Now more than ever

If you know anything at all about me by now, or read any of my prior articles, you know 100% that I am very much focused on providing good leadership, but more importantly, compassion and inspiration to those I lead and those I meet. None of us are perfect, and there are certainly times that, as I look back, I could have done more. There are moments I'd like to take back and perhaps take a right turn where I took a left turn.

But as we all know, you can't un-ring a bell. You can't un-see something you have seen and you can't take back what you have uttered or said. It just doesn't work this way. So I take lesson from these experiences and do my best to avoid, or maybe more carefully consider the consequences for the next time. We will all be faced with things, choices and options that we will ultimately make and be held accountable for.

Years ago, I began writing a manuscript called Doors of Opportunity. I wrote it for my son who at the time was about to graduate High School and believed 100% of everything was up to fate and he didn't need to think about what may come tomorrow. As I told him on that night he would have many choices, it inspired me to write this "book" which for a short while was sold as an E-book at Barnes and Noble. It didn't sell many copies but I didn't write it for money. I wrote it as therapy.

Since then I think about that a lot and try and take lessons from my own hand, my own brain, that at times in a fast paced world, any of us can forget. So based on that and the many things I have learned, I was inspired to write this short article at a critical moment in all our lives and on this earth. This one is more about what I've learned and how I want to make a difference.

I have gone through some things in my life that are very personal. Life changing moments from my time on this earth that I carry with me, and remain cognizant of all the time. As we age, the ones who made us, who raised us, our heroes, begin to disappear. Life doesn't go on forever and from long ago, beginning with losing my grandparents, eventually my parents, as well as a younger sister, and a younger brother, I saw that the world had to keep moving and I had to as well. You have to compartmentalize things at moments of loss sometimes because even though you my suffer somehow, the world can't be expected to suffer the same way. It's easy to lose that understanding. The best you can do, is allow each of them to live on through you. So from all of those people, I try and maintain strength.

I was raised a sports fan and a musician and like many of you, I had my genuine heroes that inspired me. First they retire, and then they pass on, but like the family I have lost, those figures will continue to live on inside me and inspire me still today. I've learned by listening and learned by working maybe just a little harder that though I may not have the same level of talent in the same areas, that each of us has that something unique to all of us. So, I chose to make a difference in the lives of people I meet, like these did to me using the talents god gave me. Of course I still want to do more, achieve more and leave a legacy that lives well beyond my time. But from those heroes, I maintain my motivation.

In my professional career, I have been blessed with a multitude of opportunities and I have done my level best to make them successful. My career has allowed me to be in a position to lead people, to make lives better, to offer guidance and to help enrich lives. I have seen so many people that I have worked with over the years, including several who reported to me, take advantage of their many talents and strengths and grow in their careers. They are successful and are now leaders in their own right, changing lives, providing guidance and from those special friends and individuals I maintain inspiration.

I have also been challenged with opportunities that are complicated, intricate and complex that required me to dig a little deeper. I learned very early not to rush through anything. I learned from some excellent examples of leaders who taught me that taking a little more time, and ensuring the work was done well, produces far better outcomes. Those moments and those opportunities opened a number of doors for me over the years and from those moments I maintain focus.

Over the years I have seen and been witness to a lot of people who, as they climb the ladder, didn't really take into account the number of people that helped get them there. I have seen many who want to roll out their list of accomplishments and take credit for many things that alone, they could not have possibly accomplished. I have worked with some and for some who are that same way. From early on, one leader made me realize that no one does it alone. Steve Hallsey taught me this. A humble football coach who is very successful in our industry today and will always be my role model. "No one does it alone, David. Stop owning everything and learn how to utilize the team and give them credit for what happens. Your reward will come in time". From that and from Steve, I maintain humility.

Tonight, as I sit here at this keyboard reflecting on the field I chose, the people I met, the ones I have led and the ones I have serviced, all I can think about is what's next? I trust that what is next is a healthy world, rid of this pandemic (Covid-19) we are all doing our best to eradicate. I trust that the economy will rebound and we will once again live in a world where we can shake hands, hug each other and spend time face to face. I trust that the residents we provide shelter for or the customers we service will find good health and wellness. I trust that the field of property management, so sophisticated and so critical, and the energy of the people in this field, the leadership and mentorship so sorely needed will continue to flourish. And from that, I maintain hope.

As many of you know, I am not an overly religious man, but I am a man of faith. I do believe, but I'm not one you will likely run into at a revival. But, I have a lot of faith, in people, and in what I think is the sincere desire everyone has to do good and do the right thing.

In this little article I tried to provide you six areas that none of us can do without and that have always been a staple in my life personally. Six areas that have built my world, and play a significant role in the world we have today. I have faith we can make it even stronger tomorrow. It is my sincere hope for each of you that you will find the strength to maintain in this tough time. My wish is that you find the motivation and the inspiration to make our world as well as your world in particular even better for those you love and those you lead. Take charge, but take charge with humility and a sincere focus to change lives and make a difference.

-David R Bales