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February 2009

From Jim and Charlie

Consider this our "getting real" issue. With all the talk about crisis, recession, layoffs, and stimulus packages, we think it's time to turn away from problems and towards solutions. While we don't have a magic wand and we can't tell you it's all just a bad dream, we have pulled together several constructive ideas for designing the future.

Our feature article says what's been said many times before, but can't be said often enough:  take a deep breath, concentrate, and focus on those few critical actions that make a genuine difference. Our Compass article tells you how we've applied that advice to ourselves – we're taking the somewhat unusual step of telling you exactly what our own 2009 business strategy includes.

And then we turn to real expert on real estate and technology, Jim Young of Realcomm, to shed some light on how the real estate industry can turn what feels like a disaster into genuine opportunity and innovation.

Enjoy!

Charlie and Jim

Click on any Headline below to access the full story online or to download a pdf version.

Feature Article: Concentrating on Concentration

Your real estate, human resources, and technology portfolios are 30% overloaded. To survive you have to concentrate your attention and focus your actions down to the bare essentials, shedding excess assets and processes. We offer are five steps for getting there. Most companies (and their executives) have a hard time with concentration because they can't hold a larger vision of purpose, they fail to focus on essentials, and they don't know how to remove obstacles to change.

Compass: Our 2009 Strategy

We've spent a lot time the last six weeks in planning mode, wrestling with how we at the Work Design Collaborative can cope with the harsh realities of the downturn and a highly uncertain future. After all, if we can't figure out what to do, how can we expect you to follow our advice? So we're reprinting the essence of our 2009 One-Page Business Plan. Your comments will be more than welcome.

Notes From The Field: Getting Real About Real Estate

For years, the financial markets thrived on the concepts that "greed is good", "the music will play forever", and "sophisticated investment techniques" were the way of the future. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), this approach was destined to fail in the long-term. It's time to take the challenges of 2008 and implement solutions that will lead to new business opportunities in 2009.

What's Happened/Happening?

A short note about where Jim and Charlie are, and will be, holding forth in public conversations and other activities.

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