TC AM 012 - Top Guest Insights from 2023 (So Far)
Discover more from Transforming Cities AM
TC AM 012 - Top Guest Insights from 2023 (So Far)
And, TC moves to Substack. Here's why.
Good Morning 👋 – Chris here.
Welcome to the Transforming Cities A.M. Edition.
A simple Saturday read in under 5 minutes.
Noticing anything different? If so, you’re already on it.
This week I moved TC:AM over to Substack. I’ve been juggling the decision for a few weeks, but recent conversations pushed me over the edge.
Why?
In working with a few clients on their content marketing game plans and seeing shifts across the email, leadership, and real estate industry at large, I felt the move made a lot of sense for Transforming Cities.
Here are a few main reasons why:
Substack has constraints, which depending on how you look at it, are good or bad. I like it because I tend to overthink every little detail, and this platform is freeing in that there are only so many things I can do.
There is a built-in pool of people existing on the platform already. Nowhere else can say that quite like Substack, and I’m excited to build on a space with a huge collective following.
Real estate and multifamily are relatively untapped genres on Substack, which means seeing new people join and follow along is a real possibility, given the landscape.
It’s super easy to subscribe, share, upsell, and more. Substack pushes the subscribe and share actions, and I’ve felt like most other mail providers made it harder to create an ecosystem where that lives at a foundational level.
The content lives online, is accessible for all, and is easily scannable in a single location. I’ve struggled with the best way to make sure past content is accessible, and beyond building a website (which is coming later this year), it’s very difficult with email providers. Substack builds in that home base.
Finally, it’s also free. And that’s hard to argue with that for what it is and the options it brings to the table to build a niche following.
What are the downsides?
Reporting and data are pretty terrible, and there are no drip/nurture capabilities, among other things, which is arguably too lean.
And, in a recent move of aggression, Twitter (or, should I say, Elon) has taken it to Substack over a recent feature release.
But… that’s OK.
For now, I think Substack makes perfect sense for where Transforming Cities AM is today.
Visit Transforming Cities and tell me what you think and what you feel could make the experience even better.
TC Live: Places for People
How do two people with farming backgrounds think about new development? On the next Transforming Cities Live, Clayton Garrett and Scott Snodgrass from Meristem Communities will join me as we explore the idea of "places for people."
Ecosystems, residential development, the concept of town centers, and much, much more. 💥 We'll also chat about Indigo, the latest project by Meristem in Richmond, TX, and what it's all about.
Join us on April 26 for a live discussion and Q&A to follow. Tell your colleagues and let's have some fun!
Top TC Guest Insights
One of my favorite things to do a few times a year is to reflect on the lessons and insights the guests on Transforming Cities bring to the table.
Without fail, every time I think back, I have a laundry list of key takeaways that should be shared with the world. This week, I want to highlight and share a handful of those with this community.
If you want to learn more, I welcome you to dive into the full conversation or contact the guest directly!
Michael DiMella
“If you make fewer people really-really like it, that's going to lead to a better result.”
Michael DiMella, Managing Parter at CHARLESGATE, spoke to specificity in property branding, voice, and overall marketing approach.
He and his team’s focus on tactical execution through brand, experience, lease-up, and stabilization are still quite uncommon in much of the multifamily world.
Catch the full clip here.
John Gonzalez
“You can (now) create scenarios for your staff to plan and play to see how they might interact with specific household types or residents.”
John Gonzalez, VP of Marketing + CX at ITEX, dove into the power of AI and ChatGPT tools becoming more readily available.
If you follow John on social media, you know he’s at the forefront of AI tech and where innovation in chat and visualizations is headed. Definitely worth a listen and a follow on LinkedIn to keep up!
See what he has to say below.
Andrew Katz
“The problem is if there's no interest in forest products, and it's more profitable for the mills to sell their land - that's when we lose the trees permanently.”
Andrew Katz, Founder at Katz Development, discussed the difference between harvesting trees in a capitalistic fashion vs. true permanent clear-cutting.
There are wide-ranging opinions around mass timber development today, much of which stems from miseducation about the milling business. He’s learned a lot ahead of breaking ground on his 12-story mass timber multifamily project in Denver, and he shared much of that with me earlier this year.
Watch his comments about forest products in this clip.
Anna Mackay
“We can't deny the state of our climate and social unrest, and real estate development is an incredible vertical to revitalize communities.”
Anna Mackay, Founder + Principal at Sister City, shared how real estate investment can bolster growth and redistribute wealth across our most underserved neighborhoods.
Her work at Sister City and Shortstack Housing has come after years of experience working on and leading development projects at Guerrilla Development in Portland. Anna always brings heat and knowledge, so I love chatting with her.
See Anna walk through a few thoughts below.
Martha Bader
“Life is like a mullet... The first half of your life is figuring out who you are, and the second half is more fun and expansive. You realize you have one shot.”
Martha Bader, Director of Marketing and Programming at Arden 55+ Living, shared her thoughts on the journey that is life. The first half is about business, and the second half is all about "Let's go!"
I enjoyed my conversation with Martha, as she’s one of the nicest and most thoughtful voices in the industry I’ve come across to date! Definitely a can’t-miss listen.
Check out Martha’s explanation in this video.
Of course, it’s nearly impossible to settle on just five examples. 😅
There are countless moments from conversations on Transforming Cities that have impact and weight, but these are just a few of my favorite takeaways so far this year.
What are your favorites?
What types of conversations do you enjoy most?
I’d love to hear what you think.
That's all for this Saturday. Have a great day! 🚀
If this has added value for you, the best compliment you could pay me would be to share it with one person and encourage them to join us!
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