July 1, 2010
Building a business is rewarding. Building the team that manages the business is a big part of the prize. I have some managers who have been with me for 5-10 years. Seeing their growth and the contribution they’ve made to their individual stores has really brought me a lot of joy this week. While each is uniquely talented, they definitely share some common strengths:
· A desire for excellence
· Determination
· Perseverance
· Esprit de Corp
· And more
Together we grow!
April 14, 2010
Q2 2010 is already looking up. We are seeing more rentals, more development and more interest in upgrading operations than we have in a long time. That's encouraging.
It is a time for those who can to move forward with improvements. Construction costs are competitive and the lack of development over the last few years has given demand a chance to catch up with the supply all over the place.
It's my favorite time of year anyway -- just because of the weather in Texas -- but it is good to see our business getting better with real numbers and real results.
February 28, 2010
Once again, spring is coming. Will it bring relief for occupancies that fell in the fall and weathered the winter declines? Typically, this is the season of moving and move-ins, garage cleaning, house-sale staging, relocating and more.
Will 2010 hold the hope of years past? I think so.
Sweep the porch, clean the windows and put a new message on the marquee. Remind your potential customers: Spring Forward. Move In Today!
February 7, 2010
I like meeting potential developers and talking to them about their building plans, yet no two are ever exactly alike. Some sketch out their ideas on the back of a napkin while others have an office full of architectural drawings and colorful renditions of their well-thought out designs. These larger, mixed-use projects only “incorporate” self storage as a component rather than a project in and of itself. Yet, it’s often the self-storage revenue portion of the project that makes the entire development viable so they want advice.
Site design and unit mix is where we generally focus with a variety of questions about operations and management woven in along the way. How much climate control should they build? What about Boat/RV storage? How wide should the driveways be? How big does the office need to be? How much will property management cost? I’m glad to answer. Being in the business as long as I have, I have learned a thing or two wearing a variety of different hats over the years. But I still have to say, “I’m not sure,” from time to time. I want to point the way to the experts needed -- legal, electrical, technical – whatever the case.
It surprises me, though, how some developers want to move ahead anyway -- without doing their homework and relying on themselves when I believe a little advice would go a long way in the end. There’s a fine line between the entrepreneurial spirit that drives development and a flat out stubborn streak cloaked behind a false economy. “Tripping over dollars to pick up pennies” unfortunately sometimes applies.
January 14, 2010
I had hope as I watched the stock market rally yesterday. But the need for healing in our US economy seemed suddenly unimportant as the news from Haiti’s earthquake and its resulting devastation took first place on the news.
But I was at work -- tending tenaciously to my “business at hand”. Enter next a familiar dialogue that tends to distract and ultimately can destroy any good intentions I have to help or get involved with a worldwide (or stateside) cause:
“What am I focused on here? I am saying, “Be the best manager, be the best employee, rent the most space, sell the most products, get out and market. I’m pushing people to do their jobs and do them well today! How can anyone care about these mundane, capitalistic concerns as people suffer and we watch real-time video streaming their pain? We’re hearing firsthand accounts from our reporters on site narrating needs!”
Yet, I know this conversation with myself is really routed in perfectionism --- which is not such a great trait – but one I deal with face to face all the time. Left to my natural inclinations: I can see all that needs to be done and with the “paralysis of analysis” not move forward on any of it.
Which relief organization should I support? Are they trustworthy? Should I send money on-line individually or put together a group effort? What will it be? What can I do to make a difference in such a disaster so far away from me?
In the multitude of counsel -- as they say -- there is wisdom.
I remember what a football coach told a very old friend of mine: “If you’re playing defense, and you’re supposed to block the guy on the right and you see a guy coming on your left, you’ll have a tendency to hesitate and doubt.” So, which should you hit? The coach said, “Either way, hit one of ‘em with all you’ve got and as hard as you can. Make it count – even if it turns out that it wasn’t the ideal decision whenever the play is reviewed.”
I hope I do something! Just like you, I want to be part of the solution when catastrophes – big or small -- are in my sphere of influence or where it has the capacity to count.
Back to business? It’s what’s in front of us. Let’s hit it hard. But let’s take time to do all we can – in our individual capacities to give to those in need. Right now it’s the Haitian people. Here’s an article on “How to Help” with some links to follow if you want to do something now before returning the work at hand: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,582902,00.html
Happy New Year 2010!
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Posted on September 30, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
A professional property management company generally can! Once trained with skills proven in the leasing office, a good manager can work their way up from behind the counter and go “into the field”.
Here’s the rudimentary structure of a typical self-storage ladder illustrating it doesn’t have to be a “dead end job”:
Filed under: Managers, Owning the Business | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 29, 2009 by 123selfstorage
Consider consulting with an Energy Advisor or Energy Aggregate company. Granted, it is a lot of trouble…and I won’t recount all the gory details in this post.
Filed under: Owning the Business | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 7, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
The Self Storage Property Managers…were still trying not to miss a rental today. They may have had less hours in the store…but they were nevertheless AVAILABLE, just in case!
Filed under: Managers, Owning the Business | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 5, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
This is not the kind of economy to put the “CLOSED” sign up…unless you don’t mind closing up for keeps one day soon.
Filed under: Managers, Owning the Business | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 1, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
“I just tell ‘em the prices,” said the Unsuccessful Manager.
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Posted on August 31, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
What do we define as the top ten traits of a troublemaker? Let’s apply “the first shall be last” approach counting down to the #1 “Name” that never describes a successful self-storage manager:
Filed under: Managers, Owning the Business | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 28, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
We’re now eliminating the big bucks spent for top placement in the printed book…and shifting funds to internet opportunities including the best-built package offerred by the yellow page publishers for their own on-line version of the once “staple” in the kitchen and on the desk by the phone.
Filed under: Advertising, Owning the Business | Leave a Comment »
Posted on July 20, 2009 by 123selfstorage |
It’s amazing how we can thrive with an economy like this…(and in spite of a Hurricane last year…) How does that happen?
Filed under: Owning the Business | 1 Comment »
Julie's Articles:
Top Ten Traits of a Great Self Storage Manager: Every Store's 'Most Valuable Player'
Key Expense Categories for Any Operator
Interviewing a Management Company? 40 Things You Really Want to Know
Steps To Letting Go
A Day In The Life Of The Storage Biz: I've Been Robbed!
Q and A: Ask An Expert
Firing a Bad Manager: What Are You Afraid Of?t
Keeping an Eye on Income
Hiring Right: The Stakes Are High
Making Marketing Work
Texas Talks about Tenant Insurance
How Can a Self Storage Consultant Help You Get Started In the Business?
Ready or Not...Here Comes Disaster
The Ups and Downs of Self Storage Doors
Decisions. Decisions.
'C' Success - Part 4 'C' Success - Part 3
'C' Success - Part 2 'C' Success - Part 1
