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Tips For Faster Growth and Exceptional Quality of Life

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When I was in my 40s, I participated in the Strategic Coach program. When I turned 50, I pulled out the journaling that I did as a part of the program. It took a week to distill everything down to its essence. I then used this information to inform and guide my actions going forward.

There’s a name for this approach. In The Strategic Coach program, this thinking tool is called The Experience Transformer. The goal is to capture the learning that can occur from both positive and negative experiences. By understanding where things didn’t work, a person can learn and move to higher levels of performance.

Last week, I celebrated my birthday and it got me thinking about what life lessons I’ve learned. I found those journals and notes, and here are my top takeaways.

  • Stay invulnerable. Be diligent in reducing overhead by minimizing fixed costs and outsourcing whenever possible.
  • Do what you love. Be disciplined when accepting assignments. Only accept those that energize you and that you can do with grace.
  • Ask consultants tough questions. Scrutinize the value that consultants and coaches bring. Seek 10X returns.
  • Go for the 80%. Give everything an 80% effort, then hand it over to someone else to complete. Perfection wastes time and causes procrastination.
  • Avoid the office. Get out, meet people, and use electronic filing systems.
  • Learn content marketing. It shows value and differentiates you from the pack.
  • Be a lifelong learner: Ask yourself and others thought-provoking questions.
  • Leverage the power of the microchip. Always look for hacks to save time, money and become more efficient.
  • Spend more time with friends of the firm and less time working “on the business”.

Engaging in The Experience Transformer is a habit I adopted and will always keep. My friend and mentor, Dan Sullivan, who leads The Strategic Coach, often says that “successful entrepreneurs look at every experience in one of two ways: Either they see themselves winning, or they see themselves learning.”

It’s sage advice, and one anyone can adopt at any age. Regularly writing and tuning in has helped my business a great deal. In short: I’ve grown and succeeded and not repeated mistakes made in the past.

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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