Love Letter...To Myself!
Better Than My Used To
January is like the off-season for the Dallas Cowboys – everything is possible, no matter the reality!
At the end of each year, for now over 55 years, I generate from what I journal daily in a written log, a “Franklin T” of what went well and where I failed to make progress. My focus is patterns - what actions and attitudes carried me forward, and which held me back.
Where do I go from here?
LEAN INTO STRENGTH
Real estate is my “love language”! Having acquired 50,000+ apartments and 10 retail centers (thank you Buddy S.), raised over $100,000,000 for each of three real estate aggregators (thank you John M., Tony T., and Louis R.), and served as Chair of Audit for a NYSE REIT (thank you Terry S), my insights come from a deep pool of experience (aka—fail, pick myself up, and start all over again)!
Like-kind exchanges (“1031”) and qualified opportunity zones (“OZ”) provide shelter for investors to defer / reduce / eliminate taxes on capital gains due on asset sale. My role as Director – Investments for Texas-based Crescent Securities (thank you Nick D.) allows me access to a wide range of non-traded packaged real estate-based securities designed to help owners of businesses, real property, and other capital assets find an options best suited to their exit planning and tax-related needs.
How may I in 2026 be of assistance to your clients in addressing their tax challenges?
LOVE WHAT YOU LOVE
Daly Seven, a 40+ year-old North Carolina developer manager of 40+ hotels, engaged me several years back to help with their transition to a next generation of leadership. This role allows me, as a non-voting member of their board, to lead their meetings as a facilitator, coach their CEO, and build a separate Family Council. I love the Daly combination of passion and purpose, mixed with a highly educated family with deep experience in all aspects of their industry. I’d do this job for free, but my wife won’t let me!
I root for Daly's success (almost) as much as I root for my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
TIME SUCKS & SQUIRRELS
One of my many weaknesses is that I LOVE to hear the back story of someone struggling to rebuild their life, grow a business, or right a wrong in society. And the new/unusual/ challenging is always of interest. Yet chasing squirrels—or allowing someone to prattle without making promised changes - drains my limited time, energy, and bandwidth. “Goodbye, so long, farewell—I’m moving forward without you!” (Thank you (Rick P. and Andy C.) for reminding me to “say yes to one and leave the others behind”.
SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT ME
Kristine H. (you will be receiving emails from her) has helped me focus my efforts, lean into more effective use of technology, and (start) to let go of tasks she is more than capable of handling. Thank you! She is developing a STRATEGIC GROWTH online delivery system designed for you to have access - on demand 24/7/365 – to tips and tricks in bite-sized pieces on how to effectively TRANSACT (access capital, drive acquisitions, leverage securities), TRANSFORM (leadership, governance, government), and TRANSITION (exit planning, checkmate taxes, negotiate, develop life for after the sale).
BOTTOM LINE
We have 3000+ people receiving our articles each week. I know you are reading what I write, based on the number of comments (and corrections) I receive in the initial 48 hours after release! Please keep those cards, letters, emails, texts, and voicemails coming!
This will be a great year for those of us willing to take the gifts we have been given and apply them effectively toward a worthwhile mission!