MHN Executive Council: Even More of the Best Advice Received (Part 3)
Sometimes the best advice for your career comes from outside the industry.
People often give advice freely—for better or worse. When it’s good advice, particularly about your career, it can stick with you. The MHN Executive Council has received some great tips over the years. Here are the standouts. (And read part 1 and part 2 of this series for even more great insights.)
Take a Beat
I’ve received a lot of great advice from a lot of great people throughout my career. One of the most interesting gems, though, surfaced when I worked in restaurants prior to my career in design. It’s simple: don’t dart.
It was less of a suggestion and more of a rule on the floor. When managing a restaurant’s full section, instinct favors reacting to an immediate need. Running to the table that needs a refill or rushing an order to the POS are examples of fixing the loudest problem first. But the adage “don’t dart” forces the opposite. It requires a pause, a scan of the entire room, and a full inventory of everything that’s happening. By stepping away, needs are better prioritized and an executable plan emerges.
It’s a small shift, but it changes everything. The real leverage comes from stepping back, understanding the full picture, and then acting decisively. The result? You’re more efficient, more composed, and far more intentional in how you move.
I still think about this advice about 10+ times a day. In our world, it’s easy to chase the most immediate ask, but that’s often where chaos lives. I’ve intentionally paused ever since and it’s proven to scale a lot further than the restaurant floor ever could. Don’t dart. —Josh Kassing, SVP, Mary Cook Associates
Calm in the Chaos
Early in my career, I sometimes felt pressure to react immediately to every challenge. One of the best pieces of advice I received was: “Property management is problem solving—don’t become part of the problem. Breathe.”
In this industry, situations can escalate quickly—resident concerns, maintenance emergencies, staffing challenges, ownership pressures—and teams naturally look to leadership for cues on how to respond.
The best leaders create stability during stressful moments. That mindset is something we actively nurture through leadership development at The REMM Group. We teach our teams to step back, assess the situation clearly, communicate effectively, and keep people focused on solutions instead of emotion. —Susan McPeak, Corporate Ambassador, The REMM Group
People Skills
Early in my career, I was given a simple piece of advice that I have applied and shared ever since: Surround yourself with the best people you can—people smarter than you, people with different skill sets, people who excel in the areas where you are weaker.
In practice, this is harder than it sounds. There is a natural desire—especially early in a career—to be the most capable person in the room. But left unchecked, that instinct can be one of the most limiting traits in a leader.
The best teams are built not on uniformity but on complementary strengths: big-picture thinking balanced by operational discipline, relationship skills paired with analytical rigor.
Strong leaders are not strong because they have all the answers, but because they maximize the strengths of the people around them—and are self-aware enough to ensure their own weaknesses are recognized and supported. —Richard Doetsch, Director of Asset Management, Hudson Valley Property Group
Do the Right Thing
Years ago when I worked for Trammell Crow Residential I was able to interact with Mr. Crow a few times over the years. One thing he said has stuck with me for over 30 years:
You always, always do the right thing. You don’t do it because it is trendy, or because it will make you more money, or because it’s popular, because it’s often not! You do it because it is the right thing to do. If you live by that principle people will always trust you and respect you as you move through your career and your life in the world. —Daniel Ford, Director of Asset and Property Management, The Clear Blue Company
Passion for Excellence
The best career advice I received was from the owner of the first company I managed in Columbus, Ohio. I was 29 years old, and the gentlemen I worked for was a brilliant businessman and tactician. His words of advice were very simple: “Know everything about everything and never accept no for an answer, especially from an attorney.” He said the last part in a tongue-in-cheek manner, of course. But, he operated with a high level of intensity and drive, and he believed in never being satisfied with anything. It was that intensity and his passion for excellence that helped me get to where I am today. —Jim Cunningham, President, Marquette Management
Always a Solution
After starting my career as a flight attendant and then trying out an administrative role in condo management, I finally transitioned to property management. It was in this role that I worked with my first mentor in the industry. I was extremely lucky to work with him, as he was very caring yet he also was very demanding. He taught me that the word “can’t” does not exist, and that whatever the problem may be, there is a way to resolve it and figure it out. Having him as my first official supervisor in property management really laid the groundwork for me to realize this field is where I want to spend my career long-term. I still use those words of advice as a guide today when I encounter a situation with a resident or at a property, knowing we can always find an answer and solve any problem. —Diana Pittro, Executive Vice President, RMK Management
Quality Over Quantity
This advice actually came from a VP of Operations early in my career and has resonated with me throughout, especially as a working mother.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned is that quality time matters more than quantity. At work and at home, people may not remember every hour you spent but they’ll always remember how you made them feel in the moments that mattered. I’ve tried to lead and live that way by being fully present, intentional, and connected wherever I am. —Kari Warren, COO of Property Management, Kairoi Residential
Interested in joining the MHN Executive Council and sharing your insights? Email Jessica Fiur.
