Mike Ablon, PegasusAblon Properties
2021 TREC Chair
Last year brought about dramatic changes to the way we live, work, and interact with the world. What is the most important thing you learned from all that we experienced?
I have been reminded time and again that 80 percent of human interaction comes from reading body language, and how much I really enjoy knowing and feeling other’s emotions. Going forward, I need to improve my skillsets in the ‘Zoom’ world which will be with us, to allow others to feel my emotions and passion for what I believe and do.
What are you most looking forward to about 2021 and chairing The Real Estate Council?
It is a time of both great opportunity for Dallas, and tremendous distress. We must simultaneously attack both with integrity, passion, and thoughtfulness.
What would you say is the biggest challenge our industry faces as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic?
Historically, real estate changes slowly as a reactionary industry. COVID-19 has accelerated the impacts of trends and paradigm shifts that would normatively evolve over a five-to-ten-year increment, in a one-year window. The full suite of real estate products cannot change fast enough at this moment which is upon us.
When life becomes overwhelming, as it did for many throughout the last year, how do you find peace in those moments? How do you relax?
For better or worse, I have three consistent reactions. First, I work harder — solving current and proactively attacking impending problems brings calm (and reduces the impacts). Secondly, I exercise much more, and lastly, I read more (as if this will provide more tools or resources).
TREC’s guiding principle for our leaders, members, and community partners is to Build the City You’ve Imagined and leave Dallas a better place than we found it. What does that slogan mean for you? What kind of city do you imagine?
Dallas will grow to become the third-largest city in the US in the next 20 years. Big isn’t good enough- we should be a great American city, for the All-of-Us.
These are big words, which will need big and bold actions. We should provide a better life and better opportunities for all that are here, and the most opportunistic landing pad for those to come. Our real estate industry is a resource for these goals, and The Real Estate Council is positioned to be catalytic in this process.
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