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My Top Productivity Tips For You

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Small business is clumpy. My father says that it’s a series of “soaring victories and crushing defeats.” Days are often a mix of loneliness and being super busy.

I have a full plate between work, home, social and civic engagements. I have no complaints about this abundance. I learned to be efficient with my time to get everything done and keep a calm head.

When I was a boy, my mother, took me to the Joseph O’Connor Foundation in Atlanta for “aptitude testing”. This was part of her project for her Master’s degree in Counseling. Lured there under the guise that we were going to Six Flags, I endured a day of what I now view as mental poking. The result was a diagnosis that I would make a great bus driver and a recommendation to leverage technology whenever I can.

It’s true. I would make a great bus driver. But before I digress into why and how I am a human compass, let me say that fascination with technology was born.

Many of my regular readers know I’m a fan of using technology in my work and personal life. A colleague recently described me as an early adopter. I disagree. I’m not an early adopter. I’d argue that I, and Charlotte as a whole, are late adopters, (particularly the older, male crowd of professionals who have lived here for generations). I turn to tech to do more, be more efficient and stay organized. I don’t have the patience to work with something that’s buggie.

So here’s a list of some of my favorite, proven apps, processes, and techniques that are helping me get stuff done.

  • LandGlide is an awesome app I’m using a bunch these days. It uses GPS technology to pinpoint my location and provides access to maps and 150 million parcel records in over 3,000 counties, accounting for more than 95% of the U.S. population. It’s never been easier to find out a property’s owner, boundaries, parcel ID and more.
  • I’m not a fan of the name, but Mixmax is proving super helpful at helping me maximize my productivity with email.
  • Speaking of email, I am a firm believer of having an empty inbox at the end of the day. Sticking to this belief ensures my next day starts off on the best footing.
  • Calendly offers an easy way to schedule, and stay on top of meetings.
  • Freelancers. I find phenomenal freelancers and hang on to them. A talented and dependable team can make magic happen. Kerry Singe is my trusted go-to person for help with all kinds of content, proposal, and other writing needs. And I’ve found another fantastic freelancer to help with offering memorandums, Jax Ball, who with her family splits her time between South Carolina and Bali.
  • To do my best at work I need to be physically healthy. I’ve been using MyFitnessPal to keep track of stuff, and have hired a local coach, Jamey Yon of TRiYon Performance. He’s a 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Champion for his age bracket and believes in achieving a balance of sports specific training, strength work, healthy nutrition, and life.
  • The app Strava keeps me enthused and inspired about my cycling. It offers a social fitness community for runners and cyclists
  • When cycling I use bone conduction headphones so I can jam out to music but still hear road noise and world around me. AfterShox uses your cheekbones and jawbones to transmit the vibrations directly to your inner ear while by passing the outer and middle ear. Cool huh?
  • The Pomodoro Technique. I use the “Focus Keeper” app to break tasks into 25-minute increments. I love this app!
  • Suttna. Used through Slack, Suttna holds me accountable for all of my goals.
  • My CRM? For over a decade I have relied on Highrise. Simple and cheap.
  • How to manage deals and communicate to clients? Trello
  • The best VA’s on the planet? Leverage
  • No time to read? Blinkist
  • No time to recall? Evernote

What I love about the above-named apps and work processes, is they make me hyper-efficient, so even though I’m getting a lot done, I still have time to stop and think.

I also have some apps to help me with that as well.

I recommend Mary Meckley’s Daily Medication Podcast. And yoga at least three times a week is what works best for me. The Charlotte Athletic Club and YogaOne. When I want to go fast with some great riders? WeeklyRides

This combination of technology and outsourcing, combined with apps that help me be a healthier person and family member, are the face of today’s small business. If you are going to be independent and efficient and deliver at a high level, embracing tools, such as the ones I recommend, are how you are going to do it.

Real estate transactions can be fraught with frustration and pitfalls.

Sometimes the hardest part turns out to be working with your broker, the person who is supposed to help you through the complexities. Veteran commercial real estate broker and client advisor John Culbertson discovered that brokers’ interests aren’t always aligned with those of their clients. He realized there was a better way to advocate for clients and get the deal done.

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We’re grateful for our clients. They are extraordinary leaders who have achieved tremendous results. When we think about the companies and people we are fortunate to work with, we are blown away.

Jay Faison
Former President, WirePath and ZoboTV

John and his team were exceptional advocates on our behalf. Their team approach makes sense, and it yielded an excellent value for my company.

Bob Spencer
Senior Vice President, RBC Bank

I got to know John while serving on a state board and observed him be one of very high integrity and commitment to his clients. His approach to serving clients in the real estate business is unique and results-focused. I have no hesitation recommending him to any of my clients. I know he is a true professional and an expert in his field. He understands partnering like no one else!

Lee Roberts
Former Managing Director Piedmont Community Bank Holdings

Truth is, we can easily find real estate that is available in SouthPark. But Cardinal called the landlord of one of our competitors and helped us make a deal for an awesome Charlotte branch. I am extraordinarily pleased with the engagement in every possible dimension.

Ronnie Bryant
Former CEO, Charlotte Regional Partnership

Working with a smaller shop gets you more personal attention. I got the top guy’s attention. You don’t get that with a large organization where sometimes you end up with junior people doing the work. John is detailed; he’s professional, he’s aggressive, and not in a negative way, but in terms of wanting to get it right. He’s tenacious. He would be my No. 1 choice for any real estate deal. I know what to expect. He’s a good guy, and over the years, he's become a good friend, too.

Stephen Pandos
Director of Finance, Insite Properties

Few people have a Rolodex like John. He's about the most networked person I know and people take his call. He has deep contacts with all the major players, both locally and around the region. As a result of John's introductions, we have found several exceptional deals and developed some valuable relationships. You can't put a price tag on this type of access and speed of trust.

Stephen Pandos
Director of Finance, Insite Properties

John has a high tolerance for the mental pain it takes to solve a complex problem. Frankly, his peers in the brokerage industry just don’t have it. I think John’s experience as an operator, investor, developer, and broker gives him a unique perspective when looking at opportunities. His vision, his ability to think forward, is unique in his profession. His ability to see the bigger picture and what the future looks like on opportunities is remarkable. He also is networked - he has deep contacts with all the major players, both locally and around the region. John’s network has opened doors for us. People take his call.

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