Please click the links below for great news from our FIABCI Americas Chapters:
- FIABCI World President 2009-2010 LISA KURRASS and FIABCI AFRICA PRESIDENT OSITA OKOLI Visit Riviera de São Lourenço
- BRAZIL
- USA
FIABCI World President 2009-2010 LISA KURRASS and FIABCI AFRICA PRESIDENT OSITA OKOLI Visit Riviera de São Lourenço
The Importance of Industry Organization Membership for Entrepreneurs
By Basilio Jafet, Director of FIABCI Brazil, Vice-President of Secovi-SP, and Vice-President of FIABCI Principal Members Committee
A university degree, an MBA or time spent studying overseas are no longer enough in business today. The world of business is ever changing and fast moving, and those who don’t belong to a professional industry organization may find it difficult to address their company’s issues and further their professional development. This also applies to the real estate industry since it is a complex field that leverages the economy and requires constant updating.
In our century, human knowledge doubles every couple of years, and the pace of innovation is likely to move even faster. It is now hard to imagine what the world was like 25 years ago, when there were no mobile phones, no personal computers, no internet and no teleconferencing. In these days of fast changes, education should be all about learning to learn, innovate and transform. Teaching should provide the foundation for continuous improvement.
As members of an industry organization, people are encouraged to socialize and interact with each other and may become lifelong friends. They can find effective means to continually update their skills and always stay one step ahead of their time, at the threshold of the knowledge existing in their time and in their field of expertise.
Belonging to an organization also ensures entrepreneurs to constantly keep abreast of the latest industry trends through workshops, lectures and other events. They will enjoy easier access to sector authorities and leaders. Moreover, they will learn about the legal inner workings of their trade. They can then put into practice all that they have learned.
They can also perform competitive benchmarking as they find out what their competitors are doing. This will help them devise new strategies for improving and developing their company. The Japanese concept of kaizen has never been more timely, i.e. the continuous development of one’s knowledge and abilities. Today, no one can stop and rest on their laurels or they will risk being crushed by competition.
We all know too well how difficult it can be for us, entrepreneurs, to gain the attention of those we need to contact when presenting a project, a proposal, a partnership or an idea. Access can be difficult by phone, email or personally. Time is a scarce commodity and we are always lagging behind. Until finally we succeed in being heard for 15 precious minutes by someone who is in an awful hurry, his eyes glued to the computer screen. He never stops chatting on the cell phone and, more often than not, does not give us due attention.
At a professional industry organization this happens in an altogether different way. Contact is often informal, allowing for a professional relationship to develop out of friendliness. There, entrepreneurs can come close to the production chain and expand their networking capability. By sharing precious moments with their industry’s professionals, they will get to know the people involved, their projects, ambitions and activities in an environment filled with respect and mutual consideration. Everything becomes more welcoming and amenable.
In a nutshell, by taking part in an industry organization, entrepreneurs and executives can update their knowledge and ultimately their know-how and contacts.
Recently, for example, at a workshop held at the head-office of a Brazilian Fiabci principal member (Secovi-SP), participants were informed about the solutions adopted by cities such as New York to ward off the most serious effects of the financial crisis, contrary to all expectations. They also learned that concepts such as multiuse facilities and sustainable real estate development had already been introduced by Fiabci Brazil through its foreign contacts.
Sharing ideas and exchanging knowledge among entrepreneurs at events sponsored by professional organizations works wonders for the economy and the country as a whole. It fosters prosperity and prevents the turmoil caused by the international crisis.
For all these reasons, since its inception the Fiabci Brazilian chapter has helped to provide the necessary tools for members to fully understand the importance of their professional organization and appreciate the paramount role the organization plays in supporting real estate professionals. Fiabci Brazil’s mission consists in encouraging this participation and enhancing professional performance. This approach is reflected in our slogan: “Connecting Brazil with 21st century real estate.”
FIABCI-USA Announces Annual VIP Luncheon at the United Nations in New York
We look forward to another special VIP Luncheon at the United Nations on Oct. 22 and hope you will be joining us!
Complete information, including the registration form, is already on our website: http://www.fiabci-usa.com/UNmeeting2009.html. Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Millennium UN Plaza, across the street from the UN, until September 18 or our block is sold out.
We are pleased to announce that Michael P. Buckley is confirmed as this year’s speaker. In addition to serving as President of Halcyon Ltd. Development Advisors (www.halcyonltd.com), Mr. Buckley is also a professor at both Columbia University and the University of Texas at Arlington. At Columbia, he is Director of the Center for High Density Development and is also Director of Columbia’s MSc in Real Estate Development Program (MSRED). As a visiting professor at UTA, he is Director of the Certificate Program in Asset Repositioning and Turnaround Strategies. Suffice it to say, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his keynote address: the “Seven Transition Waves in the Midst of Crisis.” Click here to read Mr. Buckley’s bio: http://www.fiabci-usa.com/calendar/UN2009-bio.pdf.
Mark your calendars now for the UN Luncheon, if you haven’t already. Space is limited and the event has sold out in the past. Consider bringing clients or prospective clients as your guests to show them how FIABCI membership sets you apart from your competition and gives you access to special people and places.
National Meeting in Denver
We’ve reported some of the highlights from our recent national meeting in Denver. Now you can see some photos, too!
Go to www.fiabci-usa.com and click on What’s New to see photos of the 15 new members we “pinned” in Denver, as well as some new photos of our leadership. You can also view the text of the speech given by FIABCI President for the Americas, Dean LaPointe of Canada.
While you’re on our website, take a minute to log in to Members’ Only.
Click on Internet Networking Sites. If you are a member of Internet Networking Sites, such as Plaxo, LinkedIn, Active Rain, Facebook, etc., you can enter your information so that fellow members will be able to go directly to your page on the specific sites. This information will then show up on your online profile on www.fiabci-usa.com. We hope this will make it easier for FIABCI-USA members to find each other in cyberspace!
Next, click on Document Library. If you attended our Fall Business Conference in Denver, a press release has been loaded in our Document Library for your use in promoting your attendance at the conference.
Finally, if you haven’t already taken a look at Proxio, the international MLS and referral network, click on Proxio MLS and sign up for the free trial subscription. This complimentary trial only runs through the end of this month, so don’t delay! You can view more than 175,000 listings in 69 countries and enter your own.
Mark your calendars now for our next national meeting: our Spring Annual Meeting, in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia (across the river from Washington, DC), from March 25-28, 2010. The preliminary schedule is already loaded in the Events Calendar on our website. Plan now to take advantage of this unique opportunity to expand your business network and enhance your knowledge.
Speaking of expanding your business network, if you know someone who would be a good member of our informal business network, please use the attached application and invite them to join.
Take the time to make the most of your FIABCI membership by putting some of these tools to work for you and your business.
Sincerely,
Susan Newman
FIABCI-USA Secretary General
P.S. If you haven’t registered yet for our VIP Luncheon at the United Nations in New York on Oct. 22, be sure your registration reaches us by the October 15 deadline. Due to security procedures, no onsite registrations are allowed.
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