Those who are acquainted with Robert Holmes know that he is an avid reader, cyclist, sky diver, world traveler and outdoorsman. He is passionate about urban growth, animated resort communities, wellness, relationships and trends in business. As a connector, Robert shares his discoveries with the people around him. Recent recommendations:

Story Selling
Using stories to sell real estate is something to consider. Click here for more information on Story Selling.

"Plussing" – Cabot Enterprises, Ltd.
Overview: Phil Scott’s Cabot Enterprises (http://cabotenterprises.com/) is doing some interesting work on team collaboration and "plussing." Phil was the person who worked with Intrawest and Harbor Properties on The Mountain Institute including Story Selling learning and Deal School, which were integral to growing the companies. For an example of "plussing" in action, please click here.

Trend Watching
An interesting website called TrendWatching.com – check it out.

2011 ULI Spring Meeting: Keynote Presentation by Ken Dychtwald, PhD
2011 Eastside Leadership Conference: Presentation by Joel Kotkin
Overview: Dr. Ken Dychtwald’s keynote presentation at the 2011 ULI Spring Meeting and Joel Kotkin’s The Future of America presentation from the 2011 Eastside Leadership Conference are worth hearing / looking at – and for those of us in the housing business, of particular relevance. Click here to download Dr. Kychtwald’s presentation as a MP3.

Being from the Puget Sound and doing work in both Seattle and Bellevue, the information available on this page on the most recent census findings is very interesting as well.

A New Generation of Renters Emerging, Derek Kravitz – Daily Journal of Commerce, May 2011
Overview: Derek Kravitz discusses the growing number of Americans who cannot afford a home or do not want to own one – a trend that’s spawning a generation of renters and a rise in apartment construction. I agree with the article with one exception – I believe the growth rate of apartment construction will be more than the article suggests, i.e. – it won't take until 2013 or even 2014 to return to a "normal" / 250,000 units per year. Also, I believe it will go north of 250,000 – more like 300,000. Click here to read the full article.

Generation Y: America’s New Housing Wave, Urban Land Institute
Overview: Along the lines of Derek Kravitz’s A New Generation of Renters Emerging article, click here to read the Urban Land Institute’s presentation on Generation Y: America’s New Housing Wave from November 2010.

Innovation Extravaganza
Overview: Trendwatching’s June Trend Briefing covering "Innovation Extravaganza" is a roundup of dozens of consumer innovations from around the world, as well as the (mini) consumer trends that spawned them. Click here to read more.

ULI Fall 2010 Emerging Trends
The Fall 2010 ULI Conference in Washington, DC had a significant focus on the resurgence of the multi-family housing market. From the conference came an enlightening issue of ULI Emerging Trends in Real Estate. Read the document by clicking here.

Kelsey & Norden Resort Real Estate Survey
The resort real estate sector was especially hard hit by the recession. A consumer survey completed in the Fall of 2010 notes that the future is looking brighter. The Kelsey & Norden Resort Real Estate Survey of Consumer Trends Emerging from Economic Crisis includes both personal comments as well as data analysis.

The Power of a Question
High performing leaders are inherently curious and use questions to more fully understand issues and to lead their companies. Review this document for a series of questions to support the growth of your business.

Partnership
Successful co-branding partnerships don't just happen. One key element is to make certain that organizations seeking a joint venture are deeply compatible in values and personalities. This is partly a matter of smart marketing. An effective partnership must link companies whose target audiences are fundamentally similar in terms of taste, demographics, income and interests. It also helps if the leaders of the partnering companies know and respect one another. If you "speak the same language" and have fundamentally similar values and philosophies, there's less likelihood of encountering difficulties, which can't be overcome. Read more about the creation of successful partnerships

Negotiation Genius, Deepak Malhotra & Max H. Bazerman

Overview: From two leaders in executive education at Harvard Business School, here are the mental habits and proven strategies you need to achieve outstanding results in any negotiation.

When Will Markets Recover? – US Housing Outlook, The Concord Group

Overview: The analysis outlines The Concord Group's forecast for the US housing market and represents the first in a series of articles concerning market risk and opportunity. Click here to read the entire article.

Animation Checklist - Download the checklist now
In resort or urban development, animation of the sidewalk and enhancement of the pedestrian experience is what truly makes a place. Robert Holmes has developed an animation checklist that developers, retailers, asset managers and urban and resort planners will find immensely helpful.

The Customer is the Company, Max Chafkin - Inc. Magazine, June 2008

Overview: I am beginning to see more customization for residential development and now office condominiums, where users are providing significant input into the project well in advance of construction. Take a look at this article on this unique business model and imagine how it might work in real estate.

Who’s Your City, Richard Florida - How the Creative Economy is Making the Place Where You Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life.

Overview: It’s a mantra of the age of globalization... where you live doesn’t matter: you can telecommute to your high-tech Silicon Valley job, a ski-slope in Idaho, a beach in Hawaii or a loft in Chicago; you can innovate from Shanghai or Bangalore.

However, according to Richard Florida, this is wrong. Place is not only important, it’s more important than ever.

Globalization is not flattening the world. On the contrary, the world is spiky. Place is becoming more relevant to the global economy and our individual lives. The choice of where to live, therefore, is not an arbitrary one. It is arguably the most important decision we make, as important as choosing a spouse or a career. In fact, place exerts powerful influence over the jobs and careers we have access to, the people we meet and our “mating markets” and our ability to lead happy and fulfilled lives.
For further insight visit Richard Florida’s website at http://creativeclass.com/whos_your_city.

What Happy People Know, Dan Baker, Ph.D., Director at Canyon Ranch and Cameron Stauth

Overview: Dr. Baker, Director of the Life Enhancement Program at Canyon Ranch, has devoted his life to teaching people how to be happy. In What Happy People Know, he shares the program that has revolutionized the lives of countless unhappy people, VIP’s and regular Joes and Janes alike. First, you’ll learn the only two issues that ever cause unhappiness and devise your plan to overcome both of them. Dr. Baker then teaches you how to spot the happiness traps - the five doomed ways we try to make ourselves happy, but instead cause us to dig ourselves further into misery. Finally he shares his happiness tools: the six simple skills, that when practiced consistently, will inevitably lead to great optimism, courage, good humor and fulfillment... in short, to happiness.
For insight and further knowledge, visit http://www.canyonranch.com/story/dan-baker.aspx.

Transitions, William Bridges

Overview: Having been first published in 1980, Transitions is still a timeless read. Transitions is all about change - how to look at change and the patterns that emerge within all types of transitions.
For further insight, visit http://www.wmbridges.com.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap? and Others Don’t, Jim Collins

Overview: Based on a five-year research project, Good to Great answers the question: “Can a good company become a great company, and, if so, how?” True to the rigorous research methodology and invigorating teaching style of Jim Collins, Good to Great teaches how even the dowdiest of companies can make the leap to outperform market leaders such as Coca-Cola, Intel, General Electric, and Merck.
For further insight, visit Jim Collins’ website at http://www.jimcollins.com.

Small is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas, Seth Godin

Overview: The book is a collection of more than 180 riffs that have appeared in Fast Company or on his blog over the last six or seven years. It’s designed to spark you and your colleagues into doing what you already knew how to do in the first place.
For further insight, visit Seth Godin’s blog at http://sethgodin.typepad.com or his official business site at http://www.sethgodin.com/small.