The Precalculus versus the 2+2 Method to Business
My son and I had an interesting conversation about precalculus this weekend. It was a conversation I am sure every parent has had in some way. The question was: How will this ever help me in real life? My answer was standard but at the same time, it was another moment to look at how I applied my own advice and how it translates to the work environment today.
The advice is standard. It has nothing to do with the math itself but the opportunity to accept a challenge, even one that you dislike and turn it into a success. If we went through school without accepting those challenges then the same pattern would typically follow us through our career path.
After reminding my son of these concepts it was now my turn to reflect on how I accept challenges. I will be honest I never took pre-calculus. My focus was more on other subjects but I do remember asking my math teacher the same question and she had no trouble giving me the scientific answer on how developing the ability to solve difficult concepts would affect my brains development. Point taken.
Now here I am approaching my 40's and I look at the career challenges that are before me and before all of us constantly. What method do we approach our challenges each day? The precalculus approach or the 2+2? That can be a bit soul searching. Do we look for the easiest way to approach a task just to get it done? Or do we accept personal or team challenges that may be daunting with the goal in mind of I must accomplish...I must prevail?
When it comes to marketing in particular we still see many who opt for the 2+2 method. It's easy...it's simple...just pop some banners and bulletins out and that should work. Phew!! My marketing job is done now. Guess what. That is just not a reality. You can't even reinvent 2+2 folks. Marketing is just one of the many tasks that have become much more complex. The question is are we ready for the challenge?
Written by Jonathan Saar
Jonathan Jonathan “Where are you?
Towards the end of November was the last time I penned a post on this site and the realization of that has left me feeling kind of guilty. To be honest it was not on purpose. Although I look back on 2011 and I can happily reflect on the amazing business accomplishments I achieved, on a personal level there was not too much to be happy about. 2011 seemed to only bring me personal tragedy and crisis constantly culminating in me finding out at the end of December that I would lose my home and would have to move.
I was not immune to the recession that took place. I lost my job in 2008 and had to start the rebuilding process. I was living in a home that my father in law held the mortgage. Since he lost work as well we decided to build an apartment in the lower level for him and my mother in law in order to both cut our costs significantly. We started the long process of going through a loan modification. I assumed everything was fine and then back in August of 2011 we get a notice of foreclosure.
Imagine my shock. I thought everything was fine. I hired paralegals and a lawyer to fight this. After a few thousand dollars later I come to find out that due to a couple of oversights on our end regarding some fine print in the modification that the big bank had won and I had not. Needless to say, I have been speechless over all of this. I guess we all have our thresholds, don't we?
Writing this post is my way of purging. As I have gotten older I have come to realize I retain all my stress inside of me without even realizing its overall effect on me personally and for those around me. With everything that has taken place, I keep telling myself each morning to just set realistic goals for the day and push through it. Despite all the bologna of 2011, I do have much to be grateful for which as I am writing this post I am reflecting on. It's not my way of scolding me for being upset but it serves as a great balancing tool for sure.
In a little over a week, I will be in my new place and I am honestly looking forward to it. It may be a temporary roof over my head while I continue the rebuilding process but it's a roof and I am happy. It will serve as a symbol of another new beginning in my life. 2011 has taught me many personal lessons about me and about how I function. I think I know where I am now. I believe I have found what I needed. I am grateful for all the support, in general, I have received from all of you and I look forward to a solid positive direction personally. It's time to hop back in the saddle and crush it.
Written by Jonathan Saar
Intro
My personal blog has been on the project list for many months now and I am so happy that it is finally ready to be launched. It has 
been a very busy year as the Director of Marketing for The Training Factor, part of which involved consistently posting blogs on a regular basis. There are a couple of reasons why I wanted to launch this blog. #1 I wanted to. Blogging for The Training Factor needed to be on very specific topics that were multifamily and apartment-related. Of course, that is going to continue which leads to reason #2. There are some other topics that are much more general that I have had on my mind for some time now and I wish to reach a much broader audience. Blogging was something I never could have seen myself doing a couple of years ago but now it has turned into something I really enjoy doing. (more…)