I started writing my blog to increase my social media footprint. While it has helped, it’s no longer my purpose.

Rather, I now enjoy expressing my thoughts on issues that pop up during my week. It’s usually something that has happened that inspires me to write about a topic: “Here’s what’s on my mind . . .”

I want to work with a professional, whether it may be financial, medical or technical, who is prepared to, at times, tell me what I need to hear.

If I am working with an individual or firm that is always selling me and/or agreeing with my line of thinking, I’m inclined to move on.

You get what you pay for

I find it interesting that those assertive professionals I seek are usually the busiest and most successful.

The dollar-per-hour productivity that I realize from that experienced individual justifies me paying more for their service.

I like someone who is prepared to lose me as a client by telling me what I may need to hear, rather than just going along to get along.

After I’ve been provided the information which may be contrary to my thinking, I get to decide what’s right for me.

There can be many details in any given situation that can impact a decision.

My job is to receive the advice objectively and filter it to see if any or all of it applies.

Examples I can share

My wife and I are in the planning stages of an out-of-province construction project. It is a design-build that provides for much discretion at each phase of the development.

Early on, our contractor challenged us on the lot we had purchased. He had some valid, logical reasons for his concerns.

Because of the significant change in elevation from front to back it presents a few difficult design obstacles. It did stop us in our tracks when he raised the concern.

We had selected this lot for several reasons. After careful consideration of his input, we decided not to make a change.

It did however increase our respect for him; I knew we were dealing with someone who was not just going to tell us what we wanted to hear.

The same has been true with our architectural design professionals. On a few occasions it’s been pointed out why our ideas will not work, or how they can be improved.

As a result, we have a high level of trust with the entire team.

My own business practices

If you’re seeking representation from a commercial real estate broker who only finds ways to support your strategies, I am not your guy.

If you are keen on a real estate decision that I don’t believe is right for you, or in your long-term best interests, I will respectfully advise you of your alternate options.

If after offering my professional feedback, you decide to still proceed with your strategy, I am happy to facilitate that strategy for you.

The model of representation that I am drawn to can be described as assertive and respectful.

In my own practice, I try to subscribe to that well-known ethic of reciprocity, “do unto others as you would have done unto you!”