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Goldie’s Gift of WORDS OF WISDOM Advice for Goldie Scholars and Alumnae from Seasoned Professionals
The Gift of Giving Back. At founder Goldie B Wolfe Miller’s 80th birthday, the only gift she requested from attendees was an ask- to prepare words of wisdom for Goldie Scholars. Friends of Goldie graciously sent in advice based on personal experience in the industry. This gift exemplifies the care Goldie pours into Goldie Scholars, accompanied by hosting Wednesdays with Goldie, volunteering in the scholar selection process, and attending program events to interact with Scholars. The following words of wisdom from seasoned professionals serve as guidance for Goldie Scholars as they learn and grow in their graduate degrees and professional commercial real estate careers. Enjoy!
Values should drive decisions. “Choices that are gray are better off not made” “Fifty nine years ago I received a B.S. from U of I Urbana and followed that with two graduate degrees leading me to a career in Non Profit Administration. One thought I have to share probably reflects “experience” rather than “wisdom.” As the CEO of a large nonprofit organization I learned that when making decisions its always a good idea to base it on values. One usually knows “right” from “wrong”. What’s tricky is the “gray” area. My advice is never choose gray. Choices that are gray are better off not made. Gray choices cause stress and almost always aren’t worth choosing.” -Steve Nasatir
If you say no you do not grow!“If I had said no to co-chair at Frenchman’s Creek (as a new member I met a Chicago group ) I probably would not have met Goldie! If I had said no to a party invite on a certain weekend where I was committed another party at Ohio State for that weekend, I never would have met my husband! (Sometimes you have to take a chance at a new experience when you want a new opportunity!)” -Mikki Rocker Should be embraced! “You have already distinguished yourself as a scholar. Now your challenge is to excel in the real world. In order to do this, personality matters. Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they? How can they help you meet people and expand your horizons? Have you ever lived outside of [your local city]? It would help to see other parts of the USA. Most of the growth in real estate has been in the sunbelt, so I would start there. If possible, work for at least one year in another part of the U.S. to learn who/how things differ. Is one way better? Will it work only in one location or throughout the USA?” -Deecy Gray Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Discomfort is often a sign of growth. Lean into it. That’s where learning happens and vision expands. -Julie Greiner Weiser
Listen toour heart“As you move forward, my best advice for both business and life is to resist the urge to make impulsive decisions. Take your time, and try not to be too judgmental; you never truly the depth of the person you are speaking with. Invest the time to nurture your relationships, both professionally and personally. Stay close to your family, give back to your community, and always remain a student of your craft by listening to the advice of those around you. Remember that everyone is human and mistakes are inevitable; the value lies in what you learn from them. Pick your battles wisely, and always listen to your heart. You have a lifetime of adventure ahead of you, so be sure to make time for the people who matter most. I have no doubt you will be successful. Believe in yourself, smile often, and let that positivity light the way for all you accomplish.” -Cathie Barnett
“I had a successful career in department store retailing for 40 years and did that at a time when there were less women in leadership positions in any industry. It was a challenging but immensely rewarding journey. Here are some of my thoughts....” -JULIE GREINER WEISER “Own your values. No one else will own them for you, and no one will protect them as fiercely as you must. Say yes – then deliver. Say, ‘I will do it,’ and then do it. Get things done. Be the can-do person. Extend yourself. Reliability and follow-through will differentiate you faster than talent alone. Do your work with excellence. Even when no one is watching. It will be noticed—and rewarded—over time. Invest in yourself and in others. Build your own skills, but also lift people along the way. Recognize effort. Be generous with your time and encouragement. Seek balance. Care for your mind, body, health, friendships, and family. And finally—enjoy the journey. If you don’t, pay attention. Life is too short not to find work that challenges you, fulfills you, and brings you joy.”
