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POSITIVE SUM MENTALITY

Leadership If there is a secret to business, this is it: Put energy into creating value, in addition to capturing value...

BAD SYSTEMS… BAD RESULTS

Success has many parents but failure is an orphan. Anyone who’s spent time working a bureaucracy has seen how this…

ARE YOU ASKING THE RIGHT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS?

Nothing is more important to the success of a growing business than building a great team. But finding the right people…

APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE

Thoughtful, sincere praise might be the most underutilized gift leaders can give. Everybody wants to feel that they are valued,…

YES! YOUR JOB CAN BE CREATIVE

I heard a quote recently that really resonated with me. “Creativity starts with an empty calendar and ends with a full…

QUIET QUITTING SHOULDN’T BE CONTROVERSIAL

Media has been filled with stories about “quiet quitting”. These stories often have a tone of indignation: what is wrong…

COMPOUND INTEREST… COMPOUND HABITS

What’s the secret to your success? You hear questions like this all the time these days… at networking events, podcast…

AVOIDING DECISION FATIGUE

Business leaders have earned their stripes. We’ve honed our business judgment through years of experience and wins. But exercising good…

OVERCOMING MY SELF-LIMITING BELIEFS

For years, I built Alliance incrementally. Deal by deal. Of course, that’s the only way to do it… but at…

ARE YOU OWNING IT?

I’m always looking to grow as a person. Sometimes life throws you challenges to overcome… and other times an idea…

NOT MORE TIME… BUT MORE ATTENTION

“Attention is the cash value of your time” – Sam Harris I love this line. I believe it carries a…

INVESTING IN YOURSELF… FOR THE BUSINESS

These last few years, I have been extremely focused on taking Alliance to the next level. It’s been quite a journey,…

RESPONSIBILITY, BUT NOT CONTROL?

A few times recently, I came across this saying called the serenity prayer. It goes “grant me the serenity to accept…

REFLECTIONS ON 2022… EXCITEMENT FOR 2023

One of my favorite parts of the December holiday season is that it’s a perfect time to reflect on the progress…c

ARE YOU SELECTING OR ELECTING?

You can tell a lot about companies by watching how they make decisions. Clear, decisive, accountable leadership nearly always leads…

CULTURE CAN BE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Some people say that “culture” is a made up idea. Or that it’s ambiguous and subjective. I disagree. Anyone…

WAR HAS LESSONS FOR BUSINESS

It’s been more than two months since the hot war between Ukraine and Russia began. The outcome to date has…

MEASURE TWICE, HIRE ONCE

Businesses across the country are seeing surges of demand. America is increasingly open for business, and businesses are hiring. Today’s tight…

THERE’S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

Life is short, and best lived when enjoyed. For me, the pandemic was a reminder of this fact. There are no…

A GROWTH MINDSET BRINGS OUT YOUR BEST

Is an engineering degree the right degree? What is the best job out of college? These kinds of questions have come…

AMERICA IS STILL THE LAND OF OPTIMISM

The last few years have been turbulent. Even beyond the pandemic, our politics, culture, and economy are changing fast. While some…

A PANDEMIC LESSON FOR BUSINESS LEADERS

Business leaders have earned their stripes. We’ve honed our business judgement through years of experience and wins. But exercising good judgement…

HOW MUCH REMOTE WORK IS RIGHT?

As many companies officially return-to-work, organizations are finally rethinking stale conventional wisdom about how things get done. Should everybody return to…

MIXING POLITICS AT WORK

Politics are very polarized these days, and unfortunately that is bleeding into the workplace. This can be a challenge, but it’s…

THE CASE FOR OPTIMISM

These days, I hear a lot of pessimism about the future. There are always valid reasons to worry, but I…

March 16, 2022

The great economist Milton Friedman once said: the business of business is business. ‍It’s a zany one-liner that gets at something deeper, in particular on government regulation.

December 7, 2021

These days, it can feel like everybody is trying to sell something. Usually that’s no problem, but a magnetic salesman can tempt people into making bad decisions.

December 7, 2021

I know I’m not the only one who has choked on my coffee when I opened a lawyer’s invoice. Simple services should not be so damn expensive. Of course, we..

December 7, 2021

I’m excited that some environmental deregulation seems to be on the way. Lighter regulation means easier development, greater deal flow, and higher profit.

YES, YOU SHOULD TAKE A VACATION

Summer travel plans have been upended, but that doesn’t mean you should stay home.‍I believe that in these stressful times, it’s more important than ever to get away.

YES, SPORTS SHOULD COME BACK

In this time of hardships, America needs sports.‍Sports have a special place in our society. They offer us compelling drama, role models, novelty, and bring a community together.

BUSINESS SCHOOLS ARE RIPE FOR DISRUPTION

Warren Buffet wisely said that price is what you pay, value is what you get. Are traditional MBA programs really delivering value? The marketplace is finally..

SPORTS REFLECT LIFE

I love sports, and not for the usual reasons. While I played as a kid and I still have a few favorite teams, what really keeps me interested is the way athletics highlight..

PRODUCTIVITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE

All of today’s amazing technology was supposed to make us all smarter, healthier, and more productive. What happened?‍Compared to what I grew up..

IT’S TIME FOR TESLA TO SINK OR SWIM

Tesla is at risk of going out of business. This electric car pioneer has raised new capital every year since its 2010 IPO, and they’re still posting massive losses.

SCORING ADVERSITY IS UN-AMERICAN?

The College Board’s plan to add Adversity Scoring to the SATs is questionable. It means scoring people on the circumstances of their birth, rather than the content..

NEW FRONTIERS OF SELF IMPROVEMENT

Technology has recently started to overlap with personal health in powerful ways. These new innovations could offer new avenues for self-improvement and productivity boosts.

VIDEO GAMES ARE HARMFUL?

I’m concerned about kids and video games.‍I see friends worrying about what their teenage kids do when they are not at home. In my opinion, a bigger..

WOKE CAPITALISM

There’s a recent business trend where companies are making big statements that seem designed to go viral. In today’s highly polarized environment, diving..

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

Recent news reports tell us that smartphone sales are slowing. This is terrible news for Apple, but it might be good for the rest of us. Life still happens in the..

BE SMART ABOUT WORKING HARD

There are a variety of ways to get ahead in life. While nothing beats getting lucky, most of us have to work for it. We can work hard, or we can work smart.

TURN OFF THE TV

Success comes from actively shaping your own destiny. Even downtime is an opportunity to engage in your life and invest in your future. The demands of..

PROTECT YOUR DATA

The value of data is rising, and so are major hacking incidents. We’ve seen a steady parade of data breaches, from Anthem to Yahoo and JP Morgan Chase to Target.

A NEW CHAPTER

It’s crazy how fast time flies by. My eldest son recently left to start college at the University of Southern California. I’m excited for him as he starts this new chapter of life.

NEVER OUTSOURCE YOUR THINKING

My grandfather used to say that opinions are like ***holes, everybody’s got one. Thanks to social media, anybody can broadcast their opinions wide and far..

IF ADMISSION TESTS AREN’T FAIR, NEITHER IS LIFE

In recent years, I’ve seen a troubling trend toward protecting kids from unfairness and anything that might make them feel bad. I applaud the sentiment — we all..

BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BEATS MORE RELATIONSHIPS

For cutting through all the digital noise, there’s still nothing like face-to-face interaction. Some people might call it wasteful to travel by for a conversation when..

WORLD CUP FEVER

World Cup fever is here. While Team USA failed to qualify this time, we’ve just been selected to host (along with Mexico and Canada) the 2026 tournament.

OUR DIGITAL SHADOWS

The internet is powerful because it connects us to each other. By the same power, it also connects different parts of our lives together. Everything we do..

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

It drives me crazy that the word diet is so loaded with baggage. “Diet” commonly means self-denial, crappy food, ridiculous promises of miracle results, crank science..

GAMIFY YOUR GOALS

It’s been two and a half months since many of us made New Year’s resolutions and I’d bet that most of us are continuing right where we left off last year.

MIND OVER MATTER

Everybody wants to know the secret to success in life. I won’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do have a worldview that has helped me get where I’ve always..

THE RIGHT KIND OF VACATION

The ideal vacation is more than just a rest, it’s an opportunity to continue growing. I want my holidays to complement the rest of my life and fill in the gaps that I’m missing..

WATCHING SPORTS IS A WASTE OF TIME

Some might call this heresy, but I think watching sports on TV is largely a waste of time. TV viewing, including sports, is a passive activity. When we’re looking at a TV..

MOBS HELP KEEP HEALTHCARE COSTS DOWN

The healthcare industry is under pressure to be more cost efficient – a key trend that Alliance is tracking. ‍An aging baby boomer population is moving..

RECENT MIXED MARKET SIGNALS

Commercial real estate services company CBRE recently released their report on the state of the real estate market in 1Q23: here ‍The report largely confirmed things..

NURSE SHORTAGE? MOB INVESTORS SHOULDN’T WORRY

As many news readers know, there is a significant shortage of nurses. What is going on? ‍There are multiple reasons why demand..

MOBS ARE GETTING LARGER, TALLER

A recent study highlights that there are more large MOBs under development than ever before. This study was conducted by 42floors (here). ‍The study is interesting..

WIDENING SPREADS AND CAP RATES

Commercial real estate services company CBRE conducted a survey of industry professionals in 2H 2022. ‍This CBRE report focuses on one..

MOB TRANSACTION VOLUME IS EXPECTED TO RISE IN 2023

It’s no secret that commercial real estate transactions have slowed recently. Inflation, higher interest rates, and other macro factors are slowing down the market.

MORE MOBS ARE MOVING CLOSER TO YOU

Medical facilities often cluster together near hospitals. This is still the case… but there is an interesting sub-trend that Alliance is dialed in on.

BE INTENTIONAL, LIVE YOUR VALUES

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. This line from the childrens’ book Alice in Wonderland contains an essential truth.

THE HOUSING SHORTAGE HOLDS AMERICA BACK

An important real estate trend that I have followed closely is the national residential housing shortage.‍This shortage has been driving up home..

PANDEMIC WINNERS AND LOSERS

Disruptive events like the pandemic always create their own winners and losers. The difference between commercial real estate portfolios that..

DISTORTIONS IN INSURANCE PRICING

Property insurance is priced according to the underlying risk, right? That’s the idea, but many would be surprised at the distortions that can occur in some markets.

WHAT GETS MEASURED GETS MANAGED

Some places care a lot about getting things done, other places are tied up in knots of red tape. Since Alliance invests in commercial real estate across..

CORPORATE CULTURE IS MISUNDERSTOOD

Culture is super important for building high performing teams. It’s also widely misunderstood.‍Most organizations try to shape culture through policy.

CASE STUDY: PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF

Alliance focuses on investing in properties with strong fundamentals and then adding value to the properties we manage. But it’s impossible to eliminate..

GREAT TEAMS ARE FUTURE ORIENTED

To succeed in business, strong teams are essential. There is no recipe for building a common culture and shared sense of purpose. Companies try all..

PERSONALITY TESTS CAN HELP WITH HIRING

Years in business have taught me that few things are as critical to success as building a great team. High performing organizations have some common traits.

ARE YOU A HIGH PERFORMER?

The subject of high performance is a frequent topic in my world. Why? Well, when you accomplish your goals in any given year this requires a tremendous..

CHOOSING PARTNERS AND SUCCESS

It is time again for our monthly Q & A‍ Q: Ben, I respect what you do and admire you as a principal. I had a bad partnership experience in the past.

HEY INVESTORS, DO YOU KNOW YOUR VACANCY RISK?

One of the fundamental errors in real estate investing is to ignore the risk of long term vacancy. Everybody knows to look at zoning, property prices..

OUR FAVORITE REAL ESTATE DEAL

There are many paths to a great investment. The key is finding a place where you understand the upside and risks better than your competition.

TECH SHOULD WORK FOR US

This New Year, I’m thinking about how to lead a more mindful and intentional life… including wasting less time on mindless activities, and on goals that aren’t true priorities.

AI IS A TOOL, NOT A THREAT IN REAL ESTATE

I often hear people say: data is the new oil. ‍Artificial Intelligence (AI) is moving into more and more areas of the economy, and the fuel for AI is data - and lots of it.

UNICORNS AREN’T RARE ANYMORE

Technology is changing the world incredibly quickly. I’m excited to see where it takes us in the coming years.‍One fact that illustrates just how quickly technology..

COMPUTER CHIPS, AND SHORT-TERM THINKING

Over the last year, a shortage in computer chips has hobbled production of a wide variety of popular products like cars, phones, and gaming consoles.

MOVE BEFORE THE MARKET DOES

Over the last few months, I’ve noticed a lot of stories about cybersecurity breaches. In technology and beyond, change creates opportunities for some and risks for others.

IS GOVERNMENT THE ANSWER TO BIG TECH?

Many people in the media and politics are pushing to punish Big Tech for their various “crimes” and transgressions. There’s a lot of anger in the air, and with so much..

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH LIBOR?

I’m always on the lookout for new risks to Alliance’s business. Usually, they’re deal-specific, but recently I’ve been looking at something bigger. An important piece..

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?

Commercial real estate is a term that covers a broad spectrum of asset types, classes, locations, and markets. It is an industry that institutional..

FOUR HEALTHCARE REITS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO

America has an aging population, and that translates into continued rising demand for all types of medical services and medical service real..

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LOANS

Nearly all commercial real estate deals are financed using some combination of debt and equity. The nature of that debt can take many forms – ranging..

THE TOP 10 CITIES WITH THE MOST AFFORDABLE REAL ESTATE AND PROSPECTS FOR PROPERTY APPRECIATION

It is no secret that housing is prohibitively expensive in California, but perhaps less known is the disease of exorbitant rents and mortgages..

USING DEBT FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTING: IS IT A GOOD OR BAD IDEA?

From an early age, most people are taught that taking on too much debt is irresponsible and can result in financial ruin. Therefore, many people..

WHY THIS IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN HEALTHCARE REITS

Never before in world history has such a large—and wealthy and entitled—population moved into their golden years, as presently in the United States.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT INVESTING IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

The commercial real estate market has been generating strong returns for investors. For property owners in the right sectors, the rent checks are rolling..

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