere and we work tirelessly together on your behalf.   Thank you for affording me the leverage and balance of expertise that comes with teaming.  Teaming is a rarity in my industry, though you win when we team.  The work we do and recommendations we make are guided by the commitment that I/we will never make a decision or recommendation that doesn't have your best interest in mind.  I've never forgotten that my success is measured by your success and that we exist to support and enhance you and your business.  As I head out on this short but epic trip, I’ve decided it would be less than authentic to not call it PTO.  So, if you have questions or the siren’s song of our competition is ever tempting, please call me or my teammates if I’m unreachable.  WE care more, are the best at what we do and will deliver results.

To my Teammates:  You Rock!  WE are an incredible team and you are simply the best partners for me, our customers and for each other that I’ve ever witnessed.  Enough said.

To our Competitors:   In 2014 we sold to JLL...simply the best commercial real estate company on the planet.  The other firm reopened in PDX.  Our JLL team remains 100% tenant/corporate services focused and we will never let up on our commitment to being the best corporate real estate team in support of our clients.  In spite of what crap some may spin...I've not slowed down and I will never retire.  A life in balance may run forever.  You have me to deal with for many many year.  That said, join us and be part of the greatest team this city will ever experience.   I will be happy to meet any time.

Craig’s DNA - 2016 Strategic Vision for Craig (December 15, 2015)  (An excerpt from my personal JLL business plan that shares a little more on how I hope to make a difference each day)

• Advocate and work harder and smarter for your clients and teammates than anyone in our industry.
• Support and lift others up within clients, JLL and throughout the industry, including competitors to make this industry better overall.
• Push teammates to run with key projects and drive key relationships.
• Lead by example always.
• As we team for our customers, assure no customer feels abandoned and the team knows they are accountable to every customer.
• Inspire and develop future leaders.
• Do what you are best at and can add the most value

Lastly, a few realities of life that mentors of mine have shared and I’ve experienced first-hand over the years.  I thought I’d share as these have guided me and are ever present as I mentor others, including my kids:

• We learn more from our failures than our success.  Hopefully this lesson will be learned early in life so we don’t suffer the woes of “why me?”
• Taxes, change and death are constants in life.  Pay your taxes in whatever form they come, embrace change and you will grow and remember “Every man dies. Not every man really lives.” - Braveheart
• If you do the right things and live as authentically as you can a long good life will be your reward, despite the short term bumps that come with taking life’s challenges head-on.

Craig, out.  Thank you for the PTO!

Camping Day 1 (2015 Trip) with 90 New Friends

Epic Adventures with Family (Haute Route 2015)

I thought I’d share a little about a 19 day off the grid trip I took with my son Royce (20) late this summer. With both of us having spent more time on fitness over the past year we discussed doing something epic both in its scenery and required level of fitness.

We decided on heading to Chamonix, France and traversing the Alps for 14 days on our way to Zermatt, Switzerland. After 10 days in the Alps the rains came in taking away the views. Knowing we would come back, we called an audible and headed to Berlin for the Lollapalooza Music Festival. With the rains still dumping in the Alps, we look for the closest place of 80 and caught a flight to Barcelona where we headed North without reservations. We arrived in the Mediterranean village of Cadaques and stayed for 3 nights. What a beautiful place. From there we headed south toward Barcelona and after a couple absinthe laced nights we returned to Portland with memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.

While there were many life lessons and experiences shared along the way, a few of mine are as follows:

• A life in motion is more likely to stay in motion
• Fear not if you believe in yourself and those around you. I was challenged as my son led me over the blind cliff ladders in the Alps when the top or bottom was never in sight
• Stop at 2 absinthes on any sitting
• I left my partners in charge and my mobile phone on my desk with instructions to answer if it rang.
• Get to know your family outside on an adventure
• Meet new friends throughout your life. We met many on this 19 day odyssey
• Make a difference in the lives of others and the gift will be returned many times over

Ping me if you have questions…