Your reputation is your brand. Your reputation is your BRAND! Build it daily through reliability, accountability, respect, honest & empathy and you have the ULTIMATE MARKETING STRATEGY THAT MONEY CAN’T BUY! When you live these qualities clients will trust you & trust is the foundation of your reputation. “The zero-dollar marketing secret: treat others the way you’d hope to be treated and they’ll tell the world for free.” - Zaneta Popstefanova - Zaneta Popstefanova Build integrity in everything you do. Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Protect it carefully. - Julie Greiner Weiser
1.What matters most in human conduct is kindness. 2.Ask for help. i.e. How can I do this better. 3.Act like you own the company. In other words, if there is a paper towel on the bathroom floor that you didn’t drop, pick it up. If there is a coke bottle in the parking lot, pick it up... This behavior is so special that if you keep this up somebody will notice it and should cause you to grow in your career and you will indeed become a senior partner in the corporation. I think this is the most important tip of all. 4.Never sign anything that you don’t feel you know the entire story on... my father’s philosophy [is] don’t put your name on anything unless you feel you are the best person in the company to be responsible for it. 5.Any piece of paper you leave for someone else should always have a date and your initials on it. 6.Give bad news immediately. If there is a problem, tell your superiors about it immediately. 7.If something is bothering you or you don’t think something is fair, tell your superior immediately. What matters most in human conduct is kindness. “Some examples [of best business practices] I learned from my father that I think are worthwhile are listed below.” -Jon Mills
Leave it better than you found it. 13.Having an open-door policy helps a company grow together. Employees should never feel that they cannot ask for feedback/help from their superiors. 14.Always make sure you are prepared when going into a meeting. Something as simple as always having pen and paper can make or break a meeting. 8.Don’t do anything that you wouldn’t be willing to brag about on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. 9.Don’t write, email or say anything that you are not willing to publicize. 10.Say thank you, in writing as often as you can with sincerity. 11.Leave it better than you found it. 12.Make sure to maintain personal relationships with everyone you meet. It is very easy to send someone an email, but that is not the most effective way to reach out to someone. Make an effort to meet everyone in person or call them. -Jon Mills Best practices continued...
Be whoyou are.The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. When you’ve exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t! A smart person knows what to say – a wise person knows whether to say it or not. I believe that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain. Complaining about a problem without posting a solution is called whining. The only person you should try to be better than….. is the person you were yesterday. Congratulations and good luck! -Wendi Alder
“Work hard Nothing is given to you unless your family owns the company Treat people fairly although they may not always reciprocate. Be flexible- change is inevitable Good luck and congratulations on being a Goldie Scholar” -Dr. Burton Greenberg “Understanding finance is essential. Understanding people is important too. What they need, what they want, how they think, how they get along with others. Be open to suggestions and different ways of doing things. Congratulations on being a Goldie Scholar!” -Marilyn Greenberg “Always be 100% honest. Never give up on your goals. Stay determined! Wishing you much success!” -Sandy Lund “Always put your customer first!” -Bob Lund
Preparationis key.“Become an expert in your field.” You can’t always be smartest one in the room, but you can be the most prepared. Know everything to know about your job, more than your boss, your colleagues, and your competition. Become an expert in your field. That is the ticket to success. Master the fundamentals of your business. Learn the “plumbing.” Dig deep—don’t skim. Invest the time and energy to truly understand how things work. Capability builds confidence, and confidence builds credibility. “Master the fundamentals.” -Myron Warshauer -Julie Greiner Weiser
Good Luck Design Credits Canva Canva Creative Studio MiawMeow Creative Noisy Frame Sanski Design Soranin Studio Wendi Alder Cathie Barnett Deecy Gray Dr. Burton Greenberg Marilyn Greenberg Bob Lund Sandy Lund Special Thanks to Goldie Scholars!We hope you enjoyed these words of wisdom complied at Goldie B. Wolfe Miller’s 80 birthday. Her gift serves as a compass of wisdom and exemplifies her commitment to giving towards Goldie Scholars. May these words of wisdom guide your journey ahead and remind you the Goldie community behind you! th Jon Mills Steve Nasatir Zaneta Popstefanova Mikki Rocker Myron Warshauer Julie Greiner Weiser