I’m generally a patient person. Let’s face it….to succeed or even survive in property management and leasing you must have a reservoir of patience to interact with all the craziness of our industry.
I’m also generally an understanding person. Life happens, I get it. We are all humans and screw up.
So I’m a patient and understanding person…Until I’m taken advantage of by someone for these traits of generosity. At that inflection point, I transform into what my title company rep infamously nicknamed me: “BB Baldini.”
Ball Buster Baldini.
When I reach that level, the gloves come off and it’s not pretty to be on the receiving end. So when a Client or vendor jerks me around for payment or is acting in an in-congruent manner with the expectations set between our two entities, it’s Go Time. Unless resolved correctly, it ends with me firing them.
Is that mean? Is that unreasonable? Not at all.
Some might call it extreme, but I call it discipline. Disciplined business processes lead to predictable outcomes. Predictable outcomes are what I’m paid to provide. It’s what my Clients want me and my staff to get done for them. It’s what my staff depends on to provide for their paychecks. It’s what my vendors depend on for their staffs paychecks.
It’s our mission. We take the mission seriously (just not ourselves too seriously).
It’s a concept clearly described in the book, Extreme Ownership, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. These fellas know a thing or two about the subject matter.
As they write in their book: “….it’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate.
When setting expectations, no matter what has been said or written,
if substandard performance is accepted and no one is held accountable
–if there are no consequences–that poor performance becomes the new standard.
Therefore, leaders must enforce standards”
Holding others to a certain standard may not be “en vogue” and is downright unpopular in our societal norms where everyone gets a Participation Trophy, so this is a decision you as the operator of your rental business will have to make.
Do you stand firm or do you fold?
Do you compromise your mission results?
(Hint: If you compromise your mission results, are you seriously ready for the consequences of delaying your Financial Freedom even further?)
As the authors note, “Discipline equals Freedom.”
It’s not a coincidence that the concept of your choices, the concept of your discipline, is so tightly wound with your quest for Freedom.
Now Go and don’t stop until you’ve completed your mission.
P.S. Here’s 3 activities which will create immediate discipline in your business and they won’t cost you a single penny: