Totally Toni - national speaker at dynamic educational events,training programs and tradeshows,providing tools,forms,information and publications that support the multifamily industry;creator of New Home Essence apartment aromatherapy

How to Make Love At Work
By National Speaker and Author Toni Blake

Experiencing love at work is simple, focus on the things you love. Unfortunately, 72% of the messages we receive each day are negative. From the main office to the work orders, we hear the worst. If you’re not careful your time at work is a constant focus on what is wrong and never what is right. It is common knowledge that most people turn in their complaints and not their compliments. Wouldn’t it be great if we wrote out as many word of encouragement as work orders and inspections and emphasized the things we did right! This would be an excellent way to “make” love at work. What can you do in your office to focus on what you “love”?

LOVE exists in your life because of a personal decision to make it a priority. You can decide to “make” love happen in your life by making “love” a goal, a priority and a plan. Don’t let the grumbler of the world make you turn away and ignore the greatest part of your life. Take time to mentally focus on positive experiences and count your blessings and you will find love! I know apartment managers who have received gifts from residents. They bring it by the office to thank you for helping them through a difficult time. I have a souvenir from a resident’s trip to New York City. They brought me a little Statue of Liberty. Have you ever felt a grateful heart from a resident? I have heard so many amazing stories of simple acts of “love” at apartment communities expressed between the staff and the residents. You can find “love” in the apartment industry from random acts of kindness to checking on seniors and saving lives. This business is full of special moments, birthday cards, new babies, anniversaries and lots and lots of love. Your residents have tested your last nerve and given you precious stories for family gatherings. Some have stolen your heart and others your parking sign. The real question is . . .what are you going to remember?

There are so many reasons to ‘love” this job but one of my favorite is the diversity. How many jobs offer you a chance to be an attorney and present your case in court, a decorator in the model, the author of the newsletter, administrator with the budget, counselor and mediator with two married residents, and psychologist to your staff? You “get to” plan parties, design marketing, hire and train employees, pick out new spring flags and flowers and watch them grow. There is no business like this business. Everyday is something new. It is always changing, always teaching, always challenging. I love this business! Nothing excites me more than the sound of someone parking in the future resident parking space. I love turning an angry resident into a raving fan and turning a burned out employee into a loyal friend.

When I need to “make” love at work I go to my “love file”. I have saved all the letters from residents, birthday cards from friends in the industry, and thank you notes from seminar attendees. They are filled with kind words, love and amazing memories. I sit on the floor in a pile and read them all again. It takes my heart back to the reason why I love the apartment business and it makes me smile. It gives me the passion after 22 years to pack my bag and prepare myself for another day in the greatest business on earth.

Here are tips from Toni on How to fall “back” in love with your job:

Write out five stories of residents who touched your life or residents whose lives you touched.
List the ten skills and abilities you have learned because of Apartment Management.
Make a list of five people you have met who have enhanced your life and how?
Make a list of the fifteen things you love most about your job.
Write down 25 confident reasons why someone would “love” to be a resident of your community.

Toni Blake is a nationally recognized expert in customer service, sales and marketing. She travels to over 60 cities annually speaking to over 30,000 management professionals each year. Toni is known for her innovative concepts and is an industry trendsetter. She has been involved with Multifamily Housing since 1979 and currently resides in Greeley, Colorado. For more information contact her office toll free 866-889-6600 or 1-970-378-6784. www.HappyFaceLady.